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Christian Martyrs: Ten Persecutions Under Ten Roman Emperors
by Samson Hutagalung

Introduction

The life and suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ during His three and half years of ministry on earth had portrayed what kind of suffering that would be faced by His followers. Jesus had told His disciples that they would face much persecutions as His true followers (Matthew 10:24-25). If the world has hated Jesus Christ, it is definitely His followers will face the same thing.

The history records clearly how the world hates Christianity. Many nations have tried to destroy Christianity through persecution and yet the Lord has turned it to be a blessing. Through persecution many have known Jesus Christ, even in the country where Christianity is totally forbidden, and yet the love of God has been shown to such country. Although the wicked hearts of the people desire to destroy Christianity, it will never happen. Christianity continues to grow far and wide. As what we see today in many countries, freedom has been given to Christianity whereby they may worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

The focus on this paper is to look at closely the ten persecutions under ten Roman Emperors who strongly persecuted Christianity for more than 200 years. History has recorded that the beginning of this persecution was in the time of the Apostles (AD 30) and ended in AD 311 during the conversion of Constantine the great. The persecution during this period was so severe and many Christians had died for their faith. Christians should not forget that persecution is part of life and it shall never be separated from Christianity. Even in our days persecution is part of Christian life. As the word of the Lord tells us that this word is not our home and we are here as pilgrimages. We should put our hope in the heavenly promise.

The First Persecution: Under the Emperor Nero

The life of the early Christians was very tough. Many have confronted difficulties and death. Many Christians have been martyred by the emperors because of their hatred to Christianity. The history has revealed that the Roman Emperors have advocated all persecutions against Christianity. The emperors in those days who had the authority over all the affairs of the people had also controlled the spiritual needs of the people. As a result the people were forced to follow the object of worships that the emperors had commanded. Christianity did not spare, and they had no other ways to get rid of this evil command except to resist this instruction.[1] True believers in the Lord Jesus Christ must obey God's Words even in the time persecution and it was done by early Christians during the persecution under the ten Roman emperors.

In the first century, Nero was the first emperor who persecuted Christianity and his reign was considered as the beginning of persecution towards the followers of Jesus Christ. The punishment for being a Christian was so severe, as Dowley recorded,

First those who confessed to being Christians were arrested. Then, on information obtained from them, hundreds were convicted, more for their anti-social beliefs than for fire-raising. In their deaths they were made a mockery. They were covered in the skins of wild animals, torn to death by dogs, crucified or set on fire-so that when darkness fell they burned like torches in the night. Nero opened up his own gardens for this spectacle and gave a show in the arena, where he mixed with the crowd, or stood dressed as a charioteer on a chariot.[2]

As a result, a great fear was in the midst of many Christians, and none would dare to confess as a Christian except he/she was a true follower of Jesus Christ. During the reign of Nero, Christianity was truly under oppression and believers were fearful. The preaching of the gospel was not done just for the sake of preaching. Anyone who preached the gospel must be a person who was moved by the Holy Spirit. Persecution did not stop God's people to proclaimed God's truth. The preaching of the gospel continued despite of the treat of punishment that will be faced by them who intentionally preached the gospel. Early Christians who truly believed in the Lord Jesus Christ were not afraid of Nero, nor his punishment.

The evil acts of Nero were recorded as one of the most evil emperors against Christianity. As Eusebius gave the remark that “a man might then see cities full of men’s bodies, the old lying together with the young, and the dead bodies of the women cast out naked, without reverence of that sex, in the open streets.”[3] Based on the evil act of Nero, many people had thought that Nero was the antichrist.[4] This was the picture how cruel Nero was. However one might ask the question why did all these evil persecutions happen to Christianity? Why did it happen to other religions? Seeing the nature of persecution there were at least two main reasons in those days:

First of all, they didn’t understand that Christ’s kingdom is not a temporal kingdom and they feared for their powerful leadership roles if too many citizens followed Christ. Secondly, Christians despised the false Roman gods, preferring to worship only the true, living God.[5]

Because of these two reasons the Emperors have exercised their authority toward Christianity. Thus many a time Christians were accused for the bad things that had happened under the Roman Empire.[6]

The clearest effect toward Christianity in that time was the death of Apostle Peter and Paul. Peter who was once not willing to let Jesus to be suffered, under the persecution of Nero Peter was willing to carry his cross and even to be crucified head down.[7] The same thing happened to Paul and he suffered much persecution because Paul preached to the public. Nero wanted to Paul to be executed, but because he was a Roman citizen, Paul was beheaded.[8]

The evil deeds of Nero did not end up to his reign but rather it continued on to the nine emperors after him.

The Second Persecution: Under the Emperor Domitian

Although there were few more emperors after the reign of Nero, ye those emperors did not follow the evil deeds of him. The beginning of the second persecution was under the reign of Domitian, the brother of General Titus. This persecution happened after thirty years from the time of Nero.[9] Although history did not record much about Domitian, Schaff has recorded that Domitian was “a suspicious and blasphemous tyrant, accustomed to call himself and to called ‘Lord and God,’ treated the embracing of Christianity as crime against the state, and condemned to death many Christian, even his own cousin, the consul Flavius Clemens.”[10] However the suffering many Christians had faced during the reign of Domitian was still considered as endurable because the Romans failed to distinguish between Jews and Christians.[11] Persecution never stop the church to grow. In reality, the church had grown in the midst of persecution and spread speedily especially after the death of Domitian. During this time, Christians felt much freedom because of the relaxed measures against Christians.[12]

One of the unforgettable moments for Christian leaders in the time of Domitian was the persecution faced by the Apostle John. “Domitian exiled the apostle John to the island of Patmos, but on Domitian’s death John was allowed to return to Ephesus in the year AD 97. He remained there until the reign of Trajan, governing the churches in Asia and writing his gospel until he died at about the age of one hundred.”[13] It was during this exile the Lord Jesus had appeared to Apostle John where Jesus commanded John to write the book of Revelation.[14]

The Third Persecution: Under the Emperor Trajan

At the beginning of Trajan’s reign in AD 98, he was not against Christianity. Schaff recorded that he was “one of the best praiseworthy emperors, honoured as the ‘father of his country.’”[15] The starting of his concern toward the group of Christians was because of his friend, Pliny whom he conferred to be the government of the province of Bithynia soon after Trajan ascended to the throne.[16] Pliny sent a letter to Trajan regarding his contact with Christians and their activities in Bithynia. Based on that letter, Pliny had executed punishment to those Christians whom he encountered without the acknowledgement of the emperor.[17] This expressed his hatred toward Christianity.

The gathering of Christians to sing hymns to Christ was the most wonderful activity in time of difficulties but to Pliny it was “a depraved and immoderate superstition.”[18] He condemned Christianity to be practised in Bithynia. But the rapid growth of Christianity had caused him to send the letter to the emperor for further instruction. The main reason of Pliny for executing judgement to Christians was because he understood that Christians had caused the temple of their gods had no business. As Pliny wrote to Trajan “that this superstition was constantly spreading, not only in the cities, but also in the villages of Asia Minor, and captivated people of every age, rank, and sex, so that the temple were almost forsaken, and the sacrificial victims found no sale.”[19] Thus Christianity was the victim of his hatred and many Christians were put to death.

As an answer to Pliny’s inquiry, Trajan though he did not see what had happened, responded positively as he replied,

You have done perfectly right, in managing as you have, the matters which related to the impeachment of the Christians. No one general rule can be laid down which will apply to all cases. These people are not to be hunted up by informers; but if accused and convicted, let them be executed; yet with this restriction, that if any renounce the profession of Christianity, and give proof of it by offering supplications to our gods, however suspicious their past conduct may have been, they shall be pardoned on their repentance. But anonymous accusations should never be attended to, since it would be establishing a precedent of the worst kind, and altogether inconsistent with the maxims of my government.[20]

As a result of Trajan’s agreement to what Pliny had done, Symeon, the bishop of Jerusalem was accused by the fanatical Jews and crucified in AD 107 at the age of a hundred and twenty years.[21] In the same year Trajan came to Antioch and threatened to persecute those who refused to offer sacrifice to their gods. The man of God by the name of Ignatius who lived in those days, proudly confessed that he was a bearer of God and he was not afraid of Trajan. Ignatius said that he had Christ within his breast. For this reason Ignatius was condemned by Trajan and thrown to the lions in Rome.[22]

The Fourth Persecution: Under the Emperor Marcus Aurelious

Marcus Aurelious was a philosopher, well-educated, just, kind, and amiable emperor. Nonetheless this emperor had no any sympathy with Christianity. He considered Christianity “as an absurd and fanatical superstition.”[23] During the time of his reign the church was facing a stormy time, though persecutions could not be directly traced to him but rather Trajan who had given the law against the followers of the forbidden religion, Christianity, that he followed.[24]

Being a philosopher and anti-Christian, the emperor developed his empire with the strongest system of philosophy which made anti-Christian literature flourished for the first time.[25] Because of the widespread of this literature to the whole empire, the hatred of the public increased toward Christianity. As a result when the emperor decreed persecution against Christianity, those who were loyal to the emperor actually joined to persecute Christians. This was clearly seen especially when the emperor decreed that the property of Christian would be given to the accusers. Kuiper recorded,

The emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180) decreed that the property of Christians should be given to their accusers. It is not difficult to see what would be the effect to this decree. Everywhere there were people who were eager to have the property of the Christians. These came forward with accusations. Persecution became well nigh universal. Christians everywhere were sought out, brought to trial, and often executed with the greatest cruelty, while their property was taken from them and given to their accusers.[26]

Thus the horrible persecution during the reign of Aurelius had caused many Christians put to death and beheaded. On the other hand the testimony of those who stood and persevered to the end of their lives had brought a greater fruit to the church and made Christianity grow continually despite of the severe persecution.

Among Christians who had been persecuted and martyred during this time was Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, a disciple of the apostle John. The testimony of Polycarp had strengthened the faith of true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Polycarp was not afraid of the enemy of the gospel. Before he was martyred, he was brought to the stadium and required to deny the faith and Christ. The afford that the persecutors did was in vain, and Polycarp could only reply “Eighty-six years I have served Him, and He never once wronged me. How can I blaspheme my King, who saved me?”[27] This final answer was his conclusion that he would not deny his Lord.

Apart from Polycarp, under the same emperor, Justin Martyr, the Christian philosopher and Blandina were also put to death in the same manner. They were confronted with some questions in order to deny the Lord Jesus Christ and their faith. For the testimony of the church they were faithful to the Lord till the end of their lives.[28]

The Fifth Persecution: Under the Emperor Septimius Severus

The fifth persecution was under the reign of Septimius Severus in AD 193-211. The spirit of loyalty of Severus to the old state religion of Roman was not as strong as some other emperors before him. However this did not mean that persecution was absent during his reign. In contrary, there was a greater persecution happened to Christianity. Clement of Alexander wrote, “Many martyrs are daily burned, confined or beheaded, before our eyes,” in the reign of Severus.[29]

It was true that in the beginning of his reign the Christians had several years of rest where they could worship the Lord freely. However in the year AD 202 everything changed, and the emperor’s policy changed[30] and what many Christians had enjoyed before had come to the end. The emperor ‘enacted a rigid law against Christianity’ which spread especially in Egypt and North Africa.[31] During this time what the emperors had done in the past towards Christianity were remembered and put in force against Christianity. But despite of the violent persecution was so great, the faithful men of God continued to grow and multiply.

There were many Christians who died during this persecution. Among the faithful men of God who continued to stand for the Lord till they were put to death were firstly, Leonides, the father of the renowned Origen was beheaded in Alexandria as a result of the law that given by the emperor.[32] Secondly, Perpetua, who was with a baby at her breast, was commanded to sacrifice to the idols but she refused to do so and her life ended by wild beast as a show for the crowd.[33] Thirdly, Felicitas, a slave was remaining firm up to the time his body cast to the wild beasts at the public festival.[34] Fourthly, Clement of Alexandria perished in the same way Leonides faced.[35] It was for sure that there were still many Christian who died during this time for the sake of being faithful to the Master till the end of their lives.

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[1]Although under the Roman Emperors people were commanded to worship false gods as the Roman State religion, Christianity refused to obey for they knew false gods are nothing. They continued to worship the “true God who is Lord over all.” Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church: Ante-Nicene Christianity, Vol. II (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1910), 43.

[2]Tim Dowley, A Lion Handbook: The History of Christianity (England: Lion Publishing, 1977), 71.

[3]Jack Sin, Syllabus of the Christian Martyrs of the Church (Singapore: FEBC, unpublished notes 1999), 48.

[4]It was a common saying among Christians in that time that Nero would reappear as Antichrist. Schaff, 44.

[5]Sin, 48.

[6]Kuiper recorded that “Nero himself had caused the city (of Rome) to be set on fire,” thus the people of Rome hated the emperor. To solve the emperor’s problems, “Nero accused the Christians of having set fire to Rome.” This evil deed had caused “large numbers of Christians were arrested and a terrible persecution followed.” B. K. Kuiper, The Church in History (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans  Publishing Company, 1964), 8.

[7]Kuiper, 8.

[8]Nero did not apply the same punishment to every Christian. To the Roman citizens, they would be beheaded and others burnt, crucified etc.

[9]Under the chronological reign of the Roman emperors, Jones put in order that there were Roman emperors before the reign of Domittian. William Jones, The History of the Christians Church, Vol. I (Conrad, Montana: Triangle Press, 1993), xxviii. One further has said that though for several generations after Nero there was “no special or anti-Christian legislation,” but what Nero had done was always remembered and “have served to confirm the opposition to Christians.” As a result the conviction rise that it was illegal to be a Christian. Kenneth Scott Latourette, A History of the Expansion of Christianity, Vol. I (USA: The Paternoster Press, 1970), 140.

[10]Schaff, 44.

[11]Latourette, 141.

[12]Ibid., 141.

[13]Sin, 48.

[14]Dowley, 72.

[15]Schaff, 46.

[16]Jones, 199,

[17]Ibid., 200-02.

[18]Schaff, 46.

[19]Ibid., 46.

[20]Jones, 202. On this letter, Schaff has the different wordings however the main thrust of them were the same as written by John. Schaff, 46-7.

[21]Ibid., 47.

[22]Ibid., 48. Schaff said that probably happened between the year AD 110 and 116, and Ignatius, the distinguished bishop of Antioch was sent to Rome and thrown before wild beasts in the Colosseum. Schaff, 47.

[23]Ibid., 53.

[24]Ibid., 54.

[25]Jones, 217; see also Sin, 51.

[26]Kuiper, 10.

[27]Ibid., 9-10.

[28]Sin, 53.

[29]Schaff, 57.

[30]One has said that in the beginning of Severus’s reign “Many Christians were in his household, he himself is said to have been healed miraculously through a Christians slave, and his son, Caracalle, was reared by a Christian nurse. In A.D 202, however his policy changed-for what reason can only be conjectured-and he issued an edict forbidding conversions to Judaism or Christianity.” Latourette, 145.

[31]Schaff, 57.

[32]Williamson, 239; Ibid., 57.

[33]Jones, 243-6.

[34]Schaff, 58.

[35]Sin, 54.