SS Outline 10.19.25

October 17th, 2025
by Curtis Jetton

Church History: Persecution in the Third Century
Intro

I. Historical Context
A. The Setting: The Crisis of the Third Century

Empire in turmoil: civil wars, plague, economic collapse.
Emperors sought unity through religious conformity.
Decius (249–251) issued an empire-wide edict: all citizens must sacrifice to the Roman gods and obtain a certificate (libellus) proving loyalty.

B. Key Persecutions

Decian persecution (249–251): first empire-wide attempt to enforce emperor worship.
Valerian persecution (257–260): targeted clergy and church property.
Christians divided into:
- Martyrs — executed for refusing to sacrifice.
- Confessors — imprisoned or tortured but survived.
- Lapsed (lapsi) — yielded to pressure and offered sacrifice.

C. The Church’s Dilemma

II. Cyprian of Carthage
Reading 1 – On the Lapsed (§15, §36)

“They who have stood fast and conquered are crowned; they who have fallen are not condemned forever. The Church receives the penitent and restores them by the hands of the priests.”
“Let everyone confess his fault while he who has offended is still in this world, while his confession can be received, while satisfaction and the forgiveness granted by the priests are pleasing to the Lord.”

Reading 2 – On the Unity of the Church (§6)

“The episcopate is one, each part of which is held by each bishop in its entirety. The Church also is one, which is spread abroad far and wide into a multitude by an increase of fruitfulness. As there are many rays of the sun, but one light; many branches of a tree, but one strength from the root… so also the Church, though she be spread abroad with her increasing multitude, yet the light is one, and the unity is not broken.”

Cyprian’s Life (200-258)

Born to a pagan family in Carthage; converted as an adult (c. 246).
Elected bishop of Carthage within two years of baptism.
During the Decian persecution, he went into temporary hiding to continue shepherding the church secretly.
After peace returned, he led the debate over the lapsed—insisting on repentance, not permanent exclusion.
Under Valerian, he was banished and later executed (258) for refusing to sacrifice to idols.

Cyprian’s Death

When the proconsul pronounced the death sentence, Cyprian replied calmly: “Thanks be to God.” 
He then knelt, prayed, and was beheaded before a crowd of Christians.

III. Martyrdom as Imitation of Christ

Early Christians saw suffering as participation in Christ’s passion (Phil 3:10).
Martyrs were not heros for fame but witnesses (martys) of truth.
Repentance and Mercy
- The church’s handling of the lapsed reveals an early theology of restoration.
- Cyprian: grace restores, but only through visible repentance in community.
Unity of the Church
- For Cyprian, unity was not optional—it was the visible sign of Christ’s body.
- “He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the Church for his mother.”
Modern Parallels

IV. Summary Points

The third century forced Christians to decide what loyalty to Christ truly cost.
Cyprian guided the church through fire with pastoral wisdom and conviction.
His writings shaped later views of church order, unity, and repentance.