Age of Catholic Christianity II AD PersecutionPersecution

The Spread of Christianity 1.God 2.Burning Conviction 3.Need in the hearts of people 4.Love for one another 5.Persecution 1.God 2.Burning Conviction 3.Need in the hearts of people 4.Love for one another 5.Persecution

Martyrdom The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church -Tertullian -Tertullian Martyr - Witness

Reasons for Christian Persecution 1.Jewish Fears Loss of membership in SynagogueLoss of membership in Synagogue Loss of privileged status with RomeLoss of privileged status with Rome Zealots disliked lack of nationalismZealots disliked lack of nationalism 1.Jewish Fears Loss of membership in SynagogueLoss of membership in Synagogue Loss of privileged status with RomeLoss of privileged status with Rome Zealots disliked lack of nationalismZealots disliked lack of nationalism

Reasons for Christian Persecution 2.Roman Politics Christians believed in an incoming kingdom with Christ, not the emperor, as its headChristians believed in an incoming kingdom with Christ, not the emperor, as its head Union of state and religion excluded Christians from political customsUnion of state and religion excluded Christians from political customs 2.Roman Politics Christians believed in an incoming kingdom with Christ, not the emperor, as its headChristians believed in an incoming kingdom with Christ, not the emperor, as its head Union of state and religion excluded Christians from political customsUnion of state and religion excluded Christians from political customs

Reasons for Christian Persecution 3.Social Reasons Refusal to engage in sporting/theatrical eventsRefusal to engage in sporting/theatrical events Condemnation of the gladiatorial gamesCondemnation of the gladiatorial games Christianity gave status to slaves and womenChristianity gave status to slaves and women 3.Social Reasons Refusal to engage in sporting/theatrical eventsRefusal to engage in sporting/theatrical events Condemnation of the gladiatorial gamesCondemnation of the gladiatorial games Christianity gave status to slaves and womenChristianity gave status to slaves and women

Reasons for Christian Persecution 4.Economic Reasons Loss of profit for idol makers/pagan templesLoss of profit for idol makers/pagan temples Christians were scapegoatsChristians were scapegoats 4.Economic Reasons Loss of profit for idol makers/pagan templesLoss of profit for idol makers/pagan temples Christians were scapegoatsChristians were scapegoats

Reasons for Christian Persecution 5.Religious Reasons Christianity is Monotheist and exclusiveChristianity is Monotheist and exclusive Holding of secret “Love Feasts”Holding of secret “Love Feasts” Christians were strange atheistsChristians were strange atheists Refusal to worship the EmperorRefusal to worship the Emperor 5.Religious Reasons Christianity is Monotheist and exclusiveChristianity is Monotheist and exclusive Holding of secret “Love Feasts”Holding of secret “Love Feasts” Christians were strange atheistsChristians were strange atheists Refusal to worship the EmperorRefusal to worship the Emperor

The Early Persecutions AD Burning of RomeBurning of Rome Christian torchesChristian torches Peter and Paul executedPeter and Paul executed Burning of RomeBurning of Rome Christian torchesChristian torches Peter and Paul executedPeter and Paul executed Nero AD

The Early Persecutions AD Strict about Emperor worshipStrict about Emperor worship Executed Christians as atheistsExecuted Christians as atheists Placed self as “God”Placed self as “God” Exile of JohnExile of John Strict about Emperor worshipStrict about Emperor worship Executed Christians as atheistsExecuted Christians as atheists Placed self as “God”Placed self as “God” Exile of JohnExile of John Domitian 81-96

Imperial Policy Shown and evidenced by Pliny the YoungerShown and evidenced by Pliny the Younger Don’t seek out ChristiansDon’t seek out Christians Limited mob violenceLimited mob violence Allowed a respite and growth in Christian numbersAllowed a respite and growth in Christian numbers Shown and evidenced by Pliny the YoungerShown and evidenced by Pliny the Younger Don’t seek out ChristiansDon’t seek out Christians Limited mob violenceLimited mob violence Allowed a respite and growth in Christian numbersAllowed a respite and growth in Christian numbers

Persecution Worsens Stoic PhilosopherStoic Philosopher Introduced a spy systemIntroduced a spy system Christians became scapegoatsChristians became scapegoats Riots supportedRiots supported Many Christians executed either by beheading or in the gamesMany Christians executed either by beheading or in the games Justin Martyr was executedJustin Martyr was executed Stoic PhilosopherStoic Philosopher Introduced a spy systemIntroduced a spy system Christians became scapegoatsChristians became scapegoats Riots supportedRiots supported Many Christians executed either by beheading or in the gamesMany Christians executed either by beheading or in the games Justin Martyr was executedJustin Martyr was executed Marcus Aurelius AD

Official Persecution Desired to return to that “old time religion”Desired to return to that “old time religion” Published an edict requiring a return to paganismPublished an edict requiring a return to paganism First empire-wide persecutionFirst empire-wide persecution Desired conversion not persecutionDesired conversion not persecution Desired to return to that “old time religion”Desired to return to that “old time religion” Published an edict requiring a return to paganismPublished an edict requiring a return to paganism First empire-wide persecutionFirst empire-wide persecution Desired conversion not persecutionDesired conversion not persecution Decius Trajan AD

Official Persecution Christians had a respite Christians had a respite Diocletian, a previously neutral emperor, writes 3 edicts calling for persecutionDiocletian, a previously neutral emperor, writes 3 edicts calling for persecution 303 Complete and systematic persecution of Christianity, the worst yet experienced303 Complete and systematic persecution of Christianity, the worst yet experienced Persecution targeted the church infrastructurePersecution targeted the church infrastructure Diocletian

Official Persecution Prime force behind Diocletian persecutionsPrime force behind Diocletian persecutions Ruled half of the Empire, under DiocletianRuled half of the Empire, under Diocletian Issued an edict requiring all men women and children to sacrifice to the gods, and all food in the markets to be sprinkled with sacrificial wine.Issued an edict requiring all men women and children to sacrifice to the gods, and all food in the markets to be sprinkled with sacrificial wine. Galerius

Positive Effects of Persecution “Blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” – Tertullian“Blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” – Tertullian Purification of the churchPurification of the church Spreading of the gospelSpreading of the gospel Canonization of scriptureCanonization of scripture Provided Apologia for the faithProvided Apologia for the faith

Negative Effects of Persecution 1.People got dead 2.The problem of the lapsed 3.The overemphasis on martyrdom 4.Lack of ability to leave a literary legacy