Transcript Roman Persecutions of Christians

Roman Persecutions of
Christians
Age of Martyrdom
WHAT DO YOU ALREADY
KNOW ABOUT THE ROMAN
PERSECUTIONS?
Early Roman Reaction to
Christianity
• at first, paid them little attention
• Saw them as a small group of
breakaway Jews
• Christians weren’t perceived as a threat
• Weren’t even on the radar
Things Change
• Christianity
distanced itself
from Judaism
• Roman Empire
began to view
them as enemies
– they often defied
the state
• Viewed as breeding
ground for
corruption and
dissatisfaction in
the empire
Nero (37-68 A.D.)
• Emperor from 5468 A.D.
• Known for being
cruel, psychotic
and paranoid.
• Began ruling at
age 17
• Murdered his
mother, had his
wife beheaded,
forced his advisor
(Seneca) to
commit suicide
Hitler compared to Nero
Hitler
• Killed a lot of
people
• Wanted to be an
artist
Nero
• Killed a lot of
people
• Wanted to be a
musician
The First Roman Persecution
• July 19, 64 A.D.
• Fire broke out
near the Circus
Maximus
• Burned for 9
days straight
• 4 districts
turned to rubble,
6 heavily
damaged, left
only 4 unharmed
Why did the fire spread so
quickly?
• Houses were
packed together
• Lower classes lived
in tenements made
with wooden walls
• Homes of the
wealthy had
combustible
furnishings and
textiles
• Gardens with large
trees only helped
the fire.
• Affected every class
of people.
Tacitus’ Account
"...Now started the most terrible and destructive fire
which Rome had ever experienced. It began in the
Circus, where it adjoins the Palatine and Caelian hills.
Breaking out in shops selling inflammable goods, and
fanned by the wind, the conflagration instantly grew and
swept the whole length of the Circus. There were no
walled mansions or temples, or any other obstructions,
which could arrest it. First, the fire swept violently over
the level spaces. Then it climbed the hills - but returned
to ravage the lower ground again. It outstripped every
counter-measure. The ancient city's narrow winding
streets and irregular blocks encouraged its progress.
Terrified, shrieking women, helpless old and young,
people intent on their own safety, people unselfishly
supporting invalids or waiting for them, fugitives and
lingerers alike - all heightened the confusion. When
people looked back, menacing flames sprang up before
them or outflanked them. When they escaped to a
neighboring quarter, the fire followed - even districts
believed remote proved to be involved.
Tacitus’ Cont.
By the sixth day enormous demolitions had
confronted the raging flames with bare ground and
open sky, and the fire was finally stamped out at the
foot of the Esquiline Hill. But before panic had
subsided, or hope revived, flames broke out again in
the more open regions of the city. Here there were
fewer casualties; but the destruction of temples and
pleasure arcades was even worse. This new
conflagration caused additional ill-feeling because it
started on Tigellinus' estate in the Aemilian district.
For people believed that Nero was ambitious to found
a new city to be called after himself.
Of Rome's fourteen districts only four remained intact.
Three were leveled to the ground. The other seven
were reduced to a few scorched and mangled ruins."
Who’s to Blame?
• Rumor’s spread
quickly that Nero
had started the fire
• He had wanted to
demolish buildings
to build a new
palace
• Rumors said, he
took delight in
watching Rome
burn, while reading
his poetry or
playing a lyre
• “Nero fiddled while
Rome burned.”
Nero’s Solution
• Provided
emergency shelter
to victims
• Accused Christians
of causing the fire
• Tortured several to
get false
confessions
• Then ordered large
numbers to be
arrested
• Christians become
the “scapegoat”.
Why pick on the Christians?
• Roman state demanded, participation
in pagan cults, worship of the
emperor, and serving in the legions
– In short, give Rome undivided loyalty
• Christians refused to compromise
their faith
• They refused to worship Nero
• Were pacifists – refused to fight in
the army
The Persecution
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nero declares Christianity illegal
Aimed to punish all believers
“Let the Christian be exterminated”
Limited only to the city of Rome
St. Peter – crucified (upside down)
St. Paul – beheaded outside the walls
of the city
Methods of Execution
• Sewn into animal
skins, released into
the gardens. Hungry
mastiffs were
released to hunt
them down and eat
them.
• Various methods of
death in the arena
• Lions, leopards
• Crucifixion was
popular
• Tied to the horns of
a bull
Firework named after
execution method
• Roman Candle
• Live Christians
coated in pitch and
resin
• Set on fire to
provide light
through his
gardens and along
streets
Sporadic Persecution
• Persecutions were not constant
• Most were limited to specific areas or
cities
• Not empire
wide
The Great Persecution
• During the rule of
Diocletian, 303310 A.D.
• Christian churches
destroyed; books
burned
• Lasted 10 years,
and was empire
wide
• Christians
imprisoned,
tortured, and
martyred
If Christians by the hundreds
or thousands died these
horrible public deaths, how
did the church survive the
persecutions?
Heroism and Virtue
• Being a Christian meant to die like
Christ
• Martyrdom proved the strength of
your faith
• Went to their deaths willingly and
prayerfully
• Died heroically, inspiring others who
witnessed it
• Seems to have inspired rather than
discouraged
“When it’s hard to be a
Christian, it’s easy to be a
Christian; and when it’s
easy to be a Christian, it’s
hard to be a Christian.”
Homework
• Respond to the quote I just gave
you.
• What does it mean to you?