Martyrdom of Polycarp
Synopsis
Many early Christians endured horrific persecution. However, persecution tended to be a local, temporary phenomenon and Romans weren't one-dimensional villains. To understand persecution, we have to understand its political, social, economic, and religious aspects.
Key Quotes
- “You try to frighten me with fire that burns for an hour, and you forget the fire of hell that never goes out.”
- "Spiritually speaking, Christians were seen as 'disturbing the peace' because they refused to give the gods their proper honor. ... As Tertullian wrote, “if the Tiber overflows or the Nile doesn’t, the cry goes up: Christians to the lions.”
- "Although people from every social class converted to Christianity, the faith always held particular appeal for marginalized people (such as slaves or women)."
- What was the significance of the emperor cult to Romans of this era?
- From the Roman perspective, how were Christians "haters of the human race"?
- If, as Tertullian wrote, the early church had "the reputation of living aloof from crowds," what do you think drove its rapid growth?
Further Reading
- "The Martyrdom of Polycarp"
https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/polycarp
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