Part 21 (2/2)
VI. =The First Imperial Persecution.= The Christians were becoming numerous in Rome, as well as throughout the empire; and a conflict was sure to arise with the Roman government. The first persecution came soon after the burning of Rome, A. D. 64, which Nero charged falsely upon the Christians. Thousands were put to death, although the persecution was mainly limited to the capital. The _martyrdom of St. Paul_, probably of St. Peter also, took place about 68 A. D. at Rome.
Blackboard Outline
PART THREE
IV. =Pau. Fou. Jour.= Pris. Comp. Lu. Aris. Tim.
1. Gos. Mal.
2. Ro. 1.) Ho. Emp. 2.) Sent. Ch. Je. 3.) Tur. Gen. 4.) Res. min.
3. Ep. Pau. Imp. 1.) Eph. ”Mys. Un. Ch. and Ch.” 2.) Phil. ”Char.
Chr. fol.” 3.) Col. ”Chr. Hea. Ch.” 4.) Philem. Run. Sla.
V. =Pau. Lat. Ye.= 1. Yea. Lib. Col. Mil. Nicop. 2. Las. Ep.
1.) 1 Tim. 2.) t.i.t. 3.) 2 Tim.
VI. =Fir. Imp. Per.= Mart. Pau. 68 A. D.
Review Questions. Part Three
Under what circ.u.mstances did Paul make his fourth journey? Who were his companions? Where did he preach the gospel on his journey? How did he follow his regular method, as far as possible, at Rome? What were some results of his ministry in Rome? What epistles were written at Rome? What is the subject of these epistles? How long was Paul at liberty after his first imprisonment? What places did he probably visit during those years? What were the last three epistles written by Paul? What is the subject of each epistle? How did the first imperial persecution of the Christians arise? Who probably suffered martyrdom at this time?
EIGHTEENTH STUDY
The End of the Age
From the Death of St. Paul, A. D. 68, to the Death of St. John, 100 A.
D.
PART ONE
We come now to our last period, an _age of shadows_, of which we know very little, and wish that we knew more. The curtain of New Testament history falls while St. Paul is still a prisoner at Rome, five years before the supposed date of his death. From that time, A. D. 63, to about A. D. 125 there is very little history, and none in the New Testament; we are left to hints, traditions, and conjectures.
A question which we would like to answer is, What became of the _companions_ of St. Paul: such men as Timothy (Heb. 13. 23), t.i.tus (2 Tim. 4. 10), Apollos (t.i.tus 3. 13), Luke (2 Tim. 4. 11)? All of these were living and working at the close of Paul's life; but there is no report of their life and labors after that event.
Another perplexing fact is that when the curtain rises at about 125 A.
D. it shows us a very _different church_ from that of St. Paul's day: a church completely organized, with bishops in almost absolute control; and sects quarreling over controversies apparently unknown when St. Paul wrote his letters.
While Peter and Paul were living the church had wise and statesmanlike leaders, who directed its energies. But when these great men died ”second-rate men” were left in control and they were not equal to the demand of the new time; and the church drifted into disputes, which grew into divisions. Let us notice the few known =Events of this Period=.
I. =The Fall of Jerusalem=: epoch-making, not only to Jewish but also to Christian history.
1. The _rebellion of the Jews_ against the Roman power began in 68 A.
D.; hopeless from the beginning--for how could one small state measure swords with the empire of the civilized world? The city of Jerusalem was taken and destroyed 70 A. D., and with it fell forever the Jewish state.
2. The _siege had been predicted_ in the gospels (Matt. 24. 15-18; Mark 13. 14), and was expected by the disciples of Christ. The _Christians_ in Jerusalem and Judea _withdrew_ to _Pella_ in the Jordan valley; but their numbers were not large, showing that Jewish Christianity must have declined since A. D. 58 (see Acts 21. 20), while Gentile Christianity had increased. After the destruction of Jerusalem Jewish Christianity remained for 200 years a feeble and declining sect, hated by their own people as traitors, and despised by Gentile Christians because they still observed the Jewish law.
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