THE GOSPEL IS FREE, SHARING IT IS COSTLY Looking In The Rearview As The Church Drives Forward Lesson 1: Persecution of the Church in the Roman Empire
Why Should We Study Church History? The history of Christianity has wound its way through vast regions across vast stretches of time and in a vast variety of forms. But it remains the history of those who worship the Lord of Life, who seek to serve him, and whose witnesses they are. (Mark A. Noll, Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity, pp. 11-12, Kindle Edition)
1. Learn To observe the biblical challenge that when we observe God s faithfulness in the past, we will realize He is faithful to us in the future. Job 8:8-10 For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out. For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow. Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding?
2. Know To understand biblical doctrines from a historical perspective how doctrine has been clarified over time.
3. Appreciate To appreciate how the Spirit of God related to and grew His Church as we identify with the bravery, wisdom and conviction of stalwarts in our spiritual heritage.
4. Compare To examine how the Church can be biblical by looking at examples of Churches and Movements that did follow the Word and didn t follow the word. George Santayana: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. (Reason in Common Sense, 1905)
To stay balanced in our reactions to church issues by avoiding the extreme pendulum swings of historical overreactions. 5. Balance
6. Impact To gain perspective of the large role the Church played in world history right or wrong so that we will be challenged to continue making an impact in history for Christ.
7. Faith To strengthen our faith in the present by observing God s faithfulness in the past.
The Church s Birth Demonstrated That It Is A Mighty Institution Powered By Christ s Resurrection And The Spirit Of God I. A NEW HOPE
A. The Church s Initial Public The Resurrection Of Christ And The Power Of The Holy Spirit Are The Two Main Impetus Of The Church Acts 2 Offering (I.P.O.) One of Christianity s earliest inscription. A Funerary stele Christian motto: Fish of the Living 3 rd Century, Rome
B. The Church s Growth Strategy Power & Staging (Acts 1:8) Persecution & Scattering (Acts 8:1-4) Preaching & Spreading (Acts 8:5)
C. The Church s Globalization 1. The Gentiles (Acts 10:44-45) 2. The Globe Cypress & Antioch (Acts 11:19; 13:1-3) Paul s 3 Missionary Trips Paul s Journey to Rome To Phoenicia Tyre & Sidon & Ptolemais (Acts 21:3-4,7; 27:3)
Paul s 1 st Missionary Trip
Paul s 2 nd Missionary Trip
Paul s 3 rd Missionary Trip
Paul s Journey To Rome
Exponential Growth 120 number in upper room (Acts 2:1) 3,000 added (2:41) added daily (2:47 5,000 (4:4) multitudes (5:14) disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly (6:7) multiplied (9:31) great number believed (11:21) multiplied (12:24) increased in number daily (16:5) mightily grew (19:20) Within 300 years there would be 75 million professed Christians (12% to 25& of the Roman Empire) Today, Christianity is the religion of 1/3 rd of the world population, more than any other faith.
How The Good And The Bad Of The Roman Empire Helped The Spread Of The Gospel
A. The Roman Empire Effect On The Jews And Christians 1. Rome propagated the unification of man under a universal law. 2. Rome established free movement throughout the Mediterranean world.
A. The Roman Empire Effect On The Jews And Christians 3. Rome developed a road system still used today. 4. The Roman army was an illustration of universal organization. 5. The Roman army s conquest shattered the faith of those in pagan religions.
Percentage of Christians in the Roman Empire
In 250, after over 200 years of evangelistic effort, Christians still made up only 1.9 percent of the empire. By the middle of the next century, though, about 56 percent of the population claimed to be Christians. (Editors, Evangelism In The Early Church: Did You Know?, Christian History Magazine, Issue 57, 1998, p. 5)
The Church s Persecution Demonstrated That The Gospel Of Christ Was A Truth Worth Dying For III. ATTACK OF THE ROME
A. Early Instances Of Persecution Saul of Tarsus led the Jewish persecution of Christians The Sanhedrin stoned Stephen to death Herod Agrippa I persecutes the Apostles James - Killed with a sword. 45 A.D.
A. Early Instances Of Persecution Emperor Nero begins the Roman persecution of the church in A.D. 64 Peter - Hung on a cross head downward. A.D. 64 Andrew - Hung from an olive tree. A.D. 70 Thomas - Burned alive. A.D. 70 Phillip - Crucified. A.D. 54 Matthew - Beheaded. A.D. 65 Nathanael - Crucified. A.D. 70 James - Thrown from the temple. A.D. 63 Simon - Crucified. A.D. 74 Judas Thaddeus - Beaten with sticks. A.D. 72 Matthias - Stoned on a cross. A.D. 70 John - Natural death. A.D. 95 Paul - Beheaded. A.D. 69
Labellus: A certificate demonstrating that one had made the appropriate sacrifices to the gods of Rome. Sacrificati: Described those who had actually offered a sacrifice to the idols. Christians with a labellus were absolved on deathbed Libellatici: Described those who had false labellus created without actually making the sacrafices. A two year sanction was imposed as penance. Traditores: Described those who gave up scriptures and/or revealed names of fellow Christians. From Latin tradere - "hand over; deliver; betray (Michael Patton and Tim Kimberley, Church History Boot Camp )
Polycarp A Disciple of John Proconsul: Swear and I will release you. Revile Christ. Polycarp: Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never did me wrong; and how can I now blaspheme my King that saved me.
Perpetua & Felicity Perpetua was a 22 year old nursing mother married to a noble Felicity was an expecting mother and Perpetua s servant 4 other martyrs died with Perpetua and Felicity They were arrested as catechumens (being instructed in preparation for baptism).
Perpetua & Felicity Emperor Septimius Severus (193 211) issued an edict that all imperial subjects were forbidden to convert to Christianity or Judaism. Any recent convert would face martyrdom. Perpetua s father tried to get her to recant her faith in Christ after all, she was only 22 and a nursing mom.
Hilarianus the governor... said to me, Have pity on your father s grey head; have pity on your infant son. Offer the sacrifice for the welfare of the emperors. I will not, I retorted. Are you a Christian? said Hilarianus. And I said: Yes, I am. When my father persisted in trying to dissuade me, Hilarianus ordered him to be thrown to the ground and beaten with a rod. I felt sorry for Father, just as if I myself had been beaten. Then Hilarianus passed sentence on all of us: We were
March 7, 203
Other Martyrs
B. The Reasons For Roman Persecution Witness = Gr. Martyria Martyrdom in 1 st century was sporadic Emperor Nero initiated persecution of Christians because they refused to bow before the emperor as God Nero - blamed for a massive fire in Rome, used Christians as a distraction and scapegoat of his leadership failure Rome - more angry about Christian attitude towards Rome
Christians Were Considered: Atheists Cannibals Incestuous Rude & Arrogant Jinxes
6 Slanders Leveled at the Early Church Because they partook of Christ s body & blood, they were cannibals Because they called their common meal a love feast, Christians gathered for orgies of lust Because Christianity at times split families, Christians were anti-family Because Christians worshipped without images, they were atheists Because Christians would not say Caesar is Lord, they were politically disloyal Because they taught that the world would end in fire, Christians were incendiaries (arsonists; pyromaniacs). Dick Mayhue, The Suffering Church, Moody, Nov 86
C. The Methods Of Roman Persecution Tacitus: A vast multitude [of Christians], were convicted, not so much of the crime of arson as of hatred of the human race. And in their deaths they were made the subjects of sport: for they were wrapped in the hides of wild beasts and torn to pieces by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set on fire, and when day declined, were burned to serve for nocturnal lights. (Annals, XV.44)
D. The Extent Of Roman Persecution Nero confined his persecution to Rome. Domitian extended it through Asia Minor. Decius took it to throughout the Roman Empire. Bruce Shelley: persecution in many instances helped to publicize the Christian faith. Martyrdoms were often witnessed by thousands in the amphitheater. The term martyr originally meant witness, and that is precisely what many Christians were at the moment of death. (Church History in Plain Language, p. 36) Constantine ended it in 313 when Christianitybecame a state religion
E. THE EMPEROR STRIKES HARD
Nero Reign: 37-68 Blamed Christians for fire in Rome 64 AD Christians had nothing to do with the fire Significant Martyrs: Paul & Peter Region: In and around Rome
Domitian c. 90 96 Persecuted Christians for resisting emperor worship Significant Martyrs: The Apostle John, Clement of Rome Region of Persecution: In Rome, extending to Asia Minor
Trajan 98 117 On and off with persecution Though finding Christians not a priority, they were executed when they were discovered Significant Martyrs: Ignatius, Rufus
4. Hadrian (117 138) Sporadic persecution 5. Marcus Aurelius (161 180) As a Stoic, he contested Christianity philosophically Significant Martyrs: Justin Martyr, Blandina 6. Septimus Severus (202 211) Severus issued an edict not allowing anyone to be converted to Christianity Significant Martyrs: Irenaeus, Perpetua & Felicity 7. Maximus the Thracian (235 236) Executed Christian clergy Significant Martyrs: Ursula, Hippolytus
8. Decius (249 251) First empire-wide persecution Strategically coinciding with Rome s millennial anniversary Goal was to restore Roman paganism Christians were blamed for the decline of the Empire Significant Martyrs: Fabianus, Alexander of Jersualem 9. Valerian (257 260) Christians prohibited to assemble as a congregation Christians had their property confiscated Significant Martyrs: Origen, Cyprian
10. Diocletian Galerius 303 311 Persecution for Christians was at its worse under Diocletian Churches were demolished, Bibles were burned and the civil liberties of Christians were removed Significant Martyr: Alban, Agnes
Agnes Martyred at 12-13 Refused all marriage proposals Pointed out as a Christian by an upset suitor Refused to make a sacrifice to pagan god Threatened with torture
Agnes She would gladly be tortured than to give up her purity and her faith Judge ordered her beheaded under Diocletian s reign Pagan public outraged at execution of one so young Against Roman law to execute a virgin Public impressed with her bravery
1 Peter 3:14-15 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear
Persecution continued until 313 AD when Emperor Constantine made Christianity the state religion
Debate 1 During heavy persecution of Christians in 3 rd and 4 th century, some renounced their faith in order to avoid persecution and/or death. Upon seeking to be readmitted to the church, a debate arose: Is one s Christianity determined by one s costly discipleship and holiness? Or does Christ s forgiveness extend even to one who had lapsed in faith?
Result Cyprian (mid 3 rd cent) argued forgiveness and grace for those who repented for recanting Novatus opposed readmission and called any church that accepted a repentant recanter not part of the true church Augustine sided with Cyprian in 4 th century
Debate 2 Could a clergy member, who once recanted the faith, to save his life during persecution administer Baptism and the Lord s Supper? Cyprian and Augustine would side on grace allowing a repentant minister back into service.
John 15:18-20 18 If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
Think If we were to be put on trial for our faith, would there be enough evidence to convict us?