Christian History Magazine—Issue 57: Converting the Empire: Early Church Evangelism
Overview
By the year 300 A.D.—without publicized campaigns or an explicit evangelistic strategy—Christianity had made its way quietly and effectively in an environment not wholly unlike that of the 21st century, post-Christian West. It was, in some respects, an empire within an Empire. So, how did it grow so large that one emperor felt threatened enough to persecute it mercilessly, yet another was intrigued enough to adopt its faith? This issue of Christian History and Biography offers an assortment of articles about the various things that everyday Christians did to bring the name of Jesus Christ to the attention of pagans.
Due to digital rights restrictions, this product may not include every image found in the print edition.
Top Highlights
“In 250, after over 200 years of evangelistic effort, Christians still made up only 1.9 percent of the empire. By the middle of the next century, though, about 56 percent of the population claimed to be Christians.” (source)
“The example of Christians’ high moral standards and their practice of offering charity to all, regardless of social status, also made a deep impression on unbelievers. Galen (129–199), the Greek physician, in commenting on those ‘people called Christians,’ wrote, ‘They include not only men but also women who refrain from cohabitating all through their lives, and they also number individuals who, in self-discipline and self-control in matters of food and drink, and in their keen pursuit of justice, have attained a pitch not inferior to that of genuine philosophy.’” (source)
“He ordered the execution of his eldest son, his second wife, and his favorite sister’s husband. No one seems to be able to explain fully his reasons.” (source)
“Persecution, far from eradicating the Christian faith, served to highlight its remarkable powers of survival” (source)
“Christians are cannibalistic, incestuous, ass-worshiping magicians who practice dangerous superstitions” (source)
- Title: Christian History Magazine—Issue 57: Converting the Empire: Early Church Evangelism
- Author: Christian History Institute
- Series: Christian History Magazine
- Publisher: Christianity Today
- Print Publication Date: 1998
- Logos Release Date: 2009
- Era: era:Contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Constantine; Martyrs; Church history › Early church
- Resource ID: LLS:CH57
- Resource Type: Magazine
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-10-05T16:40:23Z
