Summary
Highlights
The first known image of Jesus, a mocking graffiti from 200 AD, shows a donkey-headed man nailed to a cross, reflecting Roman disdain. While familiar with divine beings, Romans found the worship of a crucified criminal unsettling, viewing Christians' practices as destabilizing the social order due to their secret meetings and rapid conversions.
In 112 AD, Governor Pliny the Younger wrote to Emperor Trajan seeking advice on Christians. These Christians refused to participate in key Roman religious practices like offering sacrifices or saluting shrines, which Romans saw as atheistic and dangerous to imperial prosperity. They were accused of 'hatred of humanity' and feared for risking divine punishment for their refusal to worship Roman gods.
Christianity, initially a Jewish movement, rapidly spread beyond Jerusalem and welcomed non-Jews. Pliny's interrogations revealed a strikingly diverse group including city dwellers, rural folk, men, women, slaves, and Roman citizens. This inclusivity, with Christians calling each other 'brothers and sisters' and even women holding leadership roles, challenged Rome's rigid social hierarchy and made the authorities nervous.
Terrifying rumors spread about secret Christian meetings, including suspicions of conspiracy and even cannibalism. Pliny's investigations, however, revealed that Christians held open morning meetings for prayer, singing, scripture readings (Old Testament and apostles' stories), and practical teachings on love and charity. Later, smaller, private meetings for baptized believers involved a 'thanksgiving meal' with bread and wine, which they called the body and blood of Jesus, not the horrifying rituals rumored.
Christian teachings shaped their countercultural lifestyle. They rescued abandoned infants, rejected magic and violence, cared for the sick, and maintained a restrained sexual ethic. Roman authors like Galen and Lucian observed both pity and admiration for their commitment to these ideals, making them seem both mysterious and attractive.
Emperor Trajan advised against actively seeking out Christians but allowed execution for the name alone if publicly denounced. Local persecutions, like Nero's brutal acts in 64 AD, backfired, drawing sympathy and strengthening Christian resolve. The Christian belief in resurrection challenged the Roman fear of death, making traditional social control ineffective and bolstering their courage in the face of suffering.
Conversions occurred for various reasons: Jewish believers recognized Jesus as the Messiah, Gentile intellectuals found philosophical depth, and many were drawn to the radical inclusivity, dignity, purpose, and promise of forgiveness and eternal life. Personal encounters with Jesus and the conviction that their God had conquered death fueled their belief, making their suffering worthwhile. By 200 AD, there were an estimated 200,000 Christians across the Roman and Parthian Empires.