On Martyrdom in the Post-Christian West

Introduction

Things are changing so fast in our western cultures. Agendas abound, they rise and fall, they exist
simultaneously in dangerous contradiction, and few Christian leaders sound a clear trumpet call to
rally and battle. Where do we stand, and why? Where will we not go and why? These are not
purely academic questions of little practical purpose - they are increasingly the building we stand
in, built upon the foundations of Christ, the prophets, the apostles and martyrs. If we we want to
see ourselves and the local Christian Church survive and prosper into and beyond the middle of
the 21st century, we need to seek advice.

There are 2,000 years of examples to draw from of men, women and children who lived out their
faith in a hostile world. In this essay I would like to consider some of the first martyrs and the
accounts of their deaths: Stephen, James, Ignatius and Polycarp. In each case there is ample and
sound evidence of their martyrdoms. I trust you, having read this, will be able better to act with
wisdom in our fast changing world.

Saint Stephen

The arrest, defence and murder of Stephen are given in great detail by St Luke. He covers this
disturbing event over just short of two chapters in 68 verses of his travelogue, the Acts of the
Apostles1. Stephen was the first martyr since the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Christ.
The event occurred in Jerusalem2, probably around AD35. two years after Christ’s ascension. As
such, the record is set in much the same maelstrom of civic, religious and political tensions as
Christ had faced at his final Passover festival.

We read that certain Jewish factions - former slaves, together with foreign-born Jews - began to
argue with Stephen, but he kept on beating them in debate. So, they concocted charges against
him of blaspheming Moses and God, threatening the Temple, and denying religious customs. They
took these to the wider public, the scribes and the elders who then arrested Stephen and brought
him - and some perjuring witnesses - before the High Priest at the Sanhedrin in order to face a civil
trial.

The High Priest, who would have been well aware of Jesus and the Nazarene sectarians, asked
Stephen an open question, “Are these things so?”. Stephen then produced one of the most
amazingly well constructed apologies for the Christian faith, one that is not also knowledgable and
eloquent, but is well-crafted to reach a climax that would end in his violent death. He talks of
Joseph, who was sold into Egypt because his brothers - the patriarchs and sons of Jacob (Israel) -

1 Acts 6:8-7:60

2 Acts 6:7

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were murderously jealous of him. He continues to talk of Moses who brought salvation to his
brothers, but they did not understand. They replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us?”.
Stephen adds further that “this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer”; the earlier broad hint
that Joseph was like Christ is echoed more clearly, using the term still used to today by Jews to
describe Jesus, ‘this’ or ‘that’ man.

Stephen then focuses clearly on Christ in quoting Moses that God promised another prophet like
Moses from the house of Israel3. Like Moses they would reject him together with the message he
brought from God, and their hearts would turn away from him. He introduces Joshua, the faithful
leader after Moses who brought Israel into the promised land, who has the same name in Hebrew
and Greek as Jesus. He moves on to King David. He is rapidly ramping up the rhetoric, quoting
Isaiah as a rebuke to the temple-focussed people. He is now in full finger-pointing mode, eyes on
them and theirs on him, rebuking them without mercy.

Then he reaches his point, Jesus is “the righteous one, whom you have betrayed and murdered”.
The Sanhedrin is by now seething with anger, when Stephen “full of the Holy Spirit gazed into
heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” saying “Look! I see
the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God”. This is a well-known
reference to the coming Messiah4 , “give salvation by your right hand” (‘salvation’ is ‫ הֹושִׁ֖יעָה‬in
Hebrew which derives from the same root as the name of Jesus), further Daniel writes,

“… and, behold, with the clouds of heaven,

there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented there before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.” 5

The mob gave way to their inner rage, they rushed Stephen, dragging him outside the city, and
stoning him to death, with a prayer on his lips like one of Christ’s words from the Cross. A certain
zealous young man called Shaw’ul Paulos (Paul) is identified as being a central player in the
murder.

3 Deut 18:15

4 Psalm 60:5

5 Daniel 7:13b-14

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James the Apostle

James (or Ya’kov) was the brother6 of the Apostle John (or Yohanan, author the gospel of his
name, John 1 and the Revelation.) The murder of James takes place around nine years later in
AD44, by which time Claudius had become Emperor of Rome; this death is recounted briefly by
Saint Luke7 at the start of what had become a systematic and murderous persecution of the
growing Church. Luke recounts that this began with the martyrdom of Stephen8 which had spread
the Christians out from Judea and Jerusalem. The converted Saint Paul and his fellow evangelist
Saint Barnabas are also now in action for Christ in Asia Minor.

The account is short, “Herod the King laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He
killed James the brother of John with the sword … he saw that it pleased the Jews.” This is Herod
Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee who was certainly a Herod, through and through; he murdered Jesus’
cousin John the Baptist9 , tried to amuse himself at Jesus’ trial10 , and had grown close to Pontius
Pilate in Judea11. Further, Luke records that he came to a gruesome end after murdering James;
he had an argument with the people to the west of his kingdom, appearing in his full royal regalia to
the delegation who were by now suing for peace. They listened to him making a speech and
flattered him as being no longer a man but now a God. Like Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon12 he was
struck down by God, but unlike Nebuchadnezzar who repented and was restored, Herod Antipas
died13 .

To understand why James was murdered by order of Herod Antipas we need to read the account
of an earlier reference to the Tetrarch of Galilee14 in a record of a prayer made by the early
believers gathered in Jerusalem,

“Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything them, who
through the mouth of our father David, his servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

Why do the Gentiles rage,

and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,

6 Matthew 4:21

7 Acts (11:28,12:1-3)

8 Acts 11:19

9 Matthew 14:1-12

10 Luke 23:6-9

11 Luke 23:11-12

12 Daniel 4:28-33

13 Acts 12:20-23

14 Acts 4:24b-27

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 and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed

for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you
anointed, both Herod and Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel.”

The inner quote is from Psalm 2, probably the clearest statement in the book of Psalms that the
Son is King and Christ (‘anointed one’). The entire gang - Herod, Pilate, Israel and the Gentiles -
are ganged up against Messiah Jesus, and so they persecute his followers. It is the story that runs
through Acts: the Church of Jesus Christ versus the World.

Bishop Ignatius of Antioch

Ignatius was a Christian convert and a disciple of the Apostle John. He was born between AD35
and AD50, and died in the Colosseum in Rome around AD107 “on the thirteenth day before the
Kalends of January, that is, the twentieth of December”15. He was the third bishop of the church in
Antioch, which had been founded around AD44 by some Christians from Cyprus and Cyrene16 . He
died during the reign of the Emperor Trajan. He left seven letters, widely accepted as being
genuine, which he wrote to churches in Asia Minor and Rome during the last year of his life. For
our purposes the most useful text is the account of his martyrdom, which was written by those who
had accompanied him on his fatal trip to Rome.

We read that in the seventh year of Trajan’s reign he decided that “the religious body of the
Christians were yet wanting to complete the subjugation of all things to himself, and [thereupon]
threatening them with persecution unless they would agree to worship dæmons … thus compelled
all who live godly lives either to sacrifice [to idols] or to die”17. Ignatius was brought before the
emperor himself who, calling the bishop a “wicked wretch”, demanded an account of his rebellion.
His defence is entirely christocentric. Ignatius states, in just a few recorded lines, “Christ the King
of heaven”, “Christ within his [my] breast”, and, “Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,
whose kingdom may I enjoy”. Trajan responds, “Do you mean him who was crucified under Pontius
Pilate?”, and Ignatius responds, “I mean Him who crucified my sin.”

it is a heated discussion between the power of the world and that of the follower of Christ, not far
away from St Luke’s account of Stephen’s trial by the Sanhedrin. Trajan condemns Ignatius, “We
command that Ignatius, who affirms that he carries within him he that was crucified, be bound by
soldiers, and carried to the great [city] Rome, there to be devoured by beasts, for the gratification
of the people.”18

15 Martyrdom of Ignatius, chapter 6

16 Acts 11:19-21

17 Martyrdom of Ignatius, chapter 2

18 ibid, chapter 3

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The writers of the martyrdom ended the account with this statement of Ignatius as a “noble martyr
of Christ, who trod under foot the devil, and perfected the course which, out of the love of Christ,
he had desired, in Christ Jesus our Lord; by whom, and with whom, be glory and power to the
Father, with the Holy Spirit, for evermore! Amen.”19

Bishop Polycarp of Smyrna

Polycarp was also a disciple of the Apostle John, and a close colleague of Ignatius, indeed Ignatius
wrote him one of his seven letters as he was being led to Rome to die. Polycarp was ordained
Bishop of the church in Smyrna by the Apostle John; John, writing the words of Christ, said of
Smyrna, “Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested … be
faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life”20. Polycarp wrote one letter that survives, to
the church in Philadelphia21. He was born in AD69 and was martyred in AD156.

The account of Polycarp’s martyrdom is detailed and was widely circulated. Polycarp was detained
by Herod the Irenarch (keeper of the peace) who tried to get him to recant his faith, “What harm is
there in saying ‘Cæsar is Lord’, and in sacrificing, with the other ceremonies observed on such
occasions22 …?’ “23. Polycarp replied, “I will not do as you advise me”. Later, in the stadium where
he would die, he was asked by the Roman Pro-consul “to deny [Christ]”24 who added, “Swear, and
I will set thee at liberty, reproach Christ”. Polycarp’s reply has become famed, “Eight and six years
have I served Him, and He never did me any injury : how then can I blaspheme my King and
Saviour?”. He added, “I am Christian” and the Pro-consul’s herald shouted to the crowd in the
stadium,”Polycarp has confessed that he is a Christian”25. He is then first sentenced to death by
being eaten by lions, then when this fails to be burnt to death, then when this fails he is stabbed
and his body burnt.

Before his death Polycarp prayed, “O Lord God Almighty, the Father of thy beloved and blessed
Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of thee …”26 . His was “a martyrdom
entirely consistent with the Gospel of Christ”27 . And so we are instructed “to walk according to the
doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”28

19 ibid, chapter 7

20 Revelation 2:10b

21 see, ibid 3:7-13

22 or, ‘burn a little incense'

23 Martyrdom of Polycarp, chapter 8

24 ibid chapter 9

25 ibid chapter 12

26 ibid chapter 14

27 ibid chapter 19

28 ibid chapter 22

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Some Conclusions

Coxe writes in his introduction to the martyrdom of Polycarp, “[it is] an example of what a noble
army of martyrs, women and children included, suffered in these days for the testimony of Jesus”29 .
The writers of the martyrdom of Polycarp also spoke of the terrors the martyrs endured, “thus
proving to us all that these [were] holy martyrs of Christ” for they were tortured in order to “lead
them to a denial [of Christ]”30.

We have seen that Stephen died in Jerusalem for his faith in Christ in the face of the same Jewish
establishment that ordered the death of Christ. Stephen in his defence took a route through Joseph
(who prefigured Christ), Moses (who predicted Christ), Joshua (who enacted Christ) and David
(who hoped in Christ). Of Jesus, Stephen said, “this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer”,
“the righteous one, whom you have betrayed and murdered”. To cap it all he declared that Jesus
was the divine Son of Man who had been predicted by Daniel. They stoned Stephen.

The Apostle James was murdered, somewhere in Galilee, at the instruction of Herod Antipas,
Tetrarch of Galilee as part of the general bloody persecution going on across the land of Israel
against Christians. The Jerusalem Christians saw the reason in Psalm 2: Christ the promised Son
and King by God. They prayed, “truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy
servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples
of Israel.” James died because he was a follower of Jesus of Nazareth.

Bishop Ignatius of Antioch was murdered in Rome by order of the emperor Trajan. He always
referred himself as ‘christophoros’ - the Christ bearer. And this was the reason Trajan ordered his
death, “We command that Ignatius, who affirms that he carries within him he that was crucified”.
The writers of his martyrdom concluded that he was a “noble martyr of Christ, who trod under foot
the devil, and perfected the course which, out of the love of Christ, he had desired”.

Bishop Polycarp of Smyrna was killed in this city by order of the Roman authorities. They
demanded he deny Christ, profess that Cæsar was Lord, make a sacrifice to the local gods and
offer what was probably a pinch of incense on a pagan altar. He was sentenced to death for being
a Christian, which to the pagan Græco-Romans was tantamount to “atheism”.

All four died for their professed faith in Christ as opposed to the local religious beliefs, whether
monotheistic or polytheistic. In Polycarp’s case there was the demand to visualise their recanting
by performing pagan ceremonies. Where does this put us as 21st century western Christians in an
increasingly anti-Christian policy? Where do we draw the line? For me it is first in knowing what the
Christian faith is and secondly where its practical boundaries lie. The early Church consisted of
former Jews and Pagans, who were converted to Christ by others very similar to themselves: the
apostles, their students, in turn their students and so on. They taught by word and by example.
What we are seeking is both to know the truth (the inherited word from the apostles) and their
example (in the martyrdoms.) The inherited word is by the Word of God and the writings of the

29 in Robert & Donaldson (eds) Anti-Nicene Fathers Volume 1, p37

30 Martyrdom of Polykarp, chapter 2

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Church Fathers. Reading these is always a good thing, but life is too short to read them all, so the
Church in AD325 usefully summarised the central beliefs of the Christian Faith in what is called the
Nicene Creed (see appendix below).

However, the problem remains of how we should avoid compromise in our interface with the
outside world: should we do such-and-such, say this-or-that, or meet with so-and-so? There is no
easily applicable guide in the ever-fluid post-Christian western society. There is no-one we can go
to in our country who can guide us through this minefield. But there are those who know. Consider
Bishop Polycarp of Smyrna. He was well-versed in the meaning of the Christian faith, taught by
none the less than an Apostle, a long-standing Christian, a respected church leader in and beyond
his own bishopric, and he had lived under deadly threats and persecutions, and in the end he died
for our faith. When he was confronted by the instruction, “just say this and do that”, he knew when
to say, “I will not do that”, and he died for his faithfulness to Christ.

Today there are ample examples. There is the Russian Orthodox Church, which has survived an
appalling toll of 20th century deaths of more than 20,000 priests alone at the hands of the
communists. There is the Polish Roman Catholic Church which survived the murders of the Nazis
then the communists, and which is flourishing. There are figures like Canon Andrew White,
formerly Vicar of St George’s Baghdad, who protected and nourished a flock of Christians in the
face of murderous militant Islam. There is the Chinese Church which continues to grow under
barbaric Chinese communism. There are growing Persian churches across the UK of Iranian
refugees from the horrific Shia regime. To say more would include churches in Nigeria, North
Korea, India, and more.

And, there is the holy Spirit who is ever ready to arise and direct. But only in accordance to God’s
revealed Word and by confirmation from other sound Christians31 . God never contradicts himself.
Check yourself, check the Word of God and the testimony of the Fathers, check with someone else
who knows persecution.

Appendix - the Nicene, or Ecumenical, Creed (AD325)

“I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, all things visible
and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father
before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not
made, consubstantial with the Father; through whom all things were made. For us men
and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate
of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius
Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in

31The principle of needing more than one witness is a strong Biblical tradition, see e.g. Deut 19:15, Matt 18:16, John
8:17, Rev 11:3

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 accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right
hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his
kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father
[and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has
spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the
forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the
world to come. Amen.”32

Bibliography

Study Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles, 2007

Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson (eds), The Writings of the Fathers Down to AD325: Ante-
Nicene Fathers volume 1: The Apostolic Fathers, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Hendrickson Publishers,
Peabody MA USA, 2004

Brother John of the Rùna Ríngan community

St Annan’s Chapel
July 2020

32 from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nicene-Creed

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