Freethought & Rationalism Archive

andrewcriddle · 10-11-2008, 05:08 AM

I've managed to track down this reference to runaway slaves in Early Christianity which may be of interest.
It is from the Martyrdom of Pionius
When Pionius was arrested as a prominent Christian his companions were rounded up with him. They included a woman called Sabina who appears to have been a runaway slave being sheltered by her fellow Christians.

Quote:

On the second day of the sixth month, on the occasion of a great Sabbath, and on the anniversary of the blessed martyr Polycarp, while the persecution of Decius was still on, there were arrested the presbyter Pionius, the holy woman Sabina, Ascleplades, Macedonia, and Limnos, a presbyter of the Catholic Church. Now Pionius knew on the day before Polycarp' anniversary that they were all to be siezed on that day. Being together with Sabina and Asclepiades and fasting, as he realized that they were to be taken on the following day, he took three sets of woven chains and placed them around his own neck and the necks of Sabina and Asclepiades and thus entertained them in his house. He did this with a view to those who were to arrest him, lest any be given to suspect that they were being induced to eat forbidden foods as the others were, but rather that all should know that theywere determined to be led off to prison forthwith.

Quote:

Next he came to Sabina. But first Pionius spoke to her: "Call yourself Theodotê" This he did that she might not, because of her true name, fall into the hands of the immoral Politta, who had been her former mistress. Under the Emperor Gordian this woman, in an attempt to change the glirl's faith, had Sabina bound and cast out on the mountains; but here she received sustenance secretly from the brethren. After this, however, efforts were made to free her from her bonds and from Politta, and since for the most part she lived with Pionius, she was captured in the present persecution.

This may indicate that the Early Christians accepted slaves running away in a limited set of circumstances, eg from severely abusive situations, particularly those that would have made it difficult to live any sort of Christian life.

Andrew Criddle

DCHindley · 10-11-2008, 10:18 AM

Andrew,

Perhaps in 238 to 244 CE (assuming this emperor was Gordian III). Pionius was martyred in Smyrna around 250/251 CE.

Any earlier examples? By the 3rd century, Christianity was getting pretty bold. Look at Tertullian, who practiced law in the province of Africa openly as a Christian circa 200 CE.

DCH

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewcriddle

I've managed to track down this reference to runaway slaves in Early Christianity which may be of interest.
It is from the Martyrdom of Pionius
When Pionius was arrested as a prominent Christian his companions were rounded up with him. They included a woman called Sabina who appears to have been a runaway slave being sheltered by her fellow Christians.

Quote:

On the second day of the sixth month, on the occasion of a great Sabbath, and on the anniversary of the blessed martyr Polycarp, while the persecution of Decius was still on, there were arrested the presbyter Pionius, the holy woman Sabina, Ascleplades, Macedonia, and Limnos, a presbyter of the Catholic Church. Now Pionius knew on the day before Polycarp' anniversary that they were all to be siezed on that day. Being together with Sabina and Asclepiades and fasting, as he realized that they were to be taken on the following day, he took three sets of woven chains and placed them around his own neck and the necks of Sabina and Asclepiades and thus entertained them in his house. He did this with a view to those who were to arrest him, lest any be given to suspect that they were being induced to eat forbidden foods as the others were, but rather that all should know that theywere determined to be led off to prison forthwith.

Quote:

Next he came to Sabina. But first Pionius spoke to her: "Call yourself Theodotê" This he did that she might not, because of her true name, fall into the hands of the immoral Politta, who had been her former mistress. Under the Emperor Gordian this woman, in an attempt to change the glirl's faith, had Sabina bound and cast out on the mountains; but here she received sustenance secretly from the brethren. After this, however, efforts were made to free her from her bonds and from Politta, and since for the most part she lived with Pionius, she was captured in the present persecution.

This may indicate that the Early Christians accepted slaves running away in a limited set of circumstances, eg from severely abusive situations, particularly those that would have made it difficult to live any sort of Christian life.

Andrew Criddle

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