II
SECOND GROUP OF QUOTATIONS
Letter of Pliny to Trajan, CIRCA A.D. 112
IN the second group of quotations from ancient authorities
must be placed the very important notice of the persecution
in the days of Trajan, contained in the well-known
correspondence of Pliny and the Emperor. This has
been already discussed at some length.
It will be sufficient[1] here briefly to refer to the treatment of Christians whom Pliny found in his province of Bithynia not only in the towns but in the country villages, and to the influence which these Christians evidently exercised on the life of the province.
These Christians, with the exception of those who claimed to be citizens of Rome—who were sent to the capital for trial—were after the third examination, if they still continued contumacious, condemned and put to death on the authority of the governor ("perseverantes duci (ad mortem) jussi").
This is the only heathen authority[2] quoted here, but its extreme importance in this inquiry into the condition of Christians in the Roman Empire in the days of Trajan and earlier will justify its insertion.
Letter to Diognetus, CIRCA A.D. 117
The author of this very early Christian writing is unknown, and of the Diognetus to whom the letter is addressed we have
