111–117

The correspondence of Pliny the Younger with Trajan concerning the Christians

Appointed governor of Bithynia, Pliny the Younger found many Christians there. He executed those who persisted. But finding no crimes behind them, he asked Emperor Trajan for guidance.

Trajan replied that Christians should not be specifically sought out and that anonymous accusations should not be accepted. But upon a proven charge and refusal to recant, they should be punished.

This policy of "half-repression" defined the empire's stance toward Christians for most of the 2nd century. It was later confirmed by Hadrian. Tertullian later denounced the internal contradiction of this rule: punishing for the name alone while not seeking out the guilty.