Is Philip the First Christian Emperor of Rome?

Philip arab may have been the first christian emperor of rome. This rumor mostly took root as a result of vesuvius describing an incident in his ecclesiastical history that has philip attempting to visit a church shortly after becoming emperor. Philip's positive relationship with christianity does offer an interesting insight into the subsequent persecutions of decius, who would wind up issuing an edict demanding citizens of Rome offer sacrifices to the pagan gods. Next week, we will explore the anti christian policies of decius and cover his accidental rebellion against philip.