Before Jerusalem Fell

298 BEFORE JERUSALEM FELL
Pliny knew that for some time past the Christians had been legaIly
regarded as the enemies of the state and that confession of the name
meant outlawry. . . . The Rescript of Trajan merely confirmed in
writing the practice, which had subsisted since the time of Nero, of
treating the very name of Christian as a crime against the State.5G
Angus comments on the view held by “Hardy (Christianity and th
Roman Government, 77), Mommsen (Expos, 1893, 1-7) and Sanday (ib,
1894, 406K) – and adopted by the writer of this article – that the
trial of the Christians under Nero resulted in the declaration of the
mere profession of Christianity as a crime punishable by death. . . .
[T]he Neronian persecution settled the future attitude of the Roman
state toward the new faith. “5 7
Ancient evidence suggestive of the provincial persecution of Christianity
is not of the earliest date, but is significant because of its
reported reliance on Tacitus and perhaps even on Tacitus’s lost
works. Orosius states that after Nero tortured Christians, he “ordered
this throughout all the provinces, with the same excruciating persecution.”58
In the seventh book of Orosius’s history, in which he provides
an account of both the fire and the persecution, “Orosius shows
himself to be thoroughly acquainted with the writings of Suetonius,
Tacitus, and Josephus, all of which he quotes by name.”59 Sulpicius
Severus writes regarding Nero’s persecution that “in this way, cruelty
first began to be manifested against the Christians. Afterwards, too,
their religion was prohibited by laws that were enacted; and by edicts
openly set forth it was proclaimed unlawfiul to be a Christian. At that
time Paul and Peter were condemned to death, the former being
beheaded with a sword, while Peter suffered crucifixion.”w
Conclusion
The evidence of a general persecution against Christianity under
Nero is strong and almost universally recognized. Its cruelty, extent,
and length are most compatible with the requirements of the Revelational
record. Not only so, but the Domitkmic evidence is meager
56. Edmundson, Church in Ronw, p. 139, n. 1.
57. Angus, “Roman Empire,” ISBE 4:2607.
58. Oroshs, 7iie Seven Books of His~ Against the Pagans 7:7.
59. Edmundson, Church in Rorm, p. 143.
60. Severus, Samed Histmy 2:29.