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Persecuted Christians' Humility and Courage in Adversity

Persecuted Christians are often characterized by humility and courage, virtues that enable them to endure adversity for their faith. Humility, a prominent Christian grace, is a state of mind pleasing to God that helps believers remain tranquil under trials [2]. Courage, often expressed as perseverance, is a characteristic of saints and an evidence of their reconciliation with God [4].

The New Testament frequently addresses the reality of persecution for believers. Jesus himself suffered persecution, submitting to it patiently [1]. He also warned his followers that they could expect similar treatment, stating that "all that live godly in Christ, shall suffer" [1, 2 Timothy 3:12]. The apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians, articulates a posture of contentment in the face of suffering: "Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong" [5, 6]. This sentiment reflects both humility, in acknowledging weakness, and courage, in finding strength through Christ amidst hardship.

Humility is exemplified by Christ himself, who declared his own humility and demonstrated it through his birth, subjection to parents, poverty, and willingness to serve others, even washing his disciples' feet [3, 8]. This example encourages believers to embrace humility, recognizing it as necessary for God's service [3]. The humble are regarded, heard, and delivered by God, and they are promised exaltation and grace [3].

Persecution often arises from ignorance of God and Christ, hatred for the gospel, pride, or mistaken zeal [1]. Despite these origins, Christians are called to respond with endurance and blessing. As 1 Corinthians 4:12 states, "Being persecuted, we endure" [7]. Matthew Henry notes that the frequent counsel to Christians regarding suffering in 1 Peter indicates the significant danger new converts faced from persecution, emphasizing that their good behavior under such circumstances is crucial for the honor of Christ and their own comfort [9]. He also observes that the apostles, though "troubled on every side," found "wonderful support" and "great relief" [14].

The perseverance of believers under persecution is seen as a sign of their steadfastness and worthiness of the kingdom of God [10, 11]. John Gill describes the "afflicted and poor people" mentioned in Zephaniah 3:12 as those preserved from calamity, enduring afflictions from sin, temptation, and the "reproaches and persecutions of men" [12]. Calvin, in his commentary on Philippians, emphasizes that enduring persecutions is a condition of being called to faith in Christ, an "unmerited gift of God" [13]. This perspective suggests that humility and courage in adversity are not merely human traits but divinely enabled responses to the challenges of faith.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Persecution — Christ suffered -- Ps 69:26; Joh 5:16. Christ voluntarily submitted to -- Isa 50:6. Christ was patient under -- Isa 53:7. Saints may expect -- Mr 10:30; Lu 21:12; Joh 15:20. Saints suffer, for the sake of God -- Jer 15:15. Of saints, is a persecution of Christ -- Zec 2:8; Ac 9:4,5. All that live godly in Christ, shall suffer -- 2Ti 3:12. Originates Ignorance of God and Christ. -- Joh 16:3. Hated to God and Christ. -- Joh 15:20,24. Hatred to the gospel. -- Mt 13:21. Pride. -- Ps 10:2. Mistaken zeal. -- Ac 13:50; 26:9-11. Is inconsistent with the spirit o”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Humility — A prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11-13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22). Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6-8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5). It is a "great paradox in Ch”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Perseverance — An evidence of reconciliation with God -- Col 1:21-23. An evidence of belonging to Christ -- Joh 8:31; Heb 3:6,14. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 4:18. To be manifested in Seeking God. -- 1Ch 16:11. Waiting upon god. -- Ho 12:6. Prayer. -- Ro 12:12; Eph 6:18. Well-doing. -- Ro 2:7; 2Th 3:13. Continuing in the faith. -- Ac 14:22; Col 1:23; 2Ti 4:7. Holding fast hope. -- Heb 3:6. Maintained through The power of God. -- Ps 37:24; Php 1:6. The power of Christ. -- Joh 10:28. The intercession of Christ. -- Lu 22:31,32; Joh 17:11. The fear of God. -- Jer 32”
  5. 2 Corinthians “2 Corinthians 12:10 (NASB) — Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
  6. II Corinthians “II Corinthians 12:10 (BSB) — That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
  7. 1 Corinthians “We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure. -- 1 Corinthians 4:12”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility of Christ, The — Declared by himself -- Mt 11:29. Exhibited in his Taking our nature. -- Php 2:7; Heb 2:16. Birth. -- Lu 2:4-7. Subjection to his parents. -- Lu 2:51. Station in life. -- Mt 13:55; Joh 9:29. Poverty. -- Lu 9:58; 2Co 8:9. Partaking of our infirmities. -- Heb 4:15; 5:7. Submitting to ordinances. -- Mt 3:13-15. Becoming a servant. -- Mt 20:28; Lu 22:27; Php 2:7. Associating with the despised. -- Mt 9:10,11; Lu 15:1,2. Refusing honours. -- Joh 5:41; 6:15. Entry into Jerusalem. -- Zec 9:9; Mt 21:5,7. Washing his disciples' feet. -- Joh 13:5. Obedi”
  9. 1 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 4:12: The frequent repetition of counsel and comfort to Christians, considered as sufferers, in every chapter of this epistle, shows that the greatest danger these new converts were in arose from the persecutions to which their embracing Christianity exposed them. The good behaviour of Christians under sufferings is the most difficult part of their duty, but yet necessary both for the honour of Christ and their own comfort; and therefore the apostle, having extorted them in the former part of this chapter to the great duty of mortification, comes here to direct them in”
  10. 2 Thessalonians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Thessalonians 1:5: Having mentioned their persecutions and tribulations, which they endured principally for the cause of Christ, the apostle proceeds to offer several things for their comfort under them; as, I. He tells them of the present happiness and advantage of their sufferings, Th2 1:5. Their faith being thus tried, and patience exercised, they were improved by their sufferings, insomuch that they were counted worthy of the kingdom of God. Their sufferings were a manifest token of this, that they were worthy or meet to be accounted Christians indeed, seeing they could ”
  11. Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 44:22: Their protracted sufferings as God's people attests the constancy. Paul (Rom 8:36) uses this to describe Christian steadfastness in persecution.”
  12. Zephaniah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Zephaniah 3:12: I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people Of a character just the reverse of the proud and haughty, that should be removed from Jerusalem and Judea by death or captivity; these are they that should be preserved from the general calamity, as the Christians were, and were left in the church of God: these were an "afflicted" people, as the Lord's people in all ages are afflicted with a body of sin; with the temptations of Satan; with the hidings of God's face; with bodily infirmities, and with the reproaches and persecutions of men; the first”
  13. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 9.5: that the Philippians may know that they have been called to the faith of Christ on this condition — that they endure persecutions on his account, as though he had said that their adoption can no more be separated from the cross, than Christ can be torn asunder from himself. Here Paul clearly testifies, that faith, as well as constancy in enduring persecutions, 91 91 “ Les afflictions et persecutions ;” — “Afflictions and persecutions.” is an unmerited gift of God. And certainly the knowledge of God is a wisdom that ”
  14. 2 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 4:8: In these verses the apostle gives an account of their courage and patience under all their sufferings, where observe, I. How their sufferings, and patience under them, are declared, Co2 4:8-12. The apostles were great sufferers; therein they followed their Master: Christ had told them that in the world they should have tribulation, and so they had; yet they met with wonderful support, great relief, and many allays of their sorrows. "We are," says the apostle, "troubled on every side, afflicted many ways, and we meet with almost all sorts of troubles; yet not”
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