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Issue 27 : Persecution in the Early Church

Originally published in 1990

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Table of Contents

From the Archives: Emperor Hadrians moderate policies

This rescript, c. 124, protected Christians
From the Archives: Nero's Cruelties

An account from Roman historian Tacitus (C. 115)
From the Archives: The “Edict of Milan”

Selections from an agreement, made in 313, that changed the course of history
Persecution in Early Church: Did You Know?

Everett Ferguson
From the Editor: Tomb of the Unknown Christians

Kevin A. Miller
Persecution in the Early Church: Did You Know?

Beginning as a despised, illicit religious sect, Christianity endured 300 years of hostility to emerge as the dominant force in the Roman Empire.

Everett Ferguson
When Christianity Triumphed

The achievement brought new difficulties.

William H. C. Frend
From the Archives: Perpetua & Polycarp: Two Heroic Martyrs

Perpetua
The Piety of the Persecutors

In the Roman mind, there were valid religious reasons to halt the spread of Christianity.

Robert L. Wilken
Rome's Religious Ferment

The first-century Empire swirled with an exotic mix of religions.

Herbert Schlossberg
Persecution in the Early Church: A Gallery of the Persecuting Emperors

Mark Galli
Controversial Constantine

The famous emperor ended the persecution of Christians. But was he a true believer, or merely a superstitious political opportunist?

David F. Wright
Constantine's Famous Emblem

The chi-rho symbol he adopted is now displayed in churches throughout the world.

David F. Wright
Persecution in the Early Church: A Christian History Timeline
How the Early Church Viewed Martyrs

Christians held a theology of martyrdom that gave them courage to endure.

William G. Bixler
The Gallery: Martyrs and Confessors

John O. Gooch
Cowards Among the Christians

John O. Gooch
From the Archives: Cyprian's Letter to Banished Christians

Encouragement for believers sentenced to the Roman mines.
Persecuted Christians Today

James Reapsome
The Faith Behind the Famous: Charles Dickens

Some of his novels mercilessly lampoon Christians. Yet the great Victorian author also wrote a reverent account of Jesus' life.

Stephen Rost
Events in the Life of Charles Dickens

Stephen Rost
How Dickens Viewed Jesus Christ

Selected quotations from The Life of Our Lord.

Stephen Rost

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Today in Christian History

December 10, 1520: German reformer Martin Luther publicly burns Pope Leo X's bull "Exsurge Domine," which had demanded that Luther recant his heresies—including justification by faith alone (see issue 34: Luther's Early Years).

December 10, 1561: German theologian Caspar Schwenkfeld, a reformer who fell out of favor with the "mainstream" Reformation movement because of his Christology (he believed Christ's humanity was deified), dies (see issue 21: Caspar Schwenkfeld).

December 10, 1824: Scottish ...

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Issue 27 : Persecution in the Early Church

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