What does persecution mean in the bible?
The word “ persecution is specific to the Christian faith. Because of the way the gospel of Jesus is portrayed, it is easy for us to believe that persecution is something that only happened back in the early days of Christianity. But the reality is that persecution is still happening today. In some countries, there are laws that criminalize Christianity. In others, people are harassed, jailed, physically tortured, or even murdered just for being a Christian. Some people live in fear of persecution.
What does the word persecution mean in the Old Testament?
The word most often used to describe the persecution of the Israelites in the Old Testament is “sickness” or “disease.” In some cases these terms are used as a euphemism for death. The Book of deuteronomy states, “If there is sudden death in the city, put the inhabitants of that place to the sword, for the spread of disease.” Deuteronomy 17:16 speaks of the death penalty for those who �
What does the word persecution mean in the New Testament?
Persecution is the experience of suffering for one’s Christian faith. It doesn’t have to be physical violence. It can also be from an outside source, like the government. But persecution can also occur from other Christians, as we’ll see.
What is meant by persecution in the Bible?
The word persecution in the Bible refers to any actions taken against a person or group of people who does not believe as the persecutor does. The Bible itself uses the word “persecution” to describe the judgment of God on those who don’t believe in the true God. For example, in Deuteronomy, Moses warns the Israelites that “If any of you say to his brother, ‘What you should do?’ You should answer, ‘Do
What does persecution mean in the west?
In the west we are so used to violence that it is hard to imagine the kind of harm that the word “persecution” used to carry. What persecution means today is something that is much less intense than it was in the first century. Jesus spoke of persecution in the Bible, but the kinds of persecution he spoke of were relatively mild. In the early church, there were sometimes violent incidents of persecution that took place against those who spoke against the beliefs of the church.