JUBILEE MEMORIAL BIBLE COLLEGE

Research Paper on
Early Persecution and the Lessons for the Present Church

Submitted to
Rev. Dr. Jimmy Joseph Paul

In Partial Fulfilment of the

Requirements of the course
MHM 401 – HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY

Submitted By
Jerry Mathew Saji
[Link]. 1
2nd Semester

Submitted On
February 10th, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction
1. Persecution by the Jews
2. State Persecute Christianity
2.1. Persecution under Nero (AD 64 - 65)
2.2. Persecution under Domitian (AD 95)
2.3. Persecution under Trajan (AD 111)
2.4. Persecution under Decius (AD 249 - 251)
2.5. Persecution under Valerian (AD 258 - 259)
2.6. Great Persecution (AD 303)
3. Causes of Persecution by the State
3.1. Roman Policy
3.2. Sex and Slander
3.3. Atheism
3.4. Lord of the Emperor
4. The Edict of Emperor Constantine
5. Effects of Persecution
5.1. Positive Effects
5.2. Negative Effects
6. Lessons from Early Persecutions for Present Churches
Conclusion
Bibliography

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Introduction
In my research paper, I explore the early persecution faced by the early Christian church and
explore the valuable lessons it offers for the present-day church. Through this paper, I analyse
various persecutions faced by Christians in the early centuries, the reasons and the effect of
the persecution. Through this study, we can gain insights into how the church can navigate
challenges while staying true to its core values and beliefs.

1. Persecution by the Jews

Christians experienced persecution from the start. The Jews were the ones who persecuted
people first. The Jewish authorities recognized the distinctions between Christianity and
Judaism. For as long as they could, the Christians continued to worship at the temple and
synagogues in an effort to better understand and relate to their fellow Jews. By crucifying
Jesus, the Jews began their enmity of Christians. Christians suffered persecution from Jews
throughout the New Testament. The same animosity toward Christ’s disciples persisted.
Stephen was accused by them of degrading the temple and disobeying the commandment of
Moses. The other apostles and Paul were accused of the same things.1

2. State Persecute Christianity

Due to persecution by Rome, many thousands of Christians risked their lives in defence of
the religion. It frequently resulted in death for Christians who had to choose Christ over
Caesar. Throughout the Empire, governmental persecution was localized and irregular. 2
2.1. Persecution under Nero (AD 64 - 65)
Christian mythology states that Emperor Nero (AD 54–68) was the first heathen to
persecute Christians. Christians were persecuted after the disastrous fire that destroyed Rome
in 64. The Roman historian Tacitus claims that Nero may have started the fire himself and
intended to place the blame on the Christians, who were despised by the public for
unspecified sins. Numerous Christians were arrested by the state and charged with “hatred for
humanity”—a accusation that Tacitus also used at Jews elsewhere. They were given death
sentences and executed by intricate procedures. Stated differently, there was a single, capital
offense committed by anybody who, in the face of coercion, chose to confess, “I am a
Christian,” rather than renounce their beliefs.3

1
F. Hrangkhuma, An Introduction to Church History, (Bangalore: Theological Book Trust, 2002),
26–27.
2
M. Thongkhosei Haokip, History of Christianity (Secunderabad: GS Media, 2017), 70.

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It is vital at this point to tend to the apostles Paul and Peter. The topics of When and How
they died continue to be hot topics of conversation. Tertullian, the founder of the African
church, gave the church of Rome great honours in the year 203 since it was there that Peter
was “matched to the Lord’s passion,” or crucifixion, and where Paul was “crowned with the
death of John” (the Baptist, who had been beheaded; see Mark 6.21–29). The same author
confirms shortly after (211/12) that Nero was the one who executed the executions; he had
Peter crucified and Paul executed covertly. Using unnamed sources, Eusebius asserts that
Nero beheaded Paul at Peter’s crucifixion.4
2.2. Persecution under Domitian (AD 95)
Because of how he treated Christians, Christian tradition even in antiquity referred to
Emperor Domitian (AD 81–96) as a “little Nero.” It took 75 years after Domitian’s rule for
persecution to be documented in history. This information is taken from two sources,
Eusebius, Melito, and Hegesippus. Although Domitian is credited by Eusebius as being the
second to intensify persecution of Christians, he makes no mention of Christian victims who
died under his rule.5
Under Domitian’s rule, anyone who practiced non-Roman religions and even those who
showed sympathy for them were persecuted and accused of betraying their gods because they
were Christians. banished the apostle John to the island of Patmos, and in order to avoid
persecution, Christians worshipped in catacombs and subterranean tombs. In paper and from
the pulpit, Domitian has been hailed as a great persecutor of Christians.6
2.3. Persecution under Trajan (AD 111)
Trajan the Great was a capable leader. The first systematic persecution of Christians
occurred under his reign, providing them with a chance to defend themselves. 7 There were
sporadic persecutions throughout his rule. One specific area, to which the governor and
emperor’s letter provided some illumination. The emperor said in his response to Pliny that
Christians should not be persecuted and should be asked if they were prepared to offer
sacrifices to idols. They should only be punished if they continue to refuse to offer sacrifices
to idols.8
3
Wolfram Kinzig and Markus N. A. Bockmuehl, Christian Persecution in Antiquity (Texas: Baylor
University Press, 2021), 37–38.
4
Kinzig and Bockmuehl, Christian Persecution in Antiquity, 40.
5
Arthur M. Ogden, “Did Domitian Persecute Christian: An Investigation,” The Domitian Persecution
(USA: Ogden Publications, 1999): 3-5.
6
Andrew Spore, The Joy of Exile (Morrisville: Lulu Press, 2010), 7.
7
John A. Apeabu, A History of Early Church 05 BC-AD 451 (Nigeria: Faith Printers International,
2020), 159.
8
Hrangkhuma, An Introduction to Church History, 45.

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The originator of the Third Great Persecution was Trajan. He issued a proscription against
holding secret gatherings, mostly directed at Christians who were prohibited from gathering
in public and could only celebrate silently at night. Moreover, under his rule, Ignatius, the
bishop of the Antioch church, was martyred.9
2.4. Persecution under Decius (AD 249 - 251)
Decius, the Roman emperor, understood the military and spiritual dimensions of the
problem. Decius was born in a hamlet close to the Danube. He thought that old-fashioned
polytheism was waning and that a resurgence of veneration for former emperors would make
Rome powerful again. Decius became enraged with the monotheistic Christians, a tiny
minority, and persecuted them across the Empire. Decius required Christians to participate in
a pagan religious celebration and get a Certificate of Sacrifice (libellus) from the local
Sacrificial Commission, but he did not force them to abandon their religion. Many Christians
gave up to coercion and accepted bribes in order to obtain the certificate, while many more
perished because they would not compromise.10
2.5. Persecution under Valerian (AD 258 - 259)
Roman Emperor Valerian took over an empire that was on the verge of collapse because
of civil unrest and the disease. While raids from the north persisted, Germanic tribesmen
broke through to the eastern frontiers. Gallienus, Valerian’s son, was already under collegiate
control, but he expanded the idea to him farther north. Valerian ordered the clergy to offer
sacrifices to the state’s gods while blaming the Christians in an attempt to deflect attention
from the problems. As a result, Christian property and tenants on imperial estates were
seized, and Pope Sixtus II and St. Lawrence were executed.11
2.6. Great Persecution (AD 303)
A purging of Christians from the army in 299 came before this. Caesar (deputy emperor)
Galerius appears to have had an impact on emperor Diocletian. His first decree, issued in
303, mandated the deconstruction of churches, the submission and destruction of all
Scriptures, and the termination of Christian worship. A subsequent edict mandated the
clergy’s arrest. A third decree mandated the clergy’s forced sacrifice followed by their
release. Executed were a handful who refused to comply. All over the empire, a general
sacrifice was mandated by a fourth edict. 12
9
Jodocus Adolph Birkhaeuser, History of the Church, from Its First Establishment to Our Own
Times (United States: F. Pustet, 1898), 43.
10
Joseph Cullen Ayer, A Source Book for Ancient Church History: From the Apostolic Age to the
Close of the Conciliar Period (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1913), 229-230.
11
Ayer, A Source Book for Ancient Church History, 227.
12
Hrangkhuma, An Introduction to Church History, 49.

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3. Causes of Persecution by the State
The church is persecuted for a variety of reasons. A portion of them are merely allegations,
while others result from miscommunication. Persecution stems from one or more factors.
There were periods when persecutions occurred across the Roman world, and other times
there were none at all. Church persecution had political, theological, economic, and social
undertones. Among the causes are:
3.1. Roman Policy
All of the conquered countries’ religions were accepted under Roman rule. All they needed
to do was pay the emperor a collective tribute. The Christians were provided exemption by
the imperial power to the Judaisers, so long as they were viewed by the Roman authorities as
a Jewish religious group. The Romans’ immunity in the Empire ended the minute they
learned that the Jews opposed the Christians. From one Emperor to the next, they were then
subjected to one unfavourable decree after another.13
3.2. Sex and Slander
The accusations made against the Christians included cannibalism and sexual immorality.
Some of the terms they used during worship were misinterpreted by their opponents. as they
spoke “blood and body” as they were celebrating the Lord’s Supper, it was misinterpreted to
mean that the infants had been killed and their flesh and blood had been consumed.14
3.3. Atheism
The lack of sacrifices, temples, statues, or oracles in Christian worship made its
instructors atheists, and in accordance with Roman law, atheists were considered the scourge
of human society.15 They were unable to comprehend Christians’ imageless worship. They
said that they were disrespecting the deity.16

3.4. Lord of the Emperor

The struggle between Christ’s and Caesar’s dominion was one of the main reasons why
Christians were persecuted throughout the Roman Empire. For any reason, the Christians’

13
Hrangkhuma, An Introduction to Church History, 28 – 29.
14
Haokip, History of Christianity, 76.
15
W. M. Blackburn, History of the Christian Church from Its Origin to Present Time (New York:
Walden and Stowe, 1879), 21-22.
16
Apeabu, A History of Early Church, 151.

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conviction in the Lordship of Jesus would not allow them to bow down or acknowledge
Caesar as their ruler.17

4. The Edict of Emperor Constantine

The decisive battle between Constantine and Maxentius in the fall of 312 CE altered
the path of history. One of the most well-known accounts of Constantine’s conversion
to Christianity is his vision of the cross on the eve of the Battle at Milvian Bridge. Put
simply, the Greek letters “X” and “P,” which are the first two letters of the word
“Christ,” were seen by Constantine (or, according to the story, dreamt) as a chi or rho.
He was to use this symbol to identify all shields and banners. After following this
directive, he engaged Maxentius in combat and prevailed. 18 Shortly afterwards, in the
year 313 AD, Constantine issued his renowned Edict of Toleration, thereby ending the
persecutions. The great persecution came to an end when Constantine, after taking
control of the western portion of the empire, issued the Edict of Milan (AD 313).
Constantine encouraged the spread of Christianity in numerous ways and established
it as a recognized religion by the state.19 It declared that everyone has the right to
practice their religion freely, granted Christianity complete legal equality with other
faiths, and mandated the return of any property taken from Christians during the
persecution. The time of persecution came to an end thus.20

5. Effects of Persecution
The effects of the persecution upon the church were both positive and negative.
5.1 Positive Effects
The church’s life was put through a refinement fire by the persecutions. Thousands
accepted Christianity during the peace period, most likely without a sincere dedication to
Christ. The cost of devotion and sanctity was not borne by the Christians. The church was
cleansed by each persecution. Persecution also made evangelism more effective. “The blood
of the martyr is the seed of the Church,” stated Tertullian. The valiant accounts of the
martyrs demonstrated that a Christian’s religion is worthy of a person’s life. Because of

17
Haokip, History of Christianity, 78.
18
Raymond Van Dam, The Roman Revolution of Constantine, (New York: Cambridge University
Press, 2007), 11.
19
Haokip, History of Christianity, 76.
20
Hrangkhuma, An Introduction to Church History, 50.

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Christians’ tremendous suffering and patience, hundreds of people accepted Christianity in
numerous areas.21
5.2 Negative Effects
Hundreds of Christians abandoned their religion during periods of persecution. After the
persecutions, when persons who had fallen away from Christianity wanted to re-join the
church, the issue of their readmission frequently presented significant and enduring
difficulties, leading to division.22

6. Lessons from Early Persecutions for Present Churches

It’s noteworthy to note that the early church grew both numerically and stronger despite the
severe persecution they endured.
Violence typically breeds greater violence once it occurs. For Christians, it seldom works to
get what they desire by employing physical force. It frequently makes matters worse. In
contemporary Christianity, the notion of putting an end to injustice and hatred via nonviolent
means is becoming less and less common. Early Christians were likely aware of this, which is
why they chose to die rather than resist persecution. In societies where hatred and violence
are prevalent, it is difficult to propagate the genuine message of Christianity. However, if
individuals react to persecution non-violently, it can aid in halting the growth of hatred and
facilitate carrying our mission activities effectively.23
Early Christian persecution is a crucial connection to the modern idea of “Suffering for
Christ.” Early Christians established a powerful example for modern believers by sticking to
their commitment to Christ in the face of hardship, highlighting the selfless aspect of
following Jesus and the resilience that may be gained in trying circumstances.24
By accepting true love, the Church of today may carry on the tradition of its forebears. In a
world that is frequently characterized by conflict and division, this strategy promotes
harmony, peace, and reconciliation. It has the power to change people’s hearts and
communities and embodies the core ideas of Christianity. It may have a beneficial effect on
society by providing comfort and hope amid hardship. 25

21
Hrangkhuma, An Introduction to Church History, 51.
22
Hrangkhuma, An Introduction to Church History, 51.
23
Efe M. Ehioghae, “The Persecution of Christians in the Early Church and Its Theological
Implications for Mission Today,” AAMM Vol. 4 (2011): 129
24
Ehioghae, “The Persecution of Christians in the Early Church,” 129-30.
25
Ehioghae, “The Persecution of Christians in the Early Church,” 130-31.

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Conclusion
Examining the early persecution that the church endured offers insightful information for the
present. We may learn how to face hardship and hold onto our faith throughout trying times
by studying the struggles and solutions of the early Christians. Comprehending the tactics
employed by the early Christians to withstand persecution helps fortify the current church’s
determination and dedication to its principles. In the end, the church may use the lessons
learned from the early persecution as a source of inspiration and direction while confronting
obstacles from the past and present.

Bibliography
Apeabu, John A. A History of Early Church 05 BC-AD 451. Nigeria: Faith Printers
International, 2020.
Ayer, Joseph Cullen. A Source Book for Ancient Church History: From the Apostolic Age to
the Close of the Conciliar Period. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1913.
9
Birkhaeuser, Jodocus Adolph. History of the Church, from Its First Establishment to Our
Own Times. United States: F. Pustet, 1898.
Blackburn. History of the Christian Church from Its Origin to Present Time. New York:
Walden and Stowe, 1879.
Dam, Raymond Van. The Roman Revolution of Constantine. New York: Cambridge
University Press, 2007.
Ehioghae, Efe M. “The Persecution of Christians in the Early Church and Its Theological
Implications for Mission Today.” AAMM Vol. 4 (2011): 129 – 31.
Haokip, M. Thongkhosei. History of Christianity. Secunderabad: GS Media, 2017.
Hrangkhuma. An Introduction to Church History. Bangalore: Theological Book Trust, 2002.
Kinzig, Wolfram and Markus Bockmuehl. Christian Persecution in Antiquity. Texas: Baylor
University Press, 2021.
Ogden, Arthur M. Did Domitian Persecute Christian: An Investigation. USA: Ogden
Publications, 1999.
Spore, Andrew. The Joy of Exile. Morrisville: Lulu Press, 2010.

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