[1] It could also be considered as the opposite of the concept of the Martyr, who are those who prefer to accept suffering and death rather than deny their faith.
The Decian persecution of 250 AD, which required all citizens of the Roman Empire to publicly sacrifice to traditional gods, created unrest within the Church.
[2] This difference of opinion in how to treat the lapsi was part of a larger picture which threatened the cohesion of the Christian church at that time.
[3] A Roman priest named Novatian believed that lapsi should not be allowed to return to the church as they could not be forgiven on earth, but only by God.
[8] After the 250 AD Decian Persecution, Cyprian of Carthage held a council sometime after Easter 251 AD, in which lapsi were classified into five categories: At Rome, the principle was established that the apostates should not be abandoned, but that they should be exhorted to do penance, so that, in case of their being again cited before the authorities, they might atone for their apostasy by remaining steadfast.