Originally Posted by youngalexander

Well now Vinine, how dense a cluster do you propose in 113CE?

"Pliny's letter is problematic. We have already observed that the fact that we do not know where it was written or in what city the Christian problem surfaced is strange.

More problematic, however, is that, according to Pliny, there was a "great number" Christians, "of every age and class," not only "in the cities" [plural] "but in villages and rural districts as well" -- i.e., just about everywhere. This doesn't seem like a realistic scenario.

Another problem is that ..."

In another thread you have asked re 'life-expectancy' in early centuries. Perhaps you should begin to consolidate some of this data? In yet another you ask concerning graffiti in (not so) early christian sites.

What overall picture does it present?

Originally Posted by Vinnie

I forgot to add...

I am aware of some of the difficulties of Pliny's letter. I'd estimate 10,000 Christians by ca 110 using Stark's numbers across the empire. I think one thing about Pliny is that Christians surprised him. He didn't know who they were then all of a sudden he had a bunch of them being accused and brought to him. That he actually went out and counted or estimated them in his region or the empire is a dubious proposition to me.

This does not avoid the necessary job of determining the authenticity and integrity of the letter, however.

Vinnie

Originally Posted by bacht

But as aa5874 pointed out, we don't know if the "Christians" Pliny mentions were in fact forerunners of the catholics. The term may have been applied indiscriminately at this time, especially by outsiders.