We will end the week with the third and final government official that mentions Christians and how they were to be treated. Emperor Hadrian (117-138 A.D.) replies in a letter to Asian proconsul Minucius Fundanus, who was the successor to Serenius Granianus (Asian proconsul and author of the initial letter to which Hadrian was replying).
I do not wish, therefore, that the matter should be passed by without examination, so that these men may neither be harassed, nor opportunity of malicious proceedings be offered to informers. If, therefore, the provincials can clearly evince their charges against the Christians, so as to answer before the tribunal, let them pursue this course only, but not by mere petitions, and ere out cries against the Christians. For it is far more proper, if any one would bring an accusation, that you should examine it.[1]
So, if someone is being charged with being a Christian, then an investigation must ensue and they must be charged according to the crime they have committed. We can see the following data from Hadrian's response[2]:
- Christians were frequently reported as lawbreakers in Asia and were punished in various ways.
- Like Trajan, Hadrian encouraged a certain amount of tolerance and ordered that they not be harassed.
- If Christians were found guilty after careful examination, then they ought to be punished.
- However, undocumented charges were not to be heard or brought against them and if anyone did so, then the one leveling the undocumented charges were to be punished instead.
- Habermas, Gary R. The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ. Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing, 2008, 200-201.
- Ibid., 201.