Download The Roman persecution of Christians

Attitudes Toward Christians
Relations to the Roman
Government
• Initially, Christianity was regarded as a branch
of Judaism and stood under legal protection
(Walker, p. 43).
• A line of distinction was plainly drawn by the
time of the Neronian persecution in 64 A.D.
(Walker).
– Mattox says they were accused of burning Rome.
• Emperor Trajan’s reply to Governor Pliny, of
Bithynia, reveals Christianity was viewed as
criminal (Walker).
– They were not to be hunted and could be
acquitted if they renounced by sacrifice.
The Charges Against Christians
• The Christians were charged with atheism
and anarchy (Walker, p. 43).
– They rejected the old gods.
– They refused to join in emperor worship.
• Misunderstanding regarding Christ’s
presence at the supper and its being taken
at night led to charges of cannibalism and
licentiousness (Walker, p. 44).
– Polycarp suffered martyrdom at Smyrna in
156 A.D. over this very thing.
Political Causes of Persecution
• Prior to 250, “persecution was mainly local,
sporadic, and more often the result of mob
action than the result of definite civil policy.”
• “After that date, however, persecution became at
times the studied policy of the Roman imperial
government and, hence, widespread and
violent” (Cairns, p. 86).
• Religion was tolerated if it added to the stability
of the state.
• Christians chose loyalty to Christ above Caesar,
which the Romans saw as disloyalty to the state
(Cairns, p. 87).
Confusion Over Christian Practices
(Cairns, p. 87)
• Christian practices added weight to
suspicions of the Roman authorities.
• Refusal to offer incense on altars dedicated
to the Roman emperor.
– The Romans did not care how many gods one
had as long as he would bow to the Roman
gods.
• Meetings held at night caused suspicion of
plotting against the state.
• Until after 313, Christians would not serve as
soldiers.
Religious Practices Led to
Persecution (Cairns, p. 87)
• The Roman state religion was outward.
– Altars, idols, priests, processions, rites, etc.
• Christian worship was internal and
spiritual.
– They prayed with closed eyes to no visible
object.
• Secret meetings brought moral charges.
– “Eating and drinking” the body and blood led
to rumors of killing infants and eating them
– “Kiss of peace” brought charges of incest and
other immoral practices
Social Reasons for Persecution
(Cairns, p. 89)
• Influential, aristocratic leaders of society
looked down on Christians with contempt,
while fearing their influence.
– Pagan worship encouraged service to the few
by lower classes and slaves.
– Christianity had great appeal to the lower
classes and slaves.
– Christianity held to equality of all people.
– The purity of Christians’ lives served as a
silent rebuke of excesses.
Other Social Reasons for
Persecution
• Christians refused to go to the fights of the
gladiators.
• Christians made it a point not to marry
pagans, which was against social custom.
• Christians refused to engage in dishonest
or questionable business practices.
• Jews viewed Christians as enemies of the
Law of Moses.
Economic Reasons for Persecution
(Cairns, p. 90)
• “Priests, idol makers, soothsayers, painters,
architects, and sculptors would hardly be
enthusiastic about a religion that was
threatening their means of livelihood.”
• The Roman empire was nearing 1000 years
of existence about 250 A. D.
• During this time, the empire was troubled by
famine, plague and civil unrest.
• It was popular to credit these difficulties to
Christianity and the resulting abandonment
of the old gods.
Emperor Decius (Mediterranean
Basin Chronology)
• Gaius Messuis Quintus Decius (201-251)
– He was from the middle Danube region (modern
Hungary).
– He was appointed (248) by Emperor Philip to
restore order in the lower Danube where the
Roman troops were revolting while under attack by
the Goths.
– Following his success and with the support of his
troops, he marched to northern Italy where he
defeated and killed Philip (September, 249).
– He also killed Phillips sons.
– The Senate named Decius emperor and granted
him the title of Trajunus
Decius’ Persecution (Cairns, p. 91)
• As already noted, natural calamities
combined with internal and external attacks
threatened classical Roman culture.
– Decius singled out Christians as a particular
threat to the state as a result of their rapid growth
and the view they were trying to establish a state
within a state.
– In 250, Decius issued an edict requiring an
annual offering at the Roman altars to the genius
of the emperor and the Roman gods.
– All who complied were given a certificate, called
a libellus
Emperor Diocletian (Cairns, p. 92)
• Diocletian ended the sharing of power with
the senate in 285.
• In March, 303, he issued edicts calling for the
persecution of Christians.
– Cessation of meetings
– Destruction of church buildings
– Deposition of officers of the church
– Imprisonment of those who persisted in their
testimony to Christ
– Destruction of the Scriptures by fire
Emperor Diocletian (Cairns, pp. 9293)
• “A later edict ordered Christians to
sacrifice to the pagan gods on pain of
death if they refused.”
• Eusebius says prisons were so full of
Christians there was no room for criminals.
• “Christians were punished by loss of
property, exile, imprisonment, or execution
by the sword or with wild beasts.”
Cessation of Persecution (Cairns,
p. 93)
• Persecution waned when Diocletian
abdicated and retired (305).
• Galerius, from his deathbed, issued an
edict giving toleration to Christians if they
did not violate the peace of the empire.
• Licinius and Constantine issued the Edict
of Milan (313) which brought freedom of
worship to all religions until 381.
– At that time, persecution ceased.