The theological debates of the fifth century were characterized by large-scale civil unrest and mob violence. Taken alone, this phenomenon is not unique because civil unrest was a recognizable occurrence in late antiquity. However, when one considers that Christianity started as a small and persecuted movement, whose earliest leaders were often victims of mob violence, then the shift in Christian attitudes toward mob violence becomes clear. This paper explores the slow change of Christian attitudes toward mob violence from the first century to the fifth century A.D. and then seeks to draw conclusions concerning the reasons for the shift.