1. Heathenism was hospitable, welcoming new gods and goddesses, while Christianity was exclusive, opposing with all its might every other form of worship.
2. Idol-worship and its services were interwoven with all the life of the people; personal, family, social, political. Temples, statues, festivals were constantly in evidence; on all occasions there were rites of worship. But here was a growing multitude of people who stood aloof from these exercises. It was not strange that these people were regarded as enemies of society and of the state.
3. Certain forms of religion were allowed in the Roman empire, but all new forms were forbidden. Judaism was a permitted religion. As long as Christianity was looked upon as a branch of Judaism, it was allowed. But after the fall of Jerusalem it stood alone, an unlicensed form of worship, hence under suspicion; suspicion readily becoming enmity.
4. The worship of the emperor was the one most prevalent throughout the empire. A statue of the reigning emperor stood in every city, and it was a test of loyalty to offer libations of incense before it. This worship is doubtless referred to in an enigmatic manner in such passages as 2 Thess. 2. 3, 4. Rev. 13. 1, 4, 8, 18. This worship was refused by the Christians, who were for that reason regarded as disloyal.
From these causes persecution after persecution arose; hundreds of thousands perished; yet in spite of the persecution, the church grew rapidly.
Blackboard Outline
Part One
| En. Ag. Ag. shad. Comp. Paul. Diff. Ch. 125 A. D. "Sec. ra. m." | |
| I. | Fa. Jer. 1.) Reb. A. D. 68-70. 2.) Siege pred. Chr. with. Pel. 3.) Eff. div. Je. Chr. |
| II. | Jhn. Eph. Last. Ap. 100 A. D. |
| III. | Ris. Her. 1. Gre. min. 2. Eb. Gnos. 3. Res. 1.) G. 2.) Ev. |
| IV. | Sec. Imp. Per. Dom. 95. Caus. 1. Heath. hosp. 2. Id. wor. int. li. 3. Jud. per. rel. Chr. unlic. 4. Wor. Emp. |
Review Questions
What is said of the period after the death of St. Paul? Between what years is there very little history? What companions of St. Paul were living at the time of his death? What became of these men? Wherein was the church of a later period different from that of the earlier time? What reason is assigned for these changes? Name the four principal events in the period under consideration. When did the rebellion of the Jews against the Roman empire begin? What was the result of this rebellion? What became of the Christians in Jerusalem at the opening of the Jewish war? What was the after history of Jewish Christianity? What was the effect of the fall of Jerusalem on the relations between Christianity and Judaism? Who was the last of the twelve apostles on the earth? Where did he live? What was his character? What is said as to his death? What divisions in the church arose at this period? Of what were these divisions the result? What country was the home of the heresies? Who were the Ebionites? Who were the Gnostics? What good result came from these controversies? What evil result followed them? What persecution arose during this period? At what time? Under what emperor did the persecution begin? How did it compare with the earlier persecution under Nero? What general causes may be given for the series of imperial persecutions of the Christians? Wherein was heathenism hospitable, and Christianity exclusive? How was idolatry interwoven with the affairs of life? How was this fact adverse to the Christians? How did Christianity come to be looked on with suspicion in the empire? How did the worship of the emperor affect the Christians? What is this worship called in the New Testament? Did these persecutions stop the progress of the church?
Part Two