# Of the Fourth Persecution of the Christians, under Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, which was Commenced about the year 166.

c. 166 · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: Of the Fourth Persecution of the Christians, under Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, which was Commenced about the year 166.

Source heading; not independently verified

P. J. Twisck, in his Chronicle, gives as the beginning
of the fourth persecution, the year A. D.
162; the writers of the Introduction to the Martyrs
Mirror of the Defenseless Christian, fix the beginning
in the year 164 (page 37, col. 2); J. Gysius,
in Hist. Mart., fol. 16, col. 2, places it in the year
168, and A. Mellinus makes no mention at all as to
the exact time of that persecution. However, all
these writers abound with accounts of the inhuman
tortures, which the faithful martyrs had to suffer at
that time.91

We, in order to pursue a middle course between
the abovementioned writers, have noted the year
166 as the beginning of said persecution. However,
there is but little difference between the above
writers; for it is probable, that the decrees for the
persecution of the Christians were first issued about
the year 162; that about the year 164 they were
carried into effect; and that about the year 168 they
exhibited their full force, insomuch that the persecution
was then at the height of its fierceness. However,
we shall proceed to see, how atrociously the
pious witnesses of Jesus Christ were then treated.





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