In part 3 of our series we return to Rome and see how the early Christians survived persecution. Looking at how the church responded to the arrest of Peter in Acts 12, we that the early church continued the practice of gathering together when persecution came and encouraging one another in prayer and the Word of God. Not being able to meet in public places or in private homes, the believers met in the one place the citizens of Rome would never go, the Catacombs.

Under Rome lies a network of catacombs into which the Romans buried their dead. But the Romans hated death and so they outsourced this work to slaves. No upstanding Roman would be found in the catacombs, so the Christians could meet freely. When Christianity became the faith of the Empire under Emperor Constantine the Christians then were buried also in the Catacombs. Their gravestones tell of their faith and strong belief. One doctrine that was important to them was that of the Trinity.

This doctrine had been one of great controversy through the first centuries of the church and wasn't settled until 325 and the Council of Nicaea. But in the first century it was Pope Clement I who began the development of the Trinity and how it works. Being the Bishop of Rome it then makes sense why this was so important to the early believers and a doctrine developed for our benefit today.

The Life of the Church - Learning our Church History is a teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. For videos and handouts visit www.annalongpc.org/midweek.

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