Attitudes Toward Christians

1. Attitudes Toward Christians

2. Relations to the Roman Government • Initially, Christianity was regarded as a branch of Judaism and stood under legal protection (Walker, p. 43). • A line of distinction was plainly drawn by the time of the Neronian persecution in 64 A.D. (Walker). • Mattox says they were accused of burning Rome. • Emperor Trajan’s reply to Governor Pliny, of Bithynia, reveals Christianity was viewed as criminal (Walker). • They were not to be hunted and could be acquitted if they renounced by sacrifice.

3. The Charges Against Christians • The Christians were charged with atheism and anarchy (Walker, p. 43). • They rejected the old gods. • They refused to join in emperor worship. • Misunderstanding regarding Christ’s presence at the supper and its being taken at night led to charges of cannibalism and licentiousness (Walker, p. 44). • Polycarp suffered martyrdom at Smyrna in 156 A.D. over this very thing.

4. Political Causes of Persecution • Prior to 250, “persecution was mainly local, sporadic, and more often the result of mob action than the result of definite civil policy.” • “After that date, however, persecution became at times the studied policy of the Roman imperial government and, hence, widespread and violent” (Cairns, p. 86). • Religion was tolerated if it added to the stability of the state. • Christians chose loyalty to Christ above Caesar, which the Romans saw as disloyalty to the state (Cairns, p. 87).

5. Confusion Over Christian Practices (Cairns, p. 87) • Christian practices added weight to suspicions of the Roman authorities. • Refusal to offer incense on altars dedicated to the Roman emperor. • The Romans did not care how many gods one had as long as he would bow to the Roman gods. • Meetings held at night caused suspicion of plotting against the state. • Until after 313, Christians would not serve as soldiers.

6. Religious Practices Led to Persecution (Cairns, p. 87) • The Roman state religion was outward. • Altars, idols, priests, processions, rites, etc. • Christian worship was internal and spiritual. • They prayed with closed eyes to no visible object. • Secret meetings brought moral charges. • “Eating and drinking” the body and blood led to rumors of killing infants and eating them • “Kiss of peace” brought charges of incest and other immoral practices

7. Social Reasons for Persecution (Cairns, p. 89) • Influential, aristocratic leaders of society looked down on Christians with contempt, while fearing their influence. • Pagan worship encouraged service to the few by lower classes and slaves. • Christianity had great appeal to the lower classes and slaves. • Christianity held to equality of all people. • The purity of Christians’ lives served as a silent rebuke of excesses.

8. Other Social Reasons for Persecution • Christians refused to go to the fights of the gladiators. • Christians made it a point not to marry pagans, which was against social custom. • Christians refused to engage in dishonest or questionable business practices. • Jews viewed Christians as enemies of the Law of Moses.

9. Economic Reasons for Persecution (Cairns, p. 90) • “Priests, idol makers, soothsayers, painters, architects, and sculptors would hardly be enthusiastic about a religion that was threatening their means of livelihood.” • The Roman empire was nearing 1000 years of existence about 250 A. D. • During this time, the empire was troubled by famine, plague and civil unrest. • It was popular to credit these difficulties to Christianity and the resulting abandonment of the old gods.

10. Emperor Decius (Mediterranean Basin Chronology) • Gaius Messuis Quintus Decius (201-251) • He was from the middle Danube region (modern Hungary). • He was appointed (248) by Emperor Philip to restore order in the lower Danube where the Roman troops were revolting while under attack by the Goths. • Following his success and with the support of his troops, he marched to northern Italy where he defeated and killed Philip (September, 249). • He also killed Phillips sons. • The Senate named Decius emperor and granted him the title of Trajunus

11. Decius’ Persecution (Cairns, p. 91) • As already noted, natural calamities combined with internal and external attacks threatened classical Roman culture. • Decius singled out Christians as a particular threat to the state as a result of their rapid growth and the view they were trying to establish a state within a state. • In 250, Decius issued an edict requiring an annual offering at the Roman altars to the genius of the emperor and the Roman gods. • All who complied were given a certificate, called a libellus

12. Emperor Diocletian (Cairns, p. 92) • Diocletian ended the sharing of power with the senate in 285. • In March, 303, he issued edicts calling for the persecution of Christians. • Cessation of meetings • Destruction of church buildings • Deposition of officers of the church • Imprisonment of those who persisted in their testimony to Christ • Destruction of the Scriptures by fire

13. Emperor Diocletian (Cairns, pp. 92-93) • “A later edict ordered Christians to sacrifice to the pagan gods on pain of death if they refused.” • Eusebius says prisons were so full of Christians there was no room for criminals. • “Christians were punished by loss of property, exile, imprisonment, or execution by the sword or with wild beasts.”

14. Cessation of Persecution (Cairns, p. 93) • Persecution waned when Diocletian abdicated and retired (305). • Galerius, from his deathbed, issued an edict giving toleration to Christians if they did not violate the peace of the empire. • Licinius and Constantine issued the Edict of Milan (313) which brought freedom of worship to all religions until 381. • At that time, persecution ceased.