Sacrifice by men and women in Christ

   After doing ministry work in various manners during my 28 years of following Jesus, I have learned successful ministry work involves teamwork.  I am convicted that when Jesus gave what is commonly termed “The Great Commission” to His disciples, it was also intended to be a command to all disciples of all following generations, since Jesus mentions being with us to the “very end of the age.”  Thus all Christians are called to do ministry work.  Now people serve in a variety of ways according to callings and gifts, yet all Christians are called, whether man or woman, or whether young or old, to be a witness of Jesus in their community, and to serve Him.
   When it comes to positions in church communities, many have the conviction women can be pastors, whereas many have the conviction women cannot be pastors.  I think this is a challenging Biblical interpretation issue.  This doctrine has become a divisive point in the United States culture which has aided to the polarization of a number of denominations, which I think is sad.  Yet I address one fact I hope all Christians can agree on: both women and men have given their lives as martyrs for Jesus.
   The book published in 2017 entitled Christian Women in the Patristic World: Their Influence, Authority, and Legacy in the second through Fifth Centuries, is authored by Lynn H. Cohick and Amy Brown Hughes.  Dr. Cohick was hired in the past year as the new Provost at Denver Seminary, and Dr. Hughes is a professor at Gordon College.  My friend Sarah, who is the daughter of my longtime college friend from Virginia Tech, has Dr. Hughes for a class this current semester, and Sarah told me she is a fantastic professor.  Full of detailed information, these two high class scholars give a thorough examination of Christian women in post-apostolic times.  The book is complex, yet much historic information is stated in plain terms.
   One point the authors made which illuminated me was the fact many women as well as men were murdered for their faith in Jesus Christ in the second and third centuries.  Dr. Cohick and Dr. Hughes focus much on two martyrs, Perpetua and Felicitas, from the source, Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas, which was written by Tertullian.  This got me thinking about the historical writings of Eusebius, which are referenced at times by Dr. Cohick and Dr. Hughes.  In 2006 and 2007, I chipped away at Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, which is a rough read, yet a crucial book concerning early Christian history.  But honestly I skipped the “Book of Martyrs” section for the most part, since the killings were so evil, horrible, painful, and demented.  The torture of Christians during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian was unthinkable.  My studies over the years have included the reality of martyrdom, since I have studied much about the Twelve Apostles.
   Searching back through Ecclesiastical History, I swiftly found the names of three women who are mentioned as accepting martyrdom for Christ.  First is a Thecla.(1)  This is not the legendary Thecla whom Dr. Cohick and Dr. Hughes devote the first chapter of their book to.  The latter Thecla was probably named after the former.  Eusebius tells of a second woman in the first chapter of book five who was martyred named Blandina,(2) who is discussed by Dr. Cohick and Dr. Hughes.(3)  And only paragraphs later Eusebius tells of the martyrdom of a third woman by the name of Biblias.(4)  Eusebius may have listed others.  Women were martyred for their faith in Jesus!
   Now I question the following statement made in Christian Women in the Patristic World: “Although very few Christians died a martyr’s death in [the second] century…”(5)  They seem to contradict the statement made in their footnote number four on that same page which states, “…many congregants are martyred in 177.”(6)  And in talking about the martyrdom of Ignatius and Polycarp in that footnote number four, Justin Martyr is not even mention.  But most importantly no consideration was given of how other Christians may have been killed in various countries without having their sacrifice recorded in writing, or without having their sacrifice recorded in writing which still exists.
   Yet this question aside, the three of us would completely agree many women and men were killed for their faith in Jesus Christ in the combination of the second and third centuries.  This is a powerful contemplation for me, because it emphasizes the fact there have been women all throughout history, including in the current day and age, who have given the ultimate sacrifice of losing their physical life in service to Jesus Christ.
   The Church comprises of men and women who have been adopted into the family of God by faith in Jesus Christ.  We all have one Father.  We all are in His Holy family.  Whether man or woman, we are called to witness the love of Jesus Christ, and to tell and show people who have not received salvation the Gospel and the truth that Jesus loves them.
   I conclude with the question, “Are we brothers and sisters willing to live for Jesus?”  In the wake of the evil persecution of Christians resulting from the edicts in 303 A.D. by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, there remained the opportunity for people to live for Jesus.  As restoration was taking place, Eusebius records: “…and at the same time [both genders] of every age, male and female, with the whole power of the mind, and with minds and hearts rejoicing in prayer and thanksgiving, gave glory to God, the Author of all good.”(7)
   Today, recognizing sacrifice is necessary, brothers and sisters-in-Christ can live by the love of Jesus!
Hunter Irvine

(1) Eusebius, Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, trans. C.F. Cruse (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson, 1998), 309.
(2) Ibid., 150.
(3) Lynn H. Cohick and Amy Brown Hughes, Christian Women in the Patristic World: Their Influence, Authority, and Legacy in the Second through Fifth Centuries 
(Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2017), 96-98.
(4) Eusebius, Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, trans. C.F. Cruse (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson, 1998), 151.
(5) Lynn H. Cohick and Amy Brown Hughes, Christian Women in the Patristic World: Their Influence, Authority, and Legacy in the Second through Fifth Centuries 
(Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2017), 28.
(6) Ibid.
(7) Eusebius, Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, trans. C.F. Cruse (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson, 1998), 357.