Podcast Episode 3
Edict Against the Christians
with Dr. Michael Haykin & host Nick Walters
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This episode of This Week in Christian History continues the mission of bringing listeners into the story of the global church through thoughtful conversation and accessible scholarship. Each week, the podcast features an interview with Nick Walters, founder and director of the Center for Christian History at Mississippi College, as he explores how the events, people, and ideas of Christian history continue to shape the church today. Designed for students, pastors, teachers, and lifelong learners, the show connects the past to the present in a way that invites reflection, curiosity, and deeper engagement with the Christian tradition.
In this episode, the Deep Dive turns to one of the most consequential moments in early Christian history: Diocletian’s Edict Against the Christians in 303 AD. This episode’s subject matter expert, Dr. Michael A. G. Haykin of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, joins Nick Walters to examine the context in which this decree emerged and why it stands as a defining marker in the story of Christian persecution in the Roman Empire. Known to history as the opening of the Great Persecution, the edict represented an attempt by imperial authority to shatter the growing influence of the Christian faith at a time when the Roman world was wrestling with questions of identity, loyalty, and public religion. Dr. Haykin’s expertise in early Christian studies helps guide listeners through the significance of this moment and the ways in which the church responded with resilience, theological clarity, and steadfast commitment to Christ.
Listeners will hear how this watershed decree fits within the broader arc of Christian history, illuminating why the story of the early martyrs has endured across centuries and how episodes of persecution have shaped Christian memory, devotion, and identity. The discussion situates 303 AD within a long tradition of challenges faced by believers and points toward the remarkable transformation that would follow in later generations as the church moved from marginalization to widespread influence across the empire. By grounding the episode in well-established historical context, the conversation encourages deeper understanding of how Christian communities have navigated hardship and maintained faith under pressure.
As always, the episode also includes a couple of historical highlights drawn from the same week in Christian history, offering listeners a sense of continuity across eras and helping reveal the diverse ways in which the church has developed through time. These reflections remind audiences that the Christian story stretches across continents and centuries, encompassing figures, movements, and events that continue to resonate today.
This Week in Christian History is produced in partnership with Blue & Gold Media at Mississippi College, where students collaborate in the creation, editing, and production of each episode. Through this work, the podcast not only brings history to life for its listeners but also offers valuable experiential learning for the next generation of scholars, leaders, and communicators. Each episode aims to strengthen historical awareness, deepen appreciation for the Christian past, and encourage thoughtful engagement with the enduring legacy of the global church.
This week’s highlights include:
February 28, 1638 - The Scottish National Covenant arose from the idea that Christ was the head of the church, not the king or queen. On February 28, 1638, several nobles joined clergy members in making this Covenant. These men signed the Covenant at Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh, but their victory was short-lived, as many of them were martyred for signing it.
February 26, 398 - John Chrysostom was one of the ancient church fathers who wrote and preached during a critical time in the history of the church. His last name is the anglicized version of the Greek word for “golden-mouthed” because of his well-known oratory skills. He became archbishop of Constantinople on February 26, 398, and he would be exiled several times for fighting against Christian heresies.
