Most Christians don’t die for their faith, nor do they produce profound wisdom or excel in loving action. Yet some have transcended the ordinary, doing these things and more. In the next several articles, I’ll introduce 12 ‘heroes of the faith’ who’ve exemplified what a Christian should and could be called to do or be. They include Perpetua, Justin Martyr, Thomas Aquinas, Catherine of Siena, John of the Cross, John Hus, John Wesley, Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, John Chrysostom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Corrie ten Boom, and Mother Teresa.

They are the subjects of our Heroes series. Why these 12? Because of their example and sacrifice. Let’s begin with Justin Martyr and Perpetua. Disclaimer: I used (and validated) AI to help gather and frame the content you’ll read across all six articles.

Justin Martyr (c. 100–165). “Whatever things were rightly said among all men are the property of us Christians.” Justin spent much of his early life searching for truth. He studied the great philosophers of Greece, hoping they would answer life’s deepest questions, but found their teachings incomplete. Everything changed when he encountered Christianity. Convinced that Jesus Christ embodied true wisdom, Justin devoted the rest of his life to defending the faith with reason and Scripture. While living in Rome, he wrote thoughtful works explaining Christian beliefs to skeptical emperors and intellectuals, arguing that faith and reason were not enemies but allies. His writings offer some of the earliest descriptions of Christian worship and theology. When ordered to sacrifice to the Roman gods, Justin refused. His execution around AD 165 earned him the title “Martyr,” and his legacy remains a powerful example of thoughtful faith joined with courageous conviction.

Perpetua (c. 181–203). “I cannot be called anything other than what I am—a Christian.” At twenty-two, Perpetua seemed to have everything to lose—a comfortable life, a loving family, and an infant son. Yet when Roman authorities demanded that she renounce her Christian faith, she refused. Imprisoned in Carthage, she recorded her thoughts and visions in a diary that has survived nearly eighteen centuries. Her father pleaded with her to save herself, but Perpetua remained steadfast, convinced that following Christ was worth any sacrifice. In AD 203, she and several fellow believers, including her servant Felicity, were executed in a public arena. Her remarkable account, The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity, remains one of the earliest firsthand testimonies of Christian martyrdom and continues to inspire believers with its courage, hope, and unwavering trust in God.

“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” (Revelation 12:11) These heroes of the Christian faith exemplify the cost of discipleship, which may include martyrdom. Would you be willing to prove your faith in that way? Next time, we’ll meet martyrs John Hus and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley (MDiv; DMin)