The Correspondence of Pliny and Caesar Trajan

by Steve Hale

After the death of Domitian, Nerva (A.D. 96-98) became the Roman Emperor. He became Caesar at the age of 66, and is considered one of "the five good emperors." Nerva brought back many of Domitian's exiles, stopped executions, and lowered Domitian's high taxes.
Nerva, for all of his good qualities, was hated by the famous Praetorian Guard. His frugal nature hindered their high lifestyle, and so they purposed to kill him. Nerva did not resist, but offered them his throat. Moved by his noble nature, the Guard spared his life, but demanded he adopt a son who would be acceptable both to the Senate and the Guard.
Nerva did just that, and adopted Marcus Ulpius Trainus, or known to us as Trajan. After just 16 months of rule, Trajan replaced Nerva. Trajan (98-117) had many excellent qualities. He was very disciplined, and loved by his troops. He was a great builder, a talented and hard- driving administrator, fiercely courageous, and yet very unostentatious.
In spite of all of these positive qualities, Trajan is best remembered by Christians through the famous Trajan letter. This is the first letter from a Roman Emperor that names and concerns itself with Christians. Among those that died as a result of this correspondence was Polycarp, an elder in the church at Smyrna.
Pliny, a nephew and adopted son to the famous Pliny was an elder in the church, was sent by Trajan to Bithynia as an emissary in regard to culture and religion. He was authorized to take care of any trouble.
By this time, Christianity was flourishing throughout Asia Minor. The Romans could not afford ti, ignore these Christians. Puzzled about what he should do, Pliny wrote Trajan. His letter is quite lengthy, but the gist of it is as follows:
This 'superstition' (Christianity) is spreading rapidly, encompassing all ages and manner of peoples. In interrogating, the people were asked if they were Christians three times. If they confessed it twice, they were told of execution. At the third confession, Pliny says he ordered their execution.
Those that pledged themselves to the gods and the emperor were pardoned. Those that were Christians, but cursed Christ and confessed the gods and the emperors were pardoned. But given the broad extent of Christianity, Pliny now inquires of Trajan.
Here is Trajan's famous letter in response to Pliny:

"The method you have pursued, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those denounced to you as Christians is eminently proper .. No search should be made for these people; when they are denounced and found guilty they should be punished; but when the accused party denies that he is a Christian, and give proof .. by adoring our gods, he shall be pardoned ... Information without the accusees name subscribed shall not be admitted in evidence against anyone (Pliny the Younger Letters Loeb Library).

Trajan was no Nero or Domitian, but he did execute many. While returning in great military triumph and expansion, Trajan died of dropsy and a stroke whicn
followed. He was 64, and was cremated, with his ashes buried beneath the Trajan column in Rome.

• Hadrian's Renaming of Jerusalem - Jun 27, 1993
• Caesar Domitian - Jun 03, 1993
• Caesar Vespasian and His Son, Caesar Titus - May 23, 1993
• Galba, Otho, and Vitellius - May 16, 1993
• Herod's Descendants - May 02, 1993