Martyrdom
Martyrdom
is a term employed by Christian ecclesiastical writers to record the suffering of death on account of one’s adherence to the faith of the Gospel. See MARTYR. Iln times of persecution, martyrdom came to be thought so meritorious that it acquired the name of second baptism, or baptism in blood, because of the power and efficacy it was supposed to have in saving men by the invisible baptism of the Spirit, in the absence of the external element of water. In any case in which a catechumen was apprehended and slain for the name of Christ before he could be admitted among the faithful by baptism, his martyrdom was deemed sufficient to answer all the purposes of the sacrament. In the writings of Prosper there is an epigram to this effect:
Franudati non sunt sacro baptismate Christi,
Fons qnibus ilpsa sui salnguinis unda fnit;
Et quicquid sacii fert mystica forma lavacri,
Id totum implevit gloria martyrii.
They are not deprived of the sacred baptism of Christ who, instead of a font, are washed in their own blood; for whatever benefit accrues to any by the mystical rite of the sacred laver, is all fulfilled by the glory of martyrdom. The martyrs were supposed to enjoy very singular privileges; in some ages the doctrine was taught that immediately on death they passed to the enjoyment of the beatific vision, for which other Christians were required to wait till the day of judgment; and that God would grant to their prayers the hastening of his kingdom and the shortening the times of persecution.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Martyrdom
General references
Psa 44:22; Rom 8:36; Mat 10:21-22; Mar 13:12; Luk 21:16-17; Mat 10:39; Mat 16:25; Mat 23:34-35; Luk 11:50; Mat 24:9; Luk 9:24; Joh 12:25; 1Co 13:3; Rev 6:9-11; Rev 11:7-12; Rev 12:11; Rev 16:6; Rev 17:6 Persecution
Instances of:
– Abel
Gen 4:3-8
– Prophets slain by Jezebel
1Ki 18:4; 1Ki 18:13
– Zechariah
2Ch 24:21-22
– John the Baptist
Mar 6:18-28
– Jesus
Jesus, The Christ
– Stephen
Act 7:58-60
– James the apostle
Act 12:2
– The prophets
Mat 22:6; Mat 23:35; Rom 11:3; 1Th 2:15; Heb 11:32-37