Church History Ancient and Medieval Church

History (100-1216AD)

Early Persecutions

Class Prayer

“Thou God and Father of Thy beloved and blessed Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of Thee, O God of the angels and of all creation and of all just men who live in Thy presence, I thank Thee that Thou hast graciously granted me a portion among Thy people, among the people of Christ, unto the resurrection of everlasting life: may I be received in Thy sight, as a fruitful and acceptable sacrifice, wherefore, for all this, I praise Thee, I bless Thee, I glorify Thee through the eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son; to whom, with Thee and the Holy Spirit, be all glory, world without end. Amen.” Polycarp (when he was martyred 155A.D.)

Polycarp

Objectives

Jewish persecutions.Pagan persecutions.Roman persecutions (The duration,

reasons, purpose and results of Roman persecutions.)

Matthew 5:10

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jewish Persecution.

Christianity first persecuted as a “heretical” sect of Judaism.

Jewish internal persecution also revolved around differences between “Hebrew” and “Hellenist” Jews of which Christians were caught in the middle.

Expulsion of Jews from Rome by Claudius around 50AD. Acts 18:1-2.

“heretical” sect of Judaism

Jewish Christians-(Not a new religion), fulfilment had come, proclamation to Gentiles was to become members of the promises made to Abraham.

Through the advent of the Messiah all nations would be brought to Zion.

Non-Christian Jews-(Not a new religion), heretical sect within. Most were used to factions.

Differences between “Hebrew” and “Hellenist” “Hebrew”- Less independence because this

heretical sect was not faithful to tradition.

“Hellenist”- New sect worse because they claim a “new King” Fear wrath of Rome

Expulsion of Jews from Rome

Emperor Claudius around 50-51 AD Suetonius (Roman historian)- Jews were

expelled from the capital for the disorderly conduct because of “Christus”

Christian proclamation caused riots among many Jews. All were expelled (Jew and Christian)

Still seen as internal Jewish problem Acts 18:1-2

Acts 18:1-2

After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, (ESV)

Pagan Persecution

Graffiti discovered on Roman city walls depicting Christ on the cross as a donkey.

Graffiti

Literary attack “But since Celsus has declared it to be a

saying of many Christians, that “the wisdom of this life is a bad thing, but that foolishness is good,” we have to answer that he slanders the Gospel, not giving the words as they actually occur in the writings of Paul, where they run as follow: “If any one among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.”

The apostle, therefore, does not say simply that “wisdom is foolishness with God,” but “the wisdom of this world.” And again, not, “If any one among you seemeth to be wise, let him become a fool universally;” but, “let him become a fool in this world, that he may become wise.” We term, then, “the wisdom of this world,” every false system of philosophy, which, according to the Scriptures, is brought to nought; and we call foolishness good, not without restriction, but when a man becomes foolish as to this world. […]” Origin vs Celsus ccel.org

Roman Persecution – Nero 60s

Nero

Nero was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor, and succeeded to the throne in 54 following Claudius' death.

Christians blamed

Rumors that Nero burned cityScapegoat sought2 of the districts not burned were

Jewish/Christian ghettos

"First were arraigned those who confessed, then on their information a vast multitude were convicted, not so much on the charge of arson as for their hatred of the human race. Their deaths were made more cruel by the mockery that accompanied them. Some were covered with the skins of wild beasts and torn to pieces by dogs; others perished on the cross (by crucifixion) or (others were burned) in the flames; and (yet) others again were (covered with tar and) were burnt after sunset as torches to light up the darkness... 

(continued)

…Nero himself granted his gardens for the show, and gave an exhibition in the circus, and dressed as a charioteer, drove his chariot himself. Thus, guilt and deserving the severest punishment as they were, they were yet pitied, as they seemed to be put to death, not for the benefit of the State, but to gratify the cruelty of an individual."

Domitian, Trajan, Hadrian

Domitian- 81AD-96AD- Heavy taxes on Jews, Christians still seen as sect. Rome (city) and Asia Minor persecutions

(Nerva- 96AD-98AD)Trajan- 98AD-117AD- Do not seek out

Christians because of expense however, if accused must recant. (Empire wide)

Hadrian- 117AD-138AD- Pious Roman wanted to “fix” problems and reconquer lost areas. Persecution increased.

Antoninus Pius,138AD-161AD Marcus Aurelius 161AD-180AD (mid-second Century).

Martyrdom of Polycarp (155). Last person alive to have known an Apostle (John) Video was on Polycarp

Martyrdom of Justin Martyr (163). Was beheaded, wrote First Apology argued against persecutions of Christians just because they were Christians. Argument for the Logos being active before the incarnation

The reasons

Charges of incest, cannibalism, lack of patriotism, atheism, hatred of the human race, causes of disaster, etc.:

“If the Tiber reaches the walls, if the Nile does not rise to the fields, if the sky does not move [rain], or the earth does [earthquake], if there is famine, if there is plague, the cry is at once, ‘The Christians to the lions!’”

Tertullian

Refusal to worship the emperor.

The fact of being a Christian.

“The very name” (I Peter 4: 16).

System of persecution set down in the letter from Trajan to Pliny the younger in about 112A.D. staying in force as Roman policy until 250 A.D.

“Christians are not to be sought out. Do not go looking for them. But if someone denounces someone as a Christian, then bring that person in and question them. And if that person refuses to recant and worship our gods, then they should be punished.”

 

To obtain apostasy of Christians.

And achieve martyrdom of the obstinate.

The Manner of Persecution.

As sport in the arenas.

Roman citizens executed

The results.Persecution purified the church.Surprisingly, persecution extended the church

through the example of the believers witnessed by unbelievers. But not always!

“Sharp persecution breaks off only the tips of the branches. It produces martyrs and the tree still grows. Never-ending social and political repression, on the other hand, starves the roots; it stifles evangelism and the church declines.”

Contributed in those not well instructed in the faith a tendency to revere those who had been martyred and seek to emulate them to gain blessings.