answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

In pagan Roman times when Christians were persecuted, a surprisingly rare occurrence, pagans often gave them assistance where possible, even at some risk to themselves. Although the evidence on the subject is limited, it does seem that the persecutors failed to kindle support among the ordinary inhabitants of the empire, which may partly be why the persecutions never lasted very long.

On the other hand, later Christians made great use of the tradition that those who lived before them had been subject to constant and harsh persecution. Edward Gibbon (The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire) says that the ecclesiastical writers of the fourth and fifth centuries ascribed to the magistrates of Rome the same degree of implacable and unrelenting zeal which filled their own breasts against the heretics or the idolaters of their own times.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What are some reactions concerning the persecution of early Christians?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about General History

What was the persecution of the early christian church?

The persecution of early christians happened first during the time of Emperor Nero,Emperor Hadrian,Decius and the last greatest persecution was the time of Emperor Diocletian.


Who is the roman empire who was especially harsh to christians?

The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.


Who are persecuted Christians?

A:It is part of Christian lore that Christians are persecuted and always have been, with numerous martyrs put to death during early Roman times, but this is far from the truth.Any Christians in North Korea could expect to be persecuted by this oppressive Communist regime, but the risks for Buddhists would be far greater. Some persecution of Christians occurs occasionally in Muslim-majority countries of the Middle East, but the official position of Islam is that Christians, as people of the Book, should be free to worship as they please.Certainly, there was occasional and local, unofficial persecution of the early Christians of the Roman Empire, but it is estimated that widespread official persecution of Christian totalled no more than about twelve years, over the course of approximately three centuries. Origen, who, from his experience as well as reading, was intimately acquainted with the history of the Christians, declared that the number of martyrs was not great. Edward Gibbon (The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire), in explaining the tradition of early Roman persecution, says the ecclesiastical writers of the fourth or fifth centuries ascribed to the magistrates of Rome the same degree of implacable and unrelenting zeal which filled their own breasts against the heretics or the idolaters of their own times. Christians of this period needed to justify their own actions in persecuting others, by claiming that persecution of Christians had been far more common in the past.


In what year did Emperor Decius order a slaughter of Christians?

AnswerEmperor Decius odered a persecution of Christians in 249, and that persecution lasted for sixteen months. However, he did not really order a slaughter of Christians. He ordered to arrest of the bishops and prevented an election for bishop of Rome for the entire 16 months the persecution lasted. There were no doubt some executions, but the evidence of early Christians is that there was no slaughter.The fourth-century Church Father, Origen, attested that until his time the number of Christian martyrs had not been great and could readily be counted. Dionysius reckoned that in the immense city of Alexandria, under the rigorous persecution of Decius, only ten men and seven women suffered for the profession of the Christian name.


Why did the early christian face persecution from the Romans?

Christians also posed a problem for Roman rulers. The main reason was that they refused to worship Roman gods. This refusal was seen as opposition to Roman rule.

Related questions

What was the persecution of the early christian church?

The persecution of early christians happened first during the time of Emperor Nero,Emperor Hadrian,Decius and the last greatest persecution was the time of Emperor Diocletian.


What challenges did early christians face in practice and spreading their religion?

severe persecution


What challenges did early Christians face practicing and spreading their religion?

severe persecution


Subterranean burial chambers of early christians?

Early Christians often used underground catacombs as burial chambers due to persecution and limited space in cities. These catacombs contained tombs with inscriptions and artwork, and were used for religious gatherings in times of persecution. The catacombs served as important places of worship and remembrance for early Christians.


Why did early christians develope symbols to identify themselves to each other?

They feared persecution for their faith


How were the early Christians received in Rome?

It appears from historical evidence that the early Christians were largely ignored by the pagan Roman Empire, apart from two brief periods of official persecution after 250 CE, and in the Great Persecution early in the fourth century. When disaster struck, local Christians were sometimes accused of angering the gods, resulting in small scale mob attacks on Christian targets, but by and large it appears that Christianity prospered. Edward Gibbon (The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire) believes the Christian tradition of widespread and savage official persecution began around the end of the fourth century, as justification for the persecution of the pagans by Christian authorities.


What persecution affected the christians?

Some Roman emperors persecuted the Christians: Nero (in 64-65), Maximinus Thrax 235, Decius in 250, Valerian (253-259) and Diocletian and Galerius (303-311). There as a persecution of Christians by Persians and Jews during Byzantine-Sasanian War of 602-628 and in the in the early and Arab Caliphates.


How did the early persecution of Christians affect the early church?

It caused the dispersion of believers who spread the gospel wherever they went thus causing an increase in evangelism, as well as a further spread of the Christian faith, the opposite of what was intended.


Did the early Christians like the Zealots?

They did not operate in the same spheres, so there is limited knowledge of how the early Christians regarded them. However, it is likely that they had unfavorable view of the Zealots since the Zealots were antagonizing the Roman Authorities. The Roman Authorities at that period did not notice the difference between the different Jewish and quasi-Jewish factions, of which early Christians were a part, resulting in increased Christian persecution in the aftermath of the Zealots' revolt.


Who is the roman empire who was especially harsh to christians?

The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.The Roman emperor who was especially harsh to Christians would have to be Diocletian as he initiated the "great persecution" which lasted the longest.


Who are persecuted Christians?

A:It is part of Christian lore that Christians are persecuted and always have been, with numerous martyrs put to death during early Roman times, but this is far from the truth.Any Christians in North Korea could expect to be persecuted by this oppressive Communist regime, but the risks for Buddhists would be far greater. Some persecution of Christians occurs occasionally in Muslim-majority countries of the Middle East, but the official position of Islam is that Christians, as people of the Book, should be free to worship as they please.Certainly, there was occasional and local, unofficial persecution of the early Christians of the Roman Empire, but it is estimated that widespread official persecution of Christian totalled no more than about twelve years, over the course of approximately three centuries. Origen, who, from his experience as well as reading, was intimately acquainted with the history of the Christians, declared that the number of martyrs was not great. Edward Gibbon (The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire), in explaining the tradition of early Roman persecution, says the ecclesiastical writers of the fourth or fifth centuries ascribed to the magistrates of Rome the same degree of implacable and unrelenting zeal which filled their own breasts against the heretics or the idolaters of their own times. Christians of this period needed to justify their own actions in persecuting others, by claiming that persecution of Christians had been far more common in the past.


What is the importance of the study of catacombs?

Catacombs helped Christians hide from persecution.