Suffering? What Suffering? 1 Peter 1: 6-9 Suffering? What Suffering?

What was it like to live in the early church?

About 100 AD Pliny Trajan

1 Peter c. 62 AD Pliny to Trajan 100 AD 40 years

What sort of trials? Sickness yes But Emphasis on suffering for the name of Jesus.

NT promises persecution

Alexander worships his god

They will cause us grief.

Suffering is only temporary

It is necessary

Why? Element of submission Not random but purposeful and meaningful Precious like gold Shows the real things

In AD 247 Emperor Decius blamed the Christians for a plague because they refused to worship the gods in the 1000 yr celebration of Rome. And so he launched an empire-wide persecution of Christians.

Persecution and Aftermath Anyone without a “sacrifice certificate”—granted by sacrificing to a pagan god—could be imprisoned.

Persecution and Aftermath What about church members who obtained false certificates? CYPRIAN SAID … DONATUS SAID … These church members should be given a second chance; re-admit them to the church after they show the authenticity of their repentance through prayer and fasting. These church members were never true believers; furthermore, if one of them had been a pastor, every baptism or ordination ever performed by that pastor was invalid.

Constantine Changes Everything In 312 Constantine the emperor rules against Donatus Image: © Andre Nantel Emperor Constantine

Our faith is also refined

It results in Praise and glory But whose?

Faith statement

Suffering will come. It comes for a purpose Don’t pretend Think of it as special and precious because God is working in your life. Take the long term view. Going to take faith.