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Thread: The Religion of Philip the Arab

  1. #1
    ★Bandiera Rossa☭'s Avatar The Red Menace
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    Default The Religion of Philip the Arab

    Philip the Arab (Marcus Julius Philippus) Was Roman Emperor from 244 to 249 and was known as one of the few Roman Emperors of the time who did not persecute Christians. He has in fact been claimed as the first Christian Emperor by writers such as Eusebius and Dionysius of Alexandria. (only Eusebius having claimed this in explicit terms) Other claims as to his Christianity point to his origin as an Arab living in a period of rapid Christianization in the middle east. This is of course highly circumstantial.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Quote Originally Posted by Eusebius
    Gordianus had been Roman emperor for six years when Philip, with his son Philip, succeeded him. It is reported that he, being a Christian, desired, on the day of the last paschal vigil, to share with the multitude in the prayers of the Church, but that he was not permitted to enter, by him who then presided, until he had made confession and had numbered himself among those who were reckoned as transgressors and who occupied the place of penance. For if he had not done this, he would never have been received by him, on account of the many crimes which he had committed. It is said that he obeyed readily, manifesting in his conduct a genuine and pious fear of God.
    Quote Originally Posted by Dionysius of Alexandria
    And matters continued thus for a considerable time. But a sedition and civil war came upon the wretched people and turned their cruelty toward us against one another. So we breathed for a little while as they ceased from their rage against us. But presently the change from that milder reign was announced to us, and great fear of what was threatened seized us.

    It is wonderful that both of these things occurred under Valerian; and it is the more remarkable in this case when we consider his previous conduct, for he had been mild and friendly toward the men of God, for none of the emperors before him had treated them so kindly and favorably; and not even those who were said openly to be Christians received them with such manifest hospitality and friendliness as he did at the beginning of his reign. For his entire house was filled with pious persons and was a church of God.


    The opposing (and most widely accepted) theory lies primarily in the fact that as a former soldier and as Emperor he would have been required to take part in and reside over pagan rituals, something viewed by Christians as Idolatry. But it is believed there may have been groups of Christians who were lax when it came to the rules regarding taking part in pagan ceremonies, this could have potentially allowed a Christian to be a soldier or a public official while still considering themselves a Christian and being seen as Christian.

    I really don't know where I stand on this interesting bit of history, any opinions/theories?
    Last edited by ★Bandiera Rossa☭; August 18, 2010 at 02:03 AM.


  2. #2

    Default Re: The Religion of Philip the Arab

    i dont know what to discuss...
    http://e-sim.org/lan.126366/

    Je t'aime ma petite chou!

  3. #3

    Default Re: The Religion of Philip the Arab

    Quote Originally Posted by Bandiera Rossa View Post
    was known as one of the few Roman Emperors of the time who did not persecute Christians


  4. #4
    Shajarr ad-Durr's Avatar Tiro
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    Default Re: The Religion of Philip the Arab

    The Arabs living in or near the Empire did tend to favor Christianity. So it's possible.

  5. #5

    Default Re: The Religion of Philip the Arab

    Quote Originally Posted by Caesar Germanico View Post
    What is funny, if he did persecute, give some evidence.



  6. #6

    Default Re: The Religion of Philip the Arab

    few emperors actually did persecute christians

  7. #7
    Shajarr ad-Durr's Avatar Tiro
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    Default Re: The Religion of Philip the Arab

    The only ORGANIZED peresecutions took place under Decius, Valerian, Diocletian, and maybe 2-3 other 3rd and early 4th Century emperors.

    Nero, Domitian, and maybe Septimius Severus persecuted Christians on a personal whim, but didn't make any laws against them.

  8. #8
    intel's Avatar Protector Domesticus
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    Default Re: The Religion of Philip the Arab

    Quote Originally Posted by Shajarr ad-Durr View Post
    Nero (...) persecuted Christians on a personal whim, but didn't make any laws against them.
    It's very unlikely that Nero actually persecuted Christians. It's a myth created centuries after the death of this Emperor.


  9. #9
    Shajarr ad-Durr's Avatar Tiro
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    Default Re: The Religion of Philip the Arab

    Quote Originally Posted by intel View Post
    It's very unlikely that Nero actually persecuted Christians. It's a myth created centuries after the death of this Emperor.
    That may be the case. So AT BEST Nero only persecuted them on a whim, and at worst (as you suggest) he didn't bug them at all. Either way he didn't commit some kind of genocide like Catholic mythology claims.

    If you read the Bible you also see that "common" people, like Jewish synagogue leaders, were the ones normally stirring up trouble for Christians. So some emperors have probably been branded as "persecutors" because of things that happened during their reigns, not because of things they did. I think this is the case with Marcus Aurelius. He was accused of persecuting, but it wasn't in his nature to do such a thing.

  10. #10

    Default Re: The Religion of Philip the Arab

    Quote Originally Posted by Caesar Germanico View Post
    few emperors actually did persecute christians
    Okay I see what you are saying, good point.



  11. #11

    Default Re: The Religion of Philip the Arab

    Many Emperors have issued out decrees to limit people from actively finding and persecuting Christians. Widespread persecutions only happened during the third century, when Christians were viewed by the superstitious pagans as the reason for the troubles faced by the Empire.

  12. #12

    Default Re: The Religion of Philip the Arab

    the christian community in rome was quite small during nero (probably no more than a couple of thousand) the fire was not arson but there was rumors that christians had something to do (they belived the world would end soon maybe they said something or helped the fire spread) so a few were taken for questioning,that's it
    dont know why some people consider this event as a persecution

    probably those christians were nt even christians yet,they probably considered themself jews

  13. #13

    Default Re: The Religion of Philip the Arab

    Quote Originally Posted by ray243 View Post
    Many Emperors have issued out decrees to limit people from actively finding and persecuting Christians. Widespread persecutions only happened during the third century, when Christians were viewed by the superstitious pagans as the reason for the troubles faced by the Empire.
    Yep, especially Decius, it did not work out well for him though.



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