Emperor Nero (64-68 AD)
Synopsis
During the 1st century, Christians endure two waves of persecution: one under Emperor Nero and another under Emperor Domitian. By the early 2nd century, Rome considers Christianity a separate religion from Judaism, a threat to public order. Persecution of Christians becomes official imperial policy, but the church continues to grow
Key Quotes
- "Nero’s tactics were so extreme that even Romans who believed Christians deserved to die came to pity them."
- "Unlike Nero, Domitian wasn't seeking a scapegoat. Instead, he sought to force Christians to participate in the emperor cult, which involved offering sacrifices to him as a god."
- "Christianity...was seen as an upstart religion that worshiped a man the Roman government had put to death for sedition. It ascribed titles to this man—'King,' 'Savior,' and 'Lord'—that Caesar claimed for himself."
Reflection Questions
- How did the two waves of persecution in the 1st century differ from one another?
- What does the correspondence of Emperor Trajan and Governor Pliny reveal about the way the Roman government perceived Christians?
- How would you characterize the tone of the prayer quoted at the end of the lesson? What does it tell us about the mindset of early Christians?
Further Reading
- Tacitus, Annals, 15.44
https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Tacitus/Annals/15B*.html - Suetonius, Life of Claudius, 15.4
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Claudius*.html - Correspondence of Pliny and Trajan
https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/pliny - The Didache
https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/didache
No comments:
Post a Comment