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Persecution &
Martyrdomin the
Early Church
Persecutionin the
First-Century Church
I. Persecution in the New Testament
Jesus warned his disciples of coming persecution:
John 15:18-20
Matt. 24:9-14
I. Persecution in the New Testament
“testimony” = marturion
“witness” = martus or “martyr”
II. Persecution by the JewsStephen (Acts 7:54-60)
II. Persecution by the Jews
James (Acts 12:1-2)
III. Persecution by the Romans
Christianity was an illegal religion Christians were uncompromising Christians were predominantly lower to
middle class Christians were to blame for natural
disasters because they left old gods Enmity of the human heart against the
Gospel
III. Persecution by the Romans
False charges: Atheism Treason Licentiousness Cannibalism Witchcraft &
Sorcery
Incest Immorality Haters of
humanity Intellectual
contradictions
Emperors & Martyrs
• Nero (r.51-68)– 64, fire destroyed much of
Rome– Rumor spread that Nero
ordered the fire to make room for his new city, Neropolis
– He used Christians as a scapegoat & executed 100s
– Cf. Tacitus, Annales 15.44
Simon Peteraccording to tradition, was
crucified upside down
Apostle Paulaccording to tradition was
beheaded
Domitian (81-96)
• Instigated the persecution
that was the background to the book of Revelation
Seven Churches of Revelation
Persecutionin the
Second-Century Church
Trajan (98-117)
Pliny the Younger, Governor of Bithynia (111-113)
wrote to Emperor Trajan: “What about the Christians?”
Trajan to Pliny: “Don’t ask; don’t tell.”
IgnatiusBishop of Antioch
(c.30-107)
According to tradition, killed by lions in
the Roman Colisseum
Polycarp
(c.69-156)
Bishop of Smyrna, burned at the stake
Marcus Aurelius (161-180)
Played by Richard Harris in “Gladiator” (2000)
Justin Martyr (d. 166)
•Denounced by Cynic philosopher Crescens, who was Aurelius’ advisor
•Was beheaded
Martyrs of Lyons (d. 177)
Amphitheater in Lyons
LaterWidespread Persecution
Septimius Severus (193-211)
Septimius Severus: Problems for the Empire
• Threat of barbarian invasion
• Economic crises
• Civil wars and threat of rebellions
• Increasing abandonment of traditional customs/religions
• Edict: forbade further conversions to Christianity; persecutions aimed mainly at converts and teachers
The Passion of Perpetua
and Felicitas (203)
The Passion of Perpetua• Perpetua – Young noblewoman & mother;
kept diary of visions & experiences in prison
• Felicitas – Pregnant slave who delivered her baby in prison so that she could die with her comrades
• Saturninus, Revocatus & Secundulus – 3 other catechumens
• Saturus – their teacher who surrendered himself to the authorities
Your Professor at the Amphitheater in Carthage
Decius (249-251)
Decian Persecution: Results
• Some became apostate
• Some obtained certificates fraudulently
• Some were temporary apostates who recanted
• Some endured imprisonment and torture, but did not die, becoming known as “confessors”
Origen
(c.185-251)
Tortured & died
Aftermath of Decian Persecution: Question of the Lapsed
• After the persecution ended, Christians who renounced Christ wished readmittance into the church
• Should they be restored to the church?
• What about different degrees of lapsation (e.g. some renounced Christ, others pretended by obtaining false certificates)?
• Who should have authority to decide (bishops or confessors)?
Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage (249-258)
• Pagan rhetorician; converted at age 40; soon appointed bishop
• Persecution broke out within months
• Fled and hid in order to continue guiding his flock from safety
• Accused of cowardice when he returned
• Confessors claimed authority to forgive the lapsed, not Cyprian who fled
Cyprian: Synods 251-2; On the Lapsed
• Readmitting the lapsed--Cyprian insisted, “Outside the Church there is no salvation.” He won the point: discipline would be enforced on a rigid basis.
• The authority of the church--The bishop with a synod represents the consensus of the church, which has dominion over mere splinter-group opinion, such as the confessors.
Novatian: Anti-pope
• Priest in Rome (d. 258)
• Opposed Cornelius, Bishop of Rome (251-3), who believed that the church should welcome the lapsed back into the church
• Novatian led strict party and became rival to the Catholic bishop of Rome
• Novatianists would not allow any who lapsed to return to the church
• Cyprian sided with Cornelius against Novatian
Two Priorities of the Church
• Purity of the Church
• Forgiving Love
• Result: Penitential System
Valerian (253-260)
Valerian’s Persecution (258-9)
• Cyprian and Novatian both martyred, 258
• Christians began meeting in catacombs and cemeteries
Diocletian (284-305)
Galerius (305-311)
The Great Persecution (303-311)
WEST
Maximian (Emperor)
Constantius Chlorus (Caesar)
EAST
Diocletian (Emperor)
Galerius (Caesar)
The Great Persecution (303-311)• Persecution was instigated by Galerius• Persecution increased in intensity:
Started by evicting Christians from army
Edict of 303, removed Christians from civil positions
Ordered the destruction of churches and burning of Scriptures
Those who surrendered Scriptures for destruction were called “traditors”
Eventually required all Christians to sacrifice to the gods, and all church leaders were arrested
• Most severe and widespread persecution under the Roman Empire
Edict of Toleration (311)
• In 305, Galerius forced Diocletian to abdicate
• In 311, Galerius became ill; Christians convinced him it was God’s punishment for persecuting them
• Edict of Toleration:
1) pardoned Christians, allowed them to pursue their faith and to assemble together
2) required them to pray to their God for the emperor and the public good.
Constantine(306-324)
WEST
Maxentius (Emperor)
Constantine (Caesar)
EAST
Maximinus Daia (Emperor)
Licinius (Caesar)
Constantine: Conquest of Western Empire (312)
• War against Maxentius
• Eve of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge
• Saw a vision:
Chi & Rho
In hoc signes vinces – “In this sign, you will conquer”
• He painted the Chi-Rho on his soldiers’ shields
• Maxentius drowned in river
Edict of Milan (313)
• Constantine met with Licinius at Milan and established an alliance which required the cessation of Christian persecution
• Maximinus Daia (eastern emperor) continued persecution until he was defeated by Licinius
• In 324, Constantine defeated Licinius and became sole emperor; then persecution of Christians ceased throughout the empire.
Results of Persecution• A testimony that spawned growth• Apologetic writings, establishment of early
Christian theology • Purity of the church • Superstitions: relics of martyrs became
revered as fetishes; sites of martyrdom attracted pilgrimages
• Division over question of the lapsed