Pliny, Trajan, and the Christians
About fifty years after Paul was executed in Rome and perhaps only 20 years after John penned the Revelation, Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus (Pliny) was appointed governor of the Roman province of Bithynia. During his travels through the region, Pliny often wrote letters to the Emperor Trajan. Many of these letters and the emperor's responses have survived to the present day.

In one letter and response, Pliny and Trajan discuss the problem of Christians who were gathering in illegal "political associations". (Note: The "persecution" listed below did not occur because the Christians worshiped Christ. In fact, other groups who associated together illegally were also arrested, tortured, and killed.) If you have never read this correspondence between Pliny and Trajan concerning Christians, please take the time to read this now. This gives us a unique view into the lives of the followers of Christ through the eyes of the Roman authorities:

Pliny the Younger to the Emperor Trajan


It is my practice, my lord, to refer to you all matters concerning which I am in doubt. For who can better give guidance to my hesitation or inform my ignorance? I have never participated in trials of Christians. I therefore do not know what offenses it is the practice to punish or investigate, and to what extent. And I have been not a little hesitant as to whether there should be any distinction on account of age or no difference between the very young and the more mature; whether pardon is to be granted for repentance, or, if a man has once been a Christian, it does him no good to have ceased to be one; whether the name itself, even without offenses, or only the offenses associated with the name are to be punished.

Meanwhile, in the case of those who were denounced to me as Christians, I have observed the following procedure: I interrogated these as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed. For I had no doubt that, whatever the nature of their creed, stubbornness and inflexible obstinacy surely deserve to be punished. There were others possessed of the same folly; but because they were Roman citizens, I signed an order for them to be transferred to Rome.

Soon accusations spread, as usually happens, because of the proceedings going on, and several incidents occurred. An anonymous document was published containing the names of many persons. Those who denied that they were or had been Christians, when they invoked the gods in words dictated by me, offered prayer with incense and wine to your image, which I had ordered to be brought for this purpose together with statues of the gods, and moreover cursed Christ--none of which those who are really Christians, it is said, can be forced to do--these I thought should be discharged. Others named by the informer declared that they were Christians, but then denied it, asserting that they had been but had ceased to be, some three years before, others many years, some as much as twenty-five years. They all worshipped your image and the statues of the gods, and cursed Christ.

They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so. When this was over, it was their custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food--but ordinary and innocent food. Even this, they affirmed, they had ceased to do after my edict by which, in accordance with your instructions, I had forbidden political associations. Accordingly, I judged it all the more necessary to find out what the truth was by torturing two female slaves who were called deaconesses. But I discovered nothing else but depraved, excessive superstition.

I therefore postponed the investigation and hastened to consult you. For the matter seemed to me to warrant consulting you, especially because of the number involved. For many persons of every age, every rank, and also of both sexes are and will be endangered. For the contagion of this superstition has spread not only to the cities but also to the villages and farms. But it seems possible to check and cure it. It is certainly quite clear that the temples, which had been almost deserted, have begun to be frequented, that the established religious rites, long neglected, are being resumed, and that from everywhere sacrificial animals are coming, for which until now very few purchasers could be found. Hence it is easy to imagine what a multitude of people can be reformed if an opportunity for repentance is afforded.
Trajan to Pliny the Younger

You observed proper procedure, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those who had been denounced to you as Christians. For it is not possible to lay down any general rule to serve as a kind of fixed standard. They are not to be sought out; if they are denounced and proved guilty, they are to be punished, with this reservation, that whoever denies that he is a Christian and really proves it--that is, by worshiping our gods--even though he was under suspicion in the past, shall obtain pardon through repentance. But anonymously posted accusations ought to have no place in any prosecution. For this is both a dangerous kind of precedent and out of keeping with the spirit of our age.
I think it is interesting to read these early accounts of the church. We can get a glimpse of how the early believers met together. We can also see that it had been reported that those who are "really Christians" will never reject their beliefs in Christ.

This is what Pliny had determined about the meetings of those early believers (Remember: this was his purpose - he wanted to determine if these were "illegal associations"):

[T]hey were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so. When this was over, it was their custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food--but ordinary and innocent food.
It seems that these Bithynian believers are very interested in the divinity of Christ, the life (ethics) of those who follow Christ, and sharing life together especially through sharing a meal.

I didn't read it. I just wanted to stop by and say hi!

Why thank you my lady -

hope your well and happy TA, you have a good night ok? -

PS: you might want to read it it's good stuff, but i'll leave that up to you.

Thank you! And you have a wonderful nite too!

will do princess -

It is very iteresting tribo but it should also be noted that anyone who did not swear allegence to Rome or accept the Emperor as a diety were considered as being of arbitary political views and were brought to trial and killed. However, the future of the Roman Empire shows Constantine giving the church acceptance in 313. Even though he was a pagan he saw that the early believers were creating great division in the Empire. We see Constantine also calling the Council of Nicea 1n the mid 300 (around 340). From this Council came the Holy Roman Church. What I find even more intriging was the Churches war against the Cathars in 1209. The church basically are guilty of mass genocide against a people that they called a heresy (I know it's missed spelled) even though the Cathar teachings are validated by Books of the Apostle John which were not canonized. Of all the writers of the New Testament John should have been the greatest athority of Jesus as he was his disciple. When viewing the "church" remember that there is a physical system Regelio (also misspelled) latin for system and where we get the word religion, and there is a church spiritual which is in fact what Jesus taught about.

thnx ATO, yes I'm well aware of that and the rest of church history,i posted this because of another post trying to show that "church" today is nothing like it was at the time immediately after Christ at least in the roman Providences. It's like what i posted of Justin Martyr's talk of church/worship in his time Ad 120-160, just so people can have an understanding of the diff> between what they witness today is not how it started out, but as you say in the 2nd century and from there on things [when in mans hands and not in this god's hands]really began to change.

Once the cannon was closed in AD 70, everything started to change and eventually became another pharisitical type religion which was never intended -[or maybe it was?] to finally push god out of the way to make room for "tradition" and rule by the mighty and rich who purchased the papal-ship and ruled over the people with threat of excommunication if there will was not done.


The early church remained faithful it seems to me only while they were under persecution, once the persecution was removed, then man's leadership came to be and everything pretty much went to hell.

Thus mt post, since I'm sure many never heard or red of early christian meetings or know of the life lead then and how people were ""drawn"" to christ, there was no need for evangelism or knocking door to door, the non christians could see the diff. in those who were "really" saved as to those who were not - that's affective witnessing, not what we do today, but that's because i believe, few are really saved to begin with in this age of ""easy believism""

You are correct most who profess to be followers of Christ do so with less enthusiasim than they give to watching TV or being on line. It is unfortunate that they are willing to take what they are told to be truth rather than finding out for themselves. Some of the books that did not make the cannon were by such unquestionable sources as the Apostles John, Peter, and James. Why would the writings of these men not be acceptable? Because they change the picture that the Council of Nicea wanted to put forth. Anyone who accepted these "heretical" teachings were subject to death in holy wars against people who followed Jesus but had a different view.

This same course has been followed ever since by nearly ever religious movement. Today anyone who stands outside te "norms" of the church are considered as heretics, out of their mind or even as being sent by satan. Yet these same modern day inquistiors expect to be given absolute acceptance just because they say it is truth.

To anyone who professes to follow Christ and reads this I challenge you to go to the Nag Hammadi Library on line. Read only the books of the Apostles and I am certain your views will be changed if you will accept what is written there. Remember Jesus said to study to show yourself approved a good and faithful servant.

i am not an avid reader but i have read the book of enoch, the revelation of peter, [which almost was chosen instead of the revelation of john] and the gospel of thomas, and a few others i cant remember anymore off the top of my head - interesting stuff.

Try the Secret Book of John, and The Acts of John.

Its horrible how the Pagans treated the Christians Im glad the Roman pagan dogs eventually got a taste of their own bitter medicine.This is the kinda stuff the modern neo pagans dont want people knowing about. The truth about their religions brutal and barbaric past and their stupid false gods. Read Theogony by Hesiod (ca.700 B.C.E.). It shows that the Pagan gods are a bunch of inbreds I wonder how many neo Pagans know what they are worshiping?