Theology of persecution in the early church
My current research has been conducted through the generous support of a senior fellowship with Anglican Deaconess Ministries. I am writing a book for general readership on a theological perspective on persecution of Christians today, and what we can learn from Scripture and from the early church - as it experienced persecution and what changed when it became an establishment which persecuted.
Theology of persecution in the early church
My research explores how the early Christians thought theologically about the experience of persecution.
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Did persecution originate with God or the devil? Is it under God's control?
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What does it mean to be persecuted "for the name" of Christ? Is it inevitable?
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What is the telos of persecution; its purpose and its goal?
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How should Christians respond to persecution, individually and collectively?
Publications
Blessed Victors
Theology of Persecution in the Third Century Church
London: T&T Clark 2024
“Blessed Victors breaks new ground in the study of early Christian theology. It recovers the thought of four great early Christian teachers as they lived and led through persecution showing that fundamental Christian convictions led to persecution, but also sustained believers through that and were shaped by it. This fascinating and careful study demonstrates the continued relevance of voices from the Christian past.” — John McClean, Christ College, Australia
Sutcliffe, Ruth. ‘To Flee or Not to Flee? Matthew 10:23 and Third Century Flight in Persecution.’ Scrinium 14, no. 1 (2018): 133–60.
Clement, Origen, Tertullian and Cyprian each exegete Matt 10:23 differently to support their different opinions on the validity of Christians fleeing persecution
Sutcliffe, Ruth. ‘No Need to Apologise? Tertullian and the Paradox of Polemic Against Persecution.’ StPatr, 23 (2021): 267–278
The second century apologies argue against persecution simply for the name of "Christian." How does this tally with the Bible's testimony that Christians will inevitably be persecuted for the name of Christ, and should rejoice in it?
Sutcliffe, Ruth. ‘Learning Not to Sin: Repentance in Tertullian and Cyprian.’ Colloquium 53, no.1 (2021): 73–97.
Receiving those who lapsed under persecution back into the church had parallels with entering the church through baptism which inform a fresh consideration of repentance.
'Martyrdoms and Hagiography'
in The Cambridge Companion to Early Christian Theology, edited by David E Wilhite (Cambridge University Press, forthcoming)
This edited volume will contain 20 chapters, including an introductory essay. Each chapter will offer a general introduction to the subject – one that is accessible to upper level students and non-specialist scholars. These chapters will also include a general analysis and synthesis of the current state of research, as well as suggestions for future avenues of research.
