How to Suffer for Doing Good

Introduction: Beginning of the Story of Perpetua and Falicitus

Ante-Nicene Fathers 3: Latin Christianity: Its Founder, Tertullian V. Appendix: The Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas

THE MARTYRDOM OF PERPETUA AND FELICITAS

https://faithlifetv.com/media/340836

Perpetua was a Christian noblewoman who, at the turn of the third century, lived with her husband, her son, and her slave, Felicitas, in Carthage (in modern Tunis). At this time, North Africa was the center of a vibrant Christian community. It is no surprise, then, that when Emperor Septimius Severus determined to cripple Christianity (he believed it undermined Roman patriotism), he focused his attention on North Africa. Among the first to be arrested were five new Christians taking classes to prepare for baptism, one of whom was Perpetua.

Her father immediately came to her in prison. He was a pagan, and he saw an easy way for Perpetua to save herself. He entreated her simply to deny she was a Christian.

“Father do you see this vase here?” she replied. “Could it be called by any other name than what it is?”

“No,” he replied.

“Well, neither can I be called anything other than what I am, a Christian.”

Mark Galli and Ted Olsen, “Introduction,” 131 Christians Everyone Should Know (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 362–363.

Principle #1: There are spiritual norms for believers

likeminded, united in spirit, harmonious

sympathetic, understanding

brotherly and mutual affection

good hearted; good intentioned

humility

Response to evil

Do not repay

Do not revile

Bless

Principle #2: You were called to bless and to obtain a blessing.

Formula for the Good life (citing Psalms 34:12-16)

Keep one’s tongue from evil and deceit.

Turn away from evil to good.

Know that the Lord is watching and attentive to the prayers of the righteous.

Know that the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.

Principle #3: Believers are to be zealous for what is good (v. 13)

Principle #4: God blesses the believer who suffers for righteousness’ sake.

Have no fear of them

Do not be troubled.

Honor Christ the Lord as holy in your heart. (spiritually prepared)

Be ready to defend your hope. (mentally prepared)

with gentleness and respect

have a good conscience

your good behavior may put them to shame

Principle #5: It is better to suffer for doing good, if that is God’s will, than for doing evil.

Our supreme example of suffering for good. (vs. 18-22)

1. Christ suffered once for sins (v. 18)

Christ was put to death in the flesh

but made alive in the spirit

2. Christ preached to the spirits in prison (v. 19)

They would not obey

God was being patient all those days that Noah was preparing the ark.

1 Peter 1:10–11 ESV

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.

2 Peter 2:5 ESV

5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

3. God brought a few, eight persons, safely through water (v. 20)

The judgment by water on the world killed the disobedient

The water became the vehicle that brought Noah’s family to safety

4. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you. (v. 21a)

Metonymy – the substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant, for example suit for business executive, or the track for horse racing.

New Oxford American Dictionary

Biblical example of the use of metonymy.

How to Study Your Bible: Discover the Life-Changing Approach to God's Word 8. Let’s Figure It Out

Metonymy

Metonymy is a figure of association, when the name of one object or concept is used for that of another to which it is related.

Mark 1:5 ESV

5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

an appeal to God from a good conscience (v. 21b)

through the resurrection of Jesus (v. 21c)

gone into heaven (v. 22a)

is at the right hand of God (v. 22b)

angels, authorities, powers subjected to Him (v. 22c)

Applications for the believer:

Christ suffered evil to do good to us. Let us do the same seeking to bring others to God.

Like Christ, the righteous always suffer for the unrighteous.

The very thing that unbelievers revile and persecute is the very thing God has meant for their salvation.

Like Jesus, our suffering leads to immense blessing.