Hadrian and the Early Christians
Early Christian writings mention Hadrian as a Roman emperor who heard Christian appeals, received apologies, and was linked to later martyr traditions. Justin Martyr cites Hadrian’s letter, Aristides addresses him directly, and Tertullian refers to his policy toward Christians. Some later Christian accounts also connect Hadrian with sacrifice demands and persecution stories.
111 early-church witnesses · 201 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about hadrian and the Early Christians?
Early Christian writers spoke about Hadrian in several different ways. Aristides addressed an apology to Hadrian, Justin Martyr cited Hadrian’s letter and asked for fair treatment of Christians, and Tertullian said Hadrian did not enforce persecution in the way some later rulers did. Other early writers used Hadrian as a date marker or mentioned him in passing, and Julius Africanus preserved traditions of Hadrian ordering sacrifices and opposing Christians.
The evidence is broad for Hadrian as a Roman emperor linked to Christian appeals, legal treatment, and martyr stories, but it is mixed because some cards are only historical notices or later martyr accounts rather than direct teaching about Hadrian and the church. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Hadrian appears in early Christian writing mainly as a Roman ruler Christians addressed or appealed to.
- Justin Martyr and Aristides connect Hadrian to Christian defense and public judgment.
- Some later Christian accounts link Hadrian with sacrifice demands and martyr stories, but those reports are less direct.
Questions Answered by the Sources
How do early Christian writers mention Hadrian?
Several early Christian writers mention Hadrian directly, usually in apologetic, historical, or chronological contexts rather than as the main subject. These references show that Hadrian was known to Christian authors as a Roman emperor within their historical memory.
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Aristides, The Apology Direct teaching
What follows is the defense that Aristides the philosopher presented before King Hadrian on behalf of reverence for God.
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Aristides, The Apology Supporting witness
...All-powerful Cæsar Titus Hadrianus Antoninus, venerable and merciful, from Marcianus Aristides, an Athenian philosopher.
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching
... God. Even though we could demand, based on the letter of the greatest and most illustrious Emperor Adrian, your father, that you render judgment as we desire, we have made this appeal and explanation not because of Adrian’s decision but because we know that what we ask is just. We have included a copy of Adrian’s letter so that you understand we are speaking truthfully about this. And here is the copy:—
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness
The Emperor Cæsar Titus Ælius Adrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius, Supreme Pontiff, in the fifteenth year of his tribuneship, Consul for the third time, Father of the fatherland, to the Common Assembly of Asia, greeting: I should have thought that the gods themselves would see to it that such offenders should not escape.
Did early Christians connect Hadrian with persecution or sacrifice pressure?
The supplied sources include martyr narratives and anti-pagan polemic that place Hadrian in a context of sacrifice demands and hostility toward Christians. These cards do not give a single unified account, but they do show a consistent early Christian memory of imperial pressure and suffering.
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Julius Africanus, Extant Writings Direct teaching
The Emperor Adrian said to the holy Symphorosa, “Either offer sacrifice with your sons to the almighty gods, or I will have you yourself sacrificed along with your sons.” The blessed Symphorosa answered, “And from where does this great good come to me, that I should be counted worthy, along with my sons, to be offered as a sacrifice to God?” The Emperor Adrian said, “I will have you sacrificed to my gods.” The blessed Symphorosa replied, “Your gods cannot receive me as a sacrifice. But if I am burned for the name of Christ my God, I will instead consume those demons of yours.” The Emperor Adrian said, “Choose one of these two things: either sacrifice to my gods, or die a terrible death.” The blessed Symphorosa replied, “You think my mind can be changed by some kind of fear. But I long to rest with my husband Getulius, whom you put to death for Christ’s name.” Then the Emperor Adrian ordered that she be taken to the temple of Hercules, and there first struck on the face, and afterward hung up by her hair. But when he could not turn her away from her firm resolve by any argument or any fear, he ordered her to be thrown into the river with a large stone tied to her neck. And her broth
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Julius Africanus, Extant Writings Direct teaching
When Adrian had built a palace and wanted to dedicate it with that wicked ceremony, he began to seek answers by offering sacrifices to idols and to the demons that dwell in idols. They replied and said, "The widow Symphorosa, with her seven sons, wounds us day by day by calling on her God. Therefore, if she and her sons offer sacrifice, we promise to do all that you ask." Then Adrian ordered her to be seized, along with her sons, and urged them in courteous words to agree to offer sacrifice to the idols. But the blessed Symphorosa answered him, "My husband Getulius, together with his brother Amantius, when they were tribunes in your service, suffered different punishments for the name of Christ rather than agree to sacrifice to idols. And, like good athletes, they overcame your demons in death. For rather than be forced to yield, they chose to be beheaded and suffered death. That death, because it was endured for the name of Christ, did bring them temporary disgrace among the people of this earth, but everlasting honor and glory among the angels. And now, moving among them and displaying the trophies of their sufferings, they enjoy eternal life with the eternal King in heaven."
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Julius Africanus, Extant Writings Supporting witness
... these he detailed the chief events in history from the foundation of the world to the times of the Emperor Heliogabalus. However, as that work is lost, I would not venture to assert positively that this narrative is really to be ascribed to Africanus, although at the same time there seems to be no ground for doubting its genuineness. We print it, moreover, from the editions of Mombritius, Surius, and Cardulus, compared with two Colbert manuscripts and one in the library of the Sorbonne. The occasion for the death of these saints was found in the vicinity of that most famous palace which, according to Spartianus, was built by Adrian at his country seat at Tiber. For when the emperor gave orders that this palace, which he had built for his pleasure, should be purified by some piacular ceremonies, the priests seized this opportunity to accuse Symphorosa, alleging that the gods would not be satisfied until Symphorosa should either sacrifice to them or be herself sacrificed. This last thing was done by Hadrian, whom, from many others of his deeds, we know to have been exceedingly superstitious, about the year of Christ 120, that is, about the beginning of his reign. At that period i
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Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness
which neither a Hadrian, though fond of searching into all things strange and new, nor a Vespasian, though the subjugator of the Jews, nor a Pius, nor a Verus, ever enforced?
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
Among the people of Cyprus, Teucer sacrificed a human victim to Jupiter, and handed down to posterity that sacrifice which was lately abolished by Hadrian when he was emperor.
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Julius Africanus, Extant Writings Supporting witness
2. The Emperor Adrian said to the holy Symphorosa: Either sacrifice along with your sons to the omnipotent gods, or else I shall cause you to be sacrificed yourself, together with your sons.
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Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness
And as he did not by public law remove from Christians their legal disabilities, yet in another way he put them openly aside, even adding a sentence of condemnation, and that of greater severity, against their accusers.
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Julius Africanus, Extant Writings Supporting witness
The occasion for the death of these saints was found in the vicinity of that most famous palace which was built by Adrian at his country seat at Tiber, according to Spartianus.
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Julius Africanus, Extant Writings Supporting witness
The Emperor Adrian said: I shall cause you to be sacrificed to my gods.
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Julius Africanus, Extant Writings Supporting witness
The Emperor Adrian said: Choose one of these alternatives: either sacrifice to my gods, or perish by an evil death.
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Julius Africanus, Extant Writings Supporting witness
Then Adrian ordered her to be seized, along with her sons, and advised them in courteous terms to consent to consent to offer sacrifice to the idols.
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness
to whom he replied that they should not at all disturb such persons, unless they were found to be attempting anything against the Roman government.
How did early Christians describe their treatment under Roman rulers?
Other selected sources show Christians appealing to Roman justice, describing persecution, or explaining how believers responded under imperial rule. These are useful background for Hadrian-era questions, but they do not specifically prove a Hadrian-centered claim.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching
...rva for one year, four months, and ten days; Trajan for nineteen years, seven months, and ten days; Hadrian for twenty years, ten months, and twenty-eight days. Antoninus reigned for twenty-two years, three months, and seven days; Marcus Aurelius Antoninus for nineteen years and eleven days; and Commodus for twelve years, nine months, and fourteen days.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
... of the apostles, embracing the ministry of Paul, ends with Nero. It was later, in the time of King Adrian, that those who invented the heresies arose. They extended to the age of Antoninus the Elder. For example, Basilides, though he claims, as they boast, that his master was Glaucias, the interpreter of Peter.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
...n, ten years; Titus, three years; Domitian, fifteen years; Nerva, one year; Trajan, nineteen years; Adrian, twenty-one years; Antoninus, twenty-one years; and then Antoninus and Commodus together, thirty-two years. Altogether, from Augustus to Commodus there are two hundred and twenty-two years; and from Adam to the death of Commodus, five thousand seven hundred and eighty-four years, two months, and twelve days.
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Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Supporting witness
Adrian, 20 years 10 months 28 days; Antoninus, 22 years 7 months 6 days;
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
Adrian, twenty years, ten months, twenty-eight days. Antoninus, twenty-two years, three months, and seven days;
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
Nerva, one year; Trajan, nineteen years; Adrian, twenty-one years;
Common Questions
Did early Christians think Hadrian was hostile to them?
Some early Christian writings present Hadrian as a ruler Christians had to answer to, but not every mention is hostile. Justin Martyr cites Hadrian’s letter as support for fair treatment, while later martyr stories portray him more harshly.
Why is Hadrian mentioned in early Christian writings?
He is mentioned as a Roman emperor in Christian apologies, historical lists, and martyr traditions. The main use is to place Christian events in Roman history or to show how Christians dealt with imperial власти.
Source Index for Hadrian and the Early Christians
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 201 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 111
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 90
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.