Courage and Conviction: the martyrs of Scripture

“You will be handed over to be tortured and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name.” (Matthew 24:9)

Many people in the Bible faced the ultimate test of faith, choosing to die rather than being disloyal to God. These faithful souls are known as ‘martyrs’, from the Greek word martys, which means ‘witness’.

The Catechism (CCC 2473) explains: “Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith: it means bearing witness even unto death. The martyr bears witness to Christ who died and rose, to whom he is united by charity. He bears witness to the truth of the faith and of Christian doctrine. He endures death through an act of fortitude.”

In St Luke’s gospel, the Old Testament figure of Abel is recognised as the first martyr (Luke 11:50-51). In the Book of Genesis, we read of how he was killed by his brother Cain, who was jealous of his faithful worship of God (Genesis 4:1-16).

The prophets who called Israel to repentance often paid a high price for their faithfulness to God. Queen Jezebel, for instance, tried to eliminate the prophets of Israel, killing many and driving the Prophet Elijah into hiding (1 Kings 18:4, 13; 19:10). 

Later, we read how the prophets were habitually murdered (Nehemiah 9:26). Specific examples include the martyrdom of Zechariah, who was killed upon the orders of King Joash, and Uriah, who was executed by King Jehoiakim (2 Chronicles 24:20-22; Jeremiah 26:20-23).

Later, the prophets predicted a suffering Messiah who would be rejected, murdered, and mourned. Isaiah spoke of a Suffering Servant who would willingly laid down his life, Daniel prophesied the death of the Anointed One, while Zechariah spoke of how God’s shepherd would be struck down (Isaiah 52:-53; Daniel 9:25-26; Zechariah 12:10; 13:7). 

The Book of Daniel describes several near-martyrs, who were only saved from certain death through the intervention of God. This includes Daniel himself, the Three Holy Youths and Susanna (Daniel 3:1-97; 6:1-25; 13:1-64). 

Similarly, the Books of the Maccabees record the heroic sacrifices of various faithful Jews who resisted political pressure to go against their principles. Among them were Eleazar, a respected teacher of the law, and a mother with her seven sons, all of whom embraced death rather than compromise their beliefs (1 Maccabees 1:54-64; 2 Maccabees 6:18-31).

The New Testament often refers to the murder of Old Testament prophets (see Matthew 23:30-37; Luke 11:47-51, 13:34; Acts 7:52; Hebrews 11:35-37). The gospels also describe the martyrdom of the Holy Innocents and of St John the Baptist, who suffered death at the hands of King Herod the Great and his son, Herod Antipas (Matthew 2:16; 14:6-12).

Christ forewarned his disciples that they too would face persecution and death for their loyalty to him (Luke 21:16; John 16:2). Accordingly, we later read in the New Testament of the deaths of St Stephen, St James, St Peter and St Paul (Acts 7:54-60; 12:1-2; 2 Peter 1:14-15; 2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Martyrdom is also a recurring theme in the Book of Revelation. Within its pages, Christ tells his followers: “Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10, 13). In his vision, St John also saw “the souls of those who had been beheaded for bearing witness to Jesus and the word of God” (Revelation 20:4).

In later Christian art, many of the apostles are commonly symbolised by the instrument by which, according to tradition, they were put to death. For example, St. Andrew is often pictured with an X-shaped cross, St. Bartholomew with a knife (pictured above), St Simon the Zealot with a saw, and so forth.

Here are ten examples of people described in the Bible who faced death due to their loyalty to God:

1. Abel is murdered
2. The Martyrs of the Maccabees
3. Daniel in the Lion’s Den
4. The Three Holy Youths
5. The Holy Innocents
6. The Martyrdom of St John the Baptist
7. The Martyrdom of St Stephen
8. The Martyrdom of St James
9. The Martyrdom of St Peter
10. The Martyrdom of St Paul