Issue 27 Persecution in the Early Church

Did You Know?

Each time you and I meet a Christian, we are viewing a monument to the unknown early Christian martyrs.

Beginning as a despised, illicit religious sect, Christianity endured 300 years of hostility to emerge as the dominant force in the Roman Empire.

An account from Roman historian Tacitus (c. 115)

This rescript, c. 124, protected Christians

The achievement brought new difficulties.

Two stories of second-century martyrs.

In the Roman mind, there were valid religious reasons to halt the spread of Christianity.

How should a governor treat people accused of being Christians?

The first-century Empire swirled with an exotic mix of religions.

Roman emperors who persecuted Christians.

The famous emperor ended the persecution of Christians. But was he a true believer, or merely a superstitious political opportunist?

Selections from an agreement, made in 313, that changed the course of history.

The chi-rho symbol he adopted is now displayed in churches throughout the world.

Chronology of events in the history of early church persecution.

Christians held a theology of martyrdom that gave them courage to endure.

Who was who among early church martyrs.

Thousands of Christians crumbled under threat of persecution.

Encouragement for believers sentenced to the Roman mines.

Persecution remains with us.

Resources for further research on persecution of the early church.

Some of his novels mercilessly lampoon Christians. Yet the great Victorian author also wrote a reverent account of Jesus’ life.

A Charles Dickens's chronology.

Selected quotations from The Life of Our Lord.