Roman Persecution

On June 24, 64 AD, the Roman emperor Nero began persecuting Christians.

In 64 AD, the most destructive fire in Rome’s history began. It engulfed 10 of Rome’s 14 regions and left thousands dead and homeless. The fire destroyed most of the city; its temples, monuments, buildings, and art collected for centuries. Public rumor traced it to Nero, who wanted to rebuild Rome and call it Neropolis.

To divert suspicion, Nero cast the blame upon the hated Christians. He crucified and killed many in violent and gruesome ways. Some were sown in the skins of wild beasts and exposed to mad dogs in the arena. He covered men and women with pitch, nailed them to posts of pine, and burned them as torches for the amusement of the mob.

Nero persecuted the Church for personal reasons. It was an isolated event and not in keeping with the Roman policy to protect Judaism and its related sects.

However, as the Church and Judaism become more separate, the Romans began to persecute the Church in earnest. Rome was generally tolerant of other religions as long as they were loyal to Caesar, but any refusal to worship the divine emperor was treason against the state. Christians would not worship Caesar in any form, and so became targets for attack.

Loyalty to Caesar was a political mechanism to keep the geographically and ethnically diverse Roman Empire united. The Romans would only tolerate a religion if it contributed to the stability of the state.

• Rome persecuted the Church because Christians refused to pay divine honors to the emperor, take part in politics, and submit to military service.

• Rome persecuted the Church because they believed the rumors of incest (a misunderstanding of the holy kiss), and cannibalism (a misunderstanding of Communion).

• Rome persecuted the Church because the populace regarded national calamities as punishment inflicted by angry gods because Christians disregarded their worship.