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

3. The Spread of Christianity 1.God 2.Burning Conviction 3.Need in the hearts of people 4.Love for one another 5.Persecution 1.God 2.Burning Conviction 3.Need in the hearts of people 4.Love for one another 5.Persecution

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

5. Reasons for Christian Persecution 1.Jewish Fears Loss of membership in SynagogueLoss of membership in Synagogue Loss of privileged status with RomeLoss of privileged status with Rome Zealots disliked lack of nationalismZealots disliked lack of nationalism 1.Jewish Fears Loss of membership in SynagogueLoss of membership in Synagogue Loss of privileged status with RomeLoss of privileged status with Rome Zealots disliked lack of nationalismZealots disliked lack of nationalism

6. Reasons for Christian Persecution 2.Roman Politics Christians believed in an incoming kingdom with Christ, not the emperor, as its headChristians believed in an incoming kingdom with Christ, not the emperor, as its head Union of state and religion excluded Christians from political customsUnion of state and religion excluded Christians from political customs 2.Roman Politics Christians believed in an incoming kingdom with Christ, not the emperor, as its headChristians believed in an incoming kingdom with Christ, not the emperor, as its head Union of state and religion excluded Christians from political customsUnion of state and religion excluded Christians from political customs

7. Reasons for Christian Persecution 3.Social Reasons Refusal to engage in sporting/theatrical eventsRefusal to engage in sporting/theatrical events Condemnation of the gladiatorial gamesCondemnation of the gladiatorial games Christianity gave status to slaves and womenChristianity gave status to slaves and women 3.Social Reasons Refusal to engage in sporting/theatrical eventsRefusal to engage in sporting/theatrical events Condemnation of the gladiatorial gamesCondemnation of the gladiatorial games Christianity gave status to slaves and womenChristianity gave status to slaves and women

8. Reasons for Christian Persecution 4.Economic Reasons Loss of profit for idol makers/pagan templesLoss of profit for idol makers/pagan temples Christians were scapegoatsChristians were scapegoats 4.Economic Reasons Loss of profit for idol makers/pagan templesLoss of profit for idol makers/pagan temples Christians were scapegoatsChristians were scapegoats

9. Reasons for Christian Persecution 5.Religious Reasons Christianity is Monotheist and exclusiveChristianity is Monotheist and exclusive Holding of secret “Love Feasts”Holding of secret “Love Feasts” Christians were strange atheistsChristians were strange atheists Refusal to worship the EmperorRefusal to worship the Emperor 5.Religious Reasons Christianity is Monotheist and exclusiveChristianity is Monotheist and exclusive Holding of secret “Love Feasts”Holding of secret “Love Feasts” Christians were strange atheistsChristians were strange atheists Refusal to worship the EmperorRefusal to worship the Emperor

11. The Early Persecutions 64-100 AD Nero 64-68 AD Nero liked to play dress-up, the lyre, sing, act, and get crazyNero liked to play dress-up, the lyre, sing, act, and get crazy Nero fiddled while Rome burnedNero fiddled while Rome burned Burning of RomeBurning of Rome Christian torchesChristian torches Peter and Paul executedPeter and Paul executed Nero liked to play dress-up, the lyre, sing, act, and get crazyNero liked to play dress-up, the lyre, sing, act, and get crazy Nero fiddled while Rome burnedNero fiddled while Rome burned Burning of RomeBurning of Rome Christian torchesChristian torches Peter and Paul executedPeter and Paul executed

12. The Early Persecutions 64-100 AD Destruction of the Temple Many signs, portents, and prophecies occurred.Many signs, portents, and prophecies occurred. A group of hyper-zealous Jews rebelledA group of hyper-zealous Jews rebelled The Roman army put down the rebellionThe Roman army put down the rebellion Despite disruptions, Titus lead the assault on Jerusalem, was victorious and the temple was burned to the ground.Despite disruptions, Titus lead the assault on Jerusalem, was victorious and the temple was burned to the ground. The loss of Jerusalem separated Christian from Jew and forced Christianity to de-emphasize Jerusalem and look elsewhere for leadershipThe loss of Jerusalem separated Christian from Jew and forced Christianity to de-emphasize Jerusalem and look elsewhere for leadership

14. And there was much rejoicing

15. The Early Persecutions 64-100 AD Domitian 81-96 Executed/exiled Christians as atheists including his family membersExecuted/exiled Christians as atheists including his family members Exalted himself as “Lord and God”Exalted himself as “Lord and God” Exiled JohnExiled John Emphasized Emperor worshipEmphasized Emperor worship Extremely paranoid and was murdered according to astrological prophecyExtremely paranoid and was murdered according to astrological prophecy Executed/exiled Christians as atheists including his family membersExecuted/exiled Christians as atheists including his family members Exalted himself as “Lord and God”Exalted himself as “Lord and God” Exiled JohnExiled John Emphasized Emperor worshipEmphasized Emperor worship Extremely paranoid and was murdered according to astrological prophecyExtremely paranoid and was murdered according to astrological prophecy

16. Imperial Policy in the early 2 nd Century Shown and evidenced by Pliny the YoungerShown and evidenced by Pliny the Younger Don’t seek out ChristiansDon’t seek out Christians Limited mob violenceLimited mob violence Allowed a respite and growth in Christian numbersAllowed a respite and growth in Christian numbers Shown and evidenced by Pliny the YoungerShown and evidenced by Pliny the Younger Don’t seek out ChristiansDon’t seek out Christians Limited mob violenceLimited mob violence Allowed a respite and growth in Christian numbersAllowed a respite and growth in Christian numbers

17. Persecution Worsens Marcus Aurelius 161-180 AD Stoic PhilosopherStoic Philosopher Christians became scapegoats for all natural disasters or diseaseChristians became scapegoats for all natural disasters or disease Riots supportedRiots supported Many Christians executed either by beheading or in the gamesMany Christians executed either by beheading or in the games Justin Martyr was executedJustin Martyr was executed Stoic PhilosopherStoic Philosopher Christians became scapegoats for all natural disasters or diseaseChristians became scapegoats for all natural disasters or disease Riots supportedRiots supported Many Christians executed either by beheading or in the gamesMany Christians executed either by beheading or in the games Justin Martyr was executedJustin Martyr was executed

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

19. Official Persecution Diocletian 284-305 260-303 Christians had a respite260-303 Christians had a respite Diocletian, a previously neutral emperor, writes 3 edicts calling for persecutionDiocletian, a previously neutral emperor, writes 3 edicts calling for persecution 303 Complete and systematic persecution of Christianity, the worst yet experienced303 Complete and systematic persecution of Christianity, the worst yet experienced Persecution targeted the church infrastructure: buildings, bishops, and booksPersecution targeted the church infrastructure: buildings, bishops, and books

20. Official Persecution Galerius Prime force behind Diocletian persecutionsPrime force behind Diocletian persecutions Ruled half of the Empire along with his nephew Maximin Daza, both under DiocletianRuled half of the Empire along with his nephew Maximin Daza, both 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.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. Edict forced Christians to convert, die, or compromiseEdict forced Christians to convert, die, or compromise

21. Positive Effects of Persecution 1.“Blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” – Tertullian 2.Purification of the church 3.Spreading of the gospel 4.Canonization of scripture 5.Provided Apologia for the faith

22. Negative Effects of Persecution 1.People got dead 2.The problem of the lapsed 3.Creation of the Cult of the Martyrs 4.Lack of ability to leave a literary legacy