Where We’ve Come From Week 1: Persecution in the Early Church, - PowerPoint Presentation

Where We’ve Come From Week 1: Persecution in the Early Church, from the Apostles to Constantine

Helpful Resources for Further Study Justo L. Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity , 2 volumes. Bruce Shelley, Church History in Plain Language , 4 th Edition (or whatever). Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity . Apostolic Fathers (Letters of Ignatius, Martyrdom of Polycarp , Didache , etc.) Eusebius, Ecclesiastical Histories

Why an Equip Class on the History of Christianity and Christian Theology? “The notion that we read the New Testament exactly as the early Christians did, without any weight of tradition coloring our interpretation, is an illusion. It is also a dangerous illusion, for it tends to absolutize our interpretation, confusing it with the Word of God.” Justo L. Gonzalez

Why an Equip Class on the History of Christianity and Christian Theology? “One way in which we can avoid this danger is to know the past that colors our vision. A person wearing tinted glasses can avoid the conclusion that the entire world is tinted only by being conscious of the glasses themselves. Likewise, if we are to break free from an undue weight of tradition, we must begin by understanding what that tradition is, how we came to be where we are, and how particular elements in our past color our view of the present. It is then that we are free to choose which elements in the past―and in the present―we wish to reject, and which we will affirm.” Justo L. Gonzalez

Discussion Question: What’s the first characteristic that comes to your mind when you hear “Christ-like”? Loving/Merciful toward others? Holiness/Moral character? Kind to the needy? God-honoring/exalting? For the first 250 years of the church, “Christ-like” also very much included a willingness to suffer physically like Jesus suffered.

What do we do with these verses? Romans 8:17 Philippians 1:29-30 Philippians 3:10-11 Revelation 2:9-11 Paul appears to suggest suffering with Christ validates our being co-heirs with Christ. Paul says just as God “freely gifts” ( charizomai ) us the power to believe, he “freely gifts” suffering on Christ’s behalf. Paul longs to know Jesus’ sufferings, and suggests becoming like Jesus in his death enables him to attain to the resurrection. John suggests that gaining the victor’s crown depends on the church being faithful even to the point of death.

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD KEY TO REMEMBER! Persecution under Rome was: Sporadic, not constant Targeted toward leaders, not masses Got progressively worse

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD Prior to Nero, Christians under Rome’s radar as a fringe Jewish Sect. Roman Fire (64 AD) – Nero targets Christians

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD “Yet no human effort…could make that infamous rumor disappear that Nero had somehow ordered the fire. Therefore, in order to abolish that rumor, Nero falsely accused and executed with the most exquisite punishments those people called Christians, who were infamous for their abominations. The originator of the name, Christ, was executed as a criminal by the procurator Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius; and though repressed, this destructive superstition erupted again, not only through Judea, which was the origin of this evil, but also through the city of Rome…Therefore , first those were seized who admitted their faith, and then, using the information they provided, a vast multitude were convicted, not so much for the crime of burning the city, but for hatred of the human race .” – Tacitus, Annals 15.44  

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD “ And perishing they were additionally made into sports: they were killed by dogs by having the hides of beasts attached to them, or they were nailed to crosses or set aflame, and, when the daylight passed away, they were used as nighttime lamps. Nero gave his own gardens for this spectacle and performed a Circus game, in the habit of a charioteer mixing with the plebs or driving about the race-course. Even though they were clearly guilty and merited being made the most recent example of the consequences of crime, people began to pity these sufferers, because they were consumed not for the public good but to satisfy the cruelty of one man .” – Tacitus, Annals 15.44  

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD Prior to Nero, Christians under Rome’s radar as a fringe Jewish Sect. Roman Fire (64 AD) – Nero targets Christians Persecution resumes under Domitian, 80s-90s AD (likely what John is writing about in Revelation). “The great prostitute…drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs [witnesses] of Jesus.” (Revelation 17:1, 6)

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD What was the official policy of Rome toward Christians? Letters between Pliny the Younger (governor from 111-113 AD) and Emperor Trajan (reigned 98 AD-117 AD) .

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD “In the case of those who were denounced to me as Christians, I have observed the following procedure: I interrogated these as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed. For I had no doubt that, whatever the nature of their creed, stubbornness and inflexible obstinacy surely deserve to be punished. There were others possessed of the same folly; but because they were Roman citizens, I signed an order for them to be transferred to Rome .” – Pliny, Letters 10.96-97

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD “You observed proper procedure, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those who had been denounced to you as Christians. For it is not possible to lay down any general rule to serve as a kind of fixed standard. They are not to be sought out; if they are denounced and proved guilty, they are to be punished, with this reservation, that whoever denies that he is a Christian and really proves it―that is, by worshiping our gods―even though he was under suspicion in the past, shall obtain pardon through repentance. But anonymously posted accusations ought to have no place in any prosecution.” – Trajan’s Response

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD What was the official policy of Rome toward Christians? Letters between Pliny the Younger (governor from 111-113 AD) and Emperor Trajan (reigned 98 AD-117 AD). Christians were not sought out systematically. But if accused publicly, they had to repent. If they didn’t repent they were tortured/executed.

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD How did Christians think about persecution and martyrdom? Ignatius, Letter to Rome (from Apostolic Fathers )

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD “I am writing all the churches and giving instruction to all, that I am willingly dying for God, unless you hinder me. I urge you, do not become an untimely kindness to me. All me to be bread for the wild beasts; through them I am able to attain to God. I am the wheat of God and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found to be the pure bread of Christ. Rather coax the wild beasts, that they bay become a tomb for me and leave not part of my body behind, that I may burden no one once I have died. Then I will truly be a disciple of Jesus …”

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD “May I have the full pleasure of the wild beasts prepared for me; I pray they will be found ready for me. Indeed, I will coax them to devour me quickly…Grant this to me; I know what benefits me. Now I am beginning to be a disciple… Fire and cross and packs of wild beasts, cuttings and being torn apart, the scattering of bones, the mangling of limbs, the grinding of the whole body, the evil torments of the devil―let them all come upon me, only that I may attain to Christ.”

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD How did Christians think about persecution and martyrdom? Ignatius, Letter to Rome (from Apostolic Fathers )Martyrdom of Polycarp

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD “But there was a person named Quintus…who was overcome with cowardice once he saw the wild beasts. This is the one who compelled himself and several others to turn themselves in. But the insistent pleas of the proconsul convinced him to take the oath (to the emperor) and offer a sacrifice (to pagan gods). Because of this, brothers, we do not praise those who hand themselves over, since this is not what the gospel teaches.”

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD “Now when the marvelous Polycarp first heard (about authorities looking for him) he was not disturbed, but wanted to remain in the city. But most of the others were persuading him to leave. And so he left for a small country house…While they continued searching for him, he moved to a different country house…He could have fled somewhere even from there, but he chose not to, saying, ‘God’s will be done.’”

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD How did Christians think about persecution and martyrdom? Ignatius, Letter to Rome (from Apostolic Fathers )Martyrdom of Polycarp Christians equated suffering/martyrdom with Christ-likeness and being a disciple. They weren’t supposed to pursue martyrdom, and could even avoid it if possible. But they were to submit to it if that was clearly God’s will.

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD What happened when someone denied Christ under torture or threat of execution? Persecution under Decius (ca. 250 AD). Debate between Cyprian of Carthage and Novatian . “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I will also deny before my father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33; Luke 12:8-9; 2 nd Timothy 2:12)

Persecution under Rome, 64 AD – 311 AD Persecution stops under Constantine (“Edict of Milan” in 313 AD) What are the consequences of this change for the church? No longer equate suffering/martyrdom with Christ-likeness. Other characteristics (self-denial or wealth/power) become markers of closeness to God. Monasteries, Prosperity Theology, Christendom. Does persecution help the church grow? “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church.” – Tertullian Yes and No