EARLY CHRISTIAN RESPONSES TO PERSECUTION AND THEIR RELEVANCE TO CHRISTIANS IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Christian communities in parts of Plateau State, Nigeria, have faced persistent attacks, forced displacement, and destruction of property, prompting a search for faith-based coping strategies. This study examines how the early Christian church responded to persecution and explores the relevance of those responses for contemporary Christians in Plateau State. The research employed a historical-analytical design, utilising secondary sources including journal articles, books, and institutional reports, alongside primary data collected through key informant interviews. Informants were purposively selected to include pastors, community elders, a herder representative, women and youth leaders, an IDP camp coordinator, and a local government official. Interviews were analysed thematically. Key findings indicate that the early church survived state-sponsored hostility through non-violent endurance, intellectual apologetics, communal solidarity, and a developed theology of martyrdom. In Plateau State, Christian communities exhibit similar patterns of resilience, though the intensity of violence and displacement has severely strained traditional support systems. The study recommends documenting violations, strengthening theological teaching on suffering, enhancing inter-communal cooperation, and advocating impartial state protection. Re-appropriating early Christian strategies can contribute to pastoral care and community preservation.