SUNDAY SCHOOL( March 2, 2012) : WHAT IS THE NARROW GATE ? Matt 7:13-14 13Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. John 3:19-2119 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. 1. Headline March 1, 2014: Zambo Judge Reynerio Estacio killed by riding in tandem. According to the news he is fearless, impartial, and swift in dispensing justice on high profile cases such as politicians, police , Abu Sayaff 2. Martyrs of the New Testament: John The Baptist was beheaded by Herod. (Matthew 14:1-12) (see Herod The Great and The Herods) The account of Stephen is very well documented in the Bible (Acts chapters 6 and 7). He is generally regarded as the first Christian martyr. It has been estimated that about 2,000 Christians, along with Nicanor, one of the seven deacons (Acts 6:5), also suffered martyrdom during the great persecution that arose after Stephen (Acts 8:1). James, the brother of John James was put to death with the sword by King Herod (Acts 12:2) Philip Reportedly suffered martyrdom at Heliopolis, in Phrygia. He was severely flogged, imprisoned, and later crucified. Matthew The former tax collector, he was killed with a halberd (a pike fitted with an ax head) in Nadabah. James Stoned and clubbed to death in Jerusalem. Matthias He was stoned, then beheaded at Jerusalem. Andrew, the brother of Peter He was crucified on an X-shaped cross, two ends of which were in the ground. Hence the origin of the term, St. Andrews Cross. Mark was reportedly torn to pieces by a mob in Alexandria after he told them that their god, a statue carved from stone, was worthless (see Images and Idols). PeterPeter was reportedly crucified, upside down, during the reign of Emperor Nero. Paul Beheaded, or torn to pieces by wild animals in the arena, during the time of Nero.. JudeThe brother of James, often called Thaddeus. He was crucified at Edessa. Bartholomew Tortured and crucified in India. Thomas was reportedly killed with a spear in India. Luke Luke was the author of the Gospel which is called by his name, and also probably the Book Of Acts. One account states that he died of old age, while another says that he was hanged in an olive tree in Greece. Simon the Zealot He traveled widely, and is believed to have been crucified in what is today Britain. John John took care of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ (not the mother of God), after the Crucifixion (John 19:26-27). He went on to write the Book of Revelation while a prisoner on Patmos. He may be the only apostle who escaped a violent death. Barnabas is believed to have been killed about 10 years after Paul. 3. The Roman Emperors after the Apostles time: 1) Domitian, (AD 95). Persecution was short but extremely violent. Among them Flavius Clemens , cousin of the Emperor and Flavia Domitila his wife and Apostle John were banished. 2) Trajan (AD 98-117). One of the best emperors, but felt he should uphold the law of the land and since Christianity was regarded as an illegal religion for refusing to take part in the Emperor worship, Christians were punished and killed. Among who perished was Simon the brother of Jesus Christ, Bishop of Jerusalem, crucified AD 107, Ignatius, 2nd Bishop of Antioch, thrown to the wild beast (AD 110). 3) Hadrian (117-138). Persecuted the Christians but in moderation. Telesphorus, pastor of the Roman church and many others suffered martyrdom. 4) Antonius Pius (138-161). Favored Christianity but felt he has to uphold the Law. Polycarp was among those martyred. 5) Marcus Aurelius (161-180) His persecution was cruel and barbarous the severest since Nero. Thousand were beheaded or thrown to wild beast. Among them was Justine Martyr. 6) Septemius Severus (193-211). The persecution was severe but not general. Egypt and North Africa suffered most. In Alexandria many were daily burned, crucified , beheaded and torn to pieces by wild beast...Among them, Leonidas the father of Origen. 7) Maximin (235-238).Prominent Christians were put to death. Origen escaped by hiding. 8) Decius (249-251).Was determined to exterminate Christianity. The persecution was extensive and very violent. Multitudes perished with the cruelest tortures in Rome, North Africa, Egypt and Asia Minor. Cyprian said the whole world I devastated. 9) Valerian (253-260) More severe than Decius, he aimed the utter destruction of Christianity. Many leaders were executed among them Cyprian, bishop of Carthage. 10) Diocletian (284-305). The last Imperial persecution. For 10 years Christians were hunted in Caves and Forest. They were burned, thrown to wild beast, or tortured. It was a systematic effort to abolish the Christian name. 4. The writings of the Apostolic fathers which caused their martyrdom: A. The writings of the Apostolic fathers (more exactly the “Sub-Apostolic Fathers”) are extremely valuable, as they form the connecting link between the Apostles and later Church history. Some of them were so highly regarded, that in some regions they were considered as part of the Scriptures. 1. Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians AD 95. Clement was a Bishop of Rome (AD 91-100), a companion of Paul and Peter. He must have been acquainted with John. He wrote his Epistle the year John was banished to Patmos. He was thought, possibly as the Clement in Phil 4:3. He was condemned to the mines and suffered martyrdom in the 3rd year of Emperor Trajan (AD 98-1172. 2. Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians. About AD 110, Polycarp, pupil of John, Bishop of Smyrna, wrote a number of letters. It reads very much like the Epistles of Paul and his reply to the Philippians asking his advice. 3. Epistle of Ignatius AD 110. Ignatius was a pupil of John, and Bishop of Antioch. He suffered martyrdom in Rome AD 110. He wrote seven Epistles: To the Ephesians, Magnesians , Trallians, Philadelphians, Smyrneans, Romans and Polycarp. He emphasized the evil of Heresy and Division and the counsel of submission to the Elders of the church. 4. Epistle of Barnabas. Written between AD 90 and 120. The Epistle is a general Epistle addressed to all Christians, containing a sort of outline interpretation of the Scripture. It was found in the Siniatic manuscript of the Bible. 5. The Papias’ fragments. Papias was a pupil of John, bishop of Hierapolis. Martyred about the same time with Polycarp. He wrote an “Explanation on the Lord’s Discourses” whose extant were read until the 13th century. 6. “Apologies” by Justin Martyr, AD 100-167. He wrote to Emperor Antoninus in defense of Christianity. A philosopher, who, after trying Stoic, Peripatic, Pythagorean, and Platonic Philosophies found satisfaction in Christianity,.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Mar 2014 13:25:05 +0000
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