Persecution Martyrdom in the Early Church Persecution in

Persecution & Martyrdom in the Early Church

Persecution in 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 Jews Stephen (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 100 s – Cf. Tacitus, Annales 15. 44

Simon Peter according to tradition, was crucified upside down

Apostle Paul according to tradition was beheaded

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

Seven Churches of Revelation

Persecution in 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. ”

Ignatius Bishop 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

Later Widespread 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

The Great Persecution (303 -311) Diocletian (284 -305) Galerius (305 -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: Ø Started by evicting Christians from army Ø Edict of 303, removed Christians from civil positions Ø Ordered the destruction of churches and burning of Scriptures Ø Those who surrendered Scriptures for destruction were called “traditors” Ø 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: Ø Chi & Rho Ø 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