Persecution in the Bible and around the World Today
GREGORY C. COCHRAN
Christians in the Crosshairs: Persecution in the Bible and around the World Today
Copyright © 2016 by Gregory C. Cochran
Lexham Press, 1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225
First edition by Weaver Book Company
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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the New American Standard Bible®. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www. Lockman.org.
Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Print ISBN 9781683591702
Digital ISBN 9781683591719
Cover: Frank Gutbrod
to my father’s bride, and to the bride of Christ
Why This Book on Christian Persecution?
PART 1. THE MEANING AND MAGNITUDE OF CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION
1. Toward a Definition of Christian Persecution and Martyrdom
2. Christian Persecution around the World Today
PART 2. THE BIBLICAL PORTRAIT OF PERSECUTION
3. The Genesis of Persecution and Martyrdom: Stephen or Abel?
4. The Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed Are the Persecuted”
5. The Gospel of Mark: The High Cost of Following Jesus
6. Luke-Acts: Persecution in Salvation History and the Early Church
7. Paul’s Letters: Persecution and the Righteousness of Christ
8. The Book of Hebrews: A Call to Remember the Persecuted
9. Peter’s Epistles: Persecution and the Blessed Life
10. John’s Writings: “Idolspizing” and Vindication
PART 3. THE IMPLICATIONS AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
11. The Presence of Christ: The Source and Comfort of Persecution
12. Ministry to the Persecuted Church: Why It Should Be a Top Social Justice Concern for the Church
No book gets published without untold hours of dedication both from the author and from the many others necessary to make the publication happen. In this process, I have come to appreciate greatly the work of Jim Weaver and Weaver Book Company. I am thankful for his desire to publish high—quality biblical literature for the local church. I am thankful for his ...
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About Christians in the Crosshairs: Persecution in the Bible and around the World TodayAn insightful and (surprisingly) encouraging biblical explanation as to why trouble and persecution are inevitable for Christians. Since they are a peculiar people, are in the world but not of the world, and follow a Master who is offensive to many, Christians are naturally the objects of disdain and hostility. Understanding the nature of the enmity between the world and the Christian is critical for living in a world where Satan is its prince. The book is an attempt to start a conversation about the reality of Christian persecution. It is a wake-up call to the modern church, especially in the United States. “My hope for all who read this volume,” writes the author, “is a strengthened faith. One of the most surprising aspects of studying persecution has been its effect on me. I thought I would feel woeful and defeated after hearing of such great suffering. However, the opposite is true. The Gospel, with its resurrection power, is able to take the worst situations and reframe them in victory. Hearing stories of triumph through suffering has been nothing short of glorious.” |
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