TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction……………………………………………………….. 1
Persecution in the Early
Church………………………………… 1
The
Beginning of General Persecutions against the
Church
(A.D. 54-304)…………………………………………….. 9
Persecution,
Under Emperor Nero (A.D. 54-68)………………. 9
Persecution,
Under Emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96)………….. 10
Persecution,
Under Emperor Trajan (A.D. 98-117)……………. 11
Persecution,
Under Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antonimous
(A.D.
162-180)……………………………………………………… 13
Persecution,
Staring With Emperor Lucius Septimus Severus
(A.D.
193-211)……………………………………………………… 17
Persecution,
Under Emperor Marcus Clodius Pupienus ……… 18
Maximums
(A.D. 164-238)………………………………………… 20
Preparation
of the World for Christianity the Emperor Gaius
Caligula
Insists on Being a God…………………………………… 25
The
Founding of the Church………………………………………. 25
The
Church Invades the Pagan World…………………………… 29
St.
Paul’s First Missionary Journey………………………………. 30
The
Roman Church…………………………………………………. 31
Burning
of Rome under Nero and the persecution of the
Christians…………………………………………………………… 32
References………………………………………………………… 36
INSTITUTE OF THEOLOGY
AFFILIATE OF PAUL’S UNIVERSITY AWKA
THE BEGINNING OF GENERAL PERSECUTIONS
AGAINST THE CHURCH (A.D. 54-304)
Persecution, under Emperor Nero (A.D.
54-68)
Nero was the sixth emperor of Rome
and Reigned for fifteen years. He was a paradox – a man of great creativity
combined with a vicious temper and extreme cruelty. It is said by many that it
wad NERO who ordered Rome to be burned and then blamed it on the Christians to
turn the wrath of Rome’s citizens away from himself. Others say he was not in
Rome when it burned. Whichever way it was, Christians were blamed for the fire
that lasted nine days, became a dreadful persecution that lasted for the rest
of Nero’s reign.
The barbarous acts against the
Christians were worse than any they had previously endured, especially those committed
by Nero. Only a satin-inspired imagination could have conceived them. Some
Christians were sewn inside skins of wild animals and torn at by fierce dogs.
Shirts stiff with was were put on others, and they were then tied to poles in
Nero’s garden and et on fire go provide light for his parties.
This cruel persecution spread
throughout the Roman Empire, but it only successes in strengthening the sprit
of Christianity rather than killing it. Along with Paul and Peter, several of
the seventy appointed by Jesus (Luke 10:1) were martyred, also. Among them were
Erastus, treasurer of Corinth (Romans 16:23); Aristarchus the Macedonian (Acts
1929); Trophimus the Ephesians (Acts 21:29); Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus
(Acts 1:23); and Ananias, bishop of Damascus, whom the Lord sent to Saul (Acts
9:10).
Persecution, under Emperor Domitian
(A.D. 81-96)
Domitian was a cruel person who
killed his own brother and brought the second persecution against Christians.
In his hatred, Domitian issued an order “That no Christian, once brought before
the tribunal, should be exempted form punishment without renouncing his
religion”.
Numerous lies were made up during
his time to harm the Christians, some so outrageous that only unthinking hate
could believe them-such as the Christians were responsible for every famine,
epidemic, or earthquake that afflicted any part of the Roman empire. Money was
offered to those who would testify against the Christians, and many innocent
people were slaughtered for financial gain. When Christians were brought before
domitian’s council, they were told that if they swore an oath of allegiance to
him they would be set free. Those who reused to take the oath were killed.
The martyr during this time with
whom we are most familiar was Timothy, who was the celebrated disciple of the
Apostle Paul and overseer of the Church in Ephesus until A.D. 97. In that year,
the Ephesians pagans were celebrating a feast called “Catagogion”. When Timothy
saw their pagan procession, he blocked their way and severely rebuked them for
their idolatry. His holy boldness angered the pagans and they attacked him with
clubs and beat him so badly that he died of his injuries two days later.
Persecution, under Emperor Trajan (A.D.
98-117).
In the third persecution, Pliny,
known as “the Younger”, a Roman consul and writer, took pity on the persecuted
Christians and wrote to Trajan, assuring him that there were many thousands of
them put to death daily who had not done anything contrary to Roman laws. In
his letter, he said:
The whole account they gave of their
crime or error (whichever it is to be called) amounted only to thus: namely,
that they were accustomed on a stated day to meet before daylight, and to
repeat together a set form of prayer to Christ as a God, and to bind themselves
by an obligation, not indeed to commit wickedness; but, on the contrary, never
to commit theft, robbery, or adultery, never to falsify their word. Never to
defraud any man: after which it was their custom to separate, and reassemble to
partake in common of a harmless meal.
The degree to which Pliny’s letter
lessened the persecution, if at all, is not recorded.
During this persecution, in the year
A>D. 110, Ignatius (see figure 8), who was the overseer of the Church in
Antioch, the capital of Syria, where the disciples were first called Christians
(Acts 11:26), was sent to Rome because he professed and taught Christ. It’s
said that when he preached through Asia, even though guarded by soldiers, he
preached the Word of God in every city they traveled through and encouraged and
strengthened the churches. While in Smyrna, he wrote to the Church at Rome and
appealed to them not to try to deliver him form martyrdom, because they would
deprive him of that which he most longed and hoped for he wrote:
Now I begin to be a disciple. I care
for nothing of visible or invisible things so that I may but win Christ. Let
fire and the cross, let the companies of wild beasts, let breaking of bones and
tearing of limbs, let the grinding of the whole body, and all the malice of the
devil, come upon me; be it so, only may I win Christ Jesus.
Even when he was sentenced to fed to
lions and could hear their roaring, he was filled with such desire to suffer
for Christ (See Acts 5:41) that he said, “I am the wheat of Christ: I am going
to be ground with the teeth of wild beasts that I may be found pure bread.”
About ten thousand Christians were martyred during his reign. Many were crowned
with thorns, crucified, and had spears thrust into their sides in cruel imitation
of Jesus” death.
Eustachius, a successful and brave
Roman commander, was ordered to join in an idolatrous sacrifice to celebrate
his victories, but his hear-faith in Christ was so much greater than his vanity
that he refused. Enraged at this, drain forgo Eustachinus’s noble service to
Rome and had him and his entire family martyred.
Two brothers, Fausines and jovita,
bore their tortures with such patience that a pagan named Calocerius was so
struck with admiration that he cried out in a kind of ecstasy, “Great is the
God of the Christians!” For this, he was immediately arrested and put to the
same tortures.
The
relentless persecutions against the Christians continued until quadrates, who
was overseer of Athens, made a scholarly defense in their favor before the
emperor, who was in Athens for a is it, At the same time. Airsides, a
philosopher in the city, wrote an elegant epistle to the emperor, also in their
favor. These combined to cause Adrian to become more lenient and relax his
persecution.
Adrain died in A.D. 138, and was
succeeded by Antoninus Pius, emperor Pius was one of the most amiable monarchs
that ever reigned and stopped all persecutions against the Christians.
Persecution, under Emperor Marcus
Aurelius Antonimous (A.D. 162-180)
Marcus Aurelius was a philosopher,
and wrote meditations, a classic work of stoicism, which is an indifference to
pleasure or pain. He was also fierce and merciless toward Christians and
responsible for the fourth general persecution against them.
The cruelties against Christians in
this persecution were so inhuman that may of those who watched them shuddered
with horror, and were astonished at the courage of the sufferers. Some of the
martyrs had their feet crushed impresses, and were then forced to walk over
thorns, nails, sharp shells, and other pointed objects. Others were sharp
shells, and other pointed objects. Others were whipped until their sinews and
being were exposed. Then after suffering the most excruciating tortures that
could be devised, they were killed in terrible ways. Yet few turned from Christ
or begged their torturers to lessen their pains.
When Germanics, a young man and true
Christian, was delivered to the wild lions on account of his faith he behaved
with such astonishing courage that several pagans were converted to the faith
that inspired such bravery.
Polycarp, who was a student of the Apostle John and the overseer of
the church in Smyrna, heard that soldiers were looking for him and tried to
escape but was discovered by a child. After feeding the guards who captured
him. He asked for an hour in prayer, which they gave him. He prayed with such
fervency, that his guards said they were sorry that they were the ones who
captured him. Nevertheless, he was taken before the governor and condemned to be
burned in the market place.
After his sentence was give, the
governor said to him, “Reproach Christ and I will release you”.
Polycarp answered, “Eighty-six years
I have served him, and he never once wronged me. How then shall I blaspheme my
king who has saved me”
In the market place, he was tied to
the state rather than nailed as was the usual customs, because he assured them
he would stand immovable in the flames and not fight them. As the dry sticks
placed around him were lit, the flames rose up and circled his body without
touching him. The executioner was then ordered to pierce him with a sword. When
he did, a great quantity of blood gushed out an put the fire. Although his
Christian friends asked to be given his body as it was so they could bury him,
the enemies of the Gospel insisted that it be burned in the fire, which was
done.
Felicitates, a well-know lay of a
wealthy Roam family was a devout and pious Christian. She had seven sons who
were also devout Christians. All were martyred.
Januaries, the eldest, was scourged,
and pressed to death with weights. Felix and Philip, the two next, had their
brains dashed out with a club. Silvanus,
the fourth, was thrown form a precipice. The three younger sons. Alexander, Vitals, and Marital, were
beheaded with a sword. Felicitates was then beheaded with the same sword.
Justin, the Greek theologian who
founded a school christen philosophy at
Rome and wrote the apology and the Dialogue, was also martyred during
his time of persecution. He was a native of Neapolis in Samaria and was a great
lover of truth and a universal scholar. After his conversion to Christianity
when he was thirty years old, he wrote an elegant epistle to the Gentiles, and
employed his talents in convincing the Jews of the truth of the Christian
faith.
When the pagans began to treat the
Christians with great severity, Justin wrote a dense in their favour that
prompted the emperor to publish a decree in favor of the Christens.
Soon after, he entered into frequent
debates with creases, a celebrated cynic photosphere, Justin’s arguments
overpowered Crescent and so disturbed him that he resolved to destroy Justin.
The second defense that Justin wrote or behalf of the christens gave cresses
that opportunity he needed, and he convinced the emperor that Justin was
dangerous to him, whereupon the and six followers were dangerous to him,
whereupon he san six followers were arrested and order to sacrifice to pagan
idols. When they refused, they were scourged and then beheaded.
Soon after, persecutions ceased for
a while because of a miraculous deliverance of the emperor’s army from certain
defeat in a battle in the northern providence through the prayers of a began of
his soldiers who were all Christians. But it began again in France where the tortures
almost exceed the powers of description.
Sanctus, a deacon of description
Sanctus, a decision of Vienna, had
read hot plates of brass placed upon the tenders parts of his body and left
there until they burned through to his bones.
Blandina, a Christian lady of weak constitution who was not
thought to be able to resist torture. But whose fortitude was so great that her
tormentors became exhausted with their devilish work, was after taken into an
amphitheater with three others, suspended on a piece of wood stuck in the
ground, and exposed as food for wild lions. While awaiting her suffering, she
prayed earnestly for her companions and encouraged them. But none of the lions
would touch her, so she time she was brought out, she was accompanied by 15
year old ponticus. The steadfastness of their faith so enraged the multitude
that neither her sex nor his youth were respected, and they were subjected to
the severest punishments and tortures. Blandina subjected to the severest
punishments and tortures. Blandina was torn by the lions, scourged, put into a
net and tossed about by a wild bull, and placed naked into a red-hot metal
chair. When she could speak, she exhorted unto death. When Blandina’s torturers
were unable to make her recant her faith, they killed her with a sword.
Persecution, staring with Emperor Lucius
Septimus Severus (A.D. 193-211)
For a short period, Severus was
favourable toward Christians because it was said he had recovered form a severe
fit of sickness after being ministered to by a Christian, but it wasn’t long
before the prejudice and fury of Rome’s citizens prevailed and obsolete laws
were revived and used against the Christians. And, once again, they were blamed
and punished for every natural misfortune that occurred.
Regardless of the renewed
persecution, the church and gospel stood firm and bright through it, and the
Lord increasingly added to His body throughout the roam empire. Tertullian, the
Carthaginian theologian who converted to Christianity about A.D. 193, said that
if the Christians all left the roman provinces, the empire would nearly empty.
During this persecution, Victor,
bishop to Rome, was martyred in A.D 201. Lonidus, the father of Origin, the
Greek Christian philosopher known for his interpretations of the old testament.
Was beheaded. Many of origin’s hearers also suffered martyrdom: plutarchus.
Serenus. Heron and Heraclites were beheaded. A woman named rheas had boiling
tar purred upon her head and was then burned, as was her mother, Marcella. Her
sister Potaininena. Met the same fate that she did, but attend her execution.
Was converted to Christ. Later, when he was required to swear an oath on roman
idols he refused on the basis that he was a Christian. At first those with him
could not believe what they heard, but when those with him he was debagged
before a judge, condemned, and beheaded.
Ireaneus,
(AD 230-202), Greek church father and bishop of Lyons, was born in Greece, and
received both a secular and a Christian education. It is believed that he wrote
the account of the persecutions at Lyons. He was beheaded in A.D. 202.
The persecutions now extended into
northern Africa. Which was a roman province. Many were martyred in that area,
here are but a few.
Perpetua, a young married woman who was still nursing a child;
Felicitas, who was then pregnant,
and Revocatus of Carthage, a slave who was being taught the principles of
Christianity. Other prisoners who suffered at the same time were Saturninus,
Secundulus, and Satur.
These
latter three were made to run between two rows of men who severely lashed them
as they passed.
After an appearance before the
proconsul Minutius in which she was offered freedom if she sacrificed to the
idols, Perpetua had her still nursing baby taken form her and was Perpetual has
her still-nursing baby taken from her and was thrown into prison. Describing
her faith and life in prison, she told her father. “The dungeon is to me a
palace.” Later she and the other prisoners appeared before Hilarianus, the
judge. He, also, offered to set her baby and begged her to do so. She replied,
I will not sacrifice”.
“are
you a Christian”? asked Hilarianus.
All of the Christians with her stood
fast for Christ, and they were ordered to be killed by wild beasts for the
enjoyment of the crowd o the next pagan holiday.
The men were to be torn by lions and leopards and the women set upon by bulls.
On the day of their execution,
Perpetua and Felicitas were first stripped naked and hung in nets, but were
removed and clothed when the crowd objected. Upon returning to the arena,
perpetual was tossed about by a mad bull and was stunned but not seriously
hurt; Felicitas, however, was badly gored. Perpetua hurried to her side and
held her while they waited for the bull to charge them again but he refused to
do so, and they were dragged from the arena, much to the crowds disappointment.
After a short time, they were
brought back to be killed by gladiators. Felicitas was killed quickly, but the
young, inexperienced gladiator assigned to kill perpetua trebled violently and
could only stab her weakly several times. Seeing how he trembled. Perpetua held
his sword blade and guided it to a bital area in her body.
The fate of the men were similar.
Satur and Revocattus were killed by the wild beasts. Saturninus was beheaded,
and secundulus died of his wounds in prison.
Persecution, under emperor Marcus
clodius Pupienus maximums (A.D. 164-238)
Maximus was a despot who ordered all
Christians hunted down and killed. So many were killed that at times they
buried them fifity and sixty together in large pits.
Among those killed were Ponmtianus,
bishop of Rome. Who was exiled to Sardinia for preaching against idolatry and
was there killed. His successor, anteros, was also martyred after only forty
days in office for offending the government by compiling a history of the
martyrs. A Roman senator. Pammachius and his family and forty two other
Christians were beheaded the same day and their heads displayed on the city
gates. A Christian minister Calepodius, was dragged through the streets of Rome
and then thrown into the tiber river with a millstone tied around his neck. A
refined and beautiful young virgin named Martina was beheaded and hippolitus, a
Christian minister, was tied to wild horses and dragged along the ground until
he died.’
Maximums died in A.D. 238 and was
succeeded by Gordian, who was then succeeded by Philip. During the later two
reigns, the church was free form persecution for a period of 6-10 years. In a
a.d 242, however, a violent persecution in Alexandria was instigated by a pagan
priest without the emperor’s knowledge. During that persecution, an elderly
Christian, metros, was beaten with clubs, pricked with needles, and toned to
death for refusing to worship idols. A Christian woman Ouinta, was scourged,
the dragged over flint stones by her feet, and stoned to death. A
seventy-year-old woman. Appolonia, who confessed that she was a Christian, was
fastened to a stake to be burned. After the fire was set, she begged to be set
free, which the mob did thinking that she was going to recant Christ. To their
amazement, however, she hurled herself back into the flames and died.
Persecution, under Emperor Decius (A.D.
249-251)
This persecution as initiated by
Decius because of his hatred for his predecessor Philip, who was believed to be
a Christian, and by his anger that Christianity was rapidly increasing and the
pagan gods were being forsaken. He decided, therefore, to eliminate the
Christina religion and all its followers. The heathen citizens of Rome were
eager to enforce Deius’s decree, and considered the killing of Christians to be
beneficial to the empire. During this persecution, the martyrs were too
numerous for anyone to record. Here are a few of them.
St. Chrysostom. The patriarch of
Constantinople in A.D 398 wrote that Julian, a ciLician, was arrested for being
a Christian, put into a leather bag with several snakes and scorpions, and then
thrown into sea.
A young man, peter who was known for
the superior qualities of his mind and body refused to sacrifice to the goddess
Venus when told to so. In his defense, he said “I m amazed that you sacrifice
to an infamous woman whose debaucheries your own writings record, and whose
life consisted to such perverted actions as your laws would punish. No, I shall
offer the true God the acceptable sacrifice of praises and prayers.” When the
governor of Asia, Optimus, heard this, he ordered that Peter be stretched upon
a wheel until all his bones were broken and then beheaded.
A weak Christian, Nichomachus, was
brought before optimums and ordered to sacrifice to the pagan idols,
Nichomachus replied, “I cannot pay the respect to devils that is due only to
the almighty”. He was immediately placed on the rack, and after enduring his
torments for only a short time, recanted his faith in Christ. As soon as he was
freed from the rack, he was seized with a great agony and fell to the ground
and died.
Seeing what seemed to be a terrible
judgment, Densia, a sixteen-year old girl who was among the observers,
exclaimed, “O unhappy wretch, why would you buy a moment’s ease at the expense
of a miserable eternity!” when optimums heard this he called her to himself,
and when Denisa confessed that she was a Christian, he had her beheaded.
Andrew and Paul, two Christian
companions of Nichmachus, held fast to Christ and were stoned to death as they
called on their blessed Redeemer.
In Alexandria, Alexander and
Epimachus were arrested for being Christains. When they confessed that they
were, they were bear with thick sticks, torn with hooks, and then burned to
death. On the same day, four female martyrs were beheaded, their names are
unknown.
In Nice, Trypho and Respicius,
prominent men and Christians, men and Christians, were arrested and given over
to the torturers. Nails were driven through their feet, they were scourged,
dragged through the streets, torn with iron hooks, scorched with torches, and
then beheaded.
Quintain, governor of Sicily, lusted
after a Sicilian lady, Agatha, who was as much known for her piety as her
remarkable beauty. When she resisted all of quintain’s advances, he had her
placed in the hands of a notorious woman, Aphrodica, who ran a brother. But
that she devil was unable to turn Agatha to prostitution so that Quintain could
satisfy his with her. Upon hearing this, Quintain’s lust turned to rage and he
called her before him and questioned her. When she confessed that she was a
Christian, Quintain had her scourged, torn with sharp hooks, and laid naked
upon live coals mixed with broken glass. Agatha bore these tortures with great
courage, and was carried back to prison where she died form her wounds on
February 5, 251.
Lucius, the governor of Crete,
ordered Cyril, the 84-year-old overseer of the church at Gortyna, to be
arrested for refusing to obey the imperial edict to perform sacrifices to the
idols. When Cyril appeared before him. Lucius exhorted him to perform the
sacrifices and thereby save himself from a horrible death. The godly man
replied that he had long taught others the way to eternal life in Christ, and
now he must stand firm for the sake of his own soul. He displayed no fear when
Lucius condemned him to be burned at the stake, and suffered the flames
joyously and with great courage.
In A.D 251, Emperor Decius erected a
pagan temple in Ehesus and commanded all those in the city to sacrifice to its
idols. Seven of his soldiers who were Christians refused to do so and were
placed in prison. They were Constantinus, Dionysius, Joannes, Malchus,
martianus, maximianus, and Seraion. Decius tried to turn them from their faith
by a show of leniency, and gave them until he returned from an expedition to
change their minds. During his absence the seven escaped and hid themselves in
a case in nearby hills when Decius returned, however, their hiding place was
discovered, and he ordered the scave to be sealed so they would die from thirst
and starvation.
It was during this persecution under
Decius that sixty-four- year-old Origin,
the renewed Christian philopher whose father, Leonidus, was martyred during the fifth persecution, was arrested
and thrown into a foul prison in Alexandria. His feet were bound with chains
and put into the stocks, and his legs were spread as far apart as possible. He
was continually threatened with burning, and tormented with every means that
would keep him barely alive for some time before dying.
Fortunately, during this time Decius
died. And his successor Gallus was immediately involved in repelling an
invasion by the Goths, a Germanic peoples from the north. This temporarily
stopped the persecution on the Christians, and Origen obtained his release and
went to Tyre, where he stayed until his death five years later in about A.D.
254…………..