Author’s Background
Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus (AD 61-113), or Pliny the Younger, was the governor of Bithynia (AD 112) and a Roman senator. He wrote to emperor Trajan asking for guidance on how he should treat the Christians in his province.
Reference To Jesus Christ
Christians were “meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang an alternate verse a hymn to Christ as to a god, and bound themselves to a solemn oath, not to do wicked deeds, never commit fraud, theft, adultery, not to lie nor to deny a trust. . . ” – Epistles X96
Conclusion
This reference reveals several key things:
- Jesus was worshipped as a god.
- Christians met on a fixed day of the week.
- The meeting occurred before sunrise.
- They sang songs to Christ.
- Christians were committed to holy behavior.