1. Christianity: The Church Persecuted lecture #3

2. Jewish Persecution 1. Stephen Acts 6:8-7:60
Saul watches as Stephen is killed

3. Rome Burns 64 AD
Periodic persecutions…

4. Roman Persecution
A. Christianity illegal, but Christians not sought out – only punished if turned in.
For the most part
Read - Pliny

5. Roman Persecution B. The duration: from the 60s to the 320s Nero (60s)
a. Rome burns, Nero blames Christians for causing the fire and sets out to destroy the religion

6. Roman Persecution B. The duration: from the 60s to the 320s Nero (60s)
a. Rome burns, Nero blames Christians for causing the fire and sets out to destroy the religion
Executions on Cross or in the coliseum.
Christian stories

7. Roman Persecution B. The duration: from the 60s to the 320s Nero (60s)
a. Rome burns, Nero blames Christians for causing the fire and sets out to destroy the religion
Executions on Cross or in the coliseum.
Attempt to eliminate most important Christians.
Paul beheaded
Peter is Crucified upside down

8. Paul

9. Murdered by being tied to the horns of a bull

10. Other Martyrs Ignatius of Antioch 107 AD (pg 43, quote from)
Polycarp 155 AD

11. Show Polycarp

12. Roman Persecution B. The duration: from the 60s to the 320s
Persecution on and off until Constantine becomes Caesar.

13. Why? The reasons for Persecution
Read The Ritual Cannibalism Charge Against Christians
The Ritual Cannibalism Charge Against Christians

14. Why? The reasons for Persecution
1. Cannibalism,

15. Why? The reasons for Persecution
1. Cannibalism,
2. Lack of patriotism,

16. Why? The reasons for Persecution
1. Cannibalism,
2. Lack of patriotism,
Refusal to worship the____________.

17. Why? The reasons for Persecution
1. Cannibalism,
2. Lack of patriotism,
Refusal to worship the____________.
3. hatred of the human race,

18. Why? The reasons for Persecution
1. Cannibalism
2. Lack of patriotism,
Refusal to worship the____________.
3. hatred of the human race,
4. causes of disaster,

19. Why? The reasons for Persecution
1. Cannibalism,
2. Lack of patriotism,
Refusal to worship the____________.
3. hatred of the human race,
4. causes of disaster,
5. charges of incest

20. Why? The reasons for Persecution
1. Cannibalism,
2. Lack of patriotism,
Refusal to worship the____________.
3. hatred of the human race,
4. causes of disaster,
5. charges of incest
6. hate of family
7. atheism

21. Now read Polycarp

22. A big surprise?

23. A big surprise? 3. The fact of being a Christian
a. “The very name” (I Peter 4: 16) “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”

24. The purpose of persecutions
1. Make Christians renounce, not kill them.
Many did worship the emperor
2. Martyrdom of the committed.

25. D. The results 1. Persecution purified the church
2. Persecution extended the church

26. Founding of a faith
Video: start at 29:20 ish

27. Modern TV Christianity…