Persecution by Emperor Domitian - 89 - 96 AD
[DISPUTED] (jan 1, 89 – jan 1, 96)
Description:
Historians and scholars now reject the idea that there was any major (if any) persecution under Domitian.
According to Eusebius' Church History:
Melito of Sardis (died c.180), mentioned that Domitian brought slanderous accusations against Christians.
Tertullian (160-220), who claimed that Domitian was cruel like the emperor Nero, but that he ceased his cruelty and recalled the Christians he had exiled.
Irenaeus (140-202) claimed Domitian’s persecution consisted only of John’s banishment to Patmos and the exile of other Christians to the island of Pontia.
But outside of that, there's not much other evidence of anything widespread. If there was any persecution, it was potentially very localised.
Added to timeline:
Chronological Timeline of the New Testament and other Early Church Texts and Events
A timeline of when the New Testament and other early Patrist...
Date:
