"I condemn Agape and Chionia to be burnt alive." ~ April 3, AD 303

Gloria Romanorum ^ | April 3, 2017 | Florentius

[Antoninus]

Today is the feast day of the little known early martyrs Agape, Chionia and Irene who were executed during the great persecution under Diocletian. Their story, as told in this ancient transcript, deserves to be better known.

[Rocky Mountain Wild Turkey]

But ... but ... but...

Sola Scriptura?

[Vermont Lt]

The Romans did not care if someone worshipped other “gods.” What they did not like was losing the coins that were cast at the Roman Gods/Caesars.

Its all about the Benjamins. It always has been.

[Antoninus]

But ... but ... but... Sola Scriptura?

How does this refute sola scripture? I'm genuinely curious.

If anything, our "sola scriptura" brethren should celebrate Saint Irene as a woman who chose death rather than handing over the Sacred Scriptures to be burned.

[Antoninus]

The Romans did not care if someone worshipped other “gods.”

They absolutely did care which is why Decius, Valerian, Diocletian, etc. instituted empire-wide persecutions. The first two in particular could be called "devout pagans" who believed that the growth of "atheist" religions like Judaism, Christianity and Manichaeism caused the pagan pantheon to withhold their traditional protection from the glorious Roman state.

[21twelve]

What an amazing account of great faith! I love their answers on who brought them to their faith - or who provided them with food in the mountains!

[Telepathic Intruder]

It depended on which Emperor was in rule. For the most part you’re correct, life under the Romans was very free as long as you paid your tribute. If you didn’t, life was short.

[Rocky Mountain Wild Turkey]

I know too many "Sola Scripturians" who don't care a LICK about any Roman martyrs or anything Roman .. .or anything written OUTSIDE the bounds of "the Scriptures" ...

... that were actually codified by the Roman church that they vehemently despise.

I am not saying you are one of them, Antonius. It was just a comment that there is so much MORE to know and embrace than the narrow 'theology' of Sola Scriptura.

[AppyPappy]

Rather ironic that the church would pick up this same practice.

[RedStateRocker]

That and the genuine belief that no worshiping the Roman gods would bring misfortune on the entire community.

Yes, the Romans could not care less if someone worshiped Christ (Or Mithras, or ISIS), but you had to also worship their gods. That’s why the question of ‘are Christians Jews’ was so urgent. ONLY the Jews could get away with not worshiping the emperor, and that only because the Romans esteemed antiquity, and Judaism was OLD.

[Vermont Lt]

That may have been true in Rome, specifically. But in the empire, there is no way they could squash the worship of the local gods. Back then, unless you were in the Big city, the “gods” in favor would change every 100-200 miles in each direction.

[Antoninus]

Yes, the Romans could not care less if someone worshiped Christ (Or Mithras, or ISIS), but you had to also worship their gods.

Exactly. And part of worshiping the Roman gods was worshiping the deified emperors, dead and living, which made the Roman religion a state cult. Not worshiping the emperor was seen by many Romans to be the equivalent of treason.

[sparklite2]

life under the Romans was very free as long as you paid your tribute. If you didn’t, life was short.

---

Some things never change, except perhaps the massive loss of freedom.

[sparklite2]

. And part of worshiping the Roman gods was worshiping the deified emperors,

---

Was the emperor still worshiped after
he stepped down, like Obama?

[Telepathic Intruder]

Well I should say unless you’re a slave in the Roman Empire. By the time of its fall, Rome contained more slaves than citizens.

[RedStateRocker]

So, in reality, very few people were executed for being Christians, which is not the way they told it in Catholic school growing up :-)

[RedStateRocker]

But they didn’t care if you also worshiped the local gods. Not even an issue.

[Antoninus]

So, in reality, very few people were executed for being Christians, which is not the way they told it in Catholic school growing up :-)

Where did you come up with that assumption based on what I wrote? If you read accounts of the three empire-wide persecutions (AD 250, 258 and 303-311), you definitely come away with the impression that many thousands were killed all across the empire.

[Antoninus]

But they didn’t care if you also worshiped the local gods. Not even an issue.

Therein lies the problem. Christians considered it apostasy if a so-called Christian offered a sacrifice to the pagan gods, even under threat of death. They called such individuals "traditores". There was an entire heresy devoted to not allowing traditores back into the Church after the persecutions ended called Donatism.

[Slyfox]

John 21:

30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.