Search results
Apr 23, 2024 · The “fake news” that Domitian instigated a severe persecution of Christians and that his claim to be “Master and God” provoked this persecution needs to be removed from our “facts” about the early church.
The emperor Domitian, who was naturally inclined to cruelty, first slew his brother, and then raised the second persecution against the Christians. In his rage he put to death some of the Roman senators, some through malice; and others to confiscate their estates.
2 days ago · Their Stoic views were probably the cause of Domitian’s expulsions of “philosophers” from Rome on two occasions. At least 12 former consuls were executed during his reign, but there is no reason to think they were Stoics. Domitian’s financial difficulties are a vexing question.
His foreign policy was realistic, rejecting expansionist warfare and negotiating peace at a time when Roman military tradition dictated aggressive conquest. Persecution of religious minorities, such as Jews and Christians, was non-existent.
There was no general persecution, which took in all parts of the empire, until the reign of Decius (249-251), but Domitian's cruelty and ferocity were extreme, and many persons of the highest rank fell under his condemnation and suffered banishment and even death, not especially on account of Christianity, though there were Christians among ...
Mar 3, 2021 · The occasion of Domitian's persecution of the Christians has been much discussed. Several causes for his attack upon the church have been assigned: the unsocial habits of the Christians; the prevalent charges against them that they were atheists, child- murderers, and addicted to malevolent magic; Domitian's zeal for
Oct 3, 2008 · This paper examines the Christian Church as a stranger in the Roman state from the second to fourth centuries. It explores the hitherto under-examined tradition of a persecution of Christians by the emperor Domitian (81-96), as encountered in texts from the second century onwards.
