Persecution &

Martyrdomin the

Early Church

Persecutionin the

First-Century Church

I. Persecution in the New Testament

Jesus warned his disciples of coming persecution:

John 15:18-20

Matt. 24:9-14

I. Persecution in the New Testament

“testimony” = marturion

“witness” = martus or “martyr”

II. Persecution by the JewsStephen (Acts 7:54-60)

II. Persecution by the Jews

James (Acts 12:1-2)

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

III. Persecution by the Romans

False charges: Atheism Treason Licentiousness Cannibalism Witchcraft &

Sorcery

Incest Immorality Haters of

humanity Intellectual

contradictions

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

Simon Peteraccording to tradition, was

crucified upside down

Apostle Paulaccording to tradition was

beheaded

Domitian (81-96)

• Instigated the persecution

that was the background to the book of Revelation

Seven Churches of Revelation

Persecutionin the

Second-Century Church

Trajan (98-117)

Pliny the Younger, Governor of Bithynia (111-113)

wrote to Emperor Trajan: “What about the Christians?”

Trajan to Pliny: “Don’t ask; don’t tell.”

IgnatiusBishop of Antioch

(c.30-107)

According to tradition, killed by lions in

the Roman Colisseum

Polycarp

(c.69-156)

Bishop of Smyrna, burned at the stake

Marcus Aurelius (161-180)

Played by Richard Harris in “Gladiator” (2000)

Justin Martyr (d. 166)

•Denounced by Cynic philosopher Crescens, who was Aurelius’ advisor

•Was beheaded

Martyrs of Lyons (d. 177)

Amphitheater in Lyons

LaterWidespread Persecution

Septimius Severus (193-211)

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

The Passion of Perpetua

and Felicitas (203)

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

Your Professor at the Amphitheater in Carthage

Decius (249-251)

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”

Origen

(c.185-251)

Tortured & died

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)?

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

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.

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

Two Priorities of the Church

• Purity of the Church

• Forgiving Love

• Result: Penitential System

Valerian (253-260)

Valerian’s Persecution (258-9)

• Cyprian and Novatian both martyred, 258

• Christians began meeting in catacombs and cemeteries

Diocletian (284-305)

Galerius (305-311)

The Great Persecution (303-311)

WEST

Maximian (Emperor)

Constantius Chlorus (Caesar)

EAST

Diocletian (Emperor)

Galerius (Caesar)

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

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.

Constantine(306-324)

WEST

Maxentius (Emperor)

Constantine (Caesar)

EAST

Maximinus Daia (Emperor)

Licinius (Caesar)

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

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.

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