A Very, Very Brief History of the Church: Part 11

 "And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the World."Matt:28:20b

The Christian Church had faced many challenges and hardship from it's inception on that glorious Pentecost around 33 AD, moving those frighten believers out of the upper room into the streets of the Holy City of Jerusalem and into all the Earth.

There were challenges and strife from within and without. There had been uncertainties which gave way to great glory. Opposition had come from many quarters yet the Jesus movement grew and transformed as it spread across the face of the Earth.

In the very early days of the Primitive Apostolic Church there was a true sense of anticipation that the Lord Jesus would return and that they would personally be on the Earth at that glorious moment, this anticipation is evident even the Epistles of St. Paul.

But, as time passed it became clear that the return of Jesus would still be for a time yet to come in which the Apostles, and other Apostolic believers would not live to see, but rather there was Kingdom work yet to be done for many years to come.

Challenges and Changes

The Church leadership had contended with and confronted questions which had arisen and sometimes these questions were divisive ones and conversation which were entered into had resolved some of these questions only to produce more questions.

The Church had gone from thinking of itself and being thought of as a sect of Judaism to emerging as something very different, yet very much an inseparable part of the sacred heritage of the History of Salvation which had come down through the millennia from the Garden of Eden through the Patriarchs and the Children of Israel and now to people of all nations.

The Church had relinquished its hold upon the Law which the original believes had been taught at the Temple of God or in the many Synagogues which were found throughout the land. Now, the Church was quite different. This transformation allowed for the Gentiles to be admitted into the Christian movement as equal participants in the work of the Kingdom; had these changes not come the Christian movement would have languished in the shadow of Judaism and may have faded away altogether over time. 

There had been over the years Imperial persecutions which would arise at times and then close for a season giving rise to a time of peace for the Christian Church.

Paradoxically, these times of Imperial persecution would fuel the growth of the Church as many onlookers saw the courage and faith of the martyrs who trusted in Jesus accepting death over deliverance, even going to their deaths with praises, prayers and hymns to God that they could die for their Lord.

Diocletian's Administration

After a "relatively" peaceful season for the Church Diocletian became the Emperor of Rome in 284 AD. Many Christians had hoped that Diocletian's ascension to power was to be a blessing to the Church at large because both Diocletian's wife, Prisca, and their daughter Valeria professed to be Christians. 

Upon the ascension of Diocletian to the throne of the Empire he created an reorganized administration whereby the Empire was governed by himself as the Supreme Emperor who ruled in the East and Maximiam who ruled in the West. Under each them was a "Caesar", Calerius under Diocletian and Constantius Chlorus under Maimiam, each of these "emperors" had a specific territory over-which they ruled. This arrangement brought prosperity to the Empire and would ultimately prove providential for the Christian Church.

Leading to Persecution

Over the years many Christians were drawn from many sectors of Roman society, there were even Christians who wore the Armor of the Roman Legion and fought for the Empire and Emperor.

The Church strongly encouraged Christians not to join the Legions of Rome. Many Christians refused to go to the army which resulted in a death sentence passed against many believers around 295 AD.

Galerius exploited the Christians refusal to be in the Legion and convinced Diocletian to expel Christians out of the Roman Legion. Some commanders attempted to compel some Christians Legionaries to renounce their faith in Christ as to not weaken their ranks which resulted in the death of many, this occurred mainly in the Legion(s) of the Danube under Calerius.  

Diocletian's Edict

Diocletian being influenced by Galerius issued a edict against Christians in 303 AD not to put them to death, but rather to remove them from all stations of life where they might have had influence in Roman society, even Christians who held positions in the Roman government were not exempt. 

This edict issued by Diocletian led to the destruction and confiscation of any Christian properties which were held and any Christian literature that was to be found. 

Fire and Furry

The persecution took a statutory and cruel turn when a fire broke out at the Imperial Palace. An advisor to Diocletian named Galerius charged Christians with the responsibility for setting the fire just as Nero had done years before. Some Christians of that day believe that Galerius himself was the one who, in truth, set the fire for the purpose of enraging the Emperor. 

It was after the palace fire that Diocletian issued a decree demanding that Christians make a sacrifice to the "gods”. This decree led many Christians to death, again refusing to renounce Jesus and worship the "gods" of Rome or the Empire itself. This time of the Diocletian persecution was one of most severe faced by the Church.

Galerius Ascends

By the year 304 AD Diocletian became sick nearly to death and even in what recovery which Diocletian had he was left weak and drained with a loss of vitality. This weaken state left the Emperor in a vulnerable political position for during this period of Diocletian illness Galerius was in the background posturing and gaining power and influence within the Imperial government.

Galerius, at first approached Diocletian under the pretense of concern for Diocletian, this pseudo concern quickly gave way to threats which led to Diocletian's abdication of the throne in 305 AD and ceding power to Galerius.

Galerius also brought about the abdication of Maximinian through threats of military action against him.....

To be Continued..

Benediction: May each and all take comfort in the ever abiding presences of our Lord Jesus, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.

 

Rev. Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma

"If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"