Church History Part II
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class examined the Roman Empire’s persecution of Christians during the reigns of Domitian and Trajan. Domitian, who ruled from AD 81‑96, considered Christianity a sect of Judaism and executed many believers without trial, as recorded by the church historian Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History. The discussion then shifted to Trajan, who governed from AD 98‑117 and marked a turning point by declaring Christianity illegal yet refusing to actively seek out Christians. The teacher read the authentic letters between Governor Pliny of Bithynia and Emperor Trajan, illustrating how Roman officials interrogated accused Christians, often demanding a repeated confession before sentencing them to death, while also granting clemency to those who recanted or were Roman citizens. Through these primary sources, the class highlighted the evolution of Roman policy—from outright hostility to a more measured approach—and the early church’s perseverance amid uncertainty. The lesson underscored the importance of learning from historical mistakes, maintaining faithfulness to God’s word, and applying the lessons of early persecution to contemporary Christian life.