BC-022 History of Christianity during Early Period (AD 1-600)

Christian Persecution

Lecture by- Rev. P.C. Vanlalhruaia

1. Jewish Persecution of Christians:

The Jews were against Jesus and killed him alleging him of blasphemous person. The same hatred
continued towards his followers. The intolerance of the Jews against Christians was apparent when
they Stephen stoned to death in around 37 AD.

They executed James, the Apostle about 44 AD. They harassed Apostle Peter and John several times.
Paul was stoned, beaten and imprisoned many times. James (the Just), the brother of Jesus was also
killed by the Jews. There were other several incidents of Jewish antagonism towards early Christians.

1.1 Reasons:

1.1.1 The main reason of the conflict between the Jews and the early Christians was the different
understanding of Jesus. While Christians accepted Jesus as the Messiah such belief was a blasphemy
to the devout Jews.

1.1.2 Christians also claimed that prophesies about the Messiah were fulfilled in Christ and
therefore, claimed themselves the elect people of God rather than the Jews.

1.1. 3 The Jews cannot tolerate the Christians’ free acceptance of the Gentiles into their fold. By
that, they believed that Christians contaminated their pure doctrine and the law of Moses.

2. The Roman Persecution:

The imperial policy of the Romans was generally tolerant of all religions on certain conditions.
Romans were tolerable towards early Christians as long as they were identified with the Jews and
enjoyed protection by the Roman law. In many instances in the NT, they were even protected from
the Jews by the Romans. In Paul’s appeal to Caesar in 60 AD, two years after the imprisonment at
Caesarea, it was apparent that Christians did not yet see the empire hostile against them. But
Christianity and Judaism slowly separated as Christians increased, it was set down as unlawful and
treasonable- a religio illicita.

2.1 Reasons:

2.1.1 It was a rival to the Roman empire: Christianity claimed universal acceptance making
converts from the Greeks and Romans alike. Its very existence, claim and spread threatened the
state religion.

2.1.2 Non-conformity of Christians: The emperors were considered as god’s representatives and
gradually became object of worship. Christians refused to worship the national gods and the
emperors. They refused to take part in any idolatrous ceremonies, public festivals and games. They
even avoided imperial military services.

2.1.3 Hatred for Christians’ Monotheistic Belief: The Romans believed in many gods, according to
them the success and prosperity of the empire depend upon the national gods. Christians’
monotheistic belief was misunderstood and misinterpreted as atheism and were regarded as
enemies of gods. Natural disasters like draught, earthquake, pestilence or famine were regarded as
punishments inflicted by the angry gods because of Christians’ refusal to worship.

2.1.4 Suspicion of conspiracy: Their disregard for politics and depreciation of all civil and temporal
affairs, their close brotherly union and frequent meetings, drew upon them suspicion of hostility and
conspiracy against Rome and the empire which was regarded as an unpardonable crime.

2.1.5 Other minor accusations: They were falsely charged with all sorts of abominations, even
incest, cannibalism and infanticide at their religious meetings and love feasts.

Christianity was thus, as a whole, considered as illegal and superstitious. Therefore, it became the
duty bound to the emperors and the people to destroy Christianity completely.

2.2 The Persecutions: - Persecution was not continuous from Nero to Constantine. But all the
time Christianity was under the ban of the law. The Roman persecutions can be divided into two
periods-

2.2.1 The Period of Local Persecution (up to 249 AD):

2.2.2 Persecution under Nero: The event that sparked the official persecution was the fire of
Rome on July 19 of 64 AD, which gutted down ten of the fourteen districts of the city. Nero was
suspected of having set the fire due to his scheme of renovating the city. In order to avoid this
accusation Nero charged the Christians and were thus hated and persecuted.

The method of persecution was brutal- some were crucified, some were clothed in animal skin and
thrown to wild dogs, some clothed with inflammable materials and used as living torches in Nero’s
garden. Clement of Rome wrote that Apostles Paul and Peter were also executed during Nero’s
persecution.

2.2.3 Persecution under Domitian (81-96 AD): Domitian became emperor in 81 AD, towards the
end of his reign he enforced emperor worship claiming himself the Supreme, adopted the title ‘God
and Lord’ and demanded to be worshipped. Upon refusal, Christians were charged with treason.

Many were martyred, dispossessed of property and some, banished including John, the Apostle at
Patmos. He was soon assassinated in AD 96, and was succeeded by Nerua who immediately stopped
persecution and for a short time Christians enjoyed peace.

2.2.4 Persecution under Trajan (98-117): Pliny, the governor of Bithynia discovered that many
pagans were converted to Christianity. Temples were deserted and heathen festivals were not
attended, resulting in the decline of revenues. Pliny sent letter to Trajan for instruction how to deal
with Christians who were accused of being disloyal to the empire though without certain evidence.

Trajan, in his reply to Pliny, made clear that Christians were not to be hunted out. Only if they persist
in refusing to sacrifice to idols, should they be punished. Therefore, in this period there were
persecutions here and there. Many were martyred including Ignatius of Antioch.

2.2.5 Persecution under Hadrian (117-138) and Antonius Pius (138-161): They followed the policy
of Trajan. Therefore, the persecution was mild. But many were still tortured and martyred, most
prominent among them Polycarp.

2.2.6 Persecution under Marcus Aurelius (AD 166-177): Persecution became vigorous again
during his reign. His defeat against the Barbarians in Parthia followed by widespread famine and
earthquake embittered him. For these he blamed Christians as a result of their neglect of national
gods. Justin Martyr was put to death.
2.2.7 Persecution under Commodus (180-192): He continued persecution at the beginning of his
reign, but later treated Christianity with the toleration of indifference. Generally, this period was a
period of peace. However, Apollonius was martyred for his faith.

2.2.8 Persecution under Septimus Severus (193-211): Severus promulgated a new law forbidding
conversion to Judaism and Christianity. Extreme severe persecution broke out in N. Africa and Egypt.
Many Christians martyred including Leonardes, father of Origen.

2.3 The Period of General Persecution (up to AD 311)

2.3.1 Persecution under Decius (AD 250): Decius was convinced that Christians were to be blamed
for the decline of the empire. He believed if all gods were worshipped by all, there would be
prosperity. He initiated the first universal and systematic programme of persecution by issuing an
edict of persecution on January 1, 251.

This persecution was the worst trial that the Christian church had yet undergone. There were few
martyrs like bishop Fabian of Rome and Babylas of Antioch. Many suffered torture and
imprisonment including Origen. Many conformed with the edict and became lapsed Christians, who
created long, enduring problems which later resulted in schism of the Church.

2.3.2 Persecution under Gallus (AD 251-253): A severe plague ravaged the empire and once again
Christians were accused as being the cause. Cornelius, bishop of Rome died and his successor Lucius
was imprisoned.

2.3.3 Persecution under Valerian (AD 253-260): In AD 257 Valerian issued an edict of persecution.
Christians were ordered to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods and were forbade to assemble. In 258,
a more severe edict was issued- all clergies to be executed, noble class among Christians were to be
deprived of their ranks and properties and were to be exiled. Christians in Caesar’s household were
to be reduced to slaves.

Cyprian, Sixtus bishop of Rome along with four other priests, Fructusous bishop of Tarragona were
martyred. Many others thrown to wild beasts in public arenas. But there were no lapsed Christians
this time.

2.3.4 Persecution under Diocletian, Galerius and Maximian (AD 303-311): Diocletian became
emperor in AD 284, he was determined to reorganize in order to provide more sufficient military
defence. He appointed Maximian, regent in the West conferring him the title Augustus as himself.
He appointed two Caesers- Constantius for the west and Galerius for the east. There was no much
persecution in the west.

But in the east, Galerius was hostile towards Christians and dismissed them from the army. In his
instigation an edict was issued in AD 303, which ordered- 1). All church buildings be demolished and
properties be confiscated to the state; 2). All Christian books must be destroyed; 3). All Christian
officials must be dismissed from government service and be deprived of all civil rights; 4). Christians
who were not officials were to be made slaves.

Other edicts followed- the first forbidding Christians to assemble for worship. The second ordered
the arrest of all clergy. The third ordered the torture of all Christians to compel them to sacrifice to
the gods. The fourth threatened death to all who professed the Christian faith. Christians went
through a terrible time of suffering. There were many martyrs but also many lapsed Christians.

3. End of Persecutions:
After the death of Diocletian four aspirants to the throne were at war. Constantine and Maxentius;
the two most powerful rivals, met in battle at the Milvian bridge over Tiber. It was said that
Constantine claimed to have seen in the sky a shining cross bearing the motto- ‘Hog Signo Vinces’ (By
this sign you will conquer). Following that Constantine defeated Maxentius and became emperor
over the whole of the empire.

In AD 313 Constantine issued the famous Edict of Milan. This edict ended persecution, Christianity
was made a state religion and favoured its development. However, in the east, persecutions
continued under Licinius until Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the state in AD
395.

4. Effects of Persecutions:

4.1 Positive Effects:

4.1.1 Persecutions purify the life of the church: Tertullian said, “Persecution was God’s
winnowing fan, which even now cleanses the Lord’s threshing floor”. During peace thousands
embraced Christianity without real commitment to Christ. Each persecution purified the church.

4.1.2 Persecution Enhanced Numerical growth: Tertullian rightly said, “The blood of the martyr is
the seed of the church”. Many were won to Christianity by the patience and heroic suffering of
Christians during persecutions.

4.1.3 Persecution brought New Testament Canonization: Persecution, especially under

4.1.4 Persecution Created Better Relationship Between the Church and the State: Persecution
proved that Christians were obedient to the state as long as it did not ask to violate their spiritual
allegiance to God.

4.2 Negative Effects:

4.2.1 Apostasy: Most of the Romans and emperors did not want to kill the Christians as much as
they wanted them to simply stop being Christians. Therefore, pressure was put on in different ways
to recant their faith. As a result, hundreds of Christians left their faith.

4.2.2 Disunity Regarding Acceptance of the Lapsed Christians: When those lapsed Christians
sought readmission into the church there were different serious views regarding their readmission.
This further resulted in schism in the church.

4.2.3 Distortion of Martyrdom: The very matter of martyrdom became distorted as to its purpose
or benefits. Many came to believe martyrdom to be having a sin-atoning merit.

4.2.4 Setback in Christian Literature: Christians were so busy protecting themselves that there
was little opportunity to leave the literary legacy.

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