From the anachronistic perspective of the text it would suffice to have Paul arraigned as a Christian. That status was a capital offense. Christian literature of the second century, apologetic and martyrological, redounds with proud confessions and bitter complaints illustrating its centrality. The pair’s proposal implies that blotting out the apostle will also erase Christian doctrine, restoring Thecla to her previous loyalty and love. The proposal is utterly without logic, but more than one official