Myth of Persecution: How Early Christians Invented a Story of Martyrdom, The
Candida Moss
Number of quotes: 3
Book ID: 386 Page: 105
Section: 4A
Despite its brevity, however, there’s a great deal of interpretation and rhetoric in the presentation of these saints. In his description of Ptolemy, Justin is interested in depicting him as a kind of Christian philosopher. He twice notes that Ptolemy confessed to being a Christian, although the explanations for why Ptolemy did this are philosophical. Justin writes that Ptolemy confessed to being a Christian because he was a “lover of truth”, a term similar to “philosopher,” or “lover of wisdom,” and had come to a knowledge of “the good” through the “school of divine virtue.” These references to truth, instruction, virtue, and “the good” are all references to philosophical principles.
Quote ID: 8334
Time Periods: 2
Book ID: 386 Page: 139
Section: 2C
Jesus followers themselves do not appear to have begun using the name “Christian” until, at the earliest, the very end of the first century.
Quote ID: 8335
Time Periods: 1
Book ID: 386 Page: 143/145
Section: 3B,3C2
In his Church History, Eusebius writes that, with the exception of a handful of “good emperors,” every one of the Roman emperors had participated in a demonically inspired program of persecution.{21} But apart from the Pliny-Trajan correspondence there is no record of imperial involvement in the handling of Christians.….
The important thing for us to note for now is that prior to 250 there was no legislation in place that required Christians to do anything that might lead them to die. Even the correspondence between Pliny and Trajan provided guidelines only for Pliny, not for the entire empire.
Quote ID: 8336
Time Periods: 123
End of quotes
Start typing name in text box, or
double click a name in a quote
and then click in this box to open the list.