Theological Term of the Week: Christian Persecution
Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 2:30AM 
hostility and ill-treatment on the basis of of someone’s Christian faith.
- From scripture:
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake … . (Philippians 1:29 ESV)
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:18-19 ESV)Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. (1 John 3:4 ESV)
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:10-13 ESV)
- From the Heidelberg Catechism:
QUESTION 52.
What comfort is it to thee that “Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead”?
Answer. That in all my sorrows and persecutions, with uplifted head I look for the very same person, who before offered himself for my sake, to the tribunal of God, and has removed all curse from me, to come as judge from heaven: who shall cast all his and my enemies into everlasting condemnation, but shall translate me with all his chosen ones to himself, into heavenly joys and glory.
Learn more:
- Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Persecution
- Tim Keesee:10 Things You Should Know About Persecution
- Ligonier Ministries: Blessed Are the Persecuted
- Stephen Walton: Why Were the Early Christians Persecuted?
- Tim Challies: Christion, When Persecution Comes: Embrace It
- Tom Schreiner: You Will Be Persecuted With Words
- Michael A. G. Haykin: 400-Year-Old Lessons from English Baptists and Persecution
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