(A famous case in Asia Minor around 185 where Christians wanted to be executed by the governor, and the governor told them to jump off a cliff if they wanted to.) A large group of Christians could’ve been persecuted, but instead, they were volunteering to die.
- In Decius’ time, Christians were disliked, but there are no reports of Christians being rounded up, active persecution, etc.
Recent research into the Decian persecution has questioned whether Decius was all that interested in the Christians
- Decian “persecution” was short-lived and not specifically directed against Christians.
- Decius never intended to persecute them anyways
See Rives, “Decree of Decius,” 151, it is not even clear how long the effects of the decree were felt. Once the decree arrived in a particular location, it would have had to have been enforced, but the enforcement of the sacrifice would have taken place in a relatively short time period and with as much efficiency as the Roman administrators could muster. Thus, the actual period in which citizens were expected to present themselves and participate in the ritual might have lasted only a few months.
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