Scripture on Worldly Rejection of Christians
The rejection of Christians by the world is a recurring theme in the New Testament. Jesus himself warned his disciples that they would face hatred and rejection because they were not of the world, just as he was not [3]. This rejection is not limited to Jesus' immediate followers; it is a characteristic of the Christian experience throughout history.
The biblical writers often link the world's rejection of Christians to the rejection of Jesus Christ himself. In John's Gospel, Jesus says that those who reject his disciples also reject him [3]. The apostle Paul writes that the rejection of Israel was a catalyst for the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles, and that their eventual acceptance will be a source of life from the dead [1, 7]. This theme is echoed in the warnings against denying Christ, which is seen as a characteristic of false teachers and a sign of being antichrist [2, 5].
The consequences of rejecting Christ are severe. According to the author of Hebrews, those who reject Christ are guilty of crucifying him again and are subject to a worse punishment than those who rejected the law of Moses [6]. This punishment is described as eternal damnation. The rejection of Christ is also associated with the anger of God, which is averted by faith in Christ and repentance [4].
Early Christian interpreters saw the rejection of Christians by the world as a providential event that facilitated the spread of the gospel. John Chrysostom, for example, argued that the rejection of Christianity by the Jews allowed the gospel to reach the Gentiles, and that the acceptance of the Gentiles would in turn provoke the Jews to jealousy and stimulate them to accept the gospel [8, 9, 10].
The world's rejection of Christians is not limited to any particular group or era. According to Adam Clarke, the rulers of this world have generally rejected the religion of Christ because it requires a life of mortification, self-denial, and humility that is at odds with their worldly pursuits [11]. This rejection is a mark of the truth of God's word, which is often rejected by the great, the mighty, and the wise.
The biblical writers and early Christian interpreters agree that the world's rejection of Christians is a fundamental aspect of the Christian experience. While this rejection has severe consequences for those who reject Christ, it also has a providential purpose in the spread of the gospel.
Sources
- Romans “For if the rejection of them is the reconciling of the world, what would their acceptance be, but life from the dead? -- Romans 11:15”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Denial of Christ — In doctrine -- Mr 8:38; 2Ti 1:8. In practice -- Php 3:18,10; Tit 1:16. A characteristic of false teachers -- 2Pe 2:1; Jude 1:4. Is the spirit of Antichrist -- 1Jo 2:22,23; 4:3. Christ will deny those guilty of -- Mt 10:33; 2Ti 2:12. Leads to destruction -- 2Pe 2:1; Jude 1:4,15. Exemplified Peter. -- Mt 26:69-75. The Jews. -- Joh 18:40; Ac 3:13,14.”
- John “I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. -- John 17:14”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Anger of God, The — Averted by Christ -- Lu 2:11,14; Ro 5:9; 2Co 5:18,19; Eph 2:14,17; Col 1:20; 1Th 1:10. Is averted from them that believe -- Joh 3:14-18; Ro 3:25; 5:1. Is averted upon confession of sin and repentance -- Job 33:27,28; Ps 106:43-45; Jer 3:12,13; 18:7,8; 31:18-20; Joe 2:12-14; Lu 15:18-20. Is slow -- Ps 103:8; Isa 48:9; Jon 4:2; Na 1:3. Is righteous -- Ps 58:10,11; La 1:18; Ro 2:6,8; 3:5,6; Re 16:6,7. The justice of, not to be questioned -- Ro 9:18,20,22. Manifested in terrors -- Ex 14:24; Ps 76:6-8; Jer 10:10; La 2:20-22. Manifested in judgments and”
- II John “II John 1:7 (BSB) — For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 10:28: 10:28-29 The author argues from lesser to greater (see study note on 9:14). The lesser situation is the old punishment of death for a person who refused to obey the law of Moses (see Deut 13:6-11). The greater situation concerns those who reject Christ and treat him with contempt. • how much worse the punishment: Eternal damnation is the fate awaiting those who have rejected Christ. • The blood of the covenant, which made us holy, is Christ’s perfect sacrifice (9:11–10:18). • insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit: Those who reject the Spirit’s prompting and mer”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 11:15: For if the casting away of them--The apostle had denied that they were east away (Rom 11:1); here he affirms it. But both are true; they were cast away, though neither totally nor finally, and it is of this partial and temporary rejection that the apostle here speaks. be the reconciling of the--Gentile world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?--The reception of the whole family of Israel, scattered as they are among all nations under heaven, and the most inveterate enemies of the Lord Jesus, will be such a stupendous mani”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: may fall (completely away from God and be lost to all hope)? No. There is a providential purpose in this sad lapse. God has overruled it for the salvation of the Gentiles. When the Jews rejected Christianity, then the gospel turned from them and went to the Gentiles, so that the rejection of the Jews facilitated the conversion of the heathen. And the acceptance of the Gentiles reacted again in favor of the Jews because it provoked them to jealousy and so stimulated them to accept the blessings which the Gentiles were receiving. Thus their fall has a ”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: Israel’s rejection is not forever; the nation is to be restored. The order of thought is as follows: (1) The rejection is partial. The Scriptures furnish analogous examples of partial falls and rejections of the nation, 1–10 . (2) The fall of Israel is temporary. Some branches were cut off because of unbelief and Gentile branches inserted in their place, but the natural branches shall yet be restored, 11–24 . (3) Reflections upon the wise and gracious purposes of God in all these dispensations, 25–36 .—G.B.S. 1502 Field with one ms . reads “What then”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: vv. 13–16 .) I say the return of the Jews will be a great blessing to you, my Gentile Christian brethren, and I urge this point with you. It is all to be to your advantage. In hoping and laboring for the conversion of my own people, I am still laboring in the line of my mission as apostle to the Gentiles. If I can save any of the Jews and stimulate their jealousy so that they will be desirous of availing themselves of the blessings of the gospel, I shall be doing the greatest possible good to the Gentile world. Why? ( 15 ) Because if their rejection ”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 7:48: Have any of the rulers - believed on him? - Very few. But is this a proof that he is not of God? No, truly. If he were of the world, the world would love its own. The religion of Christ has been in general rejected by the rulers of this world. A life of mortification, self-denial, and humility, does not comport with the views of those who will have their portion in this life. It has ever been a mark of the truth of God that the great, the mighty, and the wise have in general rejected it. They are too much occupied with this world to attend to the concerns of the next.”