Early Christian Persecution

This video looks at the earliest Christian persecution under the Roman Empire.

My books (affiliate links):

This is Lecture 5 in the course 'Church History: Early and Medieval'. All material is copyrighted.

[jerryyang]

Dr. Reeves, thank you so much for taking time to make these videos for those who wish to know more about the early Christians. The price of the spreading of the Gospel did not come cheap even after the death of Jesus Christ.

[yangliu]

great lectures! I'm learning a lot, and as a Chinese student it is a bit difficult for me to understand western history, but I find your lectures very interesting and helpful! Thank you!

[charlietallman]

An absolutely great summary of the misunderstandings concerning the persecution of Christianity. So many don't understand the pure length of time between the death of Christ and the accent of Constantine, or the subtleties of Roman Politics.. To understand this era you have to understand the mindset of a pagan roman. Very even handed account.

[MsHello]

These people had met Christ or/and had met those who had met Christ.  The love of Christ to them was worth any sacrifice or suffering.  We take Jesus for granted.  We need to be spiritually as much in love as they were - and are  still now and more in heaven.

[theteach]

Thank you. I have a deeper understanding of what it means to be a Christian.

[PlanetTrainWreck]

Awesome videos, to the point, and concise that is sooo rare.

[jereomyclark]

All I can say is thank you for these videos!!

[moniquewhite]

I really like Polycarp. God blessed you guys

[Mikeanddrea]

Thank you so much for taking the time to make these videos.

[wingnut]

phenomenally interesting and well made. thanks for the work!

[thomashunter]

Firstly, I would like to thank Dr. Reeves for these lectures. I have been listening to a lot of them lately, and it has increased my knowledge substantially. However, I do not understand why he failed to mention at all the stoning of Stephen and the early persecution by Saul, later called Paul, of the early Christians in a lecture called “Persecutions”.
Secondly, Dr. Reeves assertion that the Romans always distinguished the Christians from the Jews is not entirely accurate. Acts chapter 18:12-15 (NIV) “ While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man, ” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”
14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off.17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.”
Gallio was a Roman proconsul who dismissed the charges against Paul because he believed it was merely a question of Jewish law. He seemed to believe Christians were merely a sect of Judaism, not a separate religion.

[chrismiddleton]

I'm loving these videos. I'm a high school student, who is hoping to go to seminary. Out of curiosity, where did you go to seminary??

[jenna]

According to William Cave in his book Primitive Christianity, , Polycarp and early Christians observed the 7th day Sabbath. "... the Sabbath or 'Saturday' (for so the word sabbatum is constantly used in the writings of the fathers, when speaking of it as it relates to Christians) was held by them in great veneration, and especially in the Eastern parts honoured with all the public solemnities of religion. This is plain, not only from some passages in Ignatius and Clemens' Constitutions, but from writers of more unquestionable credit and authority. Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, tells us that they assembled on Saturdays... to worship Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath."

[Tyleya]

Your videos are very interesting. Thank you for posting it.

[brodean]

Please do a lecture on the veil in Jewish Christian and Muslims across history

[troydellinger]

I have two questions, well technically 3

1. Is it okay to use some of your videos on my playlist? I've kinda been using them in all honesty for research

2. This is a general question: Is it okay to use other peoples videos on your playlist in general? & if so does it have to be public?

I've been trying to find the policies for it and I can't find anywhere on YouTube that specifically says it's forbidden. But if you don't want me to use your videos just say so. Like I said, I've just been doing research. I was interested in studying the history of the church and medeival culture

[daledheyalef]

Is there a similar lecture series on the history of Judaism on youtube (mainly from the earliest evidence to the immediate aftermath of the Roman Revolt) that you can recommend?

[franksammkim]

hello Ryan this is so amazing, pliz help me am teaching on expansion of world Christian movement next week what do you think are the key areas for me to tackle for 3 hours

[therealkillerb]

Did I miss the part where you discussed the very first persecution by the Jews?

[jondicsre]

Very well done lecture and video; however, I would argue that it was a genocide based on the cold-blooded decree of Trajan that was mentioned and kinds of persecution that were specifically targeted at a particular people group.