Early Christain Religion

History 101 -100

In the beginning of the Christian religion, the church and its followers endured the wrath of Roman leaders. The Christian religion itself, endured though this dreadful time of persecution. During this time, the events and people actions will result in martyrs and followers having extraordinary historical and theological consequences for this new religion on the rise. If anything, the persecution started the speedy development and spread of Christianity.

The persecution of Christians begins with the start of the religion itself. The Christian religion was formed in Palestine, which is a humble stretch of land on the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Jesus, a Jew, was born in a small corner of the Roman Empire. Although very little is known of his early life. He spoke before crowds of people, teaching and instructing, but also chose twelve disciples whom he taught privately. They eagerly followed him, believing him to be the long-awaited Messiah who would usher in the kingdom of God on earth. Although, Jesus himself was later crucified, his famous twelve Apostles carried on his teachings. Eleven of the original twelve died due to the persecution of emperors, reaffirming the tremendous dislike for Christianity from the beginning.

Starting from 30-311A.D. Christians suffered years of persecution from the Roman Empire. Though the total number of Christians during the time that was persecuted is unknown, many modern day scholars are starting to believe that the original number is not as high as initially thought. The early church endured fifty-four different emperors from Nero to edict of Milan. Though only a few dozen emperors actually sought out and tortured Christians. Christians probably faced about 130 years of persecution and 120 years of peace and toleration. Many of the imperial edict were often against church property, clergy, and Scriptures only, rather than the actually Christians themselves.

The Roman Empire was apprehensive towards Christians. This stems from that the Roman religion was more of a social movement that encouraged unity and loyalty to the state. This religious approach is what the Romans called pietas and piety. It was assumed that if piety died out in the Roman culture that the social unity and justice would disappear along with it. One philosopher Porphyry wrote:

“How can people not be in every way impious and atheistic who have apostatized from the cult of out ancestors through which every nation and city is sustained?.... What else are they than fighters against God?”(Craig pg.249)

Christianity proclaims to be the only one true universal religion, ignoring normal social norm, accepting people. Therefore, lead to many converts among every type of people rather than the Jewish faith, who refused to compromise. This same incentive to future Christians, also added to the fire of hatred towards them. The Roman belief that Roman Gods helped to maintain and uphold the well being of the cities and their people. The sense that the Gods were not being respected properly. The pagan belief that the neglecting of the Gods would lead to disasters within the empire. Though on a different point, Christian were distrusted because of the misunderstanding of worship and beliefs. Due to this misunderstanding, many Pagans suspected Christians of cannibalism, incest, and general immoralities.

Christians endured numerous persecutions, though ten major persecutions stand out above the rest: Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Septimus Severus, Decius, Valerian, Maximinus the Thracian, Aurelian, Diocletian and Galerius.

When the six emperor of Rome was in power, there was a great fire that destroyed approximately a tenth of Rome. Though it is uncertain how the fire started. It is a common belief that Nero started the fire himself. So Nero, an eccentric emperor shifted the blame towards the Christians in an attempt to deflect attention from himself. Reported that Nero had tortured Christians for his own personal enjoyment. According to the Roman historian Tacitus.

“Besides being put to death they [the Christians] were made to serve as objects of amusement; they were clad in the dies of beast and torn to death by dogs; others were set on fire to serve to illuminate the night when daylight failed….. all this gave rise to a feeling of pity, for it was felt that they were being destroyed not for the public good but to satisfy the cruelty of an individual.”(Blanchard pg.201)

The Apostles, Peter and Paul founded a church in Rome though were later crucified under Nero. Nero was the first official persecution and after his rule, it became a capital crime to be a Christian.

The persecution of Decius was from 249-251 A.D. This persecution was significant because it was the first universal and organized persecutions of Christians. Decius issued a law to check the devotion of all the Roman subjects to the national religion. This law also included a unique clause for Christians, forcing them to condemn their religion because it was unable to coexist with the demands of the State. Forbidding religious meetings, the bishops and clergy were threatened with severe punishments. At this time, the central person martyred was Fabian, the bishop of Rome, who was beheaded under