Thematic Bible: Suffering for righteousness' sake


Thematic Bible



But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked us and regarded us with contempt and said, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” Verse ConceptsContempt, Examples OfLaughterMockeryRebellion, Against Human AuthorityRidicule, Nature OfSpeech, Negative Aspects OfCharacter Of Wicked

He spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the heaps of dust and rubbish, even the ones that have been burned?” Verse ConceptsJudaismCharacter Of WickedFeeblenessAnti semitismShort Time For Action


I am small and despised,
But I do not forget Your precepts.

Then, as the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter [David’s wife], looked down from the window above and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she felt contempt for him in her heart [because she thought him undignified]. Verse ConceptsLeapingContempt, Examples OfHeart, Fallen And RedeemedSuperiorityBad Wives ExamplesLooking Through WindowsPeople Jumpingjumping


“I am a joke to my friends;
I, one whom God answered when he called upon Him—
A just and blameless man is a joke [and laughed to scorn].
Verse ConceptsHumourRidicule, Objects OfAnswered PromisesThe Righteous PerishingGod Answered Prayerjoking

When the Philistine looked around and saw David, he derided and disparaged him because he was [just] a young man, with a ruddy complexion, and a handsome appearance. Verse ConceptsDavid, Early LifePride, Examples OfSuperiorityAttractionDisdainLimitations Of YouthRed FacesAppearances ofteenagerHandsome Men

God has selected [for His purpose] the insignificant (base) things of the world, and the things that are despised and treated with contempt, [even] the things that are nothing, so that He might reduce to nothing the things that are, Verse ConceptsChosen InstrumentsHumilityArrogant ExistenceChosen DisciplesOther Unimportant PeopleimportanceJustification Excluding Boasting

When we are slandered, we try to be conciliatory and answer softly. We have become like the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now. Verse ConceptsAfflicted Saints, Examples OfBackbitingdirtGrace, In Human RelationshipsKindnessPersecution, Forms OfSlanderSpeech, Positive Aspects OfDuties To EnemiesDefamationUseless Peoplerumors

O Lord my God, in You I take refuge;
Save me and rescue me from all those who pursue me,
Verse ConceptsSuffering SaintsPersecution, Christian ResponseTrust



All Your commandments are faithful and trustworthy.
They have persecuted me with a lie; help me [Lord]!
Verse ConceptsCommands, in OTSuffering SaintsPersecution, Christian ResponseThose Who Are LiarsGod's Trustworthiness


Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
Yet I do not turn away from Your testimonies.
Verse ConceptsMany Enemies

Shin.
Princes persecute me without cause,
But my heart stands in [reverent] awe of Your words [so I can expect You to help me].
Verse ConceptsPersecution, Nature OfRenewed HeartBible, In Christian LivingAweIndividuals Fearing God


For the enemy has persecuted me,
He has crushed my life down to the ground;
He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have been long dead.
Verse ConceptsMonotonyColors, BlackState Of The Deadcrushes


O Lord, You know and understand;
Remember me [thoughtfully], take notice of me,
take vengeance for me on my persecutors.
Do not, in view of Your patience, take me away;
Know that for Your sake I endure [continual] rebuke and dishonor.
Verse ConceptsMemoriesGod, Patience OfInjuryRevenge, Examples OfUnderstandingPersecution, Nature OfDivine RemembrancePeople VisitingBeing ReprovedRevenge


Our pursuers are at our necks;
We are worn out, there is no rest for us.
Verse ConceptsRest, PhysicalPursuing PeopleSleeplessnessUnrestTired In FlightPersecutiontired



Beware of men [whose nature is to act in opposition to God], for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; Verse ConceptsFloggingPersecution, Forms OfPersecution, Nature OfSanhedrinSuffering, Of BelieversSynagogueBeing BewarePersecution PredictedHanding Over PeopleBeating BelieversDanger From Men

“But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, and bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. Verse ConceptsGovernorsImprisonmentsPersecution, Nature OfPersecution PredictedBeforeHanding Over PeopleGentile RulersPersecutionjail

Remember [and continue to remember] that I told you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. Verse ConceptsFate Of The GodlyFaith, As A Body Of Beliefsdiscipleship, cost ofHumiliationRememberingServanthood, In SocietySuffering, Causes OfPersecution, Nature OfPersecution, OriginPersecution PredictedInferioritySlavesThey Do Not Keep CommandsPersecution



If you are insulted and reviled for [bearing] the name of Christ, you are blessed [happy, with life-joy and comfort in God’s salvation regardless of your circumstances], because the Spirit of glory and of God is resting on you [and indwelling you—He whom they curse, you glorify]. Verse ConceptsGlory, Revelation OfReproachGod, Unity OfHappinessInsultsSuffering, Encouragements InGod's Glory In The ChurchGift Of The Holy SpiritNames And Titles For The Holy SpiritFalse AccusationsName CallingThe Spirit Of GodThe Holy Spirit In The ChurchBlessed In ServiceGlory of ChristSpiritual crownsPersecution

Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness] are you when people hate you, and exclude you [from their fellowship], and insult you, and scorn your name as evil because of [your association with] the Son of Man. Verse ConceptsFaultsReproachClaimsHatredSeparationSpiritual Warfare, Enemies InHated SaintsExcommunicationNames Blotted OutExclusionPeople Being HatedBlessing OthersRejectionhaters

He considered the reproach of the Christ [that is, the rebuke he would suffer for his faithful obedience to God] to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt; for he looked ahead to the reward [promised by God]. Verse ConceptsReproachHeavenly RewardsRiches, SpiritualTreasureSufferings RewardedSpiritual TreasuresSeeking Things AboveChoosing God's WayTreasure In HeavenReward For WorksWorthAbuseValueaccounting

It is for this that we labor and strive [often called to account], because we have fixed our [confident] hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe [in Him, recognize Him as the Son of God, and accept Him as Savior and Lord]. Verse ConceptsAtonementReproachLabor, Spiritual Aspects OfGod, Living And Self sustainingHope, As ConfidenceHope, In GodStriving With GodJesus Christ, SaviorTrusting In GodSaved By FaithAll PeopleThe Fact Of ToilThe Hope Of The Gospelfaith in hard timesstruggleLife StrugglesStrugglesstrivingChrist As The Object Of Saving Faith

sometimes by being made a spectacle, publicly exposed to insults and distress, and sometimes by becoming companions with those who were so treated. Verse ConceptsReproachSpectaclePersecutionAbuse

So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His contempt [the disgrace and shame that He had to suffer]. Verse ConceptsReproachPersecution, Forms OfDislikingOutside The CampSharingAbuse



And then I saw thrones, and sitting on them were those to whom judgment [that is, the authority to act as judges] was given. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had refused to worship the beast or his image, and had not accepted his mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Verse ConceptsForeheads666Faithfulness, To Godevil, victory overdefianceBeheadingThe BeastJudgesJudgment SeatPunishment, Legal Aspects OfSelf SacrificeThe Immortal SoulMartyrdom, Methods OfSufferings RewardedRemoving HeadsCosmic CreaturesBelievers JudgingMarks On PeopleAuthority Of DisciplesAvoiding IdolatrySubsequent Witness To ChristWorshipping The DevilMark Of The BeastHow First Resurrection Is Spread OutSigns Of The Timesend times prophecyMartyrdom



And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking and ridiculing Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. Verse ConceptsClothingMockeryRidicule, Objects OfSoldiersPersecution Of ChristFine ClothesMocking ChristSoldiers Treatment Of ChristFunassertiveness

For this reason the Jews began to persecute Jesus continually because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. Verse ConceptsPersecution, Nature OfPlottingPersecution Of ChristThe Sabbath And ChristWhy People Did Things

and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the crest of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to hurl Him down the cliff. Verse ConceptsRejection Of ChristPersecution Of ChristThrowing PeopleDriving Out ChristPeople Getting Upjumping

After this, Jesus walked [from place to place] in Galilee, for He would not walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. Verse Conceptsenemies, of Jesus ChristAssassinations, AttemptedJews, ThePersecution Of ChristChrist Would Be Killed

I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you plan to kill Me, because My word has no place [to grow] in you [and it makes no change in your heart]. Verse ConceptsPersecution Of ChristChrist Knowing About PeopleChrist Would Be KilledNo Room

So they tried again to seize Him, but He eluded their grasp. Verse ConceptsExamples Of EscapingPersecution Of ChristArresting ChristOthers Who Fledtrying

[At this] the high priest Ananias ordered those who stood beside him to strike Paul on the mouth. Verse ConceptsConfrontationHigh Priest, In NtSmitingSmiting Of The RighteousOther References To MouthsRivers

They spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him repeatedly on the head. Verse ConceptsSmitingThe Smiting Of JesusSpittingSmiting Of The RighteousBatteryBeating JesusSaliva


But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah approached and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord pass from me to speak to you?” Verse ConceptsConfrontationRidicule, Nature OfInfidelity To GodSmitingSmitten CheeksSmiting Of The RighteousThe Spirit Of The LordCheeks

But when He said this, one of the officers who was standing nearby struck Jesus [in the face], saying, “Is that how You answer the high priest?” Verse ConceptsIndignities Suffered By ChristSmitingSmiting Of The RighteousAnswering People


For we who live are constantly [experiencing the threat of] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced in our mortal body [which is subject to death]. Verse ConceptsDying With ChristSuffering For Christ's SakeLife With Christ

So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength]. Verse ConceptsInsultsPersecution, Nature OfWeakness, SpiritualInfirmitiesSuffering For Christ's SakeGod Giving StrengthGod Gives StrengthHard TasksGrace Being SufficientPersecutionWeaknessStaying Strong During Hard TimesHardship


They were stoned [to death], they were sawn in two, they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith], they were put to death by the sword; they went about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated Verse ConceptsFleecesDeath penaltyMartyrdom Of The SaintsStoningMartyrdom, Methods OfPeople Cut In PiecesAnimal SkinsFoul ClothesHalf Of BodiesPeople Actually Doing Evil




But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah approached and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord pass from me to speak to you?” Verse ConceptsConfrontationRidicule, Nature OfInfidelity To GodSmitingSmitten CheeksSmiting Of The RighteousThe Spirit Of The LordCheeks

Whoever strikes you on the cheek, offer him the other one also [simply ignore insignificant insults or losses and do not bother to retaliate—maintain your dignity]. Whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Verse ConceptsCloaksCheeksSelf DefenceDressSmitten CheeksSmiting Of The RighteousPeople Giving ClothesOuter GarmentsInner GarmentsAccepting BeatingsRobbing PeopleTurning The Other Cheek


“They have gaped at me with their mouths,
With contempt they have struck me on the cheek;
They massed themselves together [and conspired] against me.
Verse ConceptsCheeksRidicule, Objects OfSmitten CheeksSmiting Of The Righteous

So they conspired against Zechariah and stoned him [to death] at the command of the king, in the courtyard of the house of the Lord. Verse ConceptsCourtyardMartyrdom Of The SaintsDeath penaltyTrapConspiracy




“Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness] are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you because of [your association with] Me. Verse ConceptsAbuse, To God's PeopleFalse AccusationsFaultsClaimsHumiliationInjuryPersecution, Forms OfBullyingSlanderSuffering For Christ's SakeSufferings RewardedFalse WaysgaysPersecutionBeing GayBlessing OthersAbusecriticismvocation

from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah [the priest], who was murdered between the altar and the house of God. Yes, I tell you, charges will be brought against this generation.’ Verse ConceptsAbel and CainMartyrdom Of The SaintsNamed Prophets Of The LordMartyrdom

for I will make clear to him how much he must suffer and endure for My name’s sake.” Verse ConceptsSuffering, Of BelieversSuffering For Christ's SakeChrist's Disciples Will SufferThings RevealedSuffering

So the king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring back John’s head. And he went and had John beheaded in the prison, Verse ConceptsMartyrdom Of The SaintsDeath penaltyCommands, in NTPrisonersPunishment, Legal Aspects OfExecutionersRemoving HeadsKilling DisciplesDeath Penalty For Killing

Then they drove him out of the city and began stoning him; and the witnesses placed their outer robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. Verse ConceptsCrimesevangelists, ministry ofMartyrdom, Examples OfMartyrdom Of The SaintsMartyrdom, Methods OfOutside The City