What the Bible says
Persecution should not surprise the believer. Paul wrote, “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12), and Peter said, “think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you” (1 Peter 4:12). Jesus told His disciples, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). To suffer for His name is to walk the path He walked first.
Scripture even calls it a gift: “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” (Philippians 1:29). The apostles, beaten and threatened, departed “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41). Peter explains why: “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you” (1 Peter 4:14).
Our response is to follow Christ, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:23). So Jesus tells us, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you” (Matthew 5:44), and Paul echoes Him: “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not” (Romans 12:14). We leave judgment with God and keep on loving.
Persecution cannot reach what matters most. Paul asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” and answers, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:35, 37). He could say, “Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:9), knowing that “our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
14 verses, King James Version
1 Peter 2:21–23
Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example
21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Philippians 1:29
Suffering for Christ is given as a gift
29For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
2 Corinthians 4:8–10
Persecuted, but not forsaken
8We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
1 Peter 4:12–13
Think it not strange; rejoice in His sufferings
12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Matthew 5:10–12
Blessed when persecuted
10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
John 15:18–20
They hated Jesus first
18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
2 Timothy 3:12
Expect opposition
12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
1 Peter 4:14–16
Suffering for Christ’s name
14If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Romans 8:35–37
Victory through His love
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Matthew 10:28
Fear God, not people
28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Acts 5:40–42
Rejoicing to suffer for Him
40And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:14
Answer cursing with blessing
14Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Matthew 5:44
Pray for those against you
44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Revelation 2:10
Faithful to the end
10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain). Read aloud by Anthony.