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It has been estimated that the early Christians suffered official persecution for a total period of about twelve years, during the persecutions of 249-251, 257 and 303-311.


In the time of Tertullian and Clemens of Alexandria martyrdom was confined to St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. James. It was gladually bestowed on the rest of the apostles by later Greeks. Similarly, traditions eventually grew up around great persecutions under Nero, but the Christian writers of the first century seem to have known nothing of this.

Origen, the third-century Church Father, writing of the total number of Christian martyrs up until his own time, stated that there were not many and that it was easy to count them (Contra Celsum 3.8).

Dionysius, also in the third-century, said that in the immense city of Alexandria, and under the rigorous persecution of Decius, only ten men and seven women sufferred for the profession of the Christian name.

Estimates vary, but it is likely that both official and unofficial persecutions may have resulted in up to seven thousand Christians being put to death, sometimes voluntarily, over the course of some four centuries. This number is dwarfed by the number of pagans who sufferred under subsequent Christian rule.
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No precise figures survive, but best estimates are:

§ Considerably fewer than 10,000 Christians in 100 CE;

§ About 200,000 Christians in 200 CE, in several hundred towns.

§ About 6 million Christians in 300 CE, out of a total population of around 60 million.

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Q: How many Christians were there in the Roman Empire?
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How did christanity contribute to the fall of the roman empire?

Christianity was a divisive factor in the Roman empire. It caused unrest not only between the Christians and the pantheists, but between the Christians themselves as the early Christians had several sects and they were always bickering among themselves.


How did Christianity contribute to the fall of the Roman Empire?

The Christians contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire by creating internal dissension, in particular in the area of the protection and prosperity of the empire. The Christians, by refusing to take part in the worship of the gods who were the protectors of the empire, were considered treasonous.The Christians contributed to the fall of the Roman empire by creating internal dissension, in particular in the area of the protection and prosperity of the empire. The Christians, by refusing to take part in the worship of the gods who were the protectors of the empire, were considered treasonous.The Christians contributed to the fall of the Roman empire by creating internal dissension, in particular in the area of the protection and prosperity of the empire. The Christians, by refusing to take part in the worship of the gods who were the protectors of the empire, were considered treasonous.The Christians contributed to the fall of the Roman empire by creating internal dissension, in particular in the area of the protection and prosperity of the empire. The Christians, by refusing to take part in the worship of the gods who were the protectors of the empire, were considered treasonous.The Christians contributed to the fall of the Roman empire by creating internal dissension, in particular in the area of the protection and prosperity of the empire. The Christians, by refusing to take part in the worship of the gods who were the protectors of the empire, were considered treasonous.The Christians contributed to the fall of the Roman empire by creating internal dissension, in particular in the area of the protection and prosperity of the empire. The Christians, by refusing to take part in the worship of the gods who were the protectors of the empire, were considered treasonous.The Christians contributed to the fall of the Roman empire by creating internal dissension, in particular in the area of the protection and prosperity of the empire. The Christians, by refusing to take part in the worship of the gods who were the protectors of the empire, were considered treasonous.The Christians contributed to the fall of the Roman empire by creating internal dissension, in particular in the area of the protection and prosperity of the empire. The Christians, by refusing to take part in the worship of the gods who were the protectors of the empire, were considered treasonous.The Christians contributed to the fall of the Roman empire by creating internal dissension, in particular in the area of the protection and prosperity of the empire. The Christians, by refusing to take part in the worship of the gods who were the protectors of the empire, were considered treasonous.


What was the name of the roman empire of Nicaea?

There was only one Roman empire and Nicaea was a town in the empire. The Christians had their meeting there and that was the place that the Nicene creed, the profession of the Christian faith, was formulated and issued.


Why were early Christians persecuted?

They would not worship the Emperor, and were not particularly loyal to the Roman Empire.


Is it true that Christians benefited from Roman civilization?

Yes and no. The Romans initially persecuted the Christians and martyred their saints, then the Roman Empire became Christian and institutionalized the church, for better or worse.

Related questions

What was the dominate power in the world of the first Christians?

the Roman Empire


Why did roman officials consider cristians enemies of the empire?

The Christians were not considered enemies of the Roman Empire. What was questioned was their loyalty to the imperial government, rather that their loyalty to the empire as such. Most Christians were citizens of the Roman Empire who converted from paganism to Christianity.


Non-christians in the roman empire?

PAGANS


How did the decline of Roman Empire affect Christians?

It all started by a simple thing for example by the roman empire decline affected the christians because the christians taught that the Romans were gona change who they were but they dint


What empire The Great Schism of 1054 occurred among the Christians?

The Great Schism of 1054 occurred among the Christians of Eastern and Western Roman Empire.


Did Christians staging terrorist acts against Roman institutions?

No. Christians did not stage terrorist acts against the Roman Empire or Roman institutions.


Who were non-Christians in the Roman Empire?

Most people who lived in the Roman Empire were non-Christians until the Empire itself became Christian (and even then, there were many non-Christians). Most people who lived in the Roman Empire were polytheists (especially the Romans; remember, the Romans conquered many other peoples), though not all believed in the same gods. Others were Jews or had other religious beliefs. There were basically no atheists.Another answerNon-Christians were called pagans.


Did roman people hate Christians?

No, from the rule of the emperor Constantine, all Romans were Christians (Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire).


How did christanity contribute to the fall of the roman empire?

Christianity was a divisive factor in the Roman empire. It caused unrest not only between the Christians and the pantheists, but between the Christians themselves as the early Christians had several sects and they were always bickering among themselves.


Where did they martyr Christians?

Christians were martyred in various locations throughout the Roman Empire, such as the Colosseum in Rome, arenas in Carthage and Smyrna, and in the amphitheaters of other cities. Eventually, martyrdom of Christians spread to different regions beyond the Roman Empire as well.


Did the christians have to work in the Roman Empire?

Well just as all citizens of the Roman Empire they had to work to live. But Cesaer increased the taxes of Rome very high which forces the Christians in particular to work more to live


Who were Christians in ancient Rome?

The Christians were people around the Roman Empire who were converted to Christianity by Christian missionaries and clergymen.