Pliny the Younger and Biblical Traditions

Christian Alexander

I have to write a paper on Pliny the Younger and Christian Traditions. I do not see how Pliny the Younger is related to Christianity. My essay requirements are "Write a 7-10 page paper explaining how Pliny the Younger conveys Christian logic and ethos. This paper should use at least 10 sources."

Dave Hooton

From looking in Factbook, this may help:

"The tenth volume contains the most relevance for Christianity, for in Letters 10.96–97, Pliny and Trajan discussed how to deal with the rising presence of this new religion. Pliny noted that the Christians were not known troublemakers, but their influence resulted in people’s decreased participation with the imperial religion in that region. For Pliny, their only crimes were their obstinate refusals to offer incense to the genius of the emperor upon being requested to do so and to recant their faith. Thus, Pliny asked Trajan for advice on how he ought to handle these Christians. Trajan’s response set a precedent for the Roman government’s future treatment of Christians. He instructed Pliny to avoid seeking out the Christians, but if any came before him, he ought to require them to participate in the imperial cult or face punishment; this policy would mark the majority of Roman actions toward Christianity from this time until Constantine (c. 280–337). Pliny appeared to have followed Trajan’s instructions, though he would die in Bithynia shortly after this exchange around 113.

Related Topics: Constantine the Great

See Also: Emperor Domitian; Emperor Trajan; Pliny the Elder; Roman Empire

Sources: Gibson, R. K., and R. Morello. 2012. Reading the Letters of Pliny the Younger: An Introduction. Cambridge; Sherwin-White, A. N. 1966. The Letters of Pliny: A Historical and Social Commentary. Oxford; Sherwin-White, A. N. 2003. Fifty Letters of Pliny, 2nd ed. Oxford; Wilken, R. L. 1984. The Christians as the Romans Saw Them. New Haven, CT."
Edwards, J. H. (2022). Pliny the Younger. In M. A. G. Haykin (Ed.), The Essential Lexham Dictionary of Church History. Lexham Press.