Analysis: Seeking Advice from Emperor Trajan Regarding the Christians

Date: 112 CE

Geographic Region: Bithynia, Asia Minor (in present-day Turkey)

Author: Pliny the Younger

Summary Overview

Christianity spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire in the first and second centuries CE. The empire's excellent transportation and communication networks facilitated the spread of the religion from its birthplace in Jerusalem to communities as far away as northern Turkey and Rome itself. Though the Romans were generally fairly accepting of other religions, Christianity's growing popularity was viewed with suspicion due to its potential to disrupt the established political and social order. Early Christianity faced significant persecution, but Emperor Trajan, who came to power in 98 CE, took a mixed stance on how to officially deal with the religion. In 112, Pliny the Younger, the governor of the Roman province of Bithynia in modern-day Turkey, sent a letter to Trajan describing the proliferation of Christianity and asking how he should interrogate and punish alleged Christians. Trajan responded that, although Christians must be punished, they may also repent, and no special efforts should be made to persecute them.

Defining Moment

The Roman Empire in the first century CE was a vast conglomeration of states and cultures, held together by a strong central administration. Most of the peoples that the empire had absorbed were polytheistic, worshipping many gods and spirits, with the notable exceptions of Zoroastrians and Jews, who were monotheists. The Romans, though often personally devout to the traditional Roman gods and the cult of the emperor, normally allowed conquered people to worship their own gods and even absorbed certain aspects of other religious practices into their own. Roman gods were also often adopted by other cultures as it suited them, and so the empire was a complex web of shared and separate deities and practices. However, minority groups that appeared to pose a threat to the power of the state were subject to strict control or suppression.

As followers of a new, private, and radically monotheistic religion, Christians appear to have been subject to local and sporadic attacks since the earliest days of their church. As Christianity spread and distinguished itself from Judaism, which was officially tolerated, Romans began to view it as a dangerous superstition. Christians were often regarded as criminals, and many of their practices caused further suspicion. The refusal to make even token sacrifices in support of the empire put Christians at odds with the rest of the population. The practice of communion was sometimes misinterpreted as ritual cannibalism, and Christians' custom of referring to each other as “brother” and “sister” led to suspicions of incest. Their belief in the return of a king and their refusal to venerate statues and symbols of the emperor spurred accusations of disloyalty to the empire.

Despite the general atmosphere of mistrust, Roman government persecution of Christians is not thought to have been officially sanctioned until the reign of Emperor Nero. In 64 CE, a fire devastated Rome, and Nero blamed Christians for the destruction. He ordered that they be fed to beasts, burned as torches, and crucified, and offered his own garden for the spectacle. This brutality had the unintended consequence of inspiring pity from some Romans, and the widespread persecution soon ended. Historians debate the level of anti-Christian activity in the following decades.

Emperor Trajan came to power in 98 CE, and by that time, the Christians were a seen more as a negative influence on loyal citizens than a violent danger. Trajan sent Pliny the Younger to serve as the governor of the province Bithynia, on the southern shore of the Black Sea. Pliny found Christianity was growing rapidly in the region, bringing complaints from other citizens. Inexperienced in the legal process for dealing with accused Christians, the governor wrote to Trajan for advice.

Author Biography

Pliny the Younger was born around 61 CE to an aristocratic family in what would become Como, Italy. He was partly raised and educated by his uncle Pliny the Elder, a famous author and philosopher. Pliny the Younger rose through the ranks in Rome, becoming known for his financial skill and administrative ability. He worked as a lawyer and magistrate in the Roman court before becoming an important advisor to Emperor Trajan and finally the governor of the province of Bithynia. Pliny was also a prolific writer, and the works of his surviving collection of personal letters, known as the Epistulae, are among the best records of life in the Roman Empire, covering a wide variety of personal and professional topics. He is also known for writing poetry and oratory, little of which survives. Pliny is presumed to have died in Bithynia around 113 CE.

Document Analysis

Pliny writes that Christian communities are a growing problem in Bithynia. He notes that the number of people being tempted by Christianity is increasing among men and women of all ages and classes, in urban and rural areas alike. Worship of the traditional gods has been slipping, although Pliny implies that currently that trend seems to be reversing. He suggests that maintaining traditional practices has not only spiritual, but also civil and economic implications, as public life and many businesses rely heavily on sacred ceremonies. As governor, Pliny is in charge of hearing investigations against alleged Christians and determining their punishment. However, he admits to Trajan that he is ignorant of the official procedure and asks for advice.

Pliny begins with specific questions: does the age of the accused Christian matter in deciding a punishment? Can mercy be shown to one who recants Christianity? Is the crime being a Christian in name or only participating in certain acts otherwise deemed criminal? Currently, he explains, suspects are asked if they practice Christianity; if they say yes, he continues to ask and threaten punishment. Those who persist are punished (likely executed).

However, Pliny writes, his investigation has turned up more and more accusations against alleged Christians, including an anonymous list of names. He attempted to hold trials for each suspect. Many claimed their innocence and were released, providing they offered gifts to a statue of Trajan and the Roman gods. Above all, they had to renounce Christ, which Pliny had been told that no true Christian would do. Others claimed they had once been Christian, but likewise now renounced Christ. Pliny is unsure if such reformed citizens should still be punished.

Pliny tells Trajan how the former Christians explained their supposed crimes. According to the suspects he interrogated, the Christians simply gathered to worship Christ as with any other god, committed themselves to a moral code (rather than the criminal oath that had been suspected), and ate communal meals. Even when using torture, Pliny found no evidence of criminal behavior beyond “depraved and groundless superstition.” Pliny is worried about the influence of Christianity, but is reluctant to execute those innocent of other criminal behavior. He wants to know if simply being a Christian makes one a criminal. He submits to the emperor's will on the subject, although he does suggest, in conclusion, that providing the option of repentance will have a positive effect.

In his reply, Trajan agrees that Pliny had been right in his treatment of the Christians and that it must be done on a case-by-case basis rather than according to any single law. He warns that there should be no special effort to persecute Christians, but if found, they should be given the chance to repent or be punished. He forbids using anonymous accusations as the basis for a charge. Trajan's response mirrors Pliny's view of Christianity as an offense, though not one worth devoting resources against.

Bibliography and Additional Reading

Gibson, Roy K. & Ruth Morello. Reading the Letters of Pliny the Younger: An Introduction. New York: Cambridge UP, 2012. Print.

Wilken, Robert Louis. The Christians as the Romans Saw Them. 2nd ed. New Haven: Yale UP, 2003.

Winsbury, Rex. Pliny the Younger: A Life in Roman Letters. London: Bloomsbury, 2014. Print.