Furthermore, while the great apologists made every effort to prove to the authorities that their faith was not opposed to imperial policies, there are indications that some common Christians were well aware that there was an unavoidable clash between the goals of the empire and the divine purpose. When one of these Christians was taken before imperial authorities, we are told that he refused to acknowledge the authority of the emperor, and declared that Christ was “my Lord, the emperor over all kings and all nations.” Finally, while some of the more cultured Christians tended to spiritualize
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Lower class Christians saw the kingdom as God's government
