1. Persecution & Martyrdom in the Early Church

2. Persecution in the First-Century Church

3. I. Persecution in the New Testament
Jesus warned his disciples of coming persecution:
John 15:18-20
Matt. 24:9-14

4. I. Persecution in the New Testament
“testimony” = marturion
“witness” = martus or “martyr”

5. II. Persecution by the Jews
Stephen (Acts 7:54-60)

6. II. Persecution by the Jews
James (Acts 12:1-2)

7. III. Persecution by the Romans
Christianity was an illegal religion
Christians were uncompromising
Christians were predominantly lower to middle class
Christians were to blame for natural disasters because they left old gods
Enmity of the human heart against the Gospel

8. III. Persecution by the Romans
False charges:
Atheism
Treason
Licentiousness
Cannibalism
Witchcraft & Sorcery
Incest
Immorality
Haters of humanity
Intellectual contradictions

9. Emperors & Martyrs Nero (r.51-68) 64, fire destroyed much of Rome
Rumor spread that Nero ordered the fire to make room for his new city, Neropolis
He used Christians as a scapegoat & executed 100s
Cf. Tacitus, Annales 15.44

10. Simon Peter according to tradition, was crucified upside down

11. Apostle Paul according to tradition was beheaded

12. Domitian (81-96)
Instigated the persecution that was the background to the book of Revelation

13. Seven Churches of Revelation

14. Persecution in the Second-Century Church

15. Trajan (98-117)

16. Pliny the Younger, Governor of Bithynia ( ) wrote to Emperor Trajan: “What about the Christians?”
Trajan to Pliny:
“Don’t ask; don’t tell.”

17. Ignatius Bishop of Antioch
According to tradition, killed by lions in the Roman Colisseum

18. Polycarp
(c )
Bishop of Smyrna, burned at the stake

19. Played by Richard Harris in “Gladiator” (2000)
Marcus Aurelius ( )
Played by Richard Harris in “Gladiator” (2000)

20. Justin Martyr
(d. 166)
Denounced by Cynic philosopher Crescens, who was Aurelius’ advisor
Was beheaded

21. Martyrs of Lyons (d. 177)

22. Amphitheater in Lyons

23. Later Widespread Persecution

24. Septimius Severus ( )

25. Septimius Severus: Problems for the Empire
Threat of barbarian invasion
Economic crises
Civil wars and threat of rebellions
Increasing abandonment of traditional customs/religions
Edict: forbade further conversions to Christianity; persecutions aimed mainly at converts and teachers

26. The Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas (203)

27. The Passion of Perpetua
Perpetua – Young noblewoman & mother; kept diary of visions & experiences in prison
Felicitas – Pregnant slave who delivered her baby in prison so that she could die with her comrades
Saturninus, Revocatus & Secundulus – 3 other catechumens
Saturus – their teacher who surrendered himself to the authorities

28. Your Professor at the Amphitheater in Carthage

29. Decius ( )

30. Decian Persecution: Results
Some became apostate
Some obtained certificates fraudulently
Some were temporary apostates who recanted
Some endured imprisonment and torture, but did not die, becoming known as “confessors”

31. Origen
(c )
Tortured & died

32. Aftermath of Decian Persecution: Question of the Lapsed
After the persecution ended, Christians who renounced Christ wished readmittance into the church
Should they be restored to the church?
What about different degrees of lapsation (e.g. some renounced Christ, others pretended by obtaining false certificates)?
Who should have authority to decide (bishops or confessors)?

33. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage (249-258)
Pagan rhetorician; converted at age 40; soon appointed bishop
Persecution broke out within months
Fled and hid in order to continue guiding his flock from safety
Accused of cowardice when he returned
Confessors claimed authority to forgive the lapsed, not Cyprian who fled

34. Cyprian: Synods 251-2; On the Lapsed
Readmitting the lapsed--Cyprian insisted, “Outside the Church there is no salvation.” He won the point: discipline would be enforced on a rigid basis.
The authority of the church--The bishop with a synod represents the consensus of the church, which has dominion over mere splinter-group opinion, such as the confessors.

35. Novatian: Anti-pope Priest in Rome (d. 258)
Opposed Cornelius, Bishop of Rome (251-3), who believed that the church should welcome the lapsed back into the church
Novatian led strict party and became rival to the Catholic bishop of Rome
Novatianists would not allow any who lapsed to return to the church
Cyprian sided with Cornelius against Novatian

36. Two Priorities of the Church
Purity of the Church
Forgiving Love
Result: Penitential System

37. Valerian ( )

38. Valerian’s Persecution (258-9)
Cyprian and Novatian both martyred, 258
Christians began meeting in catacombs and cemeteries

39. The Great Persecution (303-311)
Diocletian ( )
Galerius ( )

40. Constantius Chlorus (Caesar)
WEST
Maximian (Emperor)
Constantius Chlorus (Caesar)
EAST
Diocletian (Emperor)
Galerius (Caesar)

41. The Great Persecution (303-311)
Persecution was instigated by Galerius
Persecution increased in intensity:
Started by evicting Christians from army
Edict of 303, removed Christians from civil positions
Ordered the destruction of churches and burning of Scriptures
Those who surrendered Scriptures for destruction were called “traditors”
Eventually required all Christians to sacrifice to the gods, and all church leaders were arrested
Most severe and widespread persecution under the Roman Empire

42. Edict of Toleration (311)
In 305, Galerius forced Diocletian to abdicate
In 311, Galerius became ill; Christians convinced him it was God’s punishment for persecuting them
Edict of Toleration: 1) pardoned Christians, allowed them to pursue their faith and to assemble together
2) required them to pray to their God for the emperor and the public good.

43. Constantine ( )

44. Maximinus Daia (Emperor)
WEST
Maxentius (Emperor)
Constantine (Caesar)
EAST
Maximinus Daia (Emperor)
Licinius (Caesar)

45. Constantine: Conquest of Western Empire (312)
War against Maxentius
Eve of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge
Saw a vision:
Chi & Rho
In hoc signes vinces – “In this sign, you will conquer”
He painted the Chi-Rho on his soldiers’ shields
Maxentius drowned in river

46. Edict of Milan (313)
Constantine met with Licinius at Milan and established an alliance which required the cessation of Christian persecution
Maximinus Daia (eastern emperor) continued persecution until he was defeated by Licinius
In 324, Constantine defeated Licinius and became sole emperor; then persecution of Christians ceased throughout the empire.

47. Results of Persecution
A testimony that spawned growth
Apologetic writings, establishment of early Christian theology
Purity of the church
Superstitions: relics of martyrs became revered as fetishes; sites of martyrdom attracted pilgrimages
Division over question of the lapsed