ProlepsisOpen in the graph →

Prophecy

Hated “for my name’s sake”: the persecution of the disciples (Matthew 24:9, John 16:2)

The Christian Martyrs’ Last Prayer, artist’s impression by Jean-Léon Gérôme (1863-1883): Christians condemned in Rome, the subject of Nero’s persecution.
Artist’s impression The Christian Martyrs’ Last Prayer, artist’s impression by Jean-Léon Gérôme (1863-1883): Christians condemned in Rome, the subject of Nero’s persecution. — Jean-Léon Gérôme, Wikimedia Commons · Domaine public

○ Written after the events, according to historians; tradition dates it before

Written c. 30–100 AD according to tradition; c. 65–110 AD according to historians. Event: c. 62–112 AD.

See the full entry: sources, objections, answers

In short

The announcement. In the Gospels of Matthew and John, Jesus announces to his disciples, around 30-33, that they will be handed over to suffering, put to death and hated by all nations “for my name's sake”.

What happened. In 62, James, the brother of Jesus, is stoned in Jerusalem. In 64, after the fire of Rome, Nero has a great number of Christians put to death. Around 112, the Roman governor Pliny the Younger has Christians executed and asks the emperor whether the mere name of Christian should be punished.

What is still debated. the persecutions had already begun when the Gospels were written, so it cannot be established that the announcement came before the events.

What would be striking if the text came first

Hostile Roman writers and a Jewish historian confirm, without depending on the Gospels, that the disciples were hated and killed in the following decades. But according to historians, the Gospels were written when these persecutions had already begun.

Main objection (in French for now)

Prophétie après coup : les persécutions avaient commencé avant la rédaction des évangiles. Paul en témoigne dans des lettres authentiques des années 50 (1 Th 2:14 ; 2 Co 11:24), et Néron frappe en 64, avant Marc selon la plupart des critiques.

The text (World English Bible)

“Then they will deliver you up to oppression and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake.

Matt 24:9

They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God.

John 16:2

Sources