Dictionary of Bible Themes: 8796 persecution, forms of

8796 persecution, forms of

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8700 Threats to the life of faith » 8794 persecution » 8796 persecution, forms of

Scripture identifies a number of reasons why individuals and governmments may attempt to persecute believers and also the methods by which they may carry this out.

The motives for persecution

Envy

Acts 5:17-18 See also Genesis 26:14-15; Genesis 37:4,8; 1 Samuel 18:8-9; Psalm 106:16; Daniel 6:1-5; Matthew 27:18; Acts 13:45; James 3:16

Fear

Hatred

1 John 3:12 See also Genesis 4:3-8; 1 Kings 22:8 pp 2 Chronicles 18:7; John 7:7

The means of persecution

Deception

Psalm 38:12 See also 1 Kings 21:10; Ezra 4:12-13; Psalm 35:11; Jeremiah 20:10; Amos 7:10; Matthew 5:11; John 7:12; Acts 6:11; Acts 21:21,28; Acts 24:5

Threats

Ridicule

Nehemiah 4:1-3 See also Hosea 9:7; 1 Corinthians 4:13; Hebrews 13:13; Revelation 2:9

Ostracism

Matthew 10:22 See also John 9:29,34; John 12:42; John 16:2

Violence

Romans 8:35 See also Jeremiah 38:6; Matthew 10:17 pp Mark 13:9; John 21:18-19; Acts 5:40; Acts 16:37; 2 Corinthians 11:25; Galatians 6:17; Hebrews 11:36-39

How God deals with persecutors

1 Timothy 1:13 See also Daniel 4:34-35; Acts 12:1,21-23; Galatians 1:23