Heart and History of the Early Church

1. Heart and History of the Early Church Session 2: 2nd Century Persecutions

2. This Week • Last Week: • 1st Century persecutions under Nero (64-68) and Domitian (90-96) • This week: • What is Lent and Ash Wednesday? • Persecutions in the 2nd Century (100-200) • Scripture

3. Beginnings of Lent? • In 1st and 2nd century the weekly calendar was: • Sunday was a day of joy to remember the Lord’s resurrection • Friday was a day of penance, fasting, and sorrow • Wednesday was a day of fasting • Yearly Calendar from 2nd Century: • Easter was a special yearly date for baptism and rededication • There was a time of preparation for this special day with prayer and fasting • In the first 3 centuries it seems the fast was 2 or 3 days

4. The Later Development of Lent • In the 4th century, Lent was made into 40 days of fasting and prayer • Strongly connected with Jesus’ 40 days in the desert • The definitions of the fast has changed significantly over the centuries • Early on the fast included 1 meal per day. Meat, eggs, and dairy were forbidden. This is still practiced in the Eastern Orthodox Church. • The fasting regulations loosened over the centuries in the Western Church • The position of Roman Catholic Church now is fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday

5. What is Ash Wednesday? • The first day of Lent- 40 days before Easter • Observed by Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and Methodists • It gets its name from the practice in Middle Ages of placing ashes on the forehead of church members to mark the season of penitence and mourning over sin • This is still done by Catholics and Anglicans

6. 2nd Century Persecution • We have a lot more reliable information as to the details of the persecutions • “Acts of the Martyrs”- writing that contains accounts of the arrest, trial, and death of many early Christian martyrs. There are some trustworthy accounts taken from court documents, but also some embellished and legendary accounts as well. • We learn about the attitude of Christians toward martyrdom in this century

7. Governor Pliny • Pliny was governor of Bithynia beginning in 111 AD (Bithynia is mentioned in Acts 16:7 and 1Pet 1:1)

8. Governor Pliny • Pliny’s problem: too many Christians in the area • Pagan temples were deserted • Sellers of pagan sacrificial goods were suffering hard times • Given a list of Christians in the area • Brought Christians before him to learn about this faith • Some denied their faith others said they practiced the faith for a while but have since left it • He required these former or suspected Christians to: • Pray to the gods • Burn incense to the emperor • Curse Christ (he heard real Christians would never do this)

9. Governor Pliny • Those who confessed faith in Christ were given 3 chances to change their mind and curse Christ • Those who refused to change their mind were executed. Roman citizens were sent to Rome for trial. • Pliny investigated the Christians “criminal” lives • They gathered to worship before dawn to sing to Christ “as to a God” • They also partook in oaths not to commit theft, adultery, or any other immoralities • They gathered for a common meal until it was made illegal by local authorities • He tortured 2 Christian women to find out more but they only confirmed what he already knew

10. Pliny and Emperor Trajan • Should Pliny be chasing down and punishing all Christians simply for being “Christian”? • Pliny wrote Emperor Trajan and he concluded that: • Punishment for Christians was left up to the governor • They shouldn’t waste time chasing after Christians, but if accused they are to recant or suffer the consequences • If they recant (worship the gods) they should go unpunished • The accusations should be made publicly by the individual

11. Trajan Edict • Trajan edict lasted until the mid-3rd century • Tertullian, Christian writer in North Africa, wrote in the early 200’s in his Apology that: • “What a necessarily confused sentence! It refuses to seek them out, as if they were innocent, and orders that they be punished as if they were guilty. It pardons, and yet is cruel. It ignores, and yet punishes. Why do you circumvent your own censure? If you condemn, why do you not inquire? And, if you do not inquire, why do you not also absolve?”

12. Why did the Empire do this? • Christians were not committing any crimes harmful to the states or Empire • They were not going to waste resources of the Empire to chase down people who live good lives • The Christians only crime was perceived contempt toward the Roman courts by not honoring the gods of the Empire when asked • This was the policy of the Empire until the mid-3rd century

13. Ignatius of Antioch • Ignatius (35-107) was bishop of the church in Antioch (same Antioch from which Paul and Barnabus were sent in Acts 13) • In 107, he was condemned to death by local imperial authorities • Sent to Rome for purposed of entertainment for the people (probably in the Coliseum) • On his way to Rome to be killed he wrote 7 letters that are helpful to our knowledge of early Christianity

14. Ignatius of Antioch • Ignatius and his Roman guards passed through Asia Minor • He received many visitors throughout his journey • He had a Christian scribe write the 7 letters he dictated (one was to Ephesus, bishop Onesimus) • The most significant is the letter to Rome. He heard of their plot to maybe try to free him there • He said: “I fear your kindness, which may harm me. You may be able to achieve what you plan. But if you pay no heed to my request it will be very difficult for me to attain unto God.”

15. Ignatius of Antioch He prays for strength to face every trial “so that I may not only be called a Christian, but to behave as such…my love is crucified…I no longer savor corruptible food…but wish to taste the bread of God, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ…When I suffer, I shall be free in Jesus Christ, and with him shall rise again in freedom…I am God’s wheat, to be ground by the teeth of beasts, so that I may be offered as pure bread of Christ.”

16. Ignatius of Antioch “If you remain silent about me, I shall become a word of God. But if you allow yourselves to be swayed by the love in which you hold my flesh, I shall again be no more than a human voice.”

17. Many Christians were killed for the amusement of the Romans

18. Polycarp of Smyrna • In 155 AD, there was a group of Christians that were accused of being Christians • Germanicus, an elderly Christian, who had just witnessed the death and torture of many of his fellow brothers, said at his trial that he would rather die than to live and a world that such injustices would take place. • This angered the crowd and they began to call for Polycarp to be killed

19. Polycarp of Smyrna • He hid for three days and then decided that he would run no longer and that it was God’s will for him to die • Told him to say “Out with the atheists!” • Told him to curse Christ to which he replied, “For eighty six years I have served him, and he has done me no evil. How could I curse my king, who saved me?” • “This fire would only last a moment”

20. Polycarp of Smyrna “Lord Sovereign God…I thank you that you have deemed me worthy of this moment, so that, jointly with your martyrs, I may have a share in the cup of Christ…For this…I bless and glorify you. Amen.”

21. Emperor Marcus Aurelius • Became emperor in 161 • He was a bright thinker who encouraged Romans to live in dignity, kindness and justice • But, he ordered that Christians be persecuted • Christians were blamed for invasions, floods, and disease. They brought the wrath of the gods on the Empire

22. Some Martyrs under Aurelius • Felicitas and her 7 sons • Consecrated widow • Justin Martyr • One of the first Christian scholars, started school in Rome • Debated pagan philosophy • VetiusEpagathus • Asked to represent accused Christians in court • Sanctus • Ruthlessly tortured and would not curse Christ (“I am a Christian”) • Many followed Jesus because of this

23. The Ichthus (Fish) • Used primarily in the first 2 centuries as a secret Christian symbol • Used to secretly designate a home or place of worship • Also used to see if the person you are talking to is a Christian

24. Matthew 5:10-12 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

25. Matthew 5:43-47 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

26. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

27. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:    “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

28. Heart and History of the Early Church Session 2: 2nd Century Persecutions