Pliny the Younger's Letter to Trajan
Context
Pliny the Younger was a Roman senator and author who wrote letters to Emperor Trajan about administrative matters. In these letters, he discussed the trials of Christians in his province around 111 AD. He was one of the key Roman historians who referenced early Christians in his works.
What Was Written
Pliny the Younger was a Roman statesman and author who served as governor of Bithynia in the early 2nd century. He wrote a letter to Emperor Trajan seeking advice on how to handle Christians in his province, which included details about their trials and punishments. Trajan responded with instructions that Christians should not be actively sought out but should be punished if they were accused and refused to recant. This correspondence provides a record of Roman legal approaches to early Christianity.
Why This Matters
This letter documents early Roman administrative responses to Christianity, illustrating legal practices in the empire.
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