Age of Catholic Christianity II 70-312 AD PersecutionPersecution

Age of Catholic Christianity II Age of Catholic Christianity II 70-312 AD70-312 AD

Age of Catholic Christianity II Age of Catholic Christianity II 70-312 AD70-312 AD

PersecutionPersecutionPersecutionPersecution

The Spread of ChristianityThe Spread of ChristianityThe Spread of ChristianityThe Spread of Christianity

1.1. GodGod

2.2. Burning ConvictionBurning Conviction

3.3. Need in the hearts of peopleNeed in the hearts of people

4.4. Love for one anotherLove for one another

5.5. PersecutionPersecution

1.1. GodGod

2.2. Burning ConvictionBurning Conviction

3.3. Need in the hearts of peopleNeed in the hearts of people

4.4. Love for one anotherLove for one another

5.5. PersecutionPersecution

MartyrdomMartyrdomThe blood of the martyrs is the The blood of the martyrs is the

seed of the churchseed of the church

-Tertullian-Tertullian

The blood of the martyrs is the The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the churchseed of the church

-Tertullian-Tertullian

Martyr - WitnessMartyr - Witness

Reasons for Christian PersecutionReasons for Christian PersecutionReasons for Christian PersecutionReasons for Christian Persecution

1.1. Jewish FearsJewish Fears• Loss of membership in Synagogue Loss of membership in Synagogue

• Loss of privileged status with RomeLoss of privileged status with Rome

• Zealots disliked lack of nationalismZealots disliked lack of nationalism

1.1. Jewish FearsJewish Fears• Loss of membership in Synagogue Loss 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 PersecutionReasons for Christian PersecutionReasons for Christian PersecutionReasons for Christian Persecution

2.2. Roman PoliticsRoman Politics• Christians believed in an incoming Christians believed in an incoming

kingdom with Christ, not the emperor, kingdom with Christ, not the emperor, as its headas its head

• Union of state and religion excluded Union of state and religion excluded Christians from political customsChristians from political customs

2.2. Roman PoliticsRoman Politics• Christians believed in an incoming Christians believed in an incoming

kingdom with Christ, not the emperor, kingdom with Christ, not the emperor, as its headas its head

• Union of state and religion excluded Union of state and religion excluded Christians from political customsChristians from political customs

Reasons for Christian PersecutionReasons for Christian PersecutionReasons for Christian PersecutionReasons for Christian Persecution

3.3. Social ReasonsSocial Reasons• Refusal to engage in sporting/theatrical Refusal to engage in sporting/theatrical

eventsevents

• Condemnation of the gladiatorial gamesCondemnation of the gladiatorial games

• Christianity gave status to slaves and Christianity gave status to slaves and womenwomen

3.3. Social ReasonsSocial Reasons• Refusal to engage in sporting/theatrical Refusal to engage in sporting/theatrical

eventsevents

• Condemnation of the gladiatorial gamesCondemnation of the gladiatorial games

• Christianity gave status to slaves and Christianity gave status to slaves and womenwomen

Reasons for Christian PersecutionReasons for Christian PersecutionReasons for Christian PersecutionReasons for Christian Persecution

4.4. Economic ReasonsEconomic Reasons• Loss of profit for idol makers/pagan Loss of profit for idol makers/pagan

templestemples

• Christians were scapegoatsChristians were scapegoats

4.4. Economic ReasonsEconomic Reasons• Loss of profit for idol makers/pagan Loss of profit for idol makers/pagan

templestemples

• Christians were scapegoatsChristians were scapegoats

Reasons for Christian PersecutionReasons for Christian PersecutionReasons for Christian PersecutionReasons for Christian Persecution

5.5. Religious ReasonsReligious 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

5.5. Religious ReasonsReligious 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 PersecutionsThe Early Persecutions64-100 AD64-100 AD

Nero 64-68 ADNero 64-68 AD

The Early PersecutionsThe Early Persecutions64-100 AD64-100 AD

Nero 64-68 ADNero 64-68 AD

• Nero liked to play dress-up, the lyre, Nero liked to play dress-up, the lyre, sing, act, and get crazysing, act, and get crazy

• Nero fiddled while Rome burnedNero fiddled while Rome burned

• Burning of RomeBurning of Rome

• Christian torchesChristian torches

• Peter and Paul executedPeter and Paul executed

• Nero liked to play dress-up, the lyre, Nero liked to play dress-up, the lyre, sing, act, and get crazysing, act, and get crazy

• Nero fiddled while Rome burnedNero fiddled while Rome burned

• Burning of RomeBurning of Rome

• Christian torchesChristian torches

• Peter and Paul executedPeter and Paul executed

The Early PersecutionsThe Early Persecutions64-100 AD64-100 AD

Destruction of the TempleDestruction of the Temple• Many signs, portents, and prophecies occurred. Many signs, portents, and prophecies occurred.

• A group of hyper-zealous Jews rebelledA group of hyper-zealous Jews rebelled

• The Roman army put down the rebellionThe Roman army put down the rebellion

• Despite disruptions, Titus lead the assault on Despite disruptions, Titus lead the assault on Jerusalem, was victorious and the temple was Jerusalem, was victorious and the temple was burned to the ground. burned to the ground.

• The loss of Jerusalem separated Christian from The loss of Jerusalem separated Christian from Jew and forced Christianity to de-emphasize Jew and forced Christianity to de-emphasize Jerusalem and look elsewhere for leadershipJerusalem and look elsewhere for leadership

And there was much rejoicing

The Early PersecutionsThe Early Persecutions64-100 AD64-100 AD

Domitian 81-96Domitian 81-96

The Early PersecutionsThe Early Persecutions64-100 AD64-100 AD

Domitian 81-96Domitian 81-96• Executed/exiled Christians as atheists Executed/exiled Christians as atheists

including his family membersincluding his family members

• Exalted himself as “Lord and God”Exalted himself as “Lord and God”

• Exiled John Exiled John

• Emphasized Emperor worshipEmphasized Emperor worship

• Extremely paranoid and was murdered Extremely paranoid and was murdered according to astrological prophecyaccording to astrological prophecy

• Executed/exiled Christians as atheists Executed/exiled Christians as atheists including his family membersincluding his family members

• Exalted himself as “Lord and God”Exalted himself as “Lord and God”

• Exiled John Exiled John

• Emphasized Emperor worshipEmphasized Emperor worship

• Extremely paranoid and was murdered Extremely paranoid and was murdered according to astrological prophecyaccording to astrological prophecy

Imperial Policy in the early Imperial Policy in the early 22ndnd Century Century

Imperial Policy in the early Imperial Policy in the early 22ndnd Century Century

• Shown and evidenced by Pliny the Shown and evidenced by Pliny the YoungerYounger

• Don’t seek out ChristiansDon’t seek out Christians

• Limited mob violenceLimited mob violence

• Allowed a respite and growth in Allowed a respite and growth in Christian numbersChristian numbers

• Shown and evidenced by Pliny the Shown and evidenced by Pliny the YoungerYounger

• Don’t seek out ChristiansDon’t seek out Christians

• Limited mob violenceLimited mob violence

• Allowed a respite and growth in Allowed a respite and growth in Christian numbersChristian numbers

Persecution WorsensPersecution WorsensMarcus Aurelius 161-180 ADMarcus Aurelius 161-180 AD

Persecution WorsensPersecution WorsensMarcus Aurelius 161-180 ADMarcus Aurelius 161-180 AD

• Stoic PhilosopherStoic Philosopher

• Christians became scapegoats for all Christians became scapegoats for all natural disasters or diseasenatural disasters or disease

• Riots supportedRiots supported

• Many Christians executed either by Many Christians executed either by beheading or in the gamesbeheading or in the games

• Justin Martyr was executed Justin Martyr was executed

• Stoic PhilosopherStoic Philosopher

• Christians became scapegoats for all Christians became scapegoats for all natural disasters or diseasenatural disasters or disease

• Riots supportedRiots supported

• Many Christians executed either by Many Christians executed either by beheading or in the gamesbeheading or in the games

• Justin Martyr was executed Justin Martyr was executed

Official Persecution Official Persecution Decius Trajan 249-251 ADDecius Trajan 249-251 AD

Official Persecution Official Persecution Decius Trajan 249-251 ADDecius Trajan 249-251 AD

• Desired to return to that “old time religion”Desired to return to that “old time religion”

• Published an edict requiring a return to Published an edict requiring a return to paganismpaganism

• 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 Published an edict requiring a return to paganismpaganism

• First empire-wide persecutionFirst empire-wide persecution

• Desired conversion not persecutionDesired conversion not persecution

Official PersecutionOfficial PersecutionDiocletian 284-305Diocletian 284-305

• 260-303 Christians had a respite260-303 Christians had a respite

• Diocletian, a previously neutral emperor, writes Diocletian, a previously neutral emperor, writes 3 edicts calling for persecution3 edicts calling for persecution

• 303 Complete and systematic persecution of 303 Complete and systematic persecution of Christianity, the worst yet experiencedChristianity, the worst yet experienced

• Persecution targeted the church infrastructure: Persecution targeted the church infrastructure: buildings, bishops, and booksbuildings, bishops, and books

Official PersecutionOfficial PersecutionGaleriusGalerius

• Prime force behind Diocletian persecutionsPrime force behind Diocletian persecutions

• Ruled half of the Empire along with his nephew Ruled half of the Empire along with his nephew Maximin Daza, both under DiocletianMaximin Daza, both under Diocletian

• Issued an edict requiring all men women and Issued an edict requiring all men women and children to sacrifice to the gods, and all food in children to sacrifice to the gods, and all food in the markets to be sprinkled with sacrificial wine.the markets to be sprinkled with sacrificial wine.

• Edict forced Christians to convert, die, or Edict forced Christians to convert, die, or compromisecompromise

Positive Effects of Persecution

1.1. ““Blood of the martyrs is the seed of Blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” – Tertullianthe Church” – Tertullian

2.2. Purification of the churchPurification of the church

3.3. Spreading of the gospelSpreading of the gospel

4.4. Canonization of scriptureCanonization of scripture

5.5. Provided Apologia for the faithProvided Apologia for the faith

Negative Effects of PersecutionNegative Effects of Persecution

1.1. People got deadPeople got dead

2.2. The problem of the lapsedThe problem of the lapsed

3.3. Creation of the Cult of the MartyrsCreation of the Cult of the Martyrs

4.4. Lack of ability to leave a literary Lack of ability to leave a literary legacylegacy