Identifying Martyrdom

Abstract

This chapter explains the origins of the language and theology of Christian martyrdom. The chapter explores the relationship between martyrdom as a passive suffering of violence for Christian identity and the possibility of martyrdom resulting from active Christian advocacy. That raises the question of whether active service of God and neighbor can ever rightly involve violence. If so, can those who die in the course of such activity ever rightly be considered martyrs? Answering such questions requires clarity on what markers identify the Christian martyr. The chapter thus concludes with a preliminary list of “criteria” of Christian martyrdom.