Pliny the Younger
This letter was written by Pliny the Younger to the Emperor Trajan while he was serving as the Governor of the Roman
Province of Asia Minor during the time frame 111 through 113.
This letter was written after Pliny had his first
interactions with the Chirsitans. This letter seems to have been
written as a letter of concern, asking the Emperor for guidance
on how to handle legalities of his interactions with Christians.
This concern was seen in his opening statement to the Emperor,
“It is my invariable rule, Sir, to refer to you in all matters
where I feel doubtful; for who is more capable of removing my
scruples, or informing my ignorance.”1
In my opinion, I believe that Pliny is clear in his
communication to the Emperor. “I am unacquainted not only with
the nature of their crimes, or the measures of their punishment,
but how far it is proper to enter into an examination concerning
them.”2 This statement to me, clarifies his concern of the
religion, in whether or not the practice of Christianity is
punishable.
This letter signifies the importance of the changing world
and the concern of how to handle those changes. I think that
Pliny voiced that concern throughout this letter. He seemed to
have been disturbed and unaware of how to handle these changes,
and, if in fact these changes could be punishable; as this was
not the way of the Roman beliefs. This was put clearly toward
the end of Pliny’s letter, “This contagious superstition
is not confined to the cities only, but has spread its infection
among the neighboring villages.”3
In summary, I feel that this letter is of significant
concern and is an interesting account into the history of how
Christianity was observed and dealt with in the Roman Empire.
Bibliography
Pliny the Younger. The Letters of Pliny (Caius Plinius Caecilius
Secundus): Book 10, Letters 97 and 98, Translated by
Melmoth,
Province of Asia Minor during the time frame 111 through 113.
This letter was written after Pliny had his first
interactions with the Chirsitans. This letter seems to have been
written as a letter of concern, asking the Emperor for guidance
on how to handle legalities of his interactions with Christians.
This concern was seen in his opening statement to the Emperor,
“It is my invariable rule, Sir, to refer to you in all matters
where I feel doubtful; for who is more capable of removing my
scruples, or informing my ignorance.”1
In my opinion, I believe that Pliny is clear in his
communication to the Emperor. “I am unacquainted not only with
the nature of their crimes, or the measures of their punishment,
but how far it is proper to enter into an examination concerning
them.”2 This statement to me, clarifies his concern of the
religion, in whether or not the practice of Christianity is
punishable.
This letter signifies the importance of the changing world
and the concern of how to handle those changes. I think that
Pliny voiced that concern throughout this letter. He seemed to
have been disturbed and unaware of how to handle these changes,
and, if in fact these changes could be punishable; as this was
not the way of the Roman beliefs. This was put clearly toward
the end of Pliny’s letter, “This contagious superstition
is not confined to the cities only, but has spread its infection
among the neighboring villages.”3
In summary, I feel that this letter is of significant
concern and is an interesting account into the history of how
Christianity was observed and dealt with in the Roman Empire.
Bibliography
Pliny the Younger. The Letters of Pliny (Caius Plinius Caecilius
Secundus): Book 10, Letters 97 and 98, Translated by
Melmoth,
Bibliography: Pliny the Younger. The Letters of Pliny (Caius Plinius Caecilius Secundus): Book 10, Letters 97 and 98, Translated by Melmoth, Revised by the Rev. F.C.T. Bosanquet, 1905. http://wadsworth.com/history_d/special_features/ilrn_legacy /wawc 1c01c/content/wciv1/readings/pliny.html