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Foxe's Book of Martyrs

4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 · rating details · 4,897 ratings · 141 reviews

For nearly two-thousand years, courageous men and women have been tortured and killed because of their confessions of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This updated edition of Foxes Book of Martyrs, contains stories of persecution up to 2001. Stories of heroic courage and overcoming faith. Stories of love of God and Christ. Stories of the amazing grace of God that enabled m...more

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Published August 1st 2001 by Bridge-Logos (first published June 15th 209)

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Feb 02, 2011 Ron rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian_life, history, non-fiction

The Renaissance of the fifteenth through sixteenth centuries, generally thought of in glowing terms of cultural and artistic re-birth, had its dark side. The development of political absolutism, which Niccolo Machiavelli prescribed in The Prince, combined with the crisis of the Reformation led to many shameful episodes of religious intolerance and butchery. The Inquisition, the Thirty Years War, the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre, the anti-popes, and England's Marian Persecutions have tainted,...more

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Feb 27, 2008 Mike rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography, inspiration

I've read this so many times now I have lost count. You wouldn't think a book with the word "martyr" in it would be uplifting, but it really is. When you seem people who are so sold out in whom they believe they would give their life, it helps life seem more black and white than it usually seems.

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Dec 17, 2009 Christina is currently reading it · review of another edition

So far, I'm blown away by what people are willing to endure for something they truly believe in and the horror others are willing to put upon others for their refusal to assimilate.

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May 01, 2009 William rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm learning what it means to truly stand for what you believe in, and that Christianity will not die no matter what. Many men of power have hated true christianity and all those who followed Jesus Christ and His principles. And they tried in vain to use their power and influence to erase christianity and the memory of it from the earth. Men of power even today try to get rid of christianity through many means. Some may use the means of execution and physical torture for any captured followers o...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Brian Eshleman added it

My experience with this book was that so many brief descriptions on the martyred saints' lives followed by the death that they died actually began to numb the reader to the tragic and heroic nature of each instance. The author's constant railing against "Romish" and "popish" belief systems that led to the martyrdom of Protestants leads one to wonder how many Catholics were martyred by Protestants in later years. The best part of this book was when it went into a little more depth in describing m...more

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Nov 14, 2012 David Sarkies rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Christians and Historians

Recommended to David by: My Church

Shelves: christian

This is a book that is all about Christian martyrs and it makes pretty grim reading namely because it is all about people who are being persecuted for their faith and undergo incredible suffering and hardship and end up dying in some of the most gruesome manners possible. In fact it is an incredibly depressing book and one that as a Christian I found to be very hard to read. Mind you, it is not something that we of any faith or persuasion should ignore, especially if we live in relative securit...more This is a book that is all about Christian martyrs and it makes pretty grim reading namely because it is all about people who are being persecuted for their faith and undergo incredible suffering and hardship and end up dying in some of the most gruesome manners possible. In fact it is an incredibly depressing book and one that as a Christian I found to be very hard to read. Mind you, it is not something that we of any faith or persuasion should ignore, especially if we live in relative security, because we should always remember those who came before us who suffered and died for the freedom that we enjoy today. As somebody once said, the tree of faith is watered by the blood of martyrs.
I do find books and articles like this to be a little one sided at times though. Look, as I have said and will continue to say, we cannot ignore the plight of those who suffer and die for their faith, especially today, however we cannot be too focused on them as well as it can distract us from the bigger picture. Also, we can become caught up in the stories that this book tells and once again forget about the bigger picture, but first, I wish to outline some of the background and content of this book before I move on to discuss the further implications of it.
Now, John Foxe was writing in the 16th century, during the early years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, which means that he would have live through the reign of the queen known colloquially as Bloody Mary. Now, England had just gone through a reformation after King Henry VIII had split from the Catholic Church, one reason being for divorce, but more likely a political move to strength his sovereignty over England (because up until then, the Pope pretty much called the shots). While King Edward moved the reformation forward to actually free the church from medieval tradition, Queen Mary, being a staunch Catholic, decided that she wanted to return the English church to the rulership of the Pope. She faced tremedous opposition, and in response she went on a rampage, burning numerous prominent protestants at the stake. I suspect that Foxes' reasons for writing this book was not only to remind the English protestants of those who died under Mary's reign, but also to remind his readers that martyrdom for Christianity was nothing new.
A bulk of the first part of his book is actually, word for word, a copy of Eusebius. Now, the problem that I have with Eusebius, is that he was pretty much a pawn of the Emperor Constantine. He was a major influence in the council of Niceae. Now, there is an argument, and it is one that I hold too, that Constantine was not actually a Christian, he was the worshipper of the sun god, and he only used Christianity for political purposes. I sometimes wonder to what extent Eusebius was one of Constantine's political tools. Now, I do not question the authenticity of the bible, or God's ability to use people like Eusebius or Constantine to further his own purposes, but I have a suspicion that parts of Eusebius' works, particularly the Ecclesiastical history, are little more than political propoganda. The reason that Constantine, I suspect, chose Christianity to be the state religion, was more a means of uniting and stabilising the empire under his rule than any actually heartfelt love towards Jesus Christ. As for Eusebius, I note that his book does seem to over-exagerate the Christian persecution during the Roman Empire.
Mind you, Foxe does actually go beyond where Eusebius left off and indicates that even though Christianity became the prominent religion, persecutions and martyrdoms still occurred, especially as the Christian empire began to struggle with the rise of the numerous heresies that continued to arise and influence the faith, despite it becoming an accepted religion. Further, it is difficult to determine the authenticity of those who where martyred, because truth be told, if somebody believes in something enough, they will die for it, even though it may not be true, or may be something little more than a pipe dream. If people didn't, we would not have revolutions.
The problem that I find with books like this is that it makes it seem that Christians are the only people who are persecuted, and the only people who are martyred. I have been in numerous churches where they drum on and on about persecution as Christians to the point that many Christians are scared to associate with non-Christians because they will be persecuted. In modern day Australia, mocked and ridiculed, sure, but not dragged outside, beaten, and then shot. Then again, what about countries where that does happen? Well, guess what, Christians are generally not the only ones targeted. In many of these countries, anybody who does not hold the strict dogmatic faith, are dragged outside, beated, and then shot. Christians are just one of a number of groups that are affected by it. What gets me is that we pray for the Christians, and pretty much ignore those who are not Christians, almost suggesting that it is okay for them to be beaten up and shot, but not Christians, because that is horrible. As far as I am concerned, anybody who is dragged outside, beaten up, and shot, is horrible, whether they are Christian or not.
Secondly, what about those we persecute. It is very bad for us to be persecuted, but does that mean that we should persecute homosexuals and preach hate sermons against Muslims? Absolutely not. Okay, while I may because that homosexuality is an abomination against God, I still love my homosexual friends, and will stand up for them, as in the same way that I love my Muslim friends and will stand up for them as well. I have been to churches where they preach hate sermons against Muslims and I believe that it is not only appauling, but incredibly offensive. Just because we don't agree with them does not give us the right to target them and hate them. Okay, I may have gone a bit overboard with my statement that homosexuality is an abomination against God, because guess what is a real abomination against God? Using his name in vain, and not they crying out 'oh my God' when something happens, but making statements of God's behalf, and preaching in his name when he never, and would never, do or say such a thing. That, my friend, is the real abomination against God.(less)

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Oct 23, 2012 Footnote Publishing rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This updated version of John Foxe's original work is a wonderful modern day record of the sacrifices God's people have made since Jesus Himself was crucified nearly 2,000 years ago. It is so important for Christians to learn and understand that our faith was founded on Christ's spilled blood, and His people are and have always been persecuted and killed for following his victorious example. This book was prepared by Voice of the Martyrs, an exemplary Christian ministry who offers support to pers...more

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Nov 18, 2010 Bettie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: autumn-2010, history, philosophy, published-1563, execution, gorefest, art-forms, medieval5c-16c, nonfiction, ouch, skoolzy-stuff

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 14, 2013 Eyehavenofilter rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well, if you ever want to know the depths of cruelty that humans can sink to, when people don't think the way they want you to, this is the book for you. At least 9 of the original 12 apostles were martyred, beheaded, stoned, crucified, and worse, for their faith, and it only goes downhill from there.
This follows history throughout the ages, as the church absconds, (for lack of a better word ) with lands, money, and titles by accusing anyone, albeit, rich or poor of not being part of the church...more

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Apr 12, 2008 Ebookwormy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography, christian-church, history, non-fiction

Some day, I really will finish this book. Really, I will. I think i've started it 3, maybe 4, times. I think the caustic combination for me is the ancient language combined with the heart wrenching subject matter. I usually scorn the adaptations (for the modern reader) and have thousands of pages in the original works (Les Miserables, Shakespeare, and The Counte of Monte Cristo come immediately to mind) but this is one work I would recommend a modern adaptation...

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Apr 01, 2009 V.K. Sansone rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I expect to have my eyes opened to the horrors of many Christians brothers and sisters who have been stoned, beheaded, sawed into, boiled alive in oil, flayed and stripped alive, crucified, exiled and many atrocities that have been done to them in years past. As Cain slew
Abel and his blood cried up from the ground for justice
and mercy of GOD to avenge his death, I believe all of these Christian martyrs will also cry for GOD to avenge
their blood that was spilled by the hatred of others agaisnt th...more

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Jul 01, 2009 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

These are people whose faith supersedes pride, who willingly accept the literal fire in the name of God. I may never have faith like that. It's frightening to think of a world in the near past that people had to make a choice between death and lies, between telling the Truth and submitting to a false religion. This stuff is real. Christians now don't think of this often enough.

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Apr 19, 2012 The Men's Ministry of Denton Bible Church rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"When one recollects that until the appearance of the Pilgrim's Progress the common people had almost no other reading matter except the Bible and 'Foxe's Book of Martyrs,' we can understand the deep impression that this book produced; and how it served to mold the national character. Those who could read for themselves learned the full details of all the atrocities performed on the Protestant reformers; the illiterate could see the rude illustrations of the various instruments of torture, the r...more

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Oct 18, 2007 LaDonna rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: religion, nonfiction

This book was required reading at the private high school I attended. I have absolutely no interest in re-reading it. I can still remember the overwhelming sense of guilt I felt as a teenager because I'd rather pretend to be a heathen than stand up and get my head chopped off for Jesus.

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Jul 26, 2010 Scott added it · review of another edition

This book gets no stars. It started out interesting before suddenly turning into a long, hateful, anti-Catholic tirade. Admittedly, I stopped reading this book a quarter of the way through when I reached the words, '...the great Antichrist of Europe, or Pope of Rome, and his diversely disguised host of anointed hypocrites...'

At this point I started flipping pages to random places in the rest of the book looking for any reason to continue reading. I came across claims that called the entire book'...more

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Mar 10, 2011 Michael Pate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fact

How can we not continue to serve Him, with so great a cloud of witnesses that have gone before us. We have not resisted unto death, but many hero's of the faith have done so! Jesus Christ is worth it all!!!

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Mar 04, 2010 Michaele added it

Shelves: read-and-reading-again

This book is true history and inspirational. Gives clear understanding to the apostles letters in the bible and Jesus' words about persecution and foresaking all for the Love of Christ. This is a must read

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Aug 05, 2011 Don Popham rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you want to read a book that will make you look for a knife to slit your wrists this is the book. Very depressing account of what a people endured for their faith. Not for the weak of stomach.

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Mar 10, 2011 Mike Pate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fact

We have not resisted unto death - seeing such a cloud of witnesses that have gone before us whom have died for the faith, how can we not serve our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!!

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Oct 08, 2007 CarolAnn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tough to wade through but definitely worth the time, especially if you are feeling sorry for yourself in your walk with the Lord!

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Jul 22, 2011 Olivia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite

This book is amazing!! It teaches so much about having faith. I read this for my very last thing for personal progress.

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Aug 28, 2011 Kipp rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

this is one of the toughest books to make it through, unless you just like brutality.

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Feb 27, 2009 Michael rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: theology, history

The abridged version is not that good. Not enough detail or depth.

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Mar 29, 2008 Shannon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: the-christian-life

Every Christian should read this book.

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May 14, 2013 Eddy Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arts-and-historical

When one recollects that until the appearance of the Pilgrims Progress the common people had almost no other reading matter except the Bible and Foxs Book of Martyrs, we can understand the deep impression that this book produced and how it served to mold the national character. Those who could read for themselves learned the full details of all the atrocities performed on the Protes tant reformers the illiterate could see the rude illustrations of the various instruments of torture, the rack, th...more When one recollects that until the appearance of the Pilgrims Progress the common people had almost no other reading matter except the Bible and Foxs Book of Martyrs, we can understand the deep impression that this book produced and how it served to mold the national character. Those who could read for themselves learned the full details of all the atrocities performed on the Protes tant reformers the illiterate could see the rude illustrations of the various instruments of torture, the rack, the gridiron, the boiling oil, and then the holy ones breathing out their souls amid the flames. Take a people just awakening to a new intellectual and religious life let several generations of them, from childhood to old age, pore over such a book, and its stories become traditions as individual and almost as potent as songs and customs on a nations life DOUGLAS CAMPBELL, The Puritan in Holland, England, and America. c If we divest the book of its accidental character of feud between churches, it yet stands, in the first years of Elizabeths reign, a mon ument that marks the growing strength of a desire for spiritual freedom, defiance of those forms that seek to stifle conscience and fetter thought HENRY MORLEY, English Writers. After the Bible itself, no book so profoundly influenced early-Protestant sentiment as the Book of Martyrs. Even in our own time it is still a living force. It is more than a record of persecution. It is an arsenal of controversy, a storehouse of romance, as well as a source of edification. JAMES MILLER DODDS, English Prose. CONTENTS SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR ix-xiv CHAPTER PAGE I HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN MARTYRS TO THE FIRST GENERAL PERSECUTION UNDER NERO The Glorious Company of the Apostles .... 1-II THE TEN PRIMITIVE PERSECUTIONS Nero Burns Christians in the Imperial Gardens Ignatius, The Wheat of Christ Polycarp Re fuses to Deny Christ The Beheading of Justin, Martyr Christians in the Catacombs Origen Suffers by Fire Saint Lawrences Bed of Iron Sebastian is Pierced with Arrows 5 III PERSECUTIONS OF THE CHRISTIANS IN PERSIA The Emperor Constantine Protests The Fury of Julian the Apostate The Goths and Vandals The Last Roman Triumph The Noble Gothic Prince The Sacrificing of Boniface Bishop Alphege Defends Canterbury 33 IV PAPAL PERSECUTIONS Persecutions of the Brave Waldenses The Pope Wars against the Albigenses The Massacres of Saint Bartholomew Sufferings after the Revoca tion of the Edict of Nantes Martyrdom of John Galas 43 V AN ACCOUNT OF THE INQUISITION The Fierce Zeal of Dominic The Hounds of the Lord A Typical Inquisitory The Cruel Handling of Nicholas Burton Some Private Enormities of the Inquisition The Persecution of Dr. JEgidio The Tormenting of Dr. Gardiner The Sufferings of William Lithgow The Story of Galileo Summary of the Inquisition ... 60 CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE VI ANACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN ITALY UNDER THE PAPACY The Courageous End of Arnold of Brescia Hounding of Calabrian Peasants Extermina tions at St. Xist Persecutions in the Valleys of Piedmont Remarkable Individuals who were Martyred The Piedmontese War Persecutions of Michael de Molinos of the Quiet Life .....(less)

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Apr 21, 2012 Alan is currently reading it · review of another edition

On 4-21-12 I'm still early in the book, up to the year 800 AD, but already learning significant things. For one thing, I learned in history that Christians were persecuted by the Romans until Constantine "made Christianity the official religion of the empire. Then church became entangled with state and Christians started persecuting other religions." That's pretty much all the attention my history classes gave this issue. Well, not so fast according to Fox.

There were degrees and waves of persecu...more

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Jun 18, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a very interesting book. It is probably more of a reference book than a piece of non-fiction to pick up and read, but I really learned tons. Since I don't own it (yet), I wanted the read the entire thing before returning it.

This book recounts the lives, sufferings and violent deaths of all martyrs from Stephen (in the New Testiment) to Reformation England. It is written by John Foxe during the reign of Elisabeth, so he know many of these events first or second hand. He writes of the Sp...more

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Oct 18, 2008 Mark Uncommon Valor marked it as to-read · review of another edition

During the passover, the scribes and Pharisees put the Apostle James on top of the temple, calling out to him, " You just man, whom we all ought to obey, this people is going astray after Jesus, who was crucified."

And James answered, " Why do you ask me of Jesus the Son of Man ? He sits on the right hand of the Most High and shall come in the clouds of heaven."

Hearing this, many in the crowd were persuaded
and glorified God, crying, " Hosanna to the Son of David !"

Then the scribes and Pharisees...more

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Jul 21, 2008 Mom 2 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: every follower of Jesus

Sorry everthing I write is long - I'm a very fast typist. We often don't want to hear about the sufferings of the followers of Jesus, or be found reading about them because someone might think we're obsessing. In any case, I look through this book every few years to remind myself how good I have it in America and that we may be losing our freedom of speech, we still can worship God openly with a congregation. We can still talk about HIm to our friends without the threat of open persecution. This...more

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May 02, 2012 Randy Alcorn added it · review of another edition

Shelves: biographies-and-memoirs

As a new Christian, a teenager, in 1969 I read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. Those powerful stories ignited me, raised the bar of my commitment to Christ, and gave me a love for persecuted Christians. I pray this wonderful book from Voice of the Martyrs will do the same for countless readers. Hebrews 11 is still being written throughout the world—may we learn from those stories. And, empowered by Christ, may we live in such a way that our own stories might one day be worth telling.

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