Third Century Christian Persecutions

Christians were under persecutions for their faith since the first century. After the second century, the persecution of Christians became more widely. There were four main general persecutions during the third century; each of them lasted no more than three years. However, after almost half century’s peace, it burst the Great Persecution which lasted for ten years at the beginning of the fourth century. The church were commanded to “be leveled to the ground and the Scriptures be destroyed by fire, and those who held places of honor be degraded, and servants who persisted in Christianity be deprived of freedom”. It was the longest persecution Christians experienced before Constantine became the emperor. The great persecution was not an accident,
The leaders in the churches became more influence than ever. They were easily became the targets of the persecution. Though according to Origen, the second baptism is “with blood of martyrdom” which is “endured for the sake of Christianity and piety and holiness”, the great persecution was still a great catastrophe in Christian history. The rise of Constantine brought new hope and prosperity for later development of Christianity. As a person who lives in a relatively safe environment, when I look back to this part of history, I have no idea how they went through those ten years. However, does the persecution end in 313 A.D.? Was it the last persecution to Christians? It is so heartbreaking that it is
Since last year, the government secretly tore down the churches in Wenzhou for no reason. The roads were blocked to refuse any media interviews, and people were not allowed to go closer to the church. The pastors and main people in the church were under control. My hometown is close to Wenzhou, and our family knew some pastors there. We were heartbroken when we heard the news. Though this kind of things happened all the time, this is the first time the whole area’s churches are implicated, and all these churches are official registered. Some people did disappeared and “bear the accusation in silence” as Eusebius said. It seems either seventeen thousand years ago or today, persecution of Christians never stops. Though I do not totally agree with the teaching of martyrdom, I still show my highest respect to those suffered because of their persistence in faith. Other than quiet and follow the majority like large numbers of professing Christians did in the third century, who did not get mercy from their obedience, but got attacked again, fighting back as those martyrs may be a better way to hold our