Why were the early Christians persecuted by Rome?
Rome persecuted the early Christians because their movement was new and lacked the standing of Judaism, an ancient religion the Roman authorities respected and protected. Influenced by Jewish accusations, Rome treated Christianity as a mere sect or novel deviation rather than a protected faith.
Les explains that the Judaistic religious people had clout with Rome, and Rome respected Judaism as one of the ancient religions. Rome even protected the vast Temple offerings sent from across the empire, and Jewish authorities could demand extradition. By contrast, Christianity was something totally new. As the Jews accused it, Rome treated it like some kind of sect, not an ancient protected faith. That newness and the accusations against it explain why Rome persecuted Christians.
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Why did the Romans persecute the early Christians?
The reason Rome persecuted Christians was that Christianity was something totally new, which the Jews accused of being a sect.