Did Domitian persecute Christians?

Answer:

Domitian's reign is divided into two parts by historians because he started out as a good, though strict, ruler but turned cruel in his last years. In order to understand him, you must notice that he was a devote follower of the Roman religions.

"The fires of 79 and 82 having caused much destruction and destitution, Domitian organized a program of public works to provide employment and distribute wealth. He, too, hoped to reanimate the old faith by beautifying or multiplying its shrines. He raised the Temple of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva once more, and spent $22,000,000 on its gold-plated doors and gilded roof; ..." [Will Durant, Caesar and Christ, p. 290].

Such emphasis on idolatry naturally put him at odds with both Jews and Christians who stated clearly that idols were nothing and idolatry was sinful.

But in his later age, he became worse.

"The revolt of Saturninus was the turning point in Domitian's reign, the dividing line between his better and worse selves. He had always been coldly severe; now he slipped into cruelty. He was capable of good government, but only as an autocrat; the Senate rapidly lost power under him; and his tenacious authority as censor made that body at once subservient and vengeful. Vanity, which flourishes even in the humble, had no check in Domitian's status: he filled the Capitol with statues of himself, announced the divinity of his father, brother, wife, and sisters as well as his own, organized a new order of priests, the Flaviales, to tend the worship of these new deities and required officials to speak of him, in their documents, as Dominus et Deus Noster -- "Our Lord and God." He sat on a throne, encouraged visitors to embrace his knees, and established in his ornate place the etiquette of an Oriental court." [Will Durant, Caesar and Christ, p. 292].

His rulings lead to mass rebellions, not just among Jews and Christians, but also among the philosophers and other religions in the empire.

"In 93 Domitian executed some Christians for refusing to offer sacrifices before his image; according to tradition these included his nephew Flavius Clemens." [Will Durant, Caesar and Christ, p. 292]. In his last few years, he became exceedingly paranoid. "After Saturninus' revolt indictments and convictions rapidly increased; aristocrats were exiled or killed, suspected men were tortured, even by having 'fire inserted into their private parts.'" [Will Durant,Caesar and Christ, p. 292].

"Under Domitian, just a generation later, some sources indicate another persecution directed at Christians. Operating with the knowledge that Christians refused adhering to the Imperial Cult of Caesar worship, Domitian may have launched an investigation, sending a team to Galilee to discover the roots of Jesus. Though evidence is sketchy, it does indicate at least a general knowledge and adversarial relationship between the Emperor and the cult. Domitian has also been accused of mass executions of Christians, which is true, but it wasn't necessarily a purge targeted at that single group. Domitian ruled in an almost tyrannical reign of terror in which many perished, not just Christians. Political enemies, 'divisive' groups and individuals of all kinds met terrible fates. Though he too, may have used the excuse of Christianity to justify some murders, there is little evidence that he had a personal agenda against the cult" [UNRV History, "Christian Persecution"]

The problem is that Domitian set a precedence that was follow thereafter. Some less severely and some more severely against "divisive" groups, including Christians. The article "Christian Persecution" cited above, documents the policies.

Foxe's Book of Martyrs states, "The first persecution ceased under Vespasian who gave some rest to the poor Christians. After whose reign was moved, not long after, the second persecution, by the emperor Domitian, brother of Titus. He, first beginning mildly and modestly, afterward did so far outrage in pride intolerable, that he commanded himself to be worshipped as god, and that images of gold and silver in his honour should be set up in the capital." [page 13]

Did Domitian persecute Christians? The evidence is "yes," though he did not specifically target this one group. Rather, he made life difficult for those he termed as "atheists," that is those who refused to worship the Roman gods. In his later years, he made himself out to be a god and persecuted just about anyone of whom he had the least suspicion. That Christians were seen as a seditious group can be seen in Pliny's letter to Tacitus and Tacitus's reply. Tacitus was the successor to Domitian, and the letters imply that there existed laws where worship of the emperor was a deciding factor in whether further action was taken against individuals. Tacitus mitigates the harsher policy of the former emperor without voiding the actual policy (an early "don't ask, don't tell" enforcement).

Yes, Revelation does speak to all Christians. The letters to the Corinthians were specifically for the church in Corinth, but they teach all Christians in all places and ages about handling problems within a congregation. Revelation is specifically about the Roman persecution of the church, but it teaches all Christians of all ages about overcoming.

Revelation is a deeper book and does require detailed knowledge of both the Old and New Testament. The fact that it is a popular playground for false teachers doesn't imply that it can't be understood. The fact that some parts of the Bible take extra effort to understand doesn't imply that God is an author of confusion. "Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without blemish and blameless in his sight. Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you; as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." (II Peter 3:14-18)