Mondays are for Church History
6/26/17
Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Amazon Kindle Edition, 2014.
Volume 1, Ch. 6, “The Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21).” Loc. 5458-5822
§37 “The Roman Conflagration and the Neronian Persecution” (Schaff 2014, Loc. 5458).
The history of the Neronian reign in Rome is better known than many events which influenced Christians in the apostolic period. Schaff, as usual, gives a number of references. Referring to the martyrdoms of Paul and Peter, Schaff says, “It cemented the bond of union between the Jewish and Gentile converts...Rome became, for good and for evil, the Jerusalem of Christendom, and the Vatican hill the Golgotha of the West” (Ibid., Loc. 5468). Rome first turned from being the protector of law and order in the Church to frequently being the persecutor under Nero’s leadership (Ibid., Loc. 5479). Schaff describes Nero’s change from a good leader to bad, with the fire of Rome as a turning point in Nero’s overt actions (Ibid., Loc. 5491). After the fire, Nero attempted to shift suspicion to Christians (Ibid., Loc. 5508). Schaff observes that Tacitus and Suetonius knew the difference between Christians and Jews, reporting the actions against each group (Ibid., Loc. 5536). It is unclear how far the persecution spread (Ibid., Loc. 5546). Schaff discusses persecution accounts, as well as the uncertain dating of Hebrews and Revelation in regard to the reign of Nero. Schaff continues with notes and excerpts from various source documents (Ibid., Loc. 5575ff ).
§38 “The Jewish War and the Destruction of Jerusalem. AD 70” (Ibid.,Loc. 5638).
After the death of Nero a very dark period in Rome began (Ibid., Loc. 5661). In 63 there arose a prophet in Jerusalem predicting doom (Ibid., Loc. 5684). As time went on Roman oppression increased and the Jews in Palestine responded in kind (Ibid., Loc. 5201). In 67 the Roman army invaded Palestine, but the campaign was interrupted by turmoil in Rome. In 69-70 Titus besieged and took Jerusalem (Ibid., Loc. 5717). Many Christians have seen this as the Apocalypse, or at least a foreshadowing of it (Ibid., 5757). Drawing on contemporary accounts, Schaff describes an enormous casualty list of possibly a million, followed by a lavish triumph on the part of Titus. This overthrow of Jerusalem resulted in the loss of a Jewish homeland and the end of sacrifices in the temple (Ibid., Loc. 5786).
§39 “Effects of the Destruction of Jerusalem on the Christian Church” (Ibid., Loc. 5792).
Christians had fled Jerusalem to Pella in Decapolis prior to the siege. However, the Jewish Christians never regained the prominent role they had in Jerusalem.
6/26/17
Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Amazon Kindle Edition, 2014.
Volume 1, Ch. 6, “The Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21).” Loc. 5458-5822
§37 “The Roman Conflagration and the Neronian Persecution” (Schaff 2014, Loc. 5458).
The history of the Neronian reign in Rome is better known than many events which influenced Christians in the apostolic period. Schaff, as usual, gives a number of references. Referring to the martyrdoms of Paul and Peter, Schaff says, “It cemented the bond of union between the Jewish and Gentile converts...Rome became, for good and for evil, the Jerusalem of Christendom, and the Vatican hill the Golgotha of the West” (Ibid., Loc. 5468). Rome first turned from being the protector of law and order in the Church to frequently being the persecutor under Nero’s leadership (Ibid., Loc. 5479). Schaff describes Nero’s change from a good leader to bad, with the fire of Rome as a turning point in Nero’s overt actions (Ibid., Loc. 5491). After the fire, Nero attempted to shift suspicion to Christians (Ibid., Loc. 5508). Schaff observes that Tacitus and Suetonius knew the difference between Christians and Jews, reporting the actions against each group (Ibid., Loc. 5536). It is unclear how far the persecution spread (Ibid., Loc. 5546). Schaff discusses persecution accounts, as well as the uncertain dating of Hebrews and Revelation in regard to the reign of Nero. Schaff continues with notes and excerpts from various source documents (Ibid., Loc. 5575ff ).
§38 “The Jewish War and the Destruction of Jerusalem. AD 70” (Ibid.,Loc. 5638).
After the death of Nero a very dark period in Rome began (Ibid., Loc. 5661). In 63 there arose a prophet in Jerusalem predicting doom (Ibid., Loc. 5684). As time went on Roman oppression increased and the Jews in Palestine responded in kind (Ibid., Loc. 5201). In 67 the Roman army invaded Palestine, but the campaign was interrupted by turmoil in Rome. In 69-70 Titus besieged and took Jerusalem (Ibid., Loc. 5717). Many Christians have seen this as the Apocalypse, or at least a foreshadowing of it (Ibid., 5757). Drawing on contemporary accounts, Schaff describes an enormous casualty list of possibly a million, followed by a lavish triumph on the part of Titus. This overthrow of Jerusalem resulted in the loss of a Jewish homeland and the end of sacrifices in the temple (Ibid., Loc. 5786).
§39 “Effects of the Destruction of Jerusalem on the Christian Church” (Ibid., Loc. 5792).
Christians had fled Jerusalem to Pella in Decapolis prior to the siege. However, the Jewish Christians never regained the prominent role they had in Jerusalem.
RSS Feed