Less than 300 years after Jesus Christ was crucified by the local Roman governor, Roman Emperor Constantine declared himself a Christian. How did this happen?
Tertullian: “We multiply when you reap us. The blood of Christians is seed.”
“We are, certainly, willing to suffer; but it is in the same way as a soldier desires war…. It is our battle to be summoned to your tribunals, there to contend for the truth at the risk of our lives. It is our victory, too, in that we obtain that for which we contend. This victory gains for us both the glory of pleasing God, and the spoil of eternal life…. We conquer when we are slain, and in fact, we escape even when we are overwhelmed.”
Astounding fact: Less than three hundred years after Jesus Christ was condemned to death by the Roman Governor of Judea, the Roman Emperor [Constantine] declared himself to be a Christian. HOW?? That is our study tonight!
I. Biblical Context
A. The “fullness of time”
Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son
After the Jewish exiles, Moses and Judaism had been spread all over the Roman world.
And the Roman Empire afforded many factors essential to the spread of the gospel.
B. The Hidden spread
Matthew 13:33 The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
C. Christ’s paradigm, commands, warnings, promises to his apostles
1. One central paradigm
John 12:24-26 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
2. Commands
Luke 9:23-24 If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
Luke 14:33 Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
3. Warnings/Promises
Matthew 10:16-23 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 “Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
John 16:1-4 All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you.
Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
D. Christ’s trial before Pilate: John 18:33-40
John 18:33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
John 18:36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
E. Christ’s three inscriptions: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” John 19:20 [Aramaic, Latin, Greek]
F. Paul’s “finish line”: a witness to Caesar: Acts 9:15-16; Acts 25:12; 2 Timothy 4:16-18
Acts 9:15-16 the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Acts 25:11-12 “I appeal to Caesar!” 12 After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”
2 Timothy 4:16-18 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
II. Roman Empire: Aid and Opposition to the Gospel Advance
A. Rome Predicted as a Persecutor
Daniel 7:19-22 Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws– the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell– the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
B. Rome’s Unintentional Aid to Gospel Spread
1. Roman roads
2. Roman commerce
3. Roman culture
4. Roman laws
All these helped the advance of the gospel greatly!
B. Rome as Early Ally, Protector
1. Godly Centurions
a. The Centurion with the paralyzed servant
Matthew 8:8-11 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
b. Jesus’ death
Mark 15:39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
c. Cornelius
Acts 11:13-15 [Cornelius] told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning.
2. Hearing Paul’s gospel
Acts 13:7 Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.
Acts 13:12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
Acts 24:24-25 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”
Caesar and his court:
2 Timothy 4:16-17 … the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.
3. Protecting Paul
Roman government officials or officers several times saved Paul’s life. In Acts 23, a group forty Jewish zealots had taken a vow to not eat until they had assassinated Paul. The Roman commander rescued Paul by providing two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to take Paul safely to Caesarea.
In Acts 18, Gallio the proconsul in Corinth rejected the appeal of fanatical Jews to kill Paul and threw the case out.
Paul appealed to Caesar at his trial, saving his life.
The centurion on board the boat during the shipwreck wanted to save Paul’s life from a plot by the soldiers.
In Rome, Paul was under house arrest with freedom to preach.
C. Rome as Persecutor
1. Sometimes greater, sometimes less… always possible until A.D. 312
2. Notorious persecutors:
· Nero (54-68)
Nero burned Christians alive as a reprisal for (as he claimed) burning Rome
Key quote: Tacitus, Annals
“To kill the rumors, Nero charged and tortured some people hated for their evil practices—the group popularly known as ‘Christians.’ The founder of this sect, Christ, had been put to death by the governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, when Tiberius was Emperor. Their deadly superstition had been suppressed temporarily, but was beginning to spring up again—not now just in Judea but even in Rome itself where all kinds of sordid and shameful activities are attracted and catch on. First those who confessed to being Christians were arrested. Then, on information attained 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. As a result, although they were guilty of being Christians and deserved death, people began to feel sorry for them. For they realized that they were being massacred not for the public good, but to satisfy one man’s mania.” Tacitus, Annals 15.44
· Domitian (81-96)
Domitian took the title, “Master and God,” and ordered that people took the official oath: “By the genius of the Emperor.”
Noteworthy: Apostle John on Isle of Patmos, wrote against Roman bloodthirsty persecutions of Christians during Domitian’s reign
· Trajan (98-117)
Developed official policy of empire toward Christians: 1) acquit the repentant; 2) accept no anonymous accusations; 3) punish the obstinate with death. This was policy for 100 years.
“What a necessarily confused sentence! It refuses to seek them out, as if they were innocent, and orders that they be punished as if they were guilty. It pardons, and yet it is cruel. It ignores, and yet punishes. Why do you circumvent your own censure? If you condemn, why do you not inquire? And if you do not inquire, why do you not also absolve?” Tertullian, Apology, 1.2.
Key martyr: Ignatius of Antioch (A.D. 107)
Elderly bishop of Antioch condemned to death by imperial authorities; great festivities planned in Rome to celebrate a military victory… Ignatius sent there to amuse the people by his death. On his way, wrote seven letters: very valuable for our knowledge of early Christianity!
“Do not seek to confer any greater favor upon me than that I be sacrificed to God while the altar is still prepared; that, being gathered together in love, you may sing praise to the Father, through Christ Jesus, that God has deemed me, the bishop of Syria, worthy to be sent for from the east unto the west. It is good to be sent from the world unto God, that I may rise again to Him.” Ignatius, Epistle to the Romans, 1.2-2.1
· Antoninus Pius (138-161)
Key martyr: Polycarp in Smyrna (A.D. 155)
· Marcus Aurelius (161-180)
Stoic philosopher, promoted traditional religion of Rome; hated Christians because they undermined pure Roman culture
Key martyrs: Felicitas, seven sons; Justin Martyr (A.D. 165); Martyrs of Lyons and Vienne (A.D. 177)
Felicitas:
Widow who gave her full time to doing good works for the church; the prefect tried to convince her to give up her faith by promises, then by threats; she refused, and said he was wasting his time: “While I live, I shall defeat you; and if you kill me, in my death, I shall defeat you all the more!!” All seven of her sons were also Christians, and none of them could be persuaded to renounce their faith; so, Marcus Aurelius ordered that they be killed in different parts of Rome to appease different Roman gods.
Martyrs of Lyons and Vienne: [read in Gonzalez, p. 46-47]
Mob began to follow Christians in the streets, shouting and them and pelting them; finally, several Christians were arrested and taken before the governor to be tried; there a certain Vetius Epagathus came forward from the mob and offered to defend the Christians; when the governor asked, “Are you one of them?” he said he was; the governor ordered that he be added to them!
The persecution caused many people to leave the church and renounce Christianity; BUT the rest stayed strong in their faith, which made the governor and mob even more angry. The governor ordered torture. A certain man named Sanctus, when tortured, simply answered, “I am a Christian.” The more he was tortured, the more he persisted in saying nothing but these words, “I am a Christian.” Others who had previously lost their courage were now strengthened and they were all executed as Christians.
· Septimus Severus (193-211)
Required all to worship sol invictus (Sun god); in 202, made conversion a capital crime
Key martyrs: Origen’s father (but not Origen!!); Perpetua & Felicitas
Origen:
His father was arrested and executed for the faith; Origen, just a boy at the time, yearned to die with him; his mother hid his clothes so he was ashamed to run out naked; he grew to be one of the most famous biblical scholars in Alexandria
Perpetua and Felicitas: (A.D. 203, Carthage)
Pregnant, deeply wanted to lay down her life as a martyr for Christ; the authorities waited until she gave birth. While in labor, she cried out with such agony that the jailers asked her how she expected to face the wild beasts in the arena. She said: “Now my sufferings are only mine. But when I face the beasts, there will be another who will live in me, and will suffer for me since I shall be suffering for Him.” The child, a girl, was adopted by a Christian family.
Three men, Saturninus, Revocatus, and Secundulus were martyred first. The first two died quickly and bravely, but no beast would attack Secundulus. Finally, he declared that a leopard would kill him, and that’s exactly what happened! Then Perpetua and her servant Felicitas were put in the arena to be attacked by a ferocious cow. Having been hit and thrown by the enraged animal, Perpetua, stopped to retie her hair, for loose hair was a sign of mourning and this was a joyful day for her. Finally the two bleeding women stood in the middle of the arena, bid each other farewell with a holy kiss, and were killed with the sword.
· Decius (249-251)
Issued edict requiring all to sacrifice to gods & burn incense to emperor; those who complied received a certificate (libellus); those who refused were jailed, tortured, or killed
C. Christian Response
1. Martyrdom (as we’ve seen)
2. Apostasy (called the lapsi… the lapsed)
· libellatici: obtained forged certificates
· thurificati: sacrificed to the gods (but perhaps didn’t mean it!)
3. Treason
· traditores: handed over Scriptures or betrayed fellow Christians
4. Apologetics:
Answering critics who ridiculed Christianity or misunderstood it:
False ideas about Christian doctrines & practices:
¨ Christian “love feasts” were actually orgies
¨ Using the title “brother” or “sister” in these love feasts showed they were incestuous orgies
¨ Eating the Lord’s Supper (representing the Body and Blood of Christ) showed they were cannibals
¨ Bottom line: Christians were anti-social, ignorant, rebellious, and immoral
· Justin Martyr (d. 165)
Taught that Christianity is true philosophy; the Logos that inspires reason became incarnate in Christ; in Dialogue with Trypho the Jew, argued that Christianity is superior to Judaism; pressed home fulfilled prophesies to prove his case
· Tertullian (155-222; probably a lawyer; lived in Carthage, North Africa)
First apologist who wrote in Latin; “Father of Latin Christianity”; wrote his Apology around A.D. 197; refuted false understandings of Christian beliefs and practices; ridiculed the moral and legal absurdities by which pagans justified persecuting Christians
“What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem? What does the Academy have to do with the Church?” Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics, Chapter 1.7.
That is, Christian faith should have nothing to do with pagan philosophy!
“Heresies, at the present time, will no less rend the church by their perversion of doctrine, than will Antichrist persecute her at that day by the cruelty of his attacks, except that persecution makes even martyrs, (but) heresy only apostates.” Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics, Chapter 4.
D. Christianity a Tolerated Religion: Galerius’s Edict of 311
¨ Emperor Galerius contracted a painful disease
¨ Became convinced that the Christian God was punishing him
¨ Grudgingly decided to change his policy, in 311
“Therefore, moved by our mercy to be benevolent towards all, it had seemed just to extend to them our pardon, and allow them to be Christians once again, and once again to gather in their assemblies, as long as they do not interfere with public order…In return for our tolerance, Christians will be required to pray to their god for us, for the public good, and for themselves, so that the state may enjoy prosperity and they may live in peace.”
E. Christianity the State Religion: Constantine, Milvian Bridge, the Edict of Milan (A.D. 312)
¨ Had followed sun god sol invictus
¨ Stated he had a vision in which he was instructed to put Christian symbol on the shields of his soldiers
¨ Won the Battle of Milvian Bridge over Maxentius
¨ Drew up agreement with Maxentius, called “Edict of Milan” (A.D. 313)
All persecution of Christians would stop, their churches, cemeteries, other properties returned to them
Constantine then embraced Christianity as the official state religion
¨ Founded new city in the east as the capitol of his empire: Constantinople
¨ Made incredible impact on future history of the Western Church
¨ Developed “official theology”
¨ Emperor’s declared faith caused thousands to flock into the church who were not really Christians
¨ Some responded by withdrawing and fleeing to the desert as MONKS (fasting, meditation, and renunciation of the world), since martyrdom was no longer possible
¨ Others began working in earnest on theological writings
¨ Christian worship was affected by the immense churches the new wealth enabled them to build
Key Story: The Martyrdom of Polycarp (Eusebius, Church History, IV.15)
“…A voice from heaven… came to Polycarp as he was entering the place: ‘Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man.’ And no one saw the speaker, but many of our people heard the voice. And when he was led forward, there was a great tumult, as they heard that Polycarp was taken.
Finally, when he came up, the proconsul asked if he were Polycarp. And when he confessed that he was, he endeavored to persuade him to deny, saying, ‘Have regard for your age,’ and other like things, which it is their custom to say: ‘Swear by the genius of Caesar; repent and say, Away with the Atheists.’ But Polycarp, looking with dignified countenance upon the whole crowd that was gathered in the stadium, waved his hand to them, and groaned, and raising his eyes toward heaven, said, ‘Away with the Atheists.’
But when the magistrate pressed him, and said, Swear, and I will release you; revile Christ,’ Polycarp said, ’Eighty-six years have I been serving him, and he has done me no wrong; how then can I blaspheme my king who saved me?’
But when he again persisted, and said, ‘Swear by the genius of Caesar,’ Polycarp replied, ‘If you vainly suppose that I will swear by the genius of Caesar, as you say, pretending to be ignorant who I am, hear plainly: I am a Christian. But if you desire to learn the doctrine of Christianity, assign a day and hear.’ …
The proconsul said, ‘I have wild beasts; I will throw you to them unless you repent.’ But he said, ‘Call them; for repentance from better to worse is a change we cannot make. But it is a noble thing to turn from wickedness to righteousness.’
He again said to him, ‘ If you think little of the wild beasts, I will cause you to be consumed by fire, unless you repent.’ But Polycarp said, ‘You threaten a fire which burns for an hour, and after a little is quenched; for you know not the fire of the future judgment and of the eternal punishment which is reserved for the impious. But why do you delay? Do what you will.’
Saying these and other words besides, he was filled with courage and joy, and his face was suffused with grace, so that not only was he not terrified and dismayed by the words that were spoken to him, but, on the contrary, the proconsul was amazed, and sent his herald to proclaim three times in the midst of the stadium: ‘Polycarp has confessed that he is a Christian.’ And when this was proclaimed by the herald, the whole multitude, both of Gentiles and of Jews, who dwelt in Smyrna, cried out with ungovernable wrath….
Then they thought fit to cry out with one accord that Polycarp should be burned alive…. These things were done with great speed— more quickly than they were said— the crowds immediately collecting from the workshops and baths timber and faggots, the Jews being especially zealous in the work, as is their wont…. Forthwith then the materials prepared for the pile were placed about him; and as they were also about to nail him to the stake, he said, ‘Leave me thus; for he who has given me strength to endure the fire, will also grant me strength to remain in the fire unmoved without being secured by you with nails.’ So they did not nail him, but bound him.
And he, with his hands behind him [prayed, effectively saying] “Father, I thank you that you have considered me worthy of dying as a martyr. I offer myself as a sacrifice, and I praise and glorify you through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
When he had offered up his Amen and had finished his prayer, the firemen lighted the fire and as a great flame blazed out, we, to whom it was given to see, saw a wonder, and we were preserved that we might relate what happened to the others. For the fire presented the appearance of a vault, like the sail of a vessel filled by the wind, and made a wall about the body of the martyr, and it was in the midst not like flesh burning, but like gold and silver refined in a furnace. For we perceived such a fragrant odor, as of the fumes of frankincense or of some other precious spices. So at length the lawless men, when they saw that the body could not be consumed by the fire, commanded an executioner to approach and pierce him with the sword. And when he had done this there came forth a quantity of blood so that it extinguished the fire; and the whole crowd marveled that there should be such a difference between the unbelievers and the elect, of whom this man also was one, the most wonderful teacher in our times… who was bishop of the catholic Church in Smyrna.”
