persecution & martyrdom in the early church
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Persecution & Martyrdom in the Early Church. Why were Christians Persecuted?. Political Reasons: Christians refused to recognize Emperor as Lord. Christians were viewed as a danger to The State. Christians became easy scapegoats for rulers like Nero. Why were Christians Persecuted?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Persecution &
Martyrdomin the
Early Church
Why were Christians Persecuted?
Political Reasons: • Christians refused to recognize
Emperor as Lord.• Christians were viewed as a
danger to The State.• Christians became easy
scapegoats for rulers like Nero
Why were Christians Persecuted?
Moral Reasons:• Christians lived by a different
morality than pagans.• The Christian’s morality
condemned pagan wickedness.
The Fires of Persecution
Martyrs of Lyons
Amphitheater in Lyons
Emperors & Martyrs
• Nero– fire destroyed much
of Rome– Rumor spread that
Nero ordered the fire to make room for his new city, Neropolis
– He used Christians as a scapegoat.
Simon Peteraccording to tradition, was crucified upside
down
Apostle Paulaccording to tradition was
beheaded
Diocletian (284-305)
Galerius (305-311)
The Great Persecution (303-311)
Diocletian
•Paranoid Emperor •Most savage of persecutions.•Destroyed Church Buildings.•Destroyed Bibles and Writings.•Removed legal rights of Christians. •Imprisoned Clergy •Mutilated and murdered Christians.
Edict of Toleration• In 305, Galerius forced Diocletian to resign• Galerius became ill; Christians convinced him it
was God’s punishment for persecuting them • Edict of Toleration:
1) pardoned Christians, allowed them to pursue their faith and to assemble together
2) required them to pray to their God for the emperor and the public good.
Constantine(306-324)
WESTMaxentius (Emperor)
Constantine (Caesar)
EASTMaximinus Daia
(Emperor)
Licinius (Caesar)
Constantine: Conquest of Western Empire (312)
• War against Maxentius• Eve of the Battle of the
Milvian Bridge• Saw a vision:
Chi & Rho In hoc signes vinces –
“In this sign, you will conquer”
• He painted the Chi-Rho on his soldiers’ shields
• Maxentius drowned in river
Edict of Milan (313)
• Constantine met with Licinius at Milan and established an alliance which required the cessation of Christian persecution
• Maximinus Daia (eastern emperor) continued persecution until he was defeated by Licinius
• In 324, Constantine defeated Licinius and became sole emperor; then persecution of Christians ceased throughout the empire.
WESTMaxentius (Emperor)
Constantine (Caesar)
EASTMaximinus Daia
(Emperor)
Licinius (Caesar)