Faithful Witness: The Early Church’s Theology of Martyrdom

In Faithful Witness, Phil Baker explains the theology of martyrdom that developed over the first 300 years of Christianity, and why that theology proved so powerful in the early years of the faith. Though many examples of early Christian martyrdom will be told, the intent of this book is not to simply give the accounts these martyrs’ stories. This book is more about the why than the what. 

Why did they choose faithfulness over fear? Why did they choose dying over killing? Why did they choose self-sacrifice over revenge? Why did they have such peace and joy in the midst of unimaginable torture? By AD 313, why had roughly 10% of the Roman Empire’s population embraced Christianity, when it was both illegal and incredibly dangerous to do so? 

Are you ready to be inspired and challenged to follow in the footsteps of Jesus?