the persecuted church Flashcards
what’s up w the moral degeneration of the roman empire
it confronted the christian ideals of love, purity and supernatural faith (romans)
what were the immoral acts that were prevalent in rome?
- irreligious
- lust
- lies
- worshipping creatures/creations
- homeosexuals (whatever)
- perversity
- greed
- envy
- murder
- bickering
- deceit
- craftiness
- gossipers
- slanderers
- insolent
- haughty
- ingenious in their wrong doings
- rebellious toward their parents
- w/o conscience, loyalty, affection & pity
- boastful
so, when rome met the christians, what was the consequence?
the message of christianity was attractive and appealing to the romans
4 consequences of the message of christianity being appealing to the romans:
1) human + worth dignity were given importance
2) dignity of women was exalted
3) spirit of christian compassion for the poor, sick and abandoned made a deep impression
4) thirst for power + wealth was opposed, in favor for the rights of others + for the good of the earth
the basis of christian persecutions
- they were a threat to rome’s power and rule
» wanted to unite all people in God - some christian beliefs and practices conflicted w rome’s worldview
» christians supposedly had cannibalistic practices during Eucharistic rites
» they condemned the public spectacle of bloody matches, such as the gladiatorial contests > natural disasters were attributed to them bc they refused to worship the gods
» they wouldn’t pay the imposed temple tax: disloyalty to the state
what year did nero rule?
54-60 AD
what were nero’s nature + reasons for persecution?
- blamed the christians for 6 DAYS OF FIRE that destroyed three fourths of the city of rome
- historian tacitus: nero was responsible for the fire so that he could have the glory of rebuilding the city (wtf nero’s so weird but ok)
- Garden of Nero: many christians were turned into living torches
famous martyrs in Nero’s time
St. Peter & St. Paul
he blamed the christians for the six days of fire that destroyed 3/4 of the city of rome
nero
historian tacitus said thaat he was responsible for rebuilding he city
nero
in his garden, many christians were turned into living torches
nero
famous martyrs in his time include st. paul & peter
nero
when did domitian rule?
81-96 AD
what was domitian’s nature + reason for persecution
murderous act of a tyrant (dont even know wt this means but)
who was attributed to the murderous act of a tyrant?
domitian
who was the famous martyr during domitian’s time?
st. john was exiled to the island of patmos where he wrote the book of revelation
whose era was it when st. john was exiled?
domitian
when did trajan rule?
98-100AD
what was trajan’s nature + reason for persecution?
- decree: TO BE CHRISTIAN IS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH
» christianity was an illegal religion then - hired informers to report to authorities those engaged in christian worship
who issued the decree that to be a christian was punishable by death?
trajan
whose time was it when christianity was an illega religion in the roman empire?
trajan
who hired informers to report to authorities those who were engaged in christian worship?
trajan
famous martyr during trajan’s time
st. ignatius of antioch
who’s time was it when st. ignatius of antioch was a martyr?
trajan
when did hadrian rule?
117-138
what was hadrian’s nature + reason for persecution?
decree that governors shouldn’t follow the desire of the mob
christians accused of crimes must be judged according to the nature of the crimes
gave some relief to suffering christians
who gave the decree that governors shouldn’t follow the desire of the mob?
hadrian
who said that christians should be judged according to the nature of their crimes?
hadrian
who gave some relief to suffering christians?
hADRIAN
