MARTYR. Derived from the Gr. μάρτυς, G3459, meaning “a witness,” who can assert what he himself has seen and heard. In this sense it was the same as the Heb. עֵד, H6332, which signifies to repeat and therefore to testify and even admonish (Gen 21:30; Num 35:30; Deut 17:6; Ruth 4:9). In referring to the OT law, both Christ and the apostles equate עֵד, H6332, with μάρτυς, G3459, (Matt 18:16; 19:18; Acts 6:13; Heb 10:28). However, the terms in both OT and NT have also religious meanings, since they refer to those who are witnesses for God, setting forth the message they had received from Him.

In the OT, the people of Israel were the primary witnesses (Isa 43:10ff.; 44:8), but the prophets in the special sense held that position with a special commission (Isa 6:9ff.; Jer 1:5). In the NT the Church was the witness that was to take the Gospel to the whole world (Luke 24:48; Acts 1:8), but like the prophets, the apostles had a special position, since they witnessed not only to Christ’s teaching and works, but also from personal experience to His Resurrection (Acts 1:1, 21ff.). They received special authority from Christ, who Himself was the ultimate witness (Rev 1:5; 3:14).

Persecution, however, soon arose from both Jew and Gentile, with the result that many of those who bore faithful witness experienced physical attack and even death. Stephen the Deacon (Acts 8:5-8) and James, the brother of John (Acts 12:2) were two of the earliest witnesses who suffered the extreme penalty for witnessing to Christ. Others followed in their train, including the Apostles Peter, Paul and a number of lesser fame (Rev 20:4). Those who so suffered became in a special sense witnesses to Christ (cf. Heb 11), which led the Church to accord them a special place in its tradition, as those who had given the utmost in witness by being faithful unto death.

In post-NT times the tendency became common to regard those who died for their witness as having a special place in heaven, with special rights of intercession. Under the influence of Neo-Platonism this led to the development of the idea of “saints” who had the privilege of intercession for Christians upon earth. The NT, however, provides no ground for such beliefs, since it gives no place of special privilege even to those who have as “martyrs” died for the faith.

Bibliography H. B. Workman, Persecution in the Early Church, n.d., see Persecution.