Smyrna
The Persecuted Church epoch (100–313) — era of Roman persecution after the Apostolic age; refusal to sacrifice to Roman gods / emperor as divine fed hostility.
Lesson 5 · Course 63
Smyrna & Pergamos: The Persecuted and Worldly Church (100–800)
Smyrna the Persecuted Church (100–313) and Pergamos the Worldly Church (313–800) — John the last Apostle (~100), early learning and worship, Justin Martyr’s order of worship, Ambrose’s doctrinally pure hymns, desert refuge under persecution (to Diocletian), Jesus’ word to Pergamos (Balaam/Nicolaitans), Augustine (Confessions & City of God; not first to use Trinity), and Patrick of Ireland.
At a glance
Summary
Lesson 5 covers Smyrna (the Persecuted Church, 100–313) and Pergamos (the Worldly Church, 313–800). Around AD 100 John, the last surviving Apostle, dies. By 150 the Bible is not yet translated into German. Augustine was not the first theologian to use the term Trinity. Early Christians were committed to learning and advancement; dancing, drama, and instrumental music were not heavily embraced. In Justin Martyr’s early order of worship, the cup was not reserved only for presiding ministers. Ambrose of Milan wrote doctrinally pure hymns. Under Roman persecution the desert became a refuge for many seeking inner peace; persecution peaked under Diocletian. Jesus commended Pergamos for holding fast His name yet rebuked tolerance of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. Augustine of Hippo’s best-known works are Confessions and The City of God. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
Quiz 5: 10/10 (100%), 7m35s, attempt 101753 (cmid 1125). Essays Complete/Not graded. 1 attempt.
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- Around AD 100 John, the last surviving Apostle, dies.
- By 150 AD the Bible is NOT translated into German.
- Augustine was NOT the first theologian to use the term "Trinity."
- Early Christians were committed to learning and advancement.
- Dancing, drama, and instrumental music were NOT heavily embraced by the early church.
- Justin Martyr’s order of worship: the cup was NOT given only to presiding ministers.
- Ambrose of Milan was known for writing doctrinally pure hymns.
- Because of Roman persecution, the desert became home for many searching for inner peace; severity peaked under Diocletian.
- Jesus to Pergamos: held fast His name where Satan’s throne was, yet rebuked Balaam/Nicolaitan compromise; repent.
- Augustine’s best-known works: Confessions and The City of God; Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
Pergamos
The Worldly / State Church epoch (313–800). Jesus commended holding fast His name where Satan’s throne was, yet rebuked Balaam and Nicolaitan tolerance.
John (last Apostle)
Around AD 100, John — the last surviving Apostle — dies (Quiz 5 True).
Justin Martyr
Early Christian apologist whose order of worship shows bread and cup given to worshippers — not cup only to ministers.
Ambrose of Milan
Known for writing doctrinally pure hymns; his influence and Scripture reading helped lead Augustine to conversion.
Desert refuge
Under Roman persecution, the desert became home for many searching for inner peace.
Diocletian
Emperor under whom official persecution of the church reached its most severe form (essay on persecution 100–313).
Balaam / Nicolaitans
False teachings Jesus rebuked at Pergamos — led toward idolatry, compromise, and immoral practices; He warned He would fight them with the sword of His mouth.
Augustine of Hippo
North African bishop (baptized 387); Confessions and The City of God; NOT the first to use the term Trinity; shaped church teaching for centuries.
Patrick
Patron saint of Ireland (Quiz 5 True).
Structure
Outline / timeline
- Smyrna — The Persecuted Church (100–313)
- Why persecution — refusal of emperor cult; rumors; poor classes; faithful lives; decrees to Diocletian
- Pergamos — The Worldly Church (313–800)
- Jesus to Pergamos — hold fast His name; rebuke Balaam/Nicolaitans; repent; promise to overcomers
- ~100 AD — John, last surviving Apostle, dies
- By 150 AD — Bible NOT yet translated into German
- Early Christians — committed to learning; cautious about dancing, drama, instrumental music
- Justin Martyr — early order of worship; bread and cup to worshippers
- Ambrose — doctrinally pure hymns; influence on Augustine
- Augustine — conversion 387; Confessions & City of God; Patrick — Ireland
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz 5 | 100% (10/10), 1 attempt, 7m35s, cmid 1125, attempt 101753 |
|---|---|
| John ~100 AD | Last surviving Apostle dies — True |
| Bible / German by 150 | Translated into German by 150 AD — False |
| Augustine / Trinity | First to use term "Trinity" — False |
| Learning | Early Christians committed to learning and advancement — True |
| Dancing / drama / instruments | Heavily embraced by early church — False |
| Justin Martyr cup | Cup only to presiding ministers — False |
| Ambrose | Doctrinally pure hymns — True |
| Desert / Diocletian | Desert refuge under persecution — True; most severe official form under Diocletian |
| Augustine works | Confessions and The City of God — True; baptized 387; bishop of Hippo |
| Patrick | Patron saint of Ireland — True |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
Smyrna vs Pergamos
- Smyrna (100–313): Persecuted Church — emperor cult refusal, rumors, decrees; desert refuge; peak under Diocletian
- Pergamos (313–800): Worldly / State Church — hold fast His name where Satan’s throne was, yet rebuke for Balaam/Nicolaitan compromise
Early worship practices
- Embraced: learning and advancement; doctrinally pure hymnody (Ambrose); Justin’s shared bread and cup
- Not heavily embraced: dancing, drama, instrumental music; separation from pagan entertainment fed pagan hostility
Augustine — what he is / is not
- Is: North African leader; baptized 387; Confessions and The City of God; shaped teaching for centuries
- Is NOT: the first theologian to use the term "Trinity"
Quiz True vs False stems
- True: John dies ~100; committed to learning; Ambrose hymns; desert refuge; Augustine’s two great works; Patrick / Ireland
- False: German Bible by 150; Augustine first to say Trinity; dancing/drama/instruments heavily embraced; cup only to ministers
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- Smyrna: the church was hated for confessing Jesus as Lord instead of the emperor — faithfulness under pressure shaped identity.
- Pergamos: hold fast His name where Satan’s throne is, yet repent of Balaam/Nicolaitan compromise — Jesus fights false teachers with the sword of His mouth.
- Worship that forms disciples: learning, shared table (Justin), and doctrinally pure song (Ambrose) — not spectacle.
- Augustine’s Confessions and City of God still preach grace and the two cities — without claiming he invented the Trinity.
- Patrick’s Ireland shows Gospel advance beyond the old empire’s center.
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 10 items
Quiz score: 100% · 1 attempt
1. Around 100 AD, John, the last surviving Apostle dies.
TrueAround AD 100 John, the last surviving Apostle, dies.
2. By 150 AD, the Bible is translated into German.
FalseBy 150 AD the Bible is NOT translated into German.
3. Augustine was the first theologian to use the term, "Trinity."
FalseAugustine was NOT the first theologian to use the term Trinity.
4. In the early church, those who became Christians were committed to learning and advancement.
TrueEarly Christians were committed to learning and advancement.
5. Dancing, drama, and instrumental music were heavily embraced by the early church.
FalseDancing, drama, and instrumental music were NOT heavily embraced.
6. In an early order of worship penned by Justin Martyr, the bread was given to the worshippers, but the cup was given only to the presiding ministers.
FalseThe cup was NOT reserved only for ministers — False that only ministers got the cup.
7. Ambrose of Milan was known for writing doctrinally pure hymns.
TrueAmbrose of Milan wrote doctrinally pure hymns.
8. Because of the persecution by the Roman Emperor, the desert became home for many searching for inner peace.
TrueUnder Roman persecution the desert became a refuge for many seeking inner peace.
9. Augustine of Hippo's best known works are probably his Confessions and The City of God.
TrueAugustine’s best-known works are Confessions and The City of God.
10. The patron saint of Ireland is Patrick.
TruePatrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
Essay themes
If you preach or review
Explain why the church was severely persecuted between 100 and 313 AD.
The church was persecuted for several reasons. Christians refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods or honor the emperor as divine, and they confessed Jesus as Lord, which made Rome see them as a rival and an unlawful society. Their separation from pagan entertainment and practices also made them seem antisocial. Because believers met at night and called one another brothers and sisters, false rumors accused them of immorality, cannibalism, and other crimes. Many Christians came from the poor and dispossessed classes, so critics dismissed Christianity as a movement of the ignorant. Their faithful lives also convicted pagans of sin. These pressures, along with official hostility and repeated imperial decrees, led to persecution that reached its most severe official form under Diocletian.
Explain what Jesus said to the church at Pergamos.
Jesus commended the church at Pergamos for holding fast to His name even though it lived where Satan's throne was and where Antipas had been killed. However, He rebuked the church for tolerating people who followed the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. Those teachings led believers toward idolatry, compromise, and immoral practices. Jesus therefore called them to repent and warned that He would fight against the false teachers with the sword of His mouth. He promised hidden manna, a white stone, and a new name to those who overcame.
Who was Augustine of Hippo and why was he important?
Augustine of Hippo was a North African Christian leader, born to a Christian mother and a pagan father. He was highly educated in philosophy and rhetoric and taught rhetoric in Carthage, Rome, and Milan. The influence of Ambrose of Milan and his reading of Scripture led to his conversion; he was baptized in 387. He later became a priest and then bishop. Augustine was important because his Confessions and The City of God shaped Christian thinking and helped establish the direction of church teaching and practice for centuries. His writings also gave the church a deep testimony of grace and conversion.