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.

Pliny the Younger

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:

  1. Jesus was worshipped as a god.
  2. Christians met on a fixed day of the week.
  3. The meeting occurred before sunrise.
  4. They sang songs to Christ.
  5. Christians were committed to holy behavior.