Freethought & Rationalism Archive

mountainman · 09-14-2010, 06:39 PM

What precipitated Diocletian's persecution of the Christians? Diocletian is known to have established The Tetrarchy ---- (Greek: "leadership of four [people]") in the late 3rd century. Is it possible that Diocletian felt threatened by the authority held in the Four Gospels, authored by the leadership of the 4 christian apostles?

mountainman · 09-17-2010, 06:46 PM

Eusebius cleverly presents the appearance of the persecutions under Diocletian late in Chapter 30, and then immediately recounts in Chapter 31 the persecution of the Satanic Manichaeans. Notice that the Manichaeans were already political and heretical refugees from Persia after Mani's crucifixion, but Eusebius presents this class of people to be "followers of Satan" and thus "christian heretics".

Quote:

Eusebius's Church History
BOOK 7

Chapter XXX. The Epistle of the Bishops Against Paul.

22 After a reign of six years,269 Aurelian was succeeded by Probus. He reigned for the same number of years, and Carus, with his sons, Carinus and Numerianus, succeeded him. After they had reigned less than three years the government devolved on Diocletian, and those associated with him.270 Under them took place the persecution of our time, and the destruction of the churches connected with it.

23 Shortly before this, Dionysius,271 bishop of Rome, after holding office for nine years, died, and was succeeded by Felix.272

Chapter XXXI. The Perversive Heresy of the Manicheans Which Began at This Time.

1 At this time, the madman,273 named from his demoniacal heresy, armed himself in the perversion of his reason, as the devil, Satan, who himself fights against God, put him forward to the destruction of many. He was a barbarian in life, both in word and deed; and in his nature demoniacal and insane. In consequence of this he sought to pose as Christ, and being puffed up in his madness, he proclaimed himself the Paraclete and the very Holy Spirit;274 and afterwards, like Christ, he chose twelve disciples as partners of his new doctrine.

2 And he patched together false and godless doctrines collected from a multitude of long-extinct impieties, and swept them, like a deadly poison, from Persia to our part of the world. From him the impious name of the Manicheans is still prevalent among many. Such was the foundation of this "knowledge falsely so-called,"275 which sprang up in those times.

09-14-2010, 06:39 PM	#1
mountainman Contributor Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Falls Creek, Oz. Posts: 11,192	Was the authority of the "tetrarchy" [leadership of 4] threatened by the 4 Gospels? What precipitated Diocletian's persecution of the Christians? Diocletian is known to have established The Tetrarchy ---- (Greek: "leadership of four [people]") in the late 3rd century. Is it possible that Diocletian felt threatened by the authority held in the Four Gospels, authored by the leadership of the 4 christian apostles?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.