Pliny the Younger on Jesus

Today we'll discuss what Pliny the Younger had to say about Jesus and early christianity.

Sources :

[chikaokolo]

This gives Romans 10:9 an entirely new meaning. Confession is not simply “inviting Jesus into our heart”, or acknowledging Him in front of a congregation. It means to confess that He is Lord over all other lords and kings. Even at the cost of losing your life.

When Paul wrote this he knew what was at stake…

[ashharris]

There are many layers of interest to Pliny's letter and Trajan's response. It is clear that Pliny is somewhat confused to finding out that Christians aren't doing anything nefarious at all in secret. Wild rumors were circulated in the Neronian persecution that Christians committed sacrilegious cannibalistic practices of eating flesh and drinking blood hence his mention that the food is ordinary. Trajan's response to Pliny is also a directive to him to not seek Christians out, which is exactly was Pliny was starting to do in his investigations. Trajan came to power after Domitian's growing reign of terror (mainly against the elites) and sought to rule as a greatest among equals. I think the quote would be that such persecutions and hunting out Christians like the treason trials and secret police he got rid of would be against, "the magnificence of the age". Trajan, not understanding Christians either thinks that just having them renounce Christianity is enough. This line of thinking seems to have held until 248 when in the face of growing disasters across the empire an edict was issued to have everyone make a blessing to the emperor and eat a sacrificial cake. This edict wasn't targeted against Christians but ended up launching the first great persecution as Christians refused to do so.

[victormeza]

🔥SHINE, O LORD, THE LIGHT OF THY
COUNTENANCE UPON US
🌹 MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD 🩸 OF
JESUS CHRIST, SAVE US

[tristanwilliams]

Great video on a subject I knew nothing about. Always humbling, as an American, to hear what true persecution of Christianity was —and is— like.

[robmessenger]

Brilliant ! You are doing God's work so well.

[valerieprice]

This letter sounds like a complaint. It doesn't sound like he's asking the questions, but saying, "Are we supposed to go along with this?" It sounds more like he's taking issue with, in a safe way politically.

[weejobby]

The sheep, finding their shepherd . Thank you for the video.

[JohnH.Sturgis]

So according to this report, Pliny says nothing about Jesus, but about Christian practice. Makes sense, since he wasn't born till 30 yrs after Christ was crucified.

[formicapple]

Thanks a lot. Very interesting and informative.

[anthonyaguirre]

Awesome video and I like how you provide the sources

[trabob]

Notice Christianity in 112 ad must not have been an empire wide thing otherwise Pliny would not have to ask Trajan what to do about it. Also, Trajan said these people were not to be sought out only if they have committed some crime. Jesus is never mentioned and Pliny called it a superstation.

[OGStinkywizzleteats]

It's fortuitous that they named Pliny the older that when he was born.

[leroybrown]

Just discovered your channel, nice work. You oughta do a video about Suetonius

[hugovanderzee]

I'am happy to found this. Very itneresting. The title however does not correspond with the content of the video.

[willrobinson]

Thank you for your channel. Your work is excellent.

[John_Lyle]

Gaius Plinius Caecilius Cilo also known as Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus AD61-AD113) was a Roman lawyer and magistrate, eventually rising to the rank of Consul and becoming governor of Bithynia. As a child Pliny alternated between living at his uncles home in Como, and his home in Rome (this becomes important later) He lived with his uncle (Pliny the Elder) and was eventually adopted by him as a result of his own father having died when Pliny was a small child. Following an uprising in AD68, Nero committed suicide and after a short civil war Vespasian emerged as the emperor after a year in which four people briefly became emperor..Vespasian was a close friend of Pliny the Elder and his accession to Imperial purple made both Plinies very powerful men.
When Pliny the younger was eventually appointed as Governor of Bithynia and almost as soon as he was installed in office accusations were levelled against the minority Christians, that they were criminals who refused to offer sacrifices to the local gods, that they were cannibalistic and had incestuous relationships. Since Rome had policies of religious tolerance failing to offer sacrifices to the majority gods was not a crime as long as the rights of the worshippers of those other gods were respected, so it is entirely possible that the charges were brought purely in an attempt to cause Pliny to make a bad decision. Pliny wrote to his friend and sponsor Trajan for any information on what crimes Christians may be guilty of. Bearing in mind that he had lived in Rome during Nero’s term as emperor it would be fair to say that Pliny would have remembered Nero’s novelty streetlamps *had they actually existed* and the fact that Pliny had the need to write asking what crimes the Christians had committed is evidence that the claims inserted into Tacitus were a later “Torture porn” example of Christians painting themselves as past victims in order to “justify” their own atrocities against Pagans once Christianity started to become powerful.
The letter to Trajan is very solid evidence of the existence of the Christians of Bithynia, to the extent that I would be more than happy to admit that it is proof of the existence of the Christians of Bithynia and it also lists the reported *beliefs* of the Christians of Bithynia. What it does not do is offer any evidence to corroborate the accuracy of those beliefs any more than an article about the religious beliefs of former Presidential candidate Mitt Romney is evidence that the lost tribes of Israel moved to pre-Columbian North America.

[victormeza]

🔥FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE
ORAL TRADITION WAS IMPARTED BY
APOSTLES, LETTERS WERE SHARED.
LATER, THE N.T. CAME INTO BEING.
PLINY’S LETTER TESTIMONY IS PART
OF OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST❤️

[pmajudge]

NICE ONE ! THANKS ! FROM, U.K. (2024).

[unc]

So ultimately a bishop of Rome pulled the whole thing together and became sole overseer.
Which gave birth to the Catholic Church.
I’m wondering if, since the Romans were always in search of the “better god, ” if they just viewed Christ as such. Since He (Christ) had so much influence over the people
Was it simply a “if you can’t beat em, join em” mentality?
Then they adopted and tolerated Christ but turned Him Roman?

[t.f.]

Why were the Christians persecuted to begin with? What was the policy justification?