The Persecution of the Early Church
Persecution has always been present in Christianity, from the time of the Apostles to present. However, persecution in the early church was extreme, violent, and many times fatal. This report will survey ten periods of persecution in the early church. After reading this report you, will see the amazing amount of faith that surrounded the early church as they were continually tortured and many times killed.
Nero (A.D. 67)
The first period of persecution of the Church began in the year 67, under the sixth emperor of Rome, whose name was Nero. He wished for the ruin of all things before his death and ordered that the city of Rome should be set on fire. This order was executed by his servants, officers, and guards. This destructive fire lasted for a total of nine days. As a result of the fire many palaces and houses were destroyed. Thousands of people died in the blaze.
Once Nero realized that the people were outraged by the fire, he quickly blamed the Christians in an attempt to clear himself of the crime. This began the first persecution of the early church. Nero began orchestrating all sorts of cruel punishments to perform on the Christians, including dressing them in shirts made stiff with wax, binding them to a tree and setting them on fire in order to use them as illumination.
Although these types of acts were being carried out throughout all of the Roman Empire it did not diminish Christianity. Instead Christianity was strengthened by all of this barbaric persecution. This was an amazing statistic, especially considering that two wonderful and powerful saints were martyred during this period of persecution, Peter and Paul.
The apostle Peter was condemned by Nero and sentenced to death by way of crucifixion. According to Jerome, Peter was crucified head down per his own request because he said that he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as the Lord Jesus was.
The apostle Paul was also condemned and sought out during this period of persecution. He was executed by way of the sword at the request of the emperor Nero.
Domitian (A.D. 81)
The second period of persecution of the Church began in the year 81, under the emperor Domitian. During this period the Roman people made up stories which made the claim that any natural disaster that occurred was the fault of the Christians. The people claimed that because the Christians were not worshiping the gods of Rome that they were making their gods angry, resulting in punishment from the gods in the form of natural disaster. Therefore, the people blamed the Christians for these disasters which led to more persecution. In addition, a law was put in place that stated “that no Christian, once brought before the tribunal, should be exempted from punishment without renouncing his religion.”1 Domitian also commanded the entire lineage of David to be put to death.
As a result of this persecution many Christians suffered greatly. This included some well known leaders such as the bishop of Jerusalem Simeon and the beloved apostle John. Simeon was crucified and died as a martyr. John was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil but miraculously escaped without severe injury. He was the only apostle to escape a violent death. Later Domitian banished him to Patmos. There he wrote the final book of the Bible, Revelation.
There were many who were martyred during this period but the most remarkable was the well known disciple of the apostle Paul, Timothy. This happened after Timothy severely reproved the pagan people for their idolatry during a pagan feast called Catagogion. The pagans responded by beating him so badly that two days after the attack he died from his wounds.
Trajan (A.D. 108)
The third period of persecution of the Church took place in the year 108, under Trajan. During this period Pliny wrote a letter to Trajan informing him that there were thousands of Christians being put to death without breaking any Roman law worthy of persecution. His letter stated:
“The whole account they gave of their crime or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so. When this was over, it was their custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food--but ordinary and innocent food.”2
The emperor Trajan responded to Pliny answering with instruction as to how to punish the Christians. His letter stated:
“You observed proper procedure, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those who had been denounced to you as Christians. For it is not possible to lay down any general rule to serve as a kind of fixed standard. They are not to be sought out; if they are denounced and proved guilty, they are to be punished, with this reservation, that whoever denies that he is a Christian and really proves it--that is, by worshiping our gods--even though he was under suspicion in the past, shall obtain pardon through repentance. But anonymously posted accusations ought to have no place in any prosecution. For this is both a dangerous kind of precedent and out of keeping with the spirit of our age.”3
As result of the persecution during this period Ignatius was martyred. When he was sentenced to be thrown to the beasts he said:
"I am the wheat of Christ: I am going to be ground with the teeth of wild beasts, that I may be found pure bread."4
Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 162)
The fourth period of persecution of the Church began in the year 162, under Marcus Aurelius. The cruel methods of torture used during this period of persecution were horrifying. Some martyrs were forced to walk with their already wounded feet over top of thorns, nails, shells, and other sharp objects, others were lashed until their veins were exposed. Many of these methods of torture were so gruesome that they are difficult to describe such the execution of Sanctus (a deacon of Vienna) who had two red hot brass plates placed on tender spots on his body, or Blandina who was suspended on a piece of wood mounted in the ground of the amphitheater to serve as food for the wild beasts. Many times after suffering from these horrendous tortures these Christians were taken to die by different methods of cruel, inhumane, and terrible forms of execution.
Severus (A.D. 192)
The fifth period of persecution of the Church began in the year 192, under Severus. Surprisingly enough Severus actually favored the Christians because he had been brought back to health from a severe sickness at the hands of a Christian. Unfortunately it did not end the persecution because the multitude of people raged with fury against the Christians and because of their size they prevailed. The main reason for the anger displayed by the pagans was based upon their fear of the Christians due to the growth of Christianity despite all of the persecution over the years.
During this period many were martyred. Some died extraordinarily cruel deaths such as Rhais, her sister Potainiena, and her mother Marcella who had boiling pitch poured out on to their heads. Others died horrifyingly cruel deaths such as Perpetua (a 22 year old woman) and Felicitas (a pregnant woman) who were stripped and led to the amphitheater to run while being chased by wild beasts. After they had been attacked by the beasts they did not die and were finished off by an executioner with a sword. Three others suffered along with Perpetua and Felicitas; they were Satur, Saturninus, and Revocatus. Satur and Revocatus were killed by the wild beasts and Saturninus was beheaded. In addition, there was the martyrdom of Cecilia who was placed naked in a scalding hot bath for a lengthy period of time and then executed by being struck with a sword. Many others were martyred by simply being beheaded including Leonidus (father of Origen), Plutarchus, Serenus (brother of Plutarchus), Serenus (not the brother of Plutarchus), Heron, Heraclides, Basilides (converted at martyrdom of Rhais), Victor (bishop of Rome), Speratus, Andocles, Calistus (bishop of Rome), and Urban (bishop of Rome). As you can see this was a horrible period of persecution.
Maximinus (A.D. 235)
The sixth period of persecution of the Church began in the year 235, under Maximinus. During this period of persecution countless Christians were killed without trial and many of them were buried in mass graves of 50 or 60 bodies. Some of the Christians that were killed during this period were Pontianus (the bishop of Rome), Calepodius (a Christian minister), and Hippolitus (a high-ranking member of the clergy) who was tied to a wild horse and drug across the ground until he finally died.
Maximinus died in 238. After his death the Church was free of persecution until the year 249.
Decius (A.D. 249)
The seventh period of persecution of the Church began in the year 249, under Decius. He wanted to exterminate Christianity altogether. It is thought that there were two main reasons behind Decius’ hatred toward the Christians. The first reason was because he hated Philip (his predecessor) who was regarded by many as a Christian. The second reason was that he was jealous of the large increase of Christianity. During this time the heathen temples began to become forsaken, meanwhile the Christian churches were being filled. Decius was not the only one angered by the Christians progress the heathens were also angry and considered it commendable to murder a Christian.
During this period the number of those martyred was uncountable. Fabian, the bishop of Rome, suffered decapitation. Julian (Christian, native of Cilicia) was captured for being a Christian and put into a leather bag filled with many snakes and scorpions then thrown into the sea. Peter was stretched upon a wheel, which broke all of his bones, and then he was beheaded for refusing to sacrifice to the pagan god Venus. Alexander and Epimachus were beaten, torn with hooks, and were finally burned in a fire. Trypho and Respicius had their feet pierced with nails; then they were drug through the streets, scourged, torn with iron hooks, scorched with light torches, and at length beheaded.5 Agatha was scourged, burnt with red hot irons, torn with hooks, laid out naked on hot coals that were covered with glass, and brought back to prison to die.
The persecution under Decius was intense and extreme. Many died for declaring themselves as Christians during this time yet the number of believers was still being added to daily.
Valerian (A.D. 257)
The eighth period of persecution of the Church began in the year 257, under Valerian. He was one of the most tyrannical emperors of Rome, and one of the greatest persecutors of the Christians.6 During his reign he put out an order to put to death all of the Christian clergy in Rome. The martyrs that fell during this period of persecution were countless and their tortures and deaths were very painful.
One of those martyred during this period was Cyprian (bishop of Carthage) who was beheaded. In addition to his martyrdom there was also the execution of Alexander, Malchus, and Priscus who were devoured by tigers after the voluntary admission of their belief in Christ. There was also Maxima, Donatilla, and Secunda who were severely scourged, tormented on a gibbet (a T-shaped structure from which criminals were hung from), rubbed with lime, scourged again on a grid iron, and threatened by wild beasts, and then finally at length beheaded.7 Even more extreme was the instance of the three hundred Christians who were placed around a burning pit and commanded to sacrifice to Jupiter (pagan god) or be thrown into the pit to die. Bravely all three hundred unanimously jumped in to the pit to die refusing to sacrifice to the false god.
In 260 after Valerians death his son Gallienus succeeded him. During his reign the Church enjoyed peace, suffering little persecution until the year 274.
Aurelian (A.D. 274)
The ninth period of persecution of the Church began in the year 274, under Aurelian. There were only two martyrs that are recorded during his reign. This was because his rule was cut short because of his murder. The two recorded martyrs of this reign were Felix (bishop of Rome) and Agapetus who were both beheaded.
Aurelian was succeeded by Tacitus, then Probus, then Carus, and then finally Carnius and Numerian ruled. During this time there was little persecution, the Church had peace.
In 286 the peace ended at the hands of the emperor Maximian who wanted to exterminate Christianity. He had very cruel and painful tortures carried out against Christians during his reign. One of the martyrs of this time was the Christian preacher Quintin who was stretched with pulleys until his joints were dislocated; his body was then torn with wire scourges, then he was burned with boiling oil and pitch which was poured out on to his naked body, finally lit torches were place under his arms.8 Still alive he was then thrown back into prison to die from his wounds. Another persecution under his rule was the murder of 6,666 of his own soldiers who were killed for being Christians.
Diocletian (A.D. 303)
The tenth period of persecution of the Church began in the year 303, under Diocletian. This persecution was influenced by Diocletian’s adopted son Galerius who hated Christianity and constantly tried to persuade his father to exterminate them. In addition to this influence Diocletian was concerned by the increasing number of Christians. On the twenty third day of February 303 pagan Romans celebrated Terminalia (A festival celebrated annually by the Romans on February 23 in honor of Terminus, the god of boundaries) and as part of the celebration they hoped to exterminate Christianity. They forced open the doors of the Christian church and took all of the sacred books and burned them in an attempt to destroy all of their precious records. This event was noticed by Diocletian and his adopted son but they did not oppose the burning but rather had the church demolished.
After this demolition, a harsh edict was issued commanding the destruction of all of the other Christian churches and books. In addition all Christians were rendered as outlaws and were apprehended and imprisoned. This applied to all Christians. There was no exception due to age or sex. The homes of Christians were set on fire killing those inside. Other Christian families died by being tied to large rocks and thrown into the sea to drown. This extermination attempt lasted for ten years. It is impossible to know the number of those who were martyred during this period of cruel torture by way of many methods.
After the murder of countless Christians in an attempt to exterminate Christianity Diocletian became tired as he saw the numbers of Christians still continuing to rise. He felt defeated and resigned as result. This ended the severe persecution of the early church under the Roman Empire.
Conclusion
By reading this overview of the persecution of the early church you should be able to come to the conclusion that Christians suffered greatly for their faith during this period. Although many died, the church continued to strengthen and grow in number. I encourage you to ask yourself what you would do if you faced similar forms of persecution today. Would you declare Christ as your Lord and Savior? Or would you deny Him to escape torturous persecution? Remember that Christ said “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Foxe, John. Foxes Book of Martyrs. Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2004
Cairns, Earle E. Christianity Through The Centuries: A History of the Christian Church. Michigan: Zondervan, 1996
_____. The History of the Early Christian Martyrs. http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?apostles.htm
_____. Christian Martyrs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_martyrs
_____. Church History From Theopedia. http://www.theopedia.com/Church _history
_____. Documents on the Persecution of the Early Church. http://www.bible-researcher.com/persecution.html
Foxe, John. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. http://www.wordsearchbible.com/catalog/sample.php?prodid=710
1 John Foxe, Foxes Book of Martyrs, (Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2004)
2 http://www.bible-researcher.com/persecution.html
3 Ibid
4 http://www.wordsearchbible.com/catalog/sample.php?prodid=710
5 John Foxe, Foxes Book of Martyrs, (Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2004)
6 John Foxe, Foxes Book of Martyrs, (Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2004)
7 Ibid
8 John Foxe, Foxes Book of Martyrs, (Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2004)
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