Re: The Early Christians: In Their Own Words

The rank afforded by property and profession was recognized to be 
incompatible with such fellow****p and simplicity, and repugnant to it. For

that reason alone, the early Christians had an aversion to any high 
judicial position and commissions in the army. They found it impossible to

take responsibility for any penalty or imprisonment, any disfranchisement,

any judgment over life or death, or the execution of any death sentence 
pronounced by martial or criminal courts. Other trades and professions
were 
out of the question because they were connected with idolatry or 
immorality. Christians therefore had to be prepared to give up their 
occupations. The resulting threat of hunger was no less frightening than 
violent death by martyrdom.