{"id":4245,"date":"2023-04-01T21:05:55","date_gmt":"2023-04-01T20:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=4245"},"modified":"2023-04-01T21:05:55","modified_gmt":"2023-04-01T20:05:55","slug":"were-christians-persecuted-in-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/were-christians-persecuted-in-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"Were christians persecuted in ancient rome?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yes, christians were persecuted in ancient rome. The Roman Empire was hostile to christianity from its very beginnings. The first recorded instance of persecution was in 64AD, when Emperor Nero had Christians killed as scapegoats for the Great Fire of Rome. Nero’s persecution was sporadic and local, but it inaugurated a pattern of sporadic and local persecutions that would continue off and on for the next 250 years.<\/p>\n

Yes, Christians were persecuted in ancient Rome.<\/p>\n

What happened to Christians in ancient Rome? <\/h2>\n

The first two centuries CE were a time of great change for the Roman Empire. Christianity was beginning to spread throughout the empire, and occasional persecutions of Christians occurred. However, the Roman state’s official position was generally to ignore Christians unless they clearly challenged imperial authority. This changed in the third century CE, when Emperor Decius issued an edict requiring all citizens of the empire to sacrifice to the Roman gods. This persecution was short-lived, but it showed that the Roman state was beginning to take notice of the growing Christian movement.<\/p>\n

Although Christians were persecuted for their refusal to worship the emperor, general dislike for Christians likely arose from their refusal to worship the gods or take part in sacrifice, which was expected of those living in the Roman Empire. Christians were seen as a threat to the Roman way of life and their refusal to participate in traditional Roman practices only served to further alienate them from the mainstream.<\/p>\n

How many Christians were persecuted in the Roman Empire <\/h3>\n