apobetics
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 Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 4:12 pm Post subject: The Trail of Blood 10 -Baptist History |
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The Trail of Blood 10
[This material was taken from "Trail of Blood" by J. M. Carroll and is
presented in a more condensed form by the editor for easier reading.]
All Scripture is KJV.
First Period A.D. 33-500-Growth of the Churches
11. Up to this period (A.D. 251), notwithstanding much and serious
persecutions, Christianity has had a marvelous growth. It has covered
and even gone beyond the great Roman Empire. Almost, if not all the
inhabited world has heard the gospel. And according to some of the
church historians, many of the original churches organized by the
Apostles are yet intact, and yet loyal to Apostolic teachings.
However, as already shown, a number of very marked and hurtful errors
have crept in and gotten a permanent hold among many of the churches.
Some have become very irregular.
12. Persecutions have become increasingly bitter. Near the beginning
of the forth century comes the possibly the first defininte government
edict of persecution. The wonderful growth of Christianity has
alarmed the pagan leaders of the Roman Empire. Hence Galerius, the
emperor, sent out a direct edict of more savage persecution. This
occurred February 14, A.D. 303. Up to this time Paganism seems to
have persecuted without any definite laws to that effect[ "Under the
Influence: how Christianity transformed civilization," Alvin J.
Schmidt, 2001, ISBN 0-310-23637-1]
13. But the edict failed so utterly in its purpose of stopping the
growth of Christianity, that this same emperor, Galerius just eight
years thereafter (A.D. 311) passed another edict recalling the first
and actully granting toleration, permission to live the religion of
Jesus Christ. This was probably the its first favorable law.
Next in 11-the marriage of Paganism and false Christianity |
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