Martyr
A martyr is a believer who suffers death because of faithful witness to Christ. In the New Testament, the idea is closely tied to bearing testimony to the truth of the gospel.
At a Glance
A martyr is a believer who suffers death because of faithful witness to Christ. In the New Testament, the idea is closely tied to bearing testimony to the truth of the gospel.
Description
A martyr is a faithful witness to Jesus Christ who suffers death because of allegiance to Him and His gospel. In the New Testament, the underlying word group is connected to testimony or witness, and this helps explain why the church came to use “martyr” for those who sealed their witness with their blood. Jesus warned His followers that persecution would come, and Revelation especially honors those who remain faithful unto death. At the same time, Scripture does not present martyrdom as a separate means of grace or as something believers should seek for its own sake; rather, it is the costly consequence that may come from steadfast confession of Christ in a hostile world.