Universal Life Church
Don Noenoehitoe
History of Christianity - Lesson 7
1. What were the factors that caused Christians to be persecuted by the Roman state?
Political:
When Christianity became separated from Judaism, the Romans populist viewed the Christians as a threat within the Empire.
By refusing the required affirmations and exercises to mark the greatness of the Emperor and the imperial state, the early Christians were deemed as a political
adversary that challenge the very existence and welfare of the Roman Empire.
Religious:
The early Christians had no idols and very little symbols of worship, unlike their counterparts, the Romans, who were used to symbolic manifestations of their gods and goddesses (mechanical and external practices). These whole spiritual and internal way of worships by the Christians were mistakenly viewed as Atheism, therefore, a threat to the Romans. Furthermore, the "Kiss of Peace", the observance of Eucharist, and secret meetings held by the Christians led the Romans to accuse them of incest, cannibalism, and unnatural practices.
Social:
Christianity treated persons with equality (Colossians 3:11). Unlike Paganism, which maintains the social aristocratic systems of the Romans elites,
the early Christians readily accepted the masses of the undesirables, lower classes and slaves, thus viewed as a potential adversary to incite the masses to rebel against the state.
Economic:
Political:
When Christianity became separated from Judaism, the Romans populist viewed the Christians as a threat within the Empire.
By refusing the required affirmations and exercises to mark the greatness of the Emperor and the imperial state, the early Christians were deemed as a political
adversary that challenge the very existence and welfare of the Roman Empire.
Religious:
The early Christians had no idols and very little symbols of worship, unlike their counterparts, the Romans, who were used to symbolic manifestations of their gods and goddesses (mechanical and external practices). These whole spiritual and internal way of worships by the Christians were mistakenly viewed as Atheism, therefore, a threat to the Romans. Furthermore, the "Kiss of Peace", the observance of Eucharist, and secret meetings held by the Christians led the Romans to accuse them of incest, cannibalism, and unnatural practices.
Social:
Christianity treated persons with equality (Colossians 3:11). Unlike Paganism, which maintains the social aristocratic systems of the Romans elites,
the early Christians readily accepted the masses of the undesirables, lower classes and slaves, thus viewed as a potential adversary to incite the masses to rebel against the state.
Economic:
The opposition the Apostle Paul received from the artisans of Ephesus showed that they were only concerned about their ability to make money (Acts 19:27). Christianity was perceived by many in the Roman Empire as a threat to their ability to gain wealth.
Hampered by plague, famine, and civil unrest, the Romans blamed the early Christians for economic instability.
Hampered by plague, famine, and civil unrest, the Romans blamed the early Christians for economic instability.
2. Why is A.D. 250 a pivotal point in the persecution of Christians by the Roman state?
Decius reigned at a time when the empire was suffering natural disaster, internal and external threats to its tranquility.
Because of their fast growth, the Christians were singled out as a peculiar threat to the imperial state.
Decius issued a decree in A.D. 250 demanding all to offer an annual sacrifice to the Roman gods and goddesses and the genius of the emperor,
and in return would receive a certificate called a libellus. Consequently, the early Christian church would experienced an immense persecutions with great severity during this period.
Decius reigned at a time when the empire was suffering natural disaster, internal and external threats to its tranquility.
Because of their fast growth, the Christians were singled out as a peculiar threat to the imperial state.
Decius issued a decree in A.D. 250 demanding all to offer an annual sacrifice to the Roman gods and goddesses and the genius of the emperor,
and in return would receive a certificate called a libellus. Consequently, the early Christian church would experienced an immense persecutions with great severity during this period.
3. When was the persecution of Christians the worst? When did the persecution end and why? How did the persecutions affect the Christian church?
The first imperial edicts by Diocletian mandating the persecution of Christians happened in March A.D. 303. He commanded that Christian meetings to stop, churches destroyed, church officers thrown out, and the scriptures burned. Christians were punished by seizure of property, exile, imprisonment , or execution by the sword or wild animals. The more fortunate Christians were sent to the Roman labor camps where they were worked to death.
Persecution waned when Diocletian abdicated in A.D. 305. Galerius issued an edict in A.D. 311 that tolerated Christianity as long as the Christians did not threaten the peace of the empire. Persecution did not stop completely until Licinius and Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313.
Theodosius I, the last Roman Emperor to rule over both eastern and western part of the Empire, also issued decrees in favor of the Christians,
and in 380 AD effectively made Christianity the official state church of the Roman empire.
The Christian church survived despite heavy persecution by the Roman state. The Church grew rapidly throughout the Roman Empire, notably in Asia Minor, Alexandria - Egypt, the Latins of Western empire and Carthage - North Africa. Throughout the history of the Christian church, persecutions brought about changes within the church.Christians today can and ought to learn valuable lessons on how to relate to the early Christians who stood up faithfully for Christ in the face of state-sponsored persecutions and paid for their ultimate loyalty to Christ with their lives.
The first imperial edicts by Diocletian mandating the persecution of Christians happened in March A.D. 303. He commanded that Christian meetings to stop, churches destroyed, church officers thrown out, and the scriptures burned. Christians were punished by seizure of property, exile, imprisonment , or execution by the sword or wild animals. The more fortunate Christians were sent to the Roman labor camps where they were worked to death.
Persecution waned when Diocletian abdicated in A.D. 305. Galerius issued an edict in A.D. 311 that tolerated Christianity as long as the Christians did not threaten the peace of the empire. Persecution did not stop completely until Licinius and Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313.
Theodosius I, the last Roman Emperor to rule over both eastern and western part of the Empire, also issued decrees in favor of the Christians,
and in 380 AD effectively made Christianity the official state church of the Roman empire.
The Christian church survived despite heavy persecution by the Roman state. The Church grew rapidly throughout the Roman Empire, notably in Asia Minor, Alexandria - Egypt, the Latins of Western empire and Carthage - North Africa. Throughout the history of the Christian church, persecutions brought about changes within the church.Christians today can and ought to learn valuable lessons on how to relate to the early Christians who stood up faithfully for Christ in the face of state-sponsored persecutions and paid for their ultimate loyalty to Christ with their lives.
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