Early Christian Beliefs About Martyrs

Polycarp, The Martyrdom of Polycarp Direct teaching

but the martyrs, as disciples and followers of the Lord, we worthily love on account of their extraordinary affection towards their own King and Master, of whom may we also be made companions and fellow-disciples!

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

VIII. Now concerning the martyrs, we say to you that they are to be had in all honour with you, as we honour the blessed James the bishop, and the holy Stephen our fellow-servant.

Polycarp, The Martyrdom of Polycarp Supporting witness

He was not merely an illustrious teacher, but also a pre-eminent martyr, whose martyrdom all desire to imitate, as having been altogether consistent with the Gospel of Christ.

Polycarp, The Martyrdom of Polycarp Supporting witness

All the martyrdoms, then, were blessed and noble which took place according to the will of God.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness

Thus it is, therefore, that the martyrs bear their witness, and despise death, not after the infirmity of the flesh, but because of the readiness of the Spirit.

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

but it has come to be the custom of the brotherhood, since they are struck with admiration of those who have contended to the death for truth and valour, to keep the name of martyr more properly for those who have borne witness to the mystery of godliness by shedding their blood for it.

Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness

And when he has embraced them, desires not to suffer that he may become partaker of the fullness of God's grace, that he may obtain from God complete forgiveness, by giving in exchange his blood?

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

If the confession to God is martyrdom, each soul which has lived purely in the knowledge of God, which has obeyed the commandments, is a witness both by life and word, in whatever way it may be released from the body — shedding faith as blood along its whole life till its departure.

Ignatius, The Martyrdom of Ignatius Supporting witness

For he inwardly reflected, that the confession which is made by martyrdom, would bring him into a yet more intimate relation to the Lord.

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Direct teaching

...rk 10:38). For He knew that those men had to be baptized not only with water, but also in their own blood. So, being well baptized in this baptism only, they might attain the sound faith and the simple love of the laver. And, baptized in both ways, they might likewise, to the same extent, attain the baptism of salvation and glory. For what was said by the Lord, "I have another baptism to be baptized with," does not mean in this place a second baptism, as if there were two baptisms. Rather, it shows that there is also a baptism of another kind given to us, concurring to the same salvation. And it was fitting that both these kinds should first of all be initiated and sanctified by our Lord Himself, so that either one of the two kinds, or both kinds, might afford to us this one twofold baptism of salvation and glory. Thus certain ways of the one baptism were opened to us, so that at times one of them might be lacking without harm. This is as in the case of martyrs who hear the word: the baptism of water is lacking without evil. And yet we are certain that these, if they had any opportunity, would also have been baptized with water. And also for those who are made lawful believers,

Tertullian, Scorpiace Direct teaching

For, strictly speaking, there cannot any longer be reckoned ought against the martyrs, by whom in the baptism (of blood) life itself is laid down.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...n that, by not sacrificing, they may keep the peace of the Church even to the shedding of their own blood, lest by being overcome under the pain of torture and by losing peace they might lose salvation, then on what principle do they think that the salvation which they thought they would not have if they had sacrificed should be given to those who are said to have sacrificed? This is especially so since they ought to uphold in others that rule which they themselves seem to have kept before their own eyes. In this matter, we see that they have brought forward against their own case the very thing they thought supported them. For if the martyrs thought that peace should be granted to these people, why did they not grant it themselves? Why did they think, as they themselves say, that the matter should be referred to the bishops? For he who orders something to be done can surely do what he orders to be done. But as we understand—rather, as the matter itself speaks and declares—the most holy martyrs thought that a proper measure of modesty and truth had to be kept on both sides. For since they were pressed by many people, by sending them to the bishop they thought they would preserve

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

for his suffering for Christ will be to him a more genuine baptism, because he does really die with Christ, but the rest only in a figure.

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness

because the Lord, by confessing him, in turn Himself graces His confessor before his Father with the glory of his martyrdom, as He promised.

Origen, Commentary on John Direct teaching

Related to this sacrifice are the others of which the sacrifices of the law are symbols. Another kind of sacrifice also seems to me to be of the same sort: the shedding of the blood of the noble martyrs, whom the disciple John saw standing by the heavenly altar, for this is not without meaning. Who is wise? Hosea 14:10 says he will understand these things. Who is prudent? He will know them. It belongs to higher reflection even to consider, in some small way, the reason for those sacrifices that cleanse the people for whom they are offered. Jephthah's sacrifice of his daughter should be considered. It was by making that vow that he conquered the children of Ammon, and the victim approved his vow. For when her father said, in Judges 11:35, "I have opened my mouth to the Lord against you," she answered, "If you have opened your mouth to the Lord against me, do what you have vowed." The story suggests that the being to whom such sacrifices are offered for the salvation of men must be very cruel. And we need breadth of mind, and some ability to answer the difficulties raised against Providence, if we are to explain such things and see that they are mysteries and go beyond our human natu

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

namely, the shedding of the blood of the noble martyrs, whom the disciple John saw, for this is not without significance, standing beside the heavenly altar.

Tertullian, On Prayer Supporting witness

The souls of the martyrs beneath the altar cry in jealousy unto the Lord, How long, Lord, do You not avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?

Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Supporting witness

37. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

...ient examples may be counted, but afterward, when the abundance of virtue and faith overflowed, the Christian martyrs cannot be counted, as the Apocalypse testifies and says: "After these things I saw a great multitude, which no man could number, of every nation, and tribe, and people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb; and they were clothed in white robes, and palms were in their hands; and they cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! And one of the elders answered and said to me, Who are these who are clothed in white robes, and from where have they come? And I said to him, My lord, you know. And he said to me, These are they who have come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple." But if the assembly of the Christian martyrs is shown and proved to be so great, let no one think it hard or difficult to become a martyr, when he sees that the crowd of martyrs cannot be counted.

Revelation 17:6 Supporting witness

And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Revelation 6:11 Supporting witness

And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Revelation 20:4 Supporting witness

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Revelation 18:24 Supporting witness

And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Revelation 16:6 Supporting witness

For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

Revelation 6:9 Supporting witness

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

Revelation 6:10 Supporting witness

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

...have sent them to you. In them, there was no lack of counsel to the clergy, or encouragement to the confessors, or rebuke to the exiles when it was necessary, or my appeals and persuasion to the whole brotherhood that they should seek the mercy of God, as fully as my poor ability could strive to do, with the Lord's help, according to the rule of faith and the fear of God. But afterward, when tortures came, my words reached both our brothers who were being tortured and those who were still only imprisoned in preparation for torture, to strengthen and comfort them. Moreover, when I found that those who had defiled their hands and mouths by sacrilegious contact, or had likewise infected their consciences with wicked certificates, were everywhere begging the martyrs, and were also corrupting the confessors with constant and excessive pleas, so that, without any distinction or examination of the persons themselves, thousands of certificates were being given every day, contrary to the law of the Gospel, I wrote letters in which I called the martyrs and confessors back, as much as possible by my counsel, to the Lord's commands. The strength of the priesthood was also not lacking among

Gregory Thaumaturgus, On All the Saints Supporting witness

In this wise have the martyrs shown their power, leaping with joy in the presence of death, laughing at the sword, making sport of the wrath of princes, grasping at death as the producer of deathlessness, making victory their own by their fall, through the body taking their leap to heaven, suffering their members to be scattered abroad in order that they might hold their souls, and, bursting the bars of life, that they might open the.

Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness

...an obstinate refusal to offer sacrifices, he found in their religious services nothing but meetings early in the morning for singing hymns to Christ and God, and sealing their way of life by a united pledge to remain faithful to their religion, forbidding murder, adultery, dishonesty, and other crimes. In reply, Trajan wrote back that Christians were by no means to be sought out. But if they were brought before him, they should be punished. O miserable deliverance. Under the necessities of the case, it is a self-contradiction. It forbids them to be sought out, as innocent, and it commands them to be punished, as guilty. It is at once merciful and cruel. It passes by, and it punishes. Why do you play this game of evasion with yourself, O Judgment? If you condemn, why do you not also inquire? If you do not inquire, why do you not also absolve? Military stations are set throughout all the provinces for tracking robbers. Against traitors and public enemies every man is a soldier. Search is made even for their confederates and accessories. The Christian alone must not be sought, though he may be brought and accused before the judge, as if a search had any other end than that! And so

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness

...ayer to the gods of my country. But, as they did not respond, I called upon those among us known as Christians. Upon investigation, I found a great number and multitude of them and initially acted against them, which was quite inappropriate, as I later understood their power. They began the battle, not with weapons, armor, or bugles, as such preparations are detestable to them because of the God they carry in their conscience. Therefore, it appears that those we think are atheists have God as their guiding force entrenched in their conscience. Throwing themselves on the ground, they prayed not only for me but for the entire army, that we might be saved from the current thirst and hunger. We had been without water for five days because there was none, being deep in Germany, in enemy territory. Simultaneously as they threw themselves on the ground and prayed to God (a God unknown to me), water poured from the sky, refreshingly cool upon us but as withering hail upon Rome's enemies. Immediately we acknowledged the presence of God following their prayer—a God unconquerable and indestructible. Based on this, let us pardon such individuals who are Christians, lest they pray for and ac

Methodius, Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna Supporting witness

... to come to our deliverance. Now, at last, I understand what I had learned from Solomon: "Strong as death is love." For by it the sting of death shall be done away. By it the dead shall see life. By it even death shall learn what death is, being made to cease from that rule which it exercised over us. By it also the serpent, the author of our evils, shall be taken captive and overwhelmed (Song of Songs 8:6). You have made known to us, O Lord, Your salvation, causing the plant of peace to spring up for us, and we shall no longer wander in error. You have made known to us, O Lord, that You have not to the end overlooked Your servants. Neither have You, O beneficent One, entirely forgotten the works of Your hands. For out of Your compassion for our low condition, You have poured out upon us abundantly that goodness of Yours which is inexhaustible, and akin to Your very nature, having redeemed us by Your only begotten Son, who is unchangeably like You, and of one substance with You. You judged it unworthy of Your majesty and goodness to entrust to a servant the work of saving and benefiting Your servants, or to cause those who had offended to be reconciled by a minister. But by mean

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness

But it would be advantageous to them that they should be thought to die for that of which they are accused, and they conquer you by being lavish of their lives rather than yield that obedience which you require of them.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

But we, because we refuse to sacrifice to those to whom we were of old accustomed to sacrifice, undergo extreme penalties, and rejoice in death,—believing that God will raise us up by His Christ, and will make us incorruptible, and undisturbed, and immortal;

Asterius Urbanus, The Extant Writings of Asterius Urbanus Direct teaching

...do not agree with them because of that, nor do we admit that they have the truth in them. And those early heretics who are called Marcionites, from the heresy of Marcion, claim that they have a great number of martyrs for Christ. But even so, they do not confess Christ Himself according to the truth.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

IX. These things we have said concerning those that in truth have been martyrs for Christ, but not concerning false martyrs, concerning whom the oracle speaks, The name of the ungodly is extinguished.

Asterius Urbanus, The Extant Writings of Asterius Urbanus Supporting witness

And those first heretics, who from the heresy of Marcion are called Marcionites, allege that they have a great multitude of martyrs for Christ.

Asterius Urbanus, The Extant Writings of Asterius Urbanus Supporting witness

For indeed some of the other heresies have also a great multitude of martyrs;