Persecution in the Church by Jewish and Roman Leaders Essay

Total Length: 678 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1

Page 1 of 2

The Meaning of PersecutionFor Christians in the early Church, persecution was a kind of blessing or exaltation: it was “the highest form of renunciation”—i.e., the brightest and biggest way an early Christian could renounce the world, all its pomps, and choose Christ with body and soul even in the face of torture and death.[footnoteRef:1] Christ was viewed as the ultimate example of how to suffer persecution, and early Christians embraced the idea of being able to follow in the footsteps of Our Lord. [1: Herbert Workman, Persecution in the Early Church (Washorn Media, 2018), 3.]The persecutions, which really began with Christ, were unjustified and based on illegal actions just as they were with Christ—i.e., an illegal change of venue, illegal retrial, illegal private examinations, and so on.[footnoteRef:2] Sts. Peter and Paul also faced strange trials and changes of venue (requested by St. Paul, for instance). Thus, there was an interplay between law and persecution, but in the most case for the early Christians in the beginning it was the push of the Jewish leaders to see the early Christians punished. St. Paul had done the work of the persecutors prior to his conversion, and after his conversion there was more push by the Jewish leaders to involve the Roman authorities in the matter, as they did with the persecution of Jesus.

Stuck Writing Your "Persecution in the Church by Jewish and Roman Leaders" Essay?

[2: Herbert Workman, Persecution in…

[…… parts of this paper are missing, click here to view the entire document ]

…not at first been opposed to Christianity, as members of his family had been catechumens at one time—but forces opposed to Christianity were in his political camp and entourage and they prevailed over his thinking. Thus, Christians began to be put to death all over again—their crime often marked as “incendiarism” against the State.[footnoteRef:8] Persecutions raged under Diocletion, with Christians in all places being arrested, thrown into prison, burned or drowned upon decree of the State. This was the Satanic passion of the heathen/pagan State unleashed in a fury against the people of God. [7: Herbert Workman, Persecution in the Early Church (Washorn Media, 2018), 268.] [8: Herbert Workman, Persecution in the Early Church….....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Persecution In The Church By Jewish And Roman Leaders" (2022, December 04) Retrieved July 1, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/persecution-church-jewish-roman-leaders-2178033

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Persecution In The Church By Jewish And Roman Leaders" 04 December 2022. Web.1 July. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/persecution-church-jewish-roman-leaders-2178033>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Persecution In The Church By Jewish And Roman Leaders", 04 December 2022, Accessed.1 July. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/persecution-church-jewish-roman-leaders-2178033