Courage & Persecution
Courage & Persecution
From about 100 to 300 CE, fear of invading barbarians and of any internal dissension fueled the Roman Empire’s persecution of Christians, who refused to sacrifice to Roman gods and resisted joining the Roman army. Within the church, “bishops” led the community’s worship and supervised the congregation’s life, deacons and deaconesses looked after those in need, and the bishop of Rome became a central figure.
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