The New Encyclopedia of Christian Martyrs

by Mark Water

Publisher:

John Hunt

, 2001

Overview

The New Encyclopedia of Christian Martyrs includes thousands of stories of faithful Christians who gladly gave their lives for the Lord and Master—from Stephen, the first Christian martyr, to those martyred in our day.

• Accounts of over 200,000 martyrs
• Drawn from over 50 countries
• From Biblical Times through Today

The New Encyclopedia of Christian Martyrs testifies to the faith of Christian martyrs over the past 2,000 years. In this volume, readers find accounts—sometimes horrific, always disturbing, often inspiring—of many who died for their faith. Stories are arranged in chronological sections: Bible times, the Roman Empire, the fifth through the fifteenth centuries, the Reformation era, and the seventeenth through the twenty-first centuries.

Special feature pages throughout the book explain Christian teaching on martyrdom and persecution, prayers and famous quotations of the martyrs, famous quotations about martyrdom and persecution, and historical details.

The electronic version of this book will be especially useful for instantly locating biographical information about historical and contemporary figures who died for their faith. Browse using the hyperlinked table of contents or search for a name and you will be able to instantly open to valuable information!

Pastors, teachers, Bible study leaders, librarians, and any Christian who desires to learn about the persecuted Church will find a wealth of information in this volume.

Contents

Top Highlights

“‘The history of Christian martyrdom is, in fact, the history of Christianity itself; for it is in the arena, at the stake, and in the dungeon that the religion of Christ has won its most glorious triumphs.’ So wrote William Bramley-Moore in his conclusion to an introduction to an edition of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.” (Pages viii–ix)

“At the age of ninety-four he was beat and stoned by the Jews;” (Page 42)

“In Christian usage the term ‘martyr’ soon acquired the meaning ‘blood-witness’ (see Revelation 2:13), the person who was killed because of his testimony to Jesus. With the spread of persecution the word was used of those who had undergone hardships for the faith, and then ‘martyr’ was restricted in its usage to those who had suffered death on account of their Christian faith. The martyrs were the heroes of the church.” (Page x)

“The word ‘martyr’ derives from the Greek word martus, ‘witness.’ The word was originally used in the Acts of the Apostles for people who were witnesses of our Lord’s life and resurrection: ‘You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1:8).” (Page x)

“may serve to stimulate its readers to a more ardent devotion to the great cause for which the martyrs suffered.” (Pages viii–ix)

Product Details

• Title: The New Encyclopedia of Christian Martyrs
• Editor: Mark Water
• Publisher: John Hunt Publishing Ltd
• Publication Date: 2001
• Pages: 984

About Mark Water

Mark Water  was born in Devon, England and trained for the Anglican ministry at the London College of Divinity. He was ordained as an evangelical minister in 1966.

Water has served as writer, editor, and advisor for a variety of titles and projects. In addition to the Bible Made Easy Series, Water authored The Encyclopedia of Christian Quotations and The New Encyclopedia of Christian Martyrs which can both be found in the John Hunt Desk Collection.