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The Christian sense of intellectual spiritual challenge was just about completely absent from the religions of the early Roman Empire.
基督教中对于个体心智和精神上的这种挑战在早期罗马帝国国教里是完全找不到的。
During the time of the Pax Romana Christian beliefs were in a stat of flux,
罗马和平时期，基督教信仰处于不稳定状态，
a belief in Jesus as a Messiah had lead to expectations of an imminent second coming,
认为耶稣是救世主的信念让人们期望耶稣的再度降临于世，
as these expectations started to fade and transform themselves the Christian church began to prepare itself for an eventual second coming. Which nobody could predict accurately.
随着这些期望渐渐的消退发生转变，基督教堂也开始做好准备进行最后的再度降临。具体什么时候，没有人能够准确预测。
One task was organizational the Christian church began to develop a hierarchy of religious leaders and specific rituals of worship.
而准备工作中的一个任务就是组织结构上的基督教堂开始发展出宗教领导等级体系和具体的礼拜仪式。
This task of course required close study of Jesus' teachings through spiritual and organizational guidance.
要完成这项任务，当然就得通过精神和组织上的指引来仔细研读耶稣的教义。
The church had also to define a working relationship with the secular world in general, and the Roman government in particular.
教堂也得明确规定自己和俗世的关系，尤其是和罗马政府的关系。
Yet the Christian church remained distinctly aside from the secular world.
但是基督教堂一直都远离俗世生活。
Openly turning its back on the logic and reason employed by the emperors who ruled it.
公然背离罗马皇帝所运用的逻辑和理性。
The Christians tended to believe more in faith,
基督教徒更倾向于相信信仰，
and they drew purpose for their existence from the belief that they were created by God the father
他们为自己存在的目的所设定的信念是他们是由天父上帝创造出来的。
and saved by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
由耶稣牺牲自己而得到拯救。
During the comparative prosperity of the Pax Romano and especially the time of the five good emperors
在罗马和平时期相对的繁荣盛世，尤其是五贤帝统治时期，
this strength of faith and sense of personal worth did not seem like a big deal to a wide number of Romans.
这种信念的力量和个人价值观，对于大多数罗马人而言并没有什么大不了。
But as the empire began to crumble and break the Christian church made converts a whole lot more easily.
但是随着帝国开始走向衰落，基督教堂就让皈依变得简单多了。
And Matthew, 22, 21: "Jesus bids the Pharisees render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and render unto God the things that are God's" .
马太福音22 21中写道，耶稣说：“这样，凯撒的物当归给凯撒神的物当归给神。”
The Christian's self assurance was off putting to those Romans who did not believe.
基督教徒的自恃对于那些不信仰基督教的罗马人而言是令人厌恶的。
Nor did the Christians render all the things unto Caesar, which Caesar demanded.
基督教徒也没有按照凯撒的要求全身心效忠凯撒。
They could and did work at their jobs pay their taxes and even serve in the military,
他们能够也的确好好工作，上缴税款，甚至参军，
but the Christians could not and would not and did not join in the old Roman stat rituals.
但是基督教徒不能，不愿意，也没有参加古老的罗马国教礼仪，
Or take part in the modern Roman emperor cult.
或者是参加对罗马皇帝的个人崇拜礼仪。
The Christian's unwillingness to play along was tolerated in better times, but worse times were on the horizon.
在情况好的时候，基督教徒的这种不情愿得到了容忍，但是糟糕的时刻即将到来。
When bad times came, the Romans immediately assumed that the Pax Deiorum was being violated.
罗马人认为祖先的遗风受到了亵渎。
And the Christians would be the leading suspects.
而基督教徒是最主要的受怀疑对象。
In suggesting that Christianity weakened Rome's moral fiber the enlightenment historians are oddly enough bringing up a charge
启蒙时期的史学家很奇怪地提出基督教削弱了罗马的道德意志将之怪罪于基督教，
that the roman pagans themselves made all the time.
但事实上这却应该归咎于罗马异教徒自己。
