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Persecution and Spread of Christianity in Early Centuries

Explore the reasons and impacts of Christian persecution from 70-312 AD. Learn about martyrs, martyrdom, and the growth of Christianity amidst adversity, from social, economic, religious, and political perspectives.

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Persecution and Spread of Christianity in Early Centuries

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  1. Age of Catholic Christianity II 70-312 AD Persecution

  2. The Spread of Christianity • God • Burning Conviction • Need in the hearts of people • Love for one another • Persecution

  3. Martyrdom The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church -Tertullian Martyr - Witness

  4. Reasons for Christian Persecution • Jewish Fears • Loss of membership in Synagogue • Loss of privileged status with Rome • Zealots disliked lack of nationalism

  5. Reasons for Christian Persecution • Roman Politics • Christians believed in an incoming kingdom with Christ, not the emperor, as its head • Union of state and religion excluded Christians from political customs

  6. Reasons for Christian Persecution • Social Reasons • Refusal to engage in sporting/theatrical events • Condemnation of the gladiatorial games • Christianity gave status to slaves and women

  7. Reasons for Christian Persecution • Economic Reasons • Loss of profit for idol makers/pagan temples • Christians were scapegoats

  8. Reasons for Christian Persecution • Religious Reasons • Christianity is Monotheist and exclusive • Holding of secret “Love Feasts” • Christians were strange atheists • Refusal to worship the Emperor

  9. The Early Persecutions64-100 AD • Burning of Rome • Christian torches • Peter and Paul executed Nero 64-68 AD

  10. The Early Persecutions64-100 AD • Strict about Emperor worship • Executed Christians as atheists • Placed self as “God” • Exile of John Domitian 81-96

  11. Imperial Policy • Shown and evidenced by Pliny the Younger • Don’t seek out Christians • Limited mob violence • Allowed a respite and growth in Christian numbers

  12. Persecution Worsens Marcus Aurelius 161-180 AD • Stoic Philosopher • Introduced a spy system • Christians became scapegoats • Riots supported • Many Christians executed either by beheading or in the games • Justin Martyr was executed

  13. Official Persecution Decius Trajan 249-251 AD • Desired to return to that “old time religion” • Published an edict requiring a return to paganism • First empire-wide persecution • Desired conversion not persecution

  14. Official Persecution Diocletian 284-305 • 260-303 Christians had a respite • Diocletian, a previously neutral emperor, writes 3 edicts calling for persecution • 303 Complete and systematic persecution of Christianity, the worst yet experienced • Persecution targeted the church infrastructure

  15. Official Persecution Galerius • Prime force behind Diocletian persecutions • Ruled half of the Empire, under Diocletian • Issued an edict requiring all men women and children to sacrifice to the gods, and all food in the markets to be sprinkled with sacrificial wine.

  16. Positive Effects of Persecution • “Blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” – Tertullian • Purification of the church • Spreading of the gospel • Canonization of scripture • Provided Apologia for the faith

  17. Negative Effects of Persecution • People got dead • The problem of the lapsed • The overemphasis on martyrdom • Lack of ability to leave a literary legacy

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