The author: Pliny the Younger was the Roman governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor.
About the writing: Pliny the Younger wrote to Emperor Trajan in around 112 A.D. and asked his advice about how to ‘deal with’ Christians because there were so many of them. Pliny was executing Christians who refused to worship the image of the emperor and who refused to curse Christ.
What Pliny wrote:
“It is a rule, Sir, which I inviolably observe, to refer myself to you in all my doubts; for who is more capable of guiding my uncertainty or informing my ignorance?” Having never been present at any trials of the Christians, I am unacquainted with the method and limits to be observed either in examining or punishing them …
In the meanwhile, the method I have observed towards those who have been denounced to me as Christians is this: I interrogated them whether they were Christians; if they confessed it I repeated the question twice again, adding the threat of capital punishment; if they still persevered, I ordered them to be executed …
Those who denied they were, or had ever been, Christians, who repeated after me an invocation to the Gods, and offered adoration, with wine and frankincense, to your image, which I had ordered to be brought for that purpose, together with those of the Gods, and who finally cursed Christ none of which acts, it is said, those who are really Christians can be forced into performing these I thought it proper to discharge …
They affirmed, however, the whole of their guilt, or their error, was, that they were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food but food of an ordinary and innocent kind …
I therefore adjourned the proceedings, and betook myself at once to your counsel. For the matter seemed to me well worth referring to you, especially considering the numbers endangered. Persons of all ranks and ages, and of both sexes are, and will be, involved in the prosecution.”
(Pliny, Epistles 10.96)
Christians believed Jesus was God and worshipped Him as God (John 1.1, John 21.28, Hebrews 1.8)
Christians held to what Jesus taught – ‘do not steal, do not commit adultery’ (Matthew 19.18)
Christians gathered on a fixed day (the ‘Lord’s Day – the first day of the week) to worship Jesus (Acts 20.7, Revelation 1.10)
Christians were prepared to suffer for their faith (Acts 5.29, Acts 5.40–42, Acts 7.54-60, Acts 8.1-3, Acts 12.2, Acts 20.22-24, Revelation 2.9-10)
Christians refused to worship other ‘gods’ (Acts 17.16-33, Acts 19.26)
Emperor Trajan
Emperor Trajan, in reply to Pliny’s letter requesting his advice on how to deal with Christians.
"The method you have pursued, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those denounced to you as Christians is extremely proper. It is not possible to lay down any general rule which can be applied as the fixed standard in all cases of this nature. No search should be made for these people; when they are denounced and found guilty they must be punished; with the restriction, however, that when the party denies himself to be a Christian, and shall give proof that he is not (that is, by adoring our gods) he shall be pardoned on the ground of repentance, even though he may have formerly incurred suspicion."
(Pliny, Letters, translated by William Melmoth, revised by W.M.L. Hutchinson (1935), vol. II, X:96.)
Reference “He Walked Among Us”, Josh McDowell, Here’s Life Publisher, San Bernardino, Third Printing 1989. This book is full of excellent information with regards to the historical accuracy of the bible.
