Early Christian Persecution

This video looks at the earliest Christian persecution under the Roman Empire.
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"Story of Creeds and Confessions" (Baker Academic, 2019): amzn.to/3OVDyGQ
This is Lecture 5 in the course 'Church History: Early and Medieval'. All material is copyrighted.
For the entire course, see the playlist: • Early & Medieval History

[@jerryyang3394]

Dr. Reeves, thank you so much for taking time to make these videos for those who wish to know more about the early Christians. The price of the spreading of the Gospel did not come cheap even after the death of Jesus Christ.

[@yangliu8308]

great lectures! I'm learning a lot, and as a Chinese student it is a bit difficult for me to understand western history, but I find your lectures very interesting and helpful! Thank you!

[@charlietallman9583]

An absolutely great summary of the misunderstandings concerning the persecution of Christianity. So many don't understand the pure length of time between the death of Christ and the accent of Constantine, or the subtleties of Roman Politics.. To understand this era you have to understand the mindset of a pagan roman. Very even handed account.

[@PlanetTrainWreck]

Awesome videos, to the point, and concise that is sooo rare.

[@theteach7314]

Thank you. I have a deeper understanding of what it means to be a Christian.

[@moniquewhite2850]

I really like Polycarp. God blessed you guys

[@jereomyclark1526]

All I can say is thank you for these videos!!

[@Mikeanddrea]

Thank you so much for taking the time to make these videos.

[@wingnut2246]

phenomenally interesting and well made. thanks for the work!

[@brodean9673]

Please do a lecture on the veil in Jewish Christian and Muslims across history

[@adamellsworth284]

Great video. Thanks for posting.

[@RyanReevesM]

Thanks, hope you enjoyed it. I'm basically putting 30 of these up over the next few weeks (the backbone to a seminary level Church History survey). Keep an eye out. :)

[@franksammkim4366]

hello Ryan this is so amazing, pliz help me am teaching on expansion of world Christian movement next week what do you think are the key areas for me to tackle for 3 hours

[@MsHello2468]

These people had met Christ or/and had met those who had met Christ. The love of Christ to them was worth any sacrifice or suffering. We take Jesus for granted. We need to be spiritually as much in love as they were - and are still now and more in heaven.

[@marysylvie2012]

Excellent!

[@thomashunter7040]

Firstly, I would like to thank Dr. Reeves for these lectures. I have been listening to a lot of them lately, and it has increased my knowledge substantially. However, I do not understand why he failed to mention at all the stoning of Stephen and the early persecution by Saul, later called Paul, of the early Christians in a lecture called “Persecutions”. Secondly, Dr. Reeves assertion that the Romans always distinguished the Christians from the Jews is not entirely accurate. Acts chapter 18:12-15 (NIV) “ While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.” 14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law-settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off.17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.” Gallio was a Roman proconsul who dismissed the charges against Paul because he believed it was merely a question of Jewish law. He seemed to believe Christians were merely a sect of Judaism, not a separate religion.

[@RyanReevesM]

Yeah great points. I think the answer to the first two is that the lecture picks up a good bit after the NT, due mostly to time issues. You're right on both your points there, then, and I agree. The focus I have being later, then, that's really the time when these things are happening. You might even say I'm making these points BECAUSE the NT says otherwise. I'm merely saying it did not always stay this way.

[@thomashunter7040]

Thanks for your response.

[@Awurabena1]

Thank you so much for these series!

[@RyanReevesM]

Thanks! Glad you have enjoyed it!

[@Tyleya]

Your videos are very interesting. Thank you for posting it.

[@troydellinger6614]

I have two questions, well technically 3 1. Is it okay to use some of your videos on my playlist? I've kinda been using them in all honesty for research 2. This is a general question: Is it okay to use other peoples videos on your playlist in general? & if so does it have to be public? I've been trying to find the policies for it and I can't find anywhere on KZbin that specifically says it's forbidden. But if you don't want me to use your videos just say so. Like I said, I've just been doing research. I was interested in studying the history of the church and medeival culture

[@RyanReevesM]

+Troy Dellinger // Yeah go for it. I'm always willing to let people have and use my videos however may help them, and adding them to your playlist certainly is OK with me. Anything that helps you is a joy for me, so have at it! :)

[@troydellinger6614]

Oh okay thank you!

[@chrismiddleton2814]

I'm loving these videos. I'm a high school student, who is hoping to go to seminary. Out of curiosity, where did you go to seminary??

[@RyanReevesM]

Chris Middleton // That's great, Chris. Shoot me an email if you have any questions about how seminary works and what it's like. I went to Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando for my Masters work.

[@Jesusandbible]

Are you Calvinist? If so you are doctrinally deformed not Reformed.

[@daledheyalef]

Is there a similar lecture series on the history of Judaism on youtube (mainly from the earliest evidence to the immediate aftermath of the Roman Revolt) that you can recommend?

[@RyanReevesM]

+daledheyalef // Hey there. Not that I am aware of, I'm afraid, though I haven't searched high and low for one. Likely to be one somewhere.

[@gda295]

+daledheyalef you could go to Yale 25 * lectures Christine Hale......if you are dealing with the the lit you are dealing with the ethnic group. COSTANZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@RyanReevesM]

+gda295 // Great suggestion. The Yale series is great and I'm thrilled they, too, have their content on KZbin.

[@gda295]

+Ryan Reeves yep, I realise you probably didnt see much similarity ...but hey, its the only such course I know on YT. Btw thank you for great vids.

[@ElhuSCIENCE]

Hi Ryan, i have a question. Is it true that christians tried to assasinate Diocletian?

[@RyanReevesM]

+SGDR // Not true. At least there is no record of a plot (or even a rumor of a plot). They certainly were quite worried about this last great persecution under Diocletian, but the muscle behind it was such they simply had to pray and hope it would end. Besides there were no Christians who would have gotten close to him personally. What you may have heard is that Diocletian kicked all Christians out of the ranks of those who served in the court. But this was part of his overall program to cut them off from influence and power, not out of fear of assassination. If there had been a threat to kill him, they would have gotten worse then merely removal from office! (to say the least).

[@dylankatthagen8648]

Hi Ryan, i was wondering if i could get your permission to download these lectures, as i would love to have them as mp3's. I am doing a study on church history at the moment, even reading Everett Ferguson's church history. However it would be such an asset to be able to listen to your lectures when i am not reading. Only if this is ok with you. Or if you sell these lectures as audio's could you tell me where i could find them. Thank you for your great work. It is most appreciated.

[@RyanReevesM]

Dylan Katthagen // Have at them. :) I put them on KZbin for anyone to use them, so feel free.

[@dylankatthagen8648]

Ryan Reeves Thank you my friend

[@jajanesaddictions]

This may be off topic here but, When did the title "Catholic" come into use?

[@RyanReevesM]

ja jane // No it's a great question. The term 'catholic' simply means 'universal' and the church always affirmed it was global and historic. So the term was always used, at least in terms of the earliest records of the church. In terms of distinguishing 'Roman Catholic' from other branches of the church, that doesn't get going until much later. The first was the 11th century when East and West split, the second after the Reformation. Since the Reformation the term 'Catholic' (big C) has always meant Roman Catholic. A good example is that Protestants still affirm the Apostle's Creed, which appeals affirms 'one holy, catholic and apostolic church'.

[@bartee807]

It is my understanding that the title was Catholic Church first used by Ignatius of Antioch in about 110 AD. The title "Roman Catholic" was first used in about 1054 AD to distinguish between Orthodox and Catholic in the Great Schism. "Roman" became part of the title because the Catholics recognized the Pope (aka Bishop of Rome) as their magisterial leader and the Orthodox had their own "Patriarch" (aka Bishop of Constantinople). Is this accurate according to your knowledge of historical facts?

[@thomasmcewen5493]

jane a sinner Acts 9:31 "ekklesia Kathilikos"

[@jenna2431]

According to William Cave in his book Primitive Christianity,, Polycarp and early Christians observed the 7th day Sabbath. "... the Sabbath or 'Saturday' (for so the word sabbatum is constantly used in the writings of the fathers, when speaking of it as it relates to Christians) was held by them in great veneration, and especially in the Eastern parts honoured with all the public solemnities of religion. This is plain, not only from some passages in Ignatius and Clemens' Constitutions, but from writers of more unquestionable credit and authority. Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, tells us that they assembled on Saturdays... to worship Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath."

[@jondicsre3056]

Very well done lecture and video; however, I would argue that it was a genocide based on the cold-blooded decree of Trajan that was mentioned and kinds of persecution that were specifically targeted at a particular people group.

[@KTChamberlain]

@ 22:12 you ever notice that Peter in the painting looks a lot like James Cosmo who played Santa Claus in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005), and Lord Commander Mormont in Game of Thrones? It's like how someone pointed out to Cecil B. DeMille that the Michelangelo statue of Moses looked a lot like Charlton Heston before he was cast to play Moses in The Ten Commandments (1956).

[@RyanReevesM]

***** // You just blew my mind...and now I can't not see Santa there.

[@KTChamberlain]

Ryan Reeves It blew my mind even then. When I first saw the resemblance I jokingly thought to myself: "Oh no, someone must've captured Santa after he gave Peter, Susan, and Lucy their weapons."

[@francesbernard2445]

A lot of Christians from a long line of Christian families who have been for 2,000 years persecuted are intuitive. When they are encouraged to respect their own intuition while growing up they can become very successful in the secular world too while being average. Same as people from other family backgrounds who are often encouraged from birth to honor their innate sense of right and wrong instead of becoming militarized against us Christians too.

[@tracycraft]

I saw a book in the library that seemed to claim that the claims that the Christian church was persecuted isn't true. I didn't decide to read it because I am still working my way though Foxe's book of Martyrs. I am just curious what other people think about this idea?

[@RyanReevesM]

+Tracy Craft // Hey Tracy, depends on the book. Someone raised this point in another comment below, but essentially it's where you start. If you start with the idea that EVERYONE was persecuted and killed, then quite a few books have pointed out that this is not true. There were significant periods of peace and prosperity. There were, however, intense moments of persecution, which is what I'm only talking about here. You might say that books like Foxe's Book of Martyrs tend to help as much as confuse--help in the fact that they chronicled the witnesses of martyrs over the centuries, but confusing as they tend to make it sound like everyone experienced the worst. We just have to avoid tunnel vision, is all.

[@therealkillerb7643]

Did I miss the part where you discussed the very first persecution by the Jews?

[@terminate_06]

Too bad we have to do homework on this video

[@RyanReevesM]

Iknowright?!? Don't worry, it'll all be over soon, and you can go back to video games.

[@terminate_06]

Ryan Reeves The sarcasm is strong. Thanks for looking at my channel

[@RyanReevesM]

I actually hadn't. :) I play Overwatch most nights but haven't moved to Battlefield 1 yet. Like it?

[@terminate_06]

Ryan Reeves I play both but I enjoy BF1 more

[@FarawayTundra]

Ryan Reeves hey just found your videos the other day, I'm binging them and loving it :),. also is there other history channel like yours you know of?

[@stevenjamison8044]

The 7 Churches of the book of Revelation chapters 2 and 3 on one level applies to the whole history of the church from the time of the apostles to the second coming of Jesus Christ. The persecution of the early church is brought to view in the letter to the church of Smyrna (whose name relates to myrrh used in embalming the dead), " I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty...fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." The 10 days relates to the 10 years (a day for a year, Ezekiel 4:6, Numbers 14:34) of Diocletian persecution. This time period is also paralleled by the red horse of Revelation chapter 6 "there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword."

[@wildman9718]

Pilate had no issues executing Jews. He wasn't forced into executing Jesus, he gladly did it. Despite what the gospels say

[@thomasmcewen5493]

Critical Pork Yes, he did he had murdered some Jews in Galilee and the temple authorities wrote to Caesar to complain and he was threatened with removal of his office by both Rome and by his superior in Syria. So he was hesitant about killing jews, he later was exiled from Rome and sent to Gaul.

[@Mujangga]

#pilatedidnothingwrong

[@Jesusandbible]

If you are Evangelical (defiled by the Calvinist blasphemy), I guess you believe after the Apostles most believers fell away into the sacerdotalism of Catholic and Orthodoxy type false churches. Right? Might be true. Difficult to evaluate the numbers. You know some historical scholars believe Romanism was in such power for so long they began to rewrite early church history to make it fit their corrupt profile, thus only the bible can be trusted?

[@Jesusandbible]

The stupid anachronism of the "original Catholic Apostolic church" fragmenting into the Orthodox and Roman Catholic church, is first of all that ALL the bible evidence is that the original church was identical to the Evangelical born again house group movement today, and, secondly, when asked to define the beliefs of the "original Catholic Apostolic church" the Roman Catholics describe it as doctrinally identical to them, and the Orthodox doctrinally identical to them, yet both claim ALL the historical evidence supports their two contradictory stances.

[@Jesusandbible]

Polycarp. Orthodoxy? Is this still "according to legend"? Orthodox legend. Why fill in history with legend? According to Roman Catholicism he was Catholic in doctrine. So can you give us proof of his doctrinal beliefs, or that he dressed up in those absurdly looking Orthodox clothes? Why can we not assume he may even of had evangelical born again Christian beliefs until we see proof of his doctrines and practices?

[@Jesusandbible]

Oh yeah I know, you will say Roman Catholic at that time is an anachronism, but nevertheless they believe their later views were held then and in Matthew 16