The Relationship Between the Roman Empire and Christianity

The Roman Empire was a famous civilized empire in history. Chinese historical records referred to it as “Da Qin” or “Fu Lin.” The Roman Empire can be divided into three phases: Early (27 BC – 200 AD), Middle (200 AD – 395 AD), and Late (395 AD – 1204/1453 AD). At its most powerful, its territory extended across Western and Southern Europe (along the Mediterranean), Britain, Asia Minor, and North Africa, including Egypt. The Roman Empire was a centralized state ruled by an emperor who held supreme power, which was maintained through the military, administrative institutions, and law. During the imperial period, the social structure became more complex, with the emergence of new classes such as the equestrian order and the bureaucracy. Slavery still existed, but its scale and influence had decreased.

The New Testament was written during the period of Roman rule. Christianity originated from Judaism. Judaism believed in God, Yahweh, and their holy scripture was the Old Testament of the Bible. The Christian scriptures, however, include both the Old and New Testaments, which record the deeds of Jesus. Jesus was ultimately crucified under pressure from the Jewish priests in Jerusalem, and was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of the province of Judea.

In 70 AD, the Romans destroyed ancient Jerusalem, but Roman persecution was a constant backdrop to the spread of the Gospel. Christianity began to infiltrate the Roman Empire from the fringes of society. The Romans, who had inherited Greek culture, had their own polytheistic system and were deeply unimpressed by the Christian worship of a single God. Rumors spread that Christians drank human blood in their rituals, and Christians, in turn, refused to offer sacrifices to the Roman emperor.

The Roman Empire experienced a severe political crisis in the 3rd century, marked by political chaos, escalating internal and external threats, and the fragmentation and paralysis of the centralized imperial government. This period is historically known as the Third Century Crisis. A clear socioeconomic collapse also occurred, with famine, disease, and floods becoming more frequent. The development of Roman philosophy and science stagnated, and the quality of art and craftsmanship began to decline. The chaotic political, economic, and social order inevitably led to frequent riots and a rise in thugs and bandits.

Whenever the nation was in trouble, Christians were made the scapegoats. By the end of the 3rd century AD, Christian church buildings were being destroyed, and all Christians were ordered to offer sacrifices to pagan gods. During that period, the Roman Empire’s slaughter of Christians was as brutal as its killing of Christ two and a half centuries earlier. However, Rome’s brutality ironically made the city a central stage for the spread of the Christian gospel. The Christians’ unwavering faith, the refinement of their religious doctrine, and their tireless evangelism ultimately transformed Christianity from a regional sect into a global, supra-ethnic, and supra-national religion.