Module 3: Persecution & Martyrs
Hi everyone, and welcome to the third module of the History of Christianity 1 Course. In this section, we'll be looking at the persecution of the early church and the martyrs during and directly after the time of the New Testament.
This module will help you to understand the history of the early church under persecution, covering the events as well as delving into the reasons behind the persecution and how the Christians responded.
The student will be exposed to the different mindsets of people on different sides of these events. The student will have opportunity to evaluate the longer-term effects of these movements, approaches, and practices, and the lessons that can be learned from this era. This module will also aid the student to work through how the lessons learned are applicable in their own life and ministry.
Introductory Scenario
In the western world, many have noticed a greatly increasing level of hostility, if not outright persecution of Christians in societies that had previously been living under a Christian consensus. How can Christians explain this new reality? And in many parts of the world, Christians live in daily threat of persecution, and even death, for their faith. How should Christians respond in the face of enmity and hatred? What can we learn from the history of early Christians living under intense persecution? As you work through this module, be looking for insights how we can best respond to these dynamics in the most faithful way that will bring glory to God and advance His church in the long run.
Module Objectives and Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this module, the student will:
- Describe the history of persecutions against Christians and the phenomenon of martyrdom.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the reasons why the early Christians were persecuted.
- Understand the mindset of the martyrs and why they accepted martyrdom rather than compromise.
- Summarize the long-term results of persecution and martyrdom and the implications for modern Christians.
- Place the major people and issues from this period in a general chronology.
Instruction Guides
In this section, you'll find links to important instructional documents for this module. Click the following links to open each document. There is a set of instructions for individual study and a document for group study.
Textbook Content
In this section, you'll find a study guide for the textbook reading for module 3. And then you'll find the link to a practice quiz covering this textbook reading.
This section also contains a review quiz to test your understanding of the textbook material for this module. By clicking the banner below, you will be given a series of questions, in random order. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once.
Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the Submit
button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.
Lecture Content
In this section, you will find the video lectures for the Persecution & Martyrs module. Click the banner to open access to the video. There are also links with the video if you prefer to watch on the Rumble or YouTube interface or download just the audio to listen offline.
Reviews
In this section, you will find the review slides from the course lectures for module 8. This is a convenient way to view and review the summaries for each lecture. Click the banner to open the slide show.
Click the prev.
and next
buttons (bottom right of the slide) to move through the slides. You can also click on any thumbnail to go directly to that slide.
Discussion/Reflection Questions
This section contains questions for further thought and discussion from Module 3. It is recommended that you take time to think through these issues in order to thoroughly grasp the significance and explore the application of the material you are learning. These questions can also be used as essay questions in a classroom setting exam. Below, you will find links to the Response and Application Reflection Instructions for Individuals, and the Response and Application Discussion Instructions for Groups. And you will find a link to the detailed question document for this module. Or Click the banner below to view the questions in a simplified format.
The following questions are for your thoughtful consideration and discussion:
- What can we learn from the history of persecution?
- How can the church relate to a hostile society?
- What else did you learn? How does it apply?
(Optional) Timeline - Part 3
This section contains instructions for an optional Timeline activity to be constructed over all sixteen modules. Below is a link to the detailed instructions for this activity.
Step Three of the Timeline should include the following information:
- The main waves of persecution against Christians, and their reasons
- The lives of the significant martyrs
Annotate any significant ideas and principles which were formative for the early church, and which are applicable to the current church and Christian life.
(Optional) Principles Chart - Part 3
This section contains instructions for an optional Principles Chart activity to be constructed over all sixteen modules. Below is a link to the detailed instructions for this activity.
Step Three of the Principles Chart will add any important principles noted from the history of the persecutions and martyrs, including lessons learned from the examples of the martyrs and the reasons for their sufferings.
It is suggested that the student begin this activity before watching the Guiding Principles
portion of the lecture. Then the student may supplement their work after learning additional insights from the Guiding Principles.
(Optional) Term Project - Topic
The student will begin their term project by surveying the course calendar, textbook contents, and/or the course topics, looking for a person, event, or other topic which captures their interest for further investigation. They will narrow from the variety of things covered in this course to choose one event, movement, controversy, or person that they will research in more depth throughout the term and create a presentation of their findings. This first step is just to decide on the topic of their project. It is helpful to write out the topic in order to guide and constrain the focus of the research and term project as a whole.
Below is a link to detailed instructions for the entire project.
Primary Source Reading
This section contains instructions and resources for the Primary Source Reading activity. The student should read a minimum of 10-20 pages from a primary resource or resources discussed in this module's lecture and write or discuss a brief response to their reading. Below is a link to detailed instructions for the Primary Source Reading, which contain a list of recommended resources, by module. And click the banner below to access a list of recommended resources with links to where they may be found.
The following is a list of the recommended primary sources for this module. This list contains links to the resources in print and/or online format. These links may change, so feel free to search for other sources for these same titles. In addition, please do not feel you are limited only to this list. Feel free to choose from any primary source from the period and topic covered in this module:
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The Martyrdom of Polycarp, - Included in The Apostolic Fathers,Print ISBN: 978-9354172885, 978-0801031083, 978-0140444759, or 978-1683590644
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Epistles of Ignatius, - Included in The Apostolic Fathers,Print ISBN: 978-9354172885, 978-0801031083, 978-0140444759, or 978-1683590644
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The Letter of Pliny the Younger to Emperor Trajan,Online: Early Christian Writings, or vroma.org
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Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History - Book 2, ch. 5 - Book 8,Print ISBN: 978-1565638136, 978-0140445350, or 978-0825433078
Online: ccel.org, or Newadvent.org -
Documents Illustrating the History of the Church to AD337 - Sections 1&2,Print ISBN: 978-0801039713,
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The Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas,
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To the Martyrs,
Online: Early Christian Writings -
Of the Cruelty of the Heathens Against the Christians,
Online: ccel.org
Review Quiz
This section is a link to a review quiz to test your understanding of the objective material for Module 8. By clicking the banner, you will be taken to a series of questions, in random order. Answer each question and then push the Submit
button to check your answers. Every question must be answered before you can submit the quiz. At the end, you will be shown your score for the entire quiz. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once. Click the banner to begin the quiz.
Here is a review quiz for the material covered in this module's lectures. Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.
Module Completed!
Congratulations, you have reached the end of the third module. I hope that you have found it rewarding and have noticed personal growth.
I encourage you to continue on the next module as soon as is convenient. The button below will take you to Module 4.
