Christians didn't call themselves Christians
But then they started to call themselves Christians
Early Christians relaxed the rules
Persecution came in waves
They didn't go to physical churches
Communities
Second-class citizens
They might just die sooner than expected
Religious arguments were confusing
They could be thrown in the gladiatorial arena
The legalization of Christianity brought new problems

Christians didn't call themselves Christians, But then they started to call themselves Christians, Early Christians relaxed the rules, Persecution came in waves, They didn't go to physical churches, Communities, Second-class citizens, They might just die sooner than expected, Religious arguments were confusing, They could be thrown in the gladiatorial arena, The legalization of Christianity brought new problems

The tension between Roman and Judeo-Christian beliefs led to a rollercoaster of events in the ancient world. From the days of persecution to eventually going mainstream, Christianity went through many changes during the days of the Roman Empire. But what was it like for early Christians back then? How did Christians live in Roman times, and what challenges did they face?

Roads

The spread of Christianity owes a lot to Roman roads. The network of roads sweeping across the vast empire allowed for early Christian leaders such as Paul the Apostle to travel and share the Gospel.

Christians didn't call themselves Christians

There is no mention in the Bible of Jesus referring to his followers as "Christians." Instead, those who followed Christ called themselves "saints" or members of "The Way."

But then they started to call themselves Christians

It's not until Acts 11:26 that we find a reference to "Christians," when the leaders at Antioch use it to describe the followers of Christ. It reads: "[...] The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."

Early Christians relaxed the rules

Coming from a pagan background, many didn't follow Jewish principles, and things such as dietary restrictions were not followed.

Persecution came in waves

The persecution of Christians in ancient Rome came in waves. Indeed, 12 of the 54 Roman emperors who ruled between 30 CE and 311 CE persecuted Christians, with Emperor Nero (pictured) taking the trophy as the most ruthless.

Christians were persecuted, crucified, burned alive, and literally thrown to the lions for centuries. This, of course, until Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and ended the persecution in 312 CE.

They didn't go to physical churches

An example can be found in Romans 16:3-5, where Paul the Apostle makes reference to meetings held in the house of a couple, Priscilla and Aquilla.

Communities

They would dedicate themselves to helping the poor and those in need, as well as studying and worshiping. Early Christians redefined what it was to have a sense of community in ancient Rome.

Second-class citizens

This was particularly accentuated when Peter the Apostle succumbed to the pressure of religious leaders and started to distance himself from gentiles—an action that was condemned by Paul the Apostle.

They might just die sooner than expected

It was not easy being a Christian in ancient Rome, particularly during the days of persecution. Martyrdom was just around the corner for many of them.

Famous Christian martyrs include Paul the Apostle, who was beheaded, and Peter the Apostle, who was infamously crucified upside down in Rome.

Religious arguments were confusing

Christ was not around for a long time and had quite a sudden, tragic death, so there was some debate over a number of things. This included the concepts of "low Christology" and "high Christology."