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Christian historical theologian
Author
Theological educator

Ruth Sutcliffe
 

Theology of persecution in the early church

My research explores how the early Christians thought theologically about the experience of persecution.

  • Did persecution originate with God or the devil? Is it under God's control?

  • What does it mean to be persecuted "for the name" of Christ? Is it inevitable?

  • What is the telos of persecution; its purpose and its goal?

  • How should Christians respond to persecution, individually and collectively?

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About

I am an independent scholar in the discipline of historical Christian theology, with a special interest in theology of persecution in the early church. I gained a Master of Divinity through Morling College in 2011 and a PhD through Christ College in 2022 (both under the Australian College of Theology). My current research examines how the theology of persecution developed from the post-apostolic period through the era of the early imperial church.

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I am grateful to be working this year (2023) as a Senior Fellow of Anglican Deaconess Ministries, enabling me to devote significant time to this research. My major project is a book for general Christian and introductory academic readership on the theology of persecution in Scripture and the early history of the church, with application for today.

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I also enjoy teaching theology and church history in the Majority world and am a 

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