Sunday Martyr Moment: Jude, Bartholomew, and Thomas

By Elizabeth Prata*

Foxe's Book of Martyrs. According to this summary from Christian Book Summaries,

Writing in the mid-1500s, John Foxe was living in the midst of intense religious persecution at the hands of the dominant Roman Catholic Church. In graphic detail, he offers accounts of Christians being martyred for their belief in Jesus Christ, describing how God gave them extraordinary courage and stamina to endure unthinkable torture.

From the same link, the book's purpose was fourfold:

  • Showcase the courage of true believers who have willingly taken a stand for Jesus Christ throughout the ages, even if it meant death,
  • Demonstrate the grace of God in the lives of those martyred for their faith,
  • Expose the ruthlessness of religious and political leaders as they sought to suppress those with differing beliefs,
  • Celebrate the courage of those who risked their lives to translate the Bible into the common language of the people.
Jude

Apostle Jude
by Anthonis van Dyck

The brother of James, was commonly called Thaddeus. He was crucified at Edessa, an ancient city of Mesopotamia, about A.D. 72.

Bartholomew

Tradition says he preached in several countries, and then translated the Gospel of Matthew into the language of East Indian, he taught it in that country. He was at length cruelly beaten and then crucified by the impatient idolaters.

Thomas

Called Didymus, preached the Gospel in Persia, Parthia and India. In Calamina, India, he was tortured by angry pagans, run through with spears, and thrown into the flames of an oven.


*This essay first appeared on The End Time in June 2013

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