February 3, 2008

 

Some obstacles to the toleration of Christianity

 1) The claim to be the only universal religion quickly made it different

from the often localized religions found throughout the Roman Empire.

Such a claim to exclusivity continues to provoke criticism even today.

The cry of present religious emphasis is on inclusiveness, which grants

equal value to all religious teaching.  See John 8:24, 14:6, Acts 17:31.

 

2) Christians’ refusal to worship the deified Emperor and offer incense to

him put them under suspicion as opposing the Roman authority.  The non-compliance of believers provoked the ego of the Emperor. –see John 19:12,

Acts 5:29.

 

3) Often common people of the empire viewed Christians as atheists,

because of their claim to believe in only One God.  Further, the practice

of the Lord’s Table was rumored to be cannibalistic, which was a serious

violation of Roman culture.

 

4) Clearly, the rejection of idolatry by Christians provoked the anger of

 

Some significant martyrs during the early post-apostolic period:

1> Simeon, Bishop of Jerusalem was crucified at 120 yr. old in 107 AD

2> Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch was condemned by Trajan in 107 AD and

eaten by lions in Rome.

3> Polycarp of Symrna, a friend & pupil of apostle John, was burned at the

stake.

4> Justin, called the Martyr, from Neapolis, a learned and well-read man,

and an apologist for the faith, was beaten and beheaded in 166 AD

5> Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, once criticized for fleeing persecution,

was beheaded in Sept of 58 AD

6> Tatian (110-172) was an apologist for the faith (wrote Diatessaron)

which was an early harmony of the gospels, was not maryted.

 

Attacks upon the Christian faith-

• Lucian (120-200) attacked the Christian faith with wit and ridicule and

is sometimes called the Voltaire of Greek literature.

• Porphyry , (234-305) wrote Against the Christians—attempted to set

OT teaching against NT teaching (contradictions)

• Celsus- (178)- wrote first “serious criticism of Christianity” [Ency.Brit.]

 

 

Rise of Internal Problems Among Believers:

 

1) Elevation to worship of martyrs and bones of martyrs. (perversion of

Acts 19:11-12)

Ø      Martyrs were worshiped as pagan heroes had been earlier.

Ø      Day of martyrdom was called heavenly birthday.

Ø      Origin began to ascribe virtue to martyr’s death and link it to

misapplication of Col.1:24.

• Bones began to be venerated and locations of martyrdoms became

sacred.