Download A ugustus CAesAr World

Augustus Caesar’s World
Have you ever known someone who acted like he was
a god? Once I had a student who unwittingly
claimed to be one.
One day after school I found myself
staring up at the Birthday Bulletin Board
in the hallway. On the board there are
small pictures of the students whose
birthdays fall in that month. Under
each picture is a small rectangular
white tag bearing the student’s name. I
did not often look at the board, but today
I was waiting for someone and had a
few moments to kill, so I stared up at
the board.
It is amazing what you can
learn about students from
singular pictures. Young students, of course, did not pick
their own pictures, so
most of them had a plain
picture that was sent in
by their parents. Teenagers, however, were more
careful about their photos—
particularly the girls. Often
they were doing a favorite
activity—surfing or riding
horses or nibbling watermelon. Their photos
were always perfect—
especially their hair.
Then I saw it! The
photo to end all photos!
It was of a young boy enrolled at my school. The
picture, at first glance,
communicated
much more than
he, or his parents,
ever meant to say.
By a series of interesting coincidences this photo
made some extraordinary claims.
The picture, you see,
was from a Christmas
photo, and it was one of this young lad in his mom’s favorite Christmas sweater. This photo had been turned
into the family Christmas card. This card had been sent
in to adorn the birthday board. By an act of humorous
accidental coincidence, the size of the rectangular name
tag exactly matched the size of the Christmas card. The
gloss of the paper and the fonts matched. The name
tag and the card looked
like one item. So don’t
blame me if I did a
double take when
I read:
The
Savior Is
Born
Andrew
Smith
The boy
was bright,
I thought, but
having just spent
time with him in my
office for a disciplinary issue,
he was
not living
up to my
messianic
2
O
m n i b u s
IV
expectations. Of course, this photo coincidence was only
an accident, and, of course, I already had a Messiah and
did not need another. It did cause me to think, however,
of what it would be like for people to think that you were
a god. The Hebrew word for glory means “weight.” The
most glorious things are the weightiest. God, of course, is
all glory and all weightiness—mountains shake when He
touches them. What weight would a man have to bear if
his friends, acquaintances, and family members thought
he was a god? In Augustus Caesar’s World we will study a
man who was called a god. We will see what this weight of
glory does to him, his family, and his world because, you
see, he owned most of the world. While others were calling Augustus a god, one of the oddest things happened.
In Augustus’s kingdom, in an out-of-the-way village that
meant less than nothing in terms of world politics, in a
stable, the true God arrived to begin His rule and reign.
General Information
Author and Context
Genevieve Foster was an inspiring author who lived a
quite interesting life. She was born in Oswego, New York,
in 1893. Soon after her birth, however, tragedy struck. Her
father died, and she and her mother moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin, to live with her grandparents. There she
grew up as an only child surrounded by an interesting
and artistic group of women. In school her artistic work
showed real promise. She attempted her first novel at age
ten—it was only one chapter. Later, she earned a degree
in classics from the University of Wisconsin. After her
undergraduate work she went on to the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. She ended up working in advertising
doing some work in children’s literature (which she
found to be boring). After marrying Orrington C. Foster,
she designed and oversaw the construction of their new
home. She continued to do a little work in advertising,
but her focus soon was on her home and two children—
Orrington Jr. and Joanna. As the children grew, she was
involved in their education and became interested in history. Her children’s books on history won acclaim and
awards beginning with George Washington’s World. Her
approach to her subjects inspired a new sort of thinking
about children’s history books. She wrote “horizontal history” focusing on what was going on all over the world
during a particular person’s lifetime. George Washington’s World not only focuses on the American War for
Independence, but also the French Revolution and the
rise of the British Empire. Her books make it easy to see
the connections between different stories and different
histories by blending them into one story. She traveled
extensively and wrote with great passion.
Significance
Augustus Caesar’s World continued Genevieve Foster’s
pattern of horizontal history. It covers most of the significant events in all parts of the world during the lifetime of
Octavian (who became Caesar Augustus). By doing this,
we get to see more clearly many of the external and internal forces driving the young Augustus toward imperial
rule. We also witness the rise of many other movements
and people—from the movement of Palestinian Jewish
Zealots to the rise of rebellious German warlords like
Hermann—that affect Rome and Augustus. Chief among
these multiple focuses is the Roman province of Judea.
Foster provides interesting insight into what scholars call
the “Intertestamental Period” between the end of Old
Testament prophecy and the coming of Christ. We learn
extensively of the rise of Herod the Great, the ruler who
tried to kill the infant Jesus to protect that power he had
received by serving the Romans. We also learn of Herod
Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, who killed John the
Baptist. Foster obviously respected Christianity but her
perspective on religion in general was more pluralistic,
believing that truth can be found in many different religions. Her view can be summed up in her quotation ending the chapter “Questions and Answers” when she says,
“No one person or race or nation has ever been or will
ever be able to know all Truth or express all the Good to
be found in the world.” The reader should be wary of her
worldview, which subtly seems to affirm Christianity at
points while failing to commit to its truth.
Main Characters
Octavian, who later becomes Caesar Augustus, is the
main character of this book. His life sets the parameters
of the book. We begin by learning of Octavian as a young
man. Prophecies are made over him in his youth that he
will rule the world. He, however, is an unlikely candidate
for world domination. He is often ill and many times
on the edge of death. He is not handsome or dashing or
known as a great general. He is, however, thoughtful and
calculating and disciplined. In this book we witness Octavian’s growth as a leader, his conquest of the Roman
world, his careful rule and construction of the Roman
Empire. We also get a glimpse into Augustus’s most trying times. (Of course, Genevieve Foster did not live during his times, but she tries to guess at the feelings and
thoughts that would have had to have been running
Augustus Caesar’s World
through Augustus’s mind during his greatest moments
of trial.) Foster displays his uncertainty in dealing with
the Senate as he jostles with Antony for their favor. We
witness his shame as a father as he is forced to exile his
wayward daughter, Julia. We see his overarching care for
the empire he has founded and his hope that he can pass
the care of Rome on to Tiberius.
There is a vast array of other significant characters.
Here are just a few:
Julius Caesar: He is, of course, the general and dictator
who first consolidates the rule of Rome under his own
authority. He adopts Octavian, but is murdered in the
Forum by many Senators led by Brutus and Cassius—
before he can officially take all power to himself.
Mark Antony: Julius Caesar’s friend helps to lead Caesar’s
army. He seeks control of the empire after Caesar’s death
and eventually, with Octavian, destroys Brutus and Cassius. He falls in love with Cleopatra and is defeated by
Octavian in the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C. He later commits suicide.
Cleopatra: She is the Queen of Egypt whose beauty and
wiles attract the attention of both Julius Caesar and Mark
Antony. She bears the children of both Julius Caesar and
Mark Antony and commits suicide after she and Antony
are defeated by Octavian.
Cicero: Cicero is the great orator, protector, and advocate
of the Roman Republic. He struggles to maintain the
In Augustus’s kingdom, in an out-of-the-way
village that meant nothing in terms of world
politics, the true God arrived to begin His
earthly reign. The Columba Altarpiece by
Flemish painter Rogier van der Weyden
(c. 1399–1464).
3
4
O
m n i b u s
IV
republic as it is disintegrating. He famously unmasks
the Cataline Conspiracy which thought to overthrow the
republic, and he opposes those who would seek to rule
Rome personally—like Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.
His vocal opposition to Antony causes enmity between
them, and when Antony gains control of Rome as part of
the Second Triumvirate, he quickly has Cicero killed.
Herod the Great: Herod becomes the king of Judea by
carefully and ceaselessly currying the favor of his Roman overlords. He replaces and destroys the Maccabean
rulers of Judea. He tries to win the favor of the Jews by
rebuilding the Temple and making it more glorious. He
is always viewed as an outsider and a Roman servant by
faithful Jews. He is consumed by jealousy and tries to kill
the Christ child when the Magi bring word of His birth.
Virgil: He is the greatest poet of the Golden Age of Roman poetry. His poem, the Aeneid, justifies the rule of
Augustus over Rome. Augustus is his patron and loves
his poetry. His work becomes something like scripture
for the Romans even though he wants it to be burned at
his death because he has not fully completed it. Augustus orders that the Aeneid be saved.
Jesus: Foster periodically turns her gaze toward Palestine to keep up with Jesus as he is growing up during the
reign of Augustus.
Summary and Setting
This book follows the history of the Late Roman Republic and the Early Roman Empire during the lifetime
of Augustus Caesar. It also, as horizontal history, tells
what is happening all over the world during the time of
Augustus’s life. We trace out the life of Octavian as he
scrambles to avoid being destroyed along with his adoptive father, Julius Caesar, when Caesar is murdered in
the Senate on the Ides of March. He allies himself with
Antony, but soon finds himself in a struggle to the death
with Antony for control of the Roman Empire. As emperor, Augustus works hard to bring peace, stability, and
prosperity to Rome. He accomplishes this (it is during his
rule that we see the beginning of the Pax Romana—or
the “Peace of Rome”) and sets the pattern of government
and rule that is to extend to the end of the empire. He is
hailed by Rome as a god and, again, becomes a pattern
for future emperor’s who will demand that the rest of
world view them as gods. Finally, we see Augustus as his
years wind down. We see the tragedies in his family—
the deaths of his grandsons, Gaius and Lucius, and the
exile of his daughter. Finally, he passes on his rule to
Tiberius and dies.
Augustus Caesar’s World
Worldview
Growing up in Indiana, I was well acquainted with
the gods. Not that any divinity was mentioned in class.
No, at the public school I attended the gods came out
after school—to be more exact, Friday nights during the
winter. Indiana gods put balls through hoops. I was a
football and baseball player, so I could have been jealous, but I enjoyed basketball as a cultural event and
spectacle. To be a great high school player in Indiana
was something like being, if not a full-blown god, a least
some sort of lesser deity. The names of these great heroes
were recounted from of old and were recited each Saturday morning at the mead hall—or at least at the barbershop. Their nicknames echo in my mind in the voices of
the elders of the community as even older men nodded
in agreement behind them—the Rocket, the Dynamic
Duo, The Big Dog and the Big O. Many simply went by
their last name: Bird, Cheaney, Oden, Alford, Graham,
Edwards, and Jones. There was one player, however, who
stood head and shoulders above all others as I grew up.
His name was Damon Bailey.
Damon came from the small town of Heltonville, Indiana. I still remember the first time I heard his name. A
friend of mine—a good player in his own right—came
back from the summer basketball tournament for seventh
grade players. I asked how his team did, and he said, “I
played against Damon.” The questioning look on my face
caused him to add forcefully, “You know. Damon Bailey.”
“How did you do?” I inquired.
“I guarded him, and he scored 49 on me,” he said. I
gasped. He paused. “They took him out at halftime.”
Damon’s legend continued to grow. It did not shock
me then when Damon was featured in Sports Illustrated
as an eighth grader.1 Bob Knight, then the fiery and brilliant basketball coach of Indiana University, was coming
to watch his Jr. High games. So my father, brother, and I
went to the semi-state games to see Damon the year that
both he and I were freshman. He was on his way to the
first of his four all state honors in a state that was crazy
about basketball. Over 16,000 spectators attended that
game at Robert’s Stadium in Evansville.2 Damon led his
team, the Bedford North Lawrence Stars, to victory. Bedford’s offense was something to watch. He was a sly rabbit
running through a forest of moving trees as other players
constantly set picks to get Damon open for a short jump
shot. He both anticipated and reacted to the movements
of the older, usually taller guys who were guarding him.
The goal of the offense was to get Damon an open, short
Regardless of what you think about Octavian, you
have to admit he must have been something special
to have such a yummy salad named after him!
5
6
O
m n i b u s
IV
jump shot or a path to drive the ball to the basket. More often than not he got the ball. More often than not he hit the
shot. That night, I believe he scored 22 consecutive points
for his team. Watching him play was a thing of beauty.
Some of the stories filled my high school years—some
must have been apocryphal. He had everything that an
emperor would desire. He had a Praetorian Guard that
protected him from the media, and crazy fans whisking
him away to solitary places after victories. He had legions
of fans. He had the hearts of the people, and it was only
going to get better. In his high school years, he was AllState four times. He scored over 3,134 points during high
school, and in his final game he led his team to the state
title in a come-from-behind victory, scoring his team’s final 11 points. He scored 30 of his team’s 63 points. This
all occurred in front of 41,000 cheering fans—the largest crowd to ever watch a high school basketball game.
He bore the weight of basketball divinity. His high school
built a new gymnasium and named it after him. He was
the golden child during the golden age of Indiana high
school basketball who was, some thought, to bring balance and restoration to the game—eventually remaking
the NBA into something that resembled basketball (as if
a 6’3” decently—but not extraordinarily—quick and athletic shooting guard would dominate the game). We all
believed he was magic, and watching him play in high
school was as close to basketball perfection as I could
imagine. His first name served as a one-word summary
for the obsession of a state. High school kids wore shirts
bearing his name (even some from other schools). Many
bowed worshipfully when he scored or was introduced.
Wide-eyed old men compared his exploits to Beowulf or
Naismith or Bird. The Methodists, Catholics, and Baptists in my home town did not agree on much of anything
except they all thought Damon was at least the second
coming of Oscar Robertson.3 I always wondered what it
would be like to be Damon with all the pressure, privileges, power, and potential. Still, being a star basketball
player in a basketball crazed state like Indiana is a far
cry from the power, perks, and privileges that once came
with the office of emperor in the city of Rome. Star athletes might get special treatment. Roman Emperor’s were
once worshipped as if they were gods walking the earth.
The Fall of the Republic
What would it be like to be a god? What would people do for you? How would they react to your words? Few
get to experience the feeling of divinity, but Augustus felt
the weight of divinity.
At the outset we must admit that there were some
things about Augustus that made him a long shot for divinity. He was no Hercules! By all accounts he was, in fact,
a rather pale and sickly young man. Often he was near
death because of illness. Still, he persisted and gained the
favor and attention of Julius Caesar.
He was, however, the right man at the right time for
Rome. As Augustus enters history, the great Roman Republic had fallen on hard times. Not that the power of
Rome was decreasing—it was in fact at its height—but
the forces that made Rome a republic were crumbling.
This disintegration was occurring on many levels, but at
the deepest level the Roman people had become too slavish and corrupt to maintain a democratic republic.
The power of the Roman Republic (and of all republics for that matter) demands a certain sort of people. The
Romans of the republican era were these sorts of men.
They were men of austerity, principle, and independence
who worked to build their fortunes through industry,
thrift, and hard work. Cincinnatus was the pattern of
greatness for the Roman Republic. He was a poor farmer
called from his field to fend off invasion. He was given
absolute power by the state for six months as dictator. In
a matter of days he marshaled his troops and beat back
the invaders. After the military threat was quelled, he
could have used the rest of his six-month term to fill his
pockets with the wealth of others or to settle scores with
any who were his enemies. Instead, he humbly returned
power to the Senate and returned to his farm and relative poverty. The Romans, after the rape of Lucretia (see
the chapter on Livy’s Early History of Rome in Omnibus
I), had chased their king out of Rome and decided that
Rome could be ruled by a class of aristocrats called Patricians. The men that led Rome served the city, fought
in her constant wars as free men, ran their own farms
and industries, and struggled mightily to retain their own
rights and independence.
These Patricians had to bear great responsibility.
While a plurality of political leaders seems normal to us,
in the ancient world, Rome was an oddity. Most tribes
were ruled by kings who often abused power (as God
warns that kings will do in Deuteronomy 17) and abused
the people. Year in and year out the Romans fought and
overcame the warring tribes surrounding them in Italy.
Eventually, Roman armies began to conquer lands outside Italy. Wealth and slaves multiplied. As wealth and
slaves multiplied, virtues and principles were forgotten.
Eventually, Roman virtues were in crisis. The sexual
immorality of Cleopatra replaced the fidelity of Lucretia.
A mad scramble for power and wealth replaced the austere virtue of Cincinnatus as men like Julius Caesar used
the wealth of conquest to stake their claims to ultimate
power over the republic. At this point the people of Rome
had fallen far from the hardy men and women of the
republican times who fought in the legion and spun the
Augustus Caesar’s World
wool of the republic. They had become addicted to games The Cost of Divinity
and welfare represented by the gladiatorial games and
While Augustus was a successful ruler in many ways,
free corn meant to keep the mob happy.
The struggle for ultimate power in Rome seemed to be he personally paid a great price for his commitment to
over as Julius Caesar defeated Pompey and entered Rome. the Roman state, and his accumulation of power evenHe was made dictator for life and was ready to rule the Ro- tually was the undoing of the empire that he sought to
man world as his own possession. His murder by the Senate protect. All of these shortcomings display that Augustus
on the Ides of March, however, was the last gasp of repub- was, of course, no god, and that the rule of Rome was, like
lican Rome. Men who harkened back to the virtues of the all other rules except that of Christ, to crumble.
republic hoped that with the death of Julius Caesar the Sen- Augustus paid a terrible price as a father. His greatate could be restored to power. This, however, was a baseless est failure was with his daughter, Julia. He, like most fahope. Rival forces struggled for absolute power and eventu- thers, had a soft spot for his intelligent and outspoken
ally Octavian took the title of emperor and became the de girl. In Julia, however, we see Augustus’s greatest blind
spot. While Augustus was leading a life to inspire virtue
facto ruler of the Roman world.
To this world, he brought peace. With peace came pros- (although behind the scenes he was no saint), while he is
condemning and punishing vice, his daughter was
perity. With peace and prosperity came the adoration
leading a life of debauchery and sexual imof the Roman people, who eventually hailed
morality. Sadly, everyone around Augustus
him as a god—and the adopted son of anknew this before him. He eventually was
other god, Julius Caesar. This peace and
forced to take action, exiling her from
prosperity came at a great price. From the
Rome. It is said that he avoided saying
Roman people, Augustus took freedom.
her name if at all possible. Supposing
Shrewdly, he maintained the forms of
to be a god, he failed as a father.
government that the Romans were
Augustus also faced the frustraaccustomed to, but institutions like
tion of being a fallen man rather than a
the Senate existed for show. The will of
god. He continued to battle illness during
Augustus was the rule of the empire.
his years as emperor. Death surrounded
A large portion of the future success
him. The deepest wound he bore on this score
of the Roman Empire must be given to
was near the end of his life, suffering the
Augustus. He, like George Washdeaths of his beloved grandsons Gaiington, entered into a posius and Lucius within 18 months
tion that had no history.
of each other. So much of
He carefully lived in a
Augustus’s hopes had been
manner that protectpinned to these boys who
ed the empire. He
were to bear his power aflived in a manner
ter he died. Before death,
that portrayed a reAugustus is shown to be a
newal of Roman virman, not a god.
tues. He commissioned
Augustus’s claims of dipoetry—particularly that
vinity eventually bring judgof Virgil—that bolstered
ment on the Roman Empire.
his rule and also sought to
The Caesars after Augustus
inspire Roman virtue. He set a
continue to claim divinity. The empattern of leadership that—though
pire sets up its rulers as divine—and
rejected and abused by future empereventually seeks to force all its inhabors—led to peace and stability. Unlike
itants to worship the emperor. While
Washington, however, Augustus did
When reminded of his ex-wife
Augustus often modeled Stoic virtues,
this by diminishing instead of protectand their wayward daughter
ing the freedoms of Roman citizens. Julia, Augustus was wont to say, future emperors would, bolstered by
the claims of divinity, turn into monGone were the days when Romans
“Would I were wifeless, or had
strous beings who devoured everyone
needed virtue to govern themselves.
childless died.” Julia was
and everything around them. History
Now, the emperor would rule all. There
described by contemporaries as
lists them as tyrants and maniacs—
“tainted by luxury or lust.”
was no balance to his power.
7
8
o
m n i b u s
iV
Caligula and Nero (who were in the line of Augustus), but
later men like Domitian and Diocletian—men who would
send legions to attack the sea and ride in triumph before
heaps of sea shells; men who would light their evening
parties with the bodies of burning, crucified Christians;
men who would slaughter thousands who would not
burn incense to the image of an emperor and proclaim
that he was a god.
The Battle of the Gods
Augustus’s claim of divinity eventually sets up a sort
of theomachy—or battle of the gods (in this case it is really
a battle of God vs. the gods). For in the time of Augustus
in a little known village in a corner of the empire that
was only a periodic nuisance to the divine Augustus, a
Augustus’s claims of
divinity eventually brought
judgment on the Roman
Empire. Although Augustus
often modeled Stoic virtues,
later emperors turned into
monstrous beings, devouring
everyone around them.
male child was born. He was born in Bethlehem because
His family was there paying a tax to the emperor. In this
young carpenter’s son, however, Augustus’s empire had
met its match. The boy, of course, was Jesus of Nazareth.
The kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of Augustus eventually come to blows. As Christianity spreads
throughout the empire, so spreads the worship of the emperor. Eventually, all inhabitants of the Roman Empire
are required to burn a pinch of incense before an image
of the emperor and recite the words “καισερ κυριος”—
or “Caesar is Lord.” One did not have to give up one’s
gods; one did not have to prove that they believed what
they said. They simply had to make the sacrifice and say
the words. Followers of Jesus, however, refused to make
the sacrifice. In 1 Corinthians 12 and Philippians 2 we
see the confession that early Christians made as they re-
Augustus Caesar’s World
fused to recognize the divinity of the emperor—“Ιησους
Κυριος” “Jesus is Lord.” For this confession and this refusal, multitudes of believers went to their death.
In their deaths, however, these martyrs proved the
great difference between the state religion of Rome and
the Christian faith. The more the emperors persecuted
and killed the Christians, the more believers there were.
Augustus would fall in death. Jesus rose from the grave.
He disciples and followers did not fear death.
This battle would eventually end with the conversion
of Rome’s Emperor Constantine, and Christianity became the official religion of the empire. Soon the Roman
Empire would be gone, but the Empire of Christ continues and will never fail.
The False Peace of Pluralism
Today, thankfully, we are not pressed to offer sacrifice to the President of the United States and confess
that he is a god. We are, however, tempted in more subtle
ways to deny the uniqueness of Christ. Roman pluralism
let you keep any god you wanted so long as you bowed to
the emperor and obeyed Roman law. Modern pluralism
demands that we accept all religions as basically valid
searches for truth that show us some aspect of the truth.
Jesus Christ, however, will have none of this, saying, “I
am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to
the Father except by me” (John 14:6). The apostles will
have none of this either, saying, “Nor is there salvation in
any other, for there is no other name under heaven given
among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Like
the believers of Augustus’s day, we must stand firm in
the faith, refusing to shave any edge off of the confession
that Christ requires of us. “Ιησους Κυριος!”
—G. Tyler Fischer
Session I: Prelude
A Question to Consider
Does power corrupt? Does it always corrupt?
Unfallen man is not corrupted by power. If we
were sinless, then we would not be corrupted by
bearing or having great power or authority. Jesus
Christ is and forever will be both God and man.
All power and authority has been given to Him. It
will not corrupt Him. In our fallen state, however,
we tend to fall into pride when we acquire power.
It must be admitted that power does not corrupt
all men equally. Some men and women, by the
grace of God, can bear great power and authority well while remaining humble and avoiding
all of the corruption that power tends to bring.
Examples of this sort of person would be George
Washington, Elizabeth I, and the apostle James
(Jesus’ brother, who led the church in Jerusalem
but was so humble that he spent countless hours
in prayer and was for this reason called “camel
knees”—his knees became hardened like those of
a camel because he was on them all the time).
From the General Information above answer the following
questions:
1. What is “horizontal history”?
Horizontal history is writing the history of a
period of time and trying to include the story of
what is happening all over the world at that time.
Genevieve Foster wrote history this way. Writing
“horizontally” helps readers to see the connections between different movements in different
places during one period of time.
2. Why did the Jewish people hate Herod the Great?
For Further Reading
Foster, Genevieve. George Washington’s World. San Luis
Obispo, Calif.: Beautiful Feet Books, 1997.
Veritas Press History Cards: New Testament, Greece,
and Rome. Lancaster, Pa.: Veritas Press. 20–25.
Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization. Seventh Edition.
Belmont, Calif.: Thomson Wadsworth, 2009. 134–153.
Suetonius. The Twelve Caesars. New York: Penguin, 2007.
They hated him because he gained power by
catering to their Roman oppressors and continued
to hold and augment his power by faithfully serving the Romans.
3. What is the Pax Romana?
The Pax Romana is the time of peace and prosperity that began during the reign of Caesar
Augustus. During this time, the Roman Empire
was at peace—business and commerce thrived.
4. What tragedies did Augustus face late in life?
He lost two of his grandsons, Gaius and Lucius,
whom he was grooming for power. He was also
forced to exile his own daughter, Julia, because
of her continual immoral behavior.
9
10
o
m n i b u s
iV
5. How did Augustus set a good pattern for Roman
emperors?
Augustus lived a life that tried to emulate the
Roman virtues. He ate austere meals and sought
to practice and legislate “family values.” He even
commissioned poetry, like Virgil’s Aeneid, that
sought to inspire Roman virtues.
and legislating in the best interest of the community or state. Republics fail when people are
willing for others—remote powers like kings and
emperors—to take care of them and to provide for
their needs. When people start to desire security
more than liberty, they are on the way to losing
their liberty and the right to govern themselves.
6. How did Augustus fail in his own family to uphold family values?
Discuss or list short answers to the following questions:
Augustus’s daughter lived a
life of debauchery and sexual immorality. Eventually,
Augustus had to exile
Julia from Rome.
Text Analysis
1. What does the astrologer
do when Augustus tells him
his dates?
7. How did Augustus’s
claim of divinity
eventually lead to the
death of thousands
of Christians?
Eventually, emperors
forced the inhabitants of the Roman
Empire to sacrifice
incense to an image
of the emperor and
confess that “Caesar is
Lord.” Christians refused
to make this sacrifice or
to confess Caesar’s divinity.
For this, they were crucified,
burned, and sent to die in the
Coliseum.
The astrologer falls
down at Augustus’s
feet and worships
him, claiming that
Augustus will rule the
world (Under a Lucky
Star).
2. Why does the Senate
murder Julius Caesar?
Alexis de Tocqueville
reAding Assignment:
“Under a Lucky Star” to “Why is July?”
session ii: disCussion
“Under a Lucky Star” to “Why is July?”
A Question to Consider
Why do republics fall?
Republics fall because the people no longer have
the virtues necessary to sustain a republic. To have
a republic you must have a class of men who are
committed to doing the work that it takes to run
a government where authority will be vested in
a number of people rather than a few. Successful
republics must have leaders who can run their own
household and can devote time to understanding
The Senate murders
Julius Caesar because
he is, by his accumulation of power, destroying
the Republic and the power
of the Senate (The Ides of
March, Conspirators Without a
Plan).
3. Why does Cleopatra return to Egypt after
Julius Caesar is murdered?
She returns to Egypt because her plans have been
foiled. She wanted to rule the world at Caesar’s
side and pass their rule onto their son Ptolemy
Caesar (Cleopatra and Her Son).
4. How does Cleopatra portray herself and her son?
She portrays herself as a goddess and her son as
the son of Amen. She wants people to believe that
she is descended from the gods and should have
the rights and privileges of the gods (Cleopatra
and Her Son).
5. What does Cicero find when he goes to visit Brutus
and Cassius?
He finds that they have no plan for preserving
the Republic. Brutus does not want to take action
because he does not want to be seen as grasping for power. Cicero is dismayed because he
knows that the power of Mark Antony is growing
and that Antony will soon pose a threat to the
Augustus Caesar’s World
Republic (Conspirators without a Plan).
6. What does Octavian do to gain favor with the people
of Rome? What does this tell you about the Roman
populace?
Octavian pays each citizen $15 and holds games
in honor of Julius Caesar. This should tell us that
the favor of the people of Rome can be purchased
and that they are more concerned with games
and distractions than with virtuous leadership
(Why is July?).
Cultural Analysis
1. Where do you see signs that America is falling into
the same sorts of VDD (Virtue Deficit Disorder) as
they had in ancient Rome?
We are suffering from exactly the same problems.
We would rather have others work hard while we
spend our time in games and distractions. We have
become a people willing to give up any amount of
freedom simply to have ease and security.
2. In Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville said
that “America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”
Do you believe that this could be happening today?
Where do you see it?
We have become a nation that claims that abortion
is a civil right. We have become a nation flirting
with the idea that there is no difference between
homosexual and heterosexual marriage (I guess we
keep forgetting procreation). We have stopped
being good, and we are increasingly not great.
3. De Tocqueville also said, “The American Republic
will endure until the day Congress discovers that it
can bribe the public with the public’s money.” Is this
happening today?
This quote is shocking. Our government has basically become a vehicle whereby money is taken
from some people and given to others. Our government has also become a counterfeiting press.
Now, even when the government (or corporations
that it chooses to support) runs out of money it
simply prints up more. Even economic reality cannot stop the government from handing out more
money. Sadly, this happens all through society.
Few people refuse the money of the government
even though they should recognize that this
money had to come from other people.
4. Where do you see people being distracted by games
rather than paying attention to serious issues in our
culture today?
Every other cable channel is full of games; the
rest are mindless reality shows. Ok, this is an
exaggeration, but the saying is coming true that
Americans play at their work and work at their
play. Thankfully, Christ’s gospel has transformed
culture so that we do not have gladiators killing
each other on TV—yet.
Biblical Analysis
1. What is the danger of having all your needs met
(Deut. 8:11–13)?
When people have their needs met, they tend to
become fat and happy and to forget God. They
trust in their bank accounts rather than in God.
2. If having a republic is so good, why does God allow
His people to have a monarchy (Deut. 17:14ff)?
God is not calling them to a monarchy like the
monarchies of the ancient world around them.
The people eventually demand to have a king like
the nations around them (1 Sam. 8). Saul certainly
fulfills this desire. He is not like the king with limited authority mentioned in Deuteronomy 17. The
king in God’s economy is not an absolute ruler
using the wealth and resources (and children)
of the people for his own purposes. The king is
a servant and the people are to be free to serve
the Lord.
Summa
Write an essay or discuss this question, integrating
what you have learned from the material above.
How can we help save the American republic
and keep it from falling into tyranny?
The first and best thing that you can do is to
devote yourself to Jesus Christ. A return to Christ
is the only thing that will save any vestige of liberty that we presently maintain. We must also be
ready to serve Christ faithfully if He takes all liberty from us. So, returning to lives of liberty and
virtue is Step One. This can only happen through
the gospel of grace. Step Two consists in building
communities of faith and justice that can serve
as places of shelter and wisdom as our culture
crumbles. This means devoting yourself to serving
others in your church. It means that the officers
of the church must become good and just judges
and that we as believers should take our problems
and concerns to them—instead of to the courts.
Finally, we should, as we are able, serve our local
communities as government officials. Most people
would like to serve in office, but they would
like to start at President or Vice-President. Start
by serving in the lowest, most menial office—
sometimes you can get these because no one else
11
12
O
m n i b u s
IV
wants them. As you serve faithfully you will be
ready to bear more authority wisely.
Reading Assignment:
He has Cicero killed. He has Cicero’s hand and
head delivered to him in Rome and hangs them on
the rostrum of the Senate (Bloody Fingerprints).
9. What is Saturnalia?4
“Under a Lucky Star” to “Horace and the
Country Mouse”
Saturnalia was a Roman holiday remembering
the mythical, kind, and generous rule of Saturn
over a provident age of plenty among men. On
Saturnalia, December 25th, the people feasted, lit
candles, trimmed evergreen trees, and had a carnival. The author insinuates that Christians were
using a pagan feast date for Christmas that was
already popular. Recently, however, some scholars are questioning whether this was the case
(Candles and Holly Berries).
Comprehension Questions
10.What is Herod the Great’s ethnic background, and
how does he become the ruler of Galilee?
Answer the following questions for factual recall:
Herod is an Edomite, and he gains his authority by
winning over the favor of the Romans (Herod the
Future King of the Jews).
“ Gauls, Geese and Black Vultures” to
“Horace and the Country Mouse”
Session III: Recitation
1. What was Octavian’s appearance as a youth?
He was described as thin and pale (Under a
Lucky Star).
2. In what Triumph did Augustus ride with Julius Caesar?
Octavian rode in Julius Caesar’s African Triumph
(Ides of March).
3. What was Octavian determined to do after the death
of Julius Caesar?
He was determined to go to Rome, execute Caesar’s
will, claim his inheritance, and change his name to
Julius Caesar Octavian (Caesar’s Adopted Son).
4. What was the Cataline conspiracy, and why does Cicero remember it with joy?
The Cataline conspiracy was a plot by a very wealthy
Roman, Cataline, to overthrow the Republic. Cicero
remembers it fondly because he was able to unmask
the conspiracy and stop it (Cicero).
5. From what god does Mark Antony claim descent?
Mark Antony’s family claimed descent from
Hercules (Mark Antony).
6. What does a comet cause the Roman Senate to do
with the calendar?
The comet was taken as a divine sign that the
month of Quinctilis was to be renamed July (after
Julius Caesar) (Why is July?).
7. How do Cicero and Octavian have a falling out?
Initially, Cicero believes that Octavian will be a
protector of the Republic against Antony. Cicero,
however, does not thank Octavian when Antony is
initially defeated but not destroyed. Also, he and
the Senate refuse Octavian’s request to be Consul.
Octavian turns on the Senate, takes power, and joins
forces with Antony (Octavian Plays the Game).
8. What does Antony do to Cicero when the Second Triumvirate (Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus) take power?
11.How do Antony and Octavian divide the Empire?
Antony takes the East with its riches—and with
Cleopatra. He gives Octavian Rome and the West
where there are more problems (Antony and
Octavian Divide the World).
12.Why does the poet Horace lose his farm?
He loses it because he was on the losing side of the
war between Brutus and the Triumvirate. His farm
is taken from him and given to one of Antony’s
soldiers (Horace and the Country Mouse).
Instead of a reading assignment you have a research
assignment. Tomorrow’s session will be a Current Events
session. Your assignment will be to find a story online, in
a magazine, or in the newspaper that relates to the issue
that you discussed today. Your task is to locate the article,
give a copy of the article to your teacher or parent and
provide some of your own worldview analysis to the article. Your analysis should demonstrate that you understand the issue, that you can clearly connect the story you
found to the issue that you discussed today, and that you
can provide a biblical critique of this issue in today’s context. Look at the next session to see the three-part format
that you should follow.
Issue
How do the marriage commitments of leaders affect politics and government?
Reading Assignment:
“ Antony and Cleopatra” to “Triumph
and Peace”
Augustus Caesar’s World
Session IV: Current Events
Issue
How do the marriage commitments of leaders affect politics and government?
Current events sessions are meant to challenge you to
connect what you are learning in Omnibus class to what
is happening in the world around you today. After the
last session, your assignment was to find a story online or
in a magazine or newspaper relating to the issue above.
Today you will share your article and your analysis with
your teacher and classmates or parents and family. Your
analysis should follow the format below:
Brief Introductory Paragraph
In this paragraph you will tell your classmates about
the article that you found. Be sure to include where you
found your article, who the author of your article is, and
what your article is about. This brief paragraph of your
presentation should begin like this:
Hello, I am (name), and my current events article
is (name of the article) which I found in (name of
the web or published source) . . .
Hello, I am Ty Fischer, and my
current events article is “South
Carolina Governor Sanford
Admits Extramarital Affair”
which I found at the Reuters
News Service website. It was
written by Matthew Bigg. It is
about Governor Mark Sanford’s
admission of an extramarital affair with a woman in
Argentina. Until this confession,
Governor Sanford had been one
of the leading candidates for
the Republican nomination for
president in 2012. He also was
the chairman of the governor’s
association but has resigned
that chairmanship. The governor’s admission of unfaithfulness garnered a lot of attention
because, initially, he could not be
located. His family and staff did
not know where he was. Some
staff members claimed that he
was hiking on the Appalachian
Trail. He, however, had flown to
Argentina on Father’s Day weekend to spend time
with the woman with whom he was having an
affair. When he finally arrived back in the United
States, he tearfully admitted his affair and asked
for privacy so that he could seek to rebuild his
relationship with his wife. He still claimed, however, that he was in love with the other woman
and that she was his “soul mate.” He also said
that he intended to serve the rest of his term as
governor. Many, however, in both parties and
across the state called for his resignation.
Connection Paragraph
In this paragraph you must demonstrate how your
article is connected to the issue that you are studying.
This paragraph should be short, and it should focus on
clearly showing the connection between the book that
you are reading and the current events article that you
have found. This paragraph should begin with a sentence like
I knew that my article was linked to our issue because . . .
I knew that my article was linked to our issue
because it was about a politician—the governor
for the state of South Carolina—who had been
In a Persian version of the emperor cult, the faravahar symbolized the
winged sun in Zoroastrianism and also the divine authority of the king.
13
14
O
m n i b u s
IV
unfaithful to his marriage vows by having an
affair with an Argentinean woman. It was also
about the political consequences for the state, for
the Republican Party, and for the nation.
Christian Worldview Analysis
In this section, you need to tell us how we should
respond as believers to this issue today. This response
should focus both on our thinking and on practical actions that we should take in light of this issue. As you list
these steps, you should also tell us why we should think
and act in the ways you recommend. This paragraph
should begin with a sentence like
As believers, we should think and act in the following ways in light of this issue and this article.
As believers, we should think and act in the following ways in light of this issue and this article.
First, we should see in this article and in the
story of Mark Antony how marital unfaithfulness can destroy political aspiration and lead to
the destruction of states, nations, and empires.
Second, we should be thankful that even though
this terrible event has occurred, Christ’s gospel
has changed the world so much that Governor
Sanford immediately confessed his sin with great
sorrow (even though his confession was confusing based on the fact that he still claims to be
in love with his Argentinean mistress). Third, we
should take note of the great shame and destruction that both Antony and Sanford brought
upon their wives, family members, friends, and
political allies. Sanford was a man of many good
principles—even trying to send the federal government’s stimulus plan money back without taking it. He was principled in the fiscal realm, but
was not in his marriage. Finally, we should hope
for the best. We hope and pray that Governor
Sanford becomes a faithful husband and, by the
grace of God, that his marriage might be restored,
and that he might find forgiveness and peace. We
also hope and pray that he would reconsider his
decision to remain as governor and work to get
his household in order before he attempts to bear
the responsibility of running the household of the
state.
Therefore [Jereboam] asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go
up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!” —1 Kings 12:28
Augustus Caesar’s World
The next session will be a student-led discussion.
Students will be creating their own questions concerning
the issue of the session. Students should create three Text
Analysis Questions, two Cultural Analysis questions,
and two Biblical Analysis questions. For more detailed
instructions, please see the chapter on Death on the Nile,
Session V.
Issue
What would be needed to create a new civil religion
that controlled people and encouraged them to be committed to the state?
Reading Assignment:
“ Augustus Caesar” to “Golden Eagles
Come Home”
Session V:
Student-Led Discussion
A Question to Consider
What would be needed to create a new civil religion
that controlled people and encouraged them to be committed to the state?
To start a new religion you might need a new god
or a new idea about an old god, but that is not all
you would need. You would need some theology
and some rituals. You would need to throw in
some holidays and a good feast or two. This sort
of religion, however, would not last unless you
met some deeply felt human need. Religions with
staying power answer some meaningful questions of mankind. It tells mankind about God, the
nature of reality, the problems of sin, and how
the world and mankind can have communion
with God and each other. Finally, the religion
would need to write things down. This would at
least make it easier for the ideals of the new religion to be passed on to the next generation.
Students should read and consider the example questions below that are connected to the Question to Consider above. Last session’s assignment was to prepare three
questions and answers for the Text Analysis section and
two additional questions and answers for both the Cultural and Biblical Analysis sections below.
Text Analysis
Example: How does Augustus use poetry to establish a
new Roman religion with the Emperor at the center?
Answer: Augustus is the patron of Virgil. Virgil writes the
Aeneid to inspire and renew Roman virtue by telling the
story of Aeneas who escapes Troy and fights his way to
rule in Italy. In Book 6 of the Aeneid, Aeneas ventures
into the underworld and sees a vision of the future of the
kingdom that he is founding—Rome. As Roman history
passes before the face of Aeneas, it reaches its height
when Augustus enters the vision. Thus, Virgil’s poetry establishes and supports the rule of Augustus.
Cultural Analysis
Example: Roman religion under Augustus was a civil religion—a religion focused on serving the state. What is the
religion of the government of the United States (or what
is our civil religion)?
Answer: Our civil religion was once laced with Christian
language—although it was never explicitly Christian.
Today, however, it is pluralistic. This can be seen by the
holidays that our leaders celebrate and the gods that our
leaders call on during a time of national tragedy. At the
service at the National Cathedral after the 9/11 attacks,
our leaders called out to many different gods. Christ was
included, but His claims of exclusivity were ignored. Today, the American president celebrates many different
holidays of many different religions.
Other cultural issues to consider: pluralism, religious
relativism, celebrating Eid at the White House, National
Service of Mourning after 9/11.
Biblical Analysis
Example: What was the civil religion of Israel in biblical
times? Was it any different than their religion at the family, Temple, or synagogue?
Answer: The civil religion of Israel was focused on adoring and worshipping the one true God. It was not different in its focus than any other religion. The religion of
Israel commemorated the great acts of redemption—the
Exodus and Passover, the Feast of Booths—celebrating
God’s salvation of Israel. The king, like the other men of
Israel, had duties and responsibilities during these feasts
and celebrations, but he did not lead the people. The High
Priest did the work in the Temple, making sacrifice to set
aside the sins of the people.
Other Scriptures to consider: Leviticus 10, Judges
17–18, Isaiah 40, Romans 13.
15
16
O
m n i b u s
IV
Summa
Write an essay or discuss this question, integrating
what you have learned from the material above.
Do you see any signs that America might be in
the process of creating a new religion—one like
the religion of Rome?
America’s civil religion is headed in an unbiblical direction. Increasingly, American civil religion
is pluralistic—it maintains that there are many
gods and many truths. It, like the religion found
in C.S. Lewis’s The Last Battle, seeks to blend all
the gods into one, and it claims that all of those
religions have some part of the truth. The God
of the Bible, however, will not have rivals. He
will have no gods worshipped in His presence or
among His people. Today, when America calls out
for help, it calls out to many gods, thinking that
all religious people should be happy if their god
is represented in the worship and pleas of the
nation’s leaders. This sort of worship, however,
is offensive to Jesus Christ, who claims Himself
as the only mediator between God and man. The
truth claims of religions are ignored by pluralistic
leaders in America. Still, Christ will not be one of
many gods—He is the way and the truth and the
life.
Reading Assignment:
“Out of Persia” to “Questions and Answers”
Session VI: Discussion
have discovered some part of what is Good and
True in the world.
Christians, however, have to be very wary of
seemingly innocuous, seemingly kind statements
like this because affirmations like this can and
do compromise our faith, denying what Christ
made crystal clear—that He is the only mediator
between God and man and that no one can find
peace, forgiveness, and right relationship with
God without being united to Him.
By denying this sort of soft relativism (where
all religions are portrayed as true paths to goodness, truth, and happiness) we must make clear
what we as Christians do not believe. We do not
believe that Christians always have the best of
everything. Non-Christian cultures might develop
excellent technology, better tasting food, and
interesting ideas. These things, at some points,
might be better than what is going on in Christian
culture. This insight into truth, goodness, and
beauty, however, is given to people not by their
false gods, but by the grace of the truth God
gives, who distributes gifts even to those who
do not know or love Him. Theologians call this
common grace—it does not save people, but we
should not diminish its importance. Pagans discover many glorious things because of common
grace.
We must, however, make clear that in Christ,
the God-Man, dwells all wisdom, all truth, all
goodness. He rules over heaven and earth, and He
is the only way to true peace with the true God.
In Him, we see and know humanity full-grown. In
Him, we will be raised up from the dead.
A Question to Consider
Discuss or list short answers to the following questions:
In the chapter “Questions and Answers,” Genevieve
Foster states the following: “No one person or race or nation has ever been or will ever be able to know all Truth
or express all the Good to be found in the world.” Is this
statement true or false? How do you know?
Text Analysis
First, we need, of course, to understand what
she means by terms like “Truth” and “Good.”
The context of this part of the book provides
us with an answer. This section of Augustus
Caesar’s World contains what scholars would call
Comparative Religion. It gives short synopses of
many different religions and philosophies practiced all over the world. Mrs. Foster handles each
of these religions with respect, trying to set them
in the best light and to demonstrate that they too
1. What aspects of the Zoroastrian religion are similar to
Christianity? Why does the author pick these details?
Zoroastrians celebrated December 25th, and they
celebrated Sunday. It calls for some speculation
concerning why the author picked these details,
but it seems as if the author is trying to make the
point that there are some similarities between the
two religions and that Zoroastrianism has some
aspect of the truth (Out of Persia).
2. How was the teaching of the great Rabbi Hillel something that should have prepared people for the coming of Christ? Why does the author point this out?
Hillel pointed his students (one of whom was
Gamaliel who in turn was the teacher of the
Augustus Caesar’s World
apostle Paul) toward the weightier matters of the
law, claiming that the entire law was summed up
in the precept of loving your neighbor as yourself. One reason Foster might point this out is to
make it appear that Jesus was not being original
when He taught the same thing. Of course, He
was not being original. He was teaching what
the Scriptures said—as was Hillel (Hillel the Great
Pharisee).
3. Who do the people in the Roman province of Gaul
begin to worship as a god?
They begin to worship Augustus as a god (Augustus
the God).
4. How does Augustus begin to portray himself as divine?
Augustus begins to portray himself as Horus the
son of Osiris and Isis. He is blending religions and
making a case for his authority in a manner that
is typical of the ancient world in which leaders
tried to connect themselves to the gods (A Roman
Pharaoh).
5. What truth is adopted by Pharaoh Akhenaton?
(In a world where all religions are true, is this really
an insight?)
Akhenaton is a monotheist—he believes that
there is only one god. Because of this great departure from the polytheism of his day, his opponents have all traces of his rule removed when
he dies. They return Egypt to polytheism. His rule
was rediscovered by archaeologists in 1907. While
the author insinuates that Akhenaton’s monotheism was a step forward, if all religions are true, it
is hard to say why monotheism is any better than
polytheism (Remember Akhenaton).
6. What philosophies were most popular among the
Romans?
Stoicism and Epicureanism were most popular
among the Romans. These philosophies aimed
more at instructing people in how they should
live. Stoicism taught that everyone should obey
the divine law and that whatever happened is
divine law. Stoics were driven by duty and rationality. Epicureans sought to live a life of pleasure
without excess or lacking. Initially, the Epicureans
lived austere lives, but eventually they were
attracted to fine food and drink (Questions and
Answers).
Cultural Analysis
1. What would happen today if an American president
during the State of the Union address announced
that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life and
that no one can have a relationship with the true God
outside of Christ?
He would probably be in a tremendous amount
of political trouble. He might be shouted down
by his opponents or even his own party. The cable
news networks would run the story 24 hours a
day until he either came forward to apologize
for being so unfeeling toward all of the other
religions or until he came forward to resign.
Christ’s exclusive claims are a deep contradiction
to the present commitments of our country. They
strike at the root of our particular sin—spiritual
adultery—and we, as a people, do not want to
hear how unfaithful we have been. If this would
happen, we would see the intolerance of those
who claim to be pushing for tolerance.
2. In the movie The Incredibles little superhero boy Dash
and the villain Syndrome keep reminding us that “if
everyone is super, then no one really is.” In light of
this insight what would you say is true if all religions
are true?
If all religions are true, then none of them are.
Religions make truth claims that contradict one
another. Christianity claims that Jesus is God
incarnate and the only mediator between God
and man. The other religions deny this. It is
hopeless to try to make Hinduism, Buddhism,
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam say the same
thing. They do not. If they are all true, then none
of them are really true.
3. Why does our culture want to avoid having one true
religion (at all costs)?
We want to avoid this because, if we would discover the one true God and one true religion,
then we would have to acknowledge that we
are responsible to live according to His will. Our
culture would rather live according to its own
desires.
Biblical Analysis
1. In Exodus 32, while Moses was on Mt. Sinai, Aaron
led the people in a blended worship service. He created golden calves to represent God and had the people
worship them in a manner common to the worship
of idols in the ancient world (they had a big party).
What did God think of this? Why did Moses throw
down the tablets when he saw that the people had
run amok?
God hates this sort of religious mixing—called
syncretism—so much that He told Moses He was
going to blot out the entire Hebrew nation and
start over again with Moses. When Moses threw
down the tablets, he was showing the people
17
18
O
m n i b u s
IV
what had already happened. Before the covenant tablets had even been brought down the
mountain, the people had already shattered the
covenant by embracing pluralism.
2. In 1 Kings 12:25ff, Jeroboam the Son of Nebat became the first king of the Northern Kingdom. To
maintain the political unity of the Northern Kingdom, he set up golden calves for the people to worship. What does God think of such religious pluralism (consider 1 Kings 13:34, 14:16, 15:30, 15:34,
16:2, 16:19, 16:26)?
God hates all golden calves. Jeroboam’s calves
were set up to secure the political independence
of the Northern Kingdom. The king feared that if
the people continued to worship in Jerusalem as
they ought, they would eventually return to serve
the Davidic kings of the south. These calves and
this religious pluralism was a stumbling block for
all of the Northern Kingdom, which was eventually trapped in idolatry and finally destroyed by
Assyria.
Summa
Write an essay or discuss this question, integrating
what you have learned from the material above.
How can you be faithful to Christ during periods
of intolerant pluralism?
To stand during times like this, we must have a
firm conviction of the truth. Christ did not claim
to be a way to God. He claimed to be the only
way! We must recognize that being true to Him
will often cost us friends, position, and popularity. (We cost Jesus all of these things and more,
of course.) We must recognize also that Christ has
not given us any wiggle room in these affirmations. Finally, we must take comfort in the fact
that by remembering and proclaiming Christ’s
uniqueness we are really presenting the only true
way of salvation.
We must also consider how we present this
truth. When we are standing in the presence of
others who are either truly committed believers
in false gods or are confused people, we should
remember to tell the truth in love. When we find
leaders in the church, however, leading others
astray and shaving the edges off of Christ’s claims,
we need to oppose them vigorously and strongly,
call them to stand for Christ, and demand they
stop diminishing His claims.
Reading Assignment:
“ Stepson and Stars” to “Buddha and the
Kingdom of Truth”
Session VII: Recitation
“Out of Persia” to “Buddha and the Kingdom of Truth”
Comprehension Questions
Answer the following questions for factual recall:
1. Who brings Zoroastrianism to Rome, and what do
Zoroastrians worship?
Roman soldiers who had been held as captives by
Parthia bring Zoroastrianism to Rome. The sun is
the object of Zoroastrian worship—that is why
they worship on the day of the Sun—or Sunday
(Out of Persia).
2. When Agrippa and Julia visit Herod in Jerusalem
why does Herod complain about the Galileans?
He complains that the Galileans are always causing trouble because they hope that the Messiah
will come and throw off Roman Rule (Herod and
the Temple).
3. What is the Septuagint, and why is it also called the
LXX?
The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Old
Testament authorized by Ptolemy Philadelphus,
the ruler of Alexandria. This translation is called
the LXX because, as the story goes, seventy (LXX)
different translators produced identical version of
the Old Testament when they translated it from
Hebrew into Greek (Philo and the Lighthouse).
4. Why does Pythagoras claim that we can not hear the
music of the spheres?
He claims that, because it is a constant sound, like
anything that occurs all of the time, we think of it
as background sound (Questions and Answers).
5. Who is Strabo?
He is a mapmaker from Armenia. He is educated
in Rome with Cicero’s sons and wants to add to
the geographic knowledge of the world. He travels broadly and believes that the world is round
(Strabo and the World).
6. What do the Mayan’s do well?
They have a very accurate calendar because they
carefully watched the stars, sun, planets, and
moon (Of Calendars and the Mayans).
Augustus Caesar’s World
7. What do the Pharisees do as soon as Herod the
Great dies?
They hack down the Roman eagle that he had
placed on the Temple (Herod is Dead).
8. What sort of philosophy does Confucius teach?
Confucius teaches political philosophy, giving
rules that he believes will produce good government, because he believes that good government
and moral living are the key to peace (Land of the
Dragon).
9. What are “castes” in Hinduism, and what do Hindus
believe about other religions?
Castes are groups of people. Some castes are
higher than others. The Brahman priestly caste is
the highest. Higher castes were not to marry or
mix with lower castes. While believing in radical
inequality between people of different castes,
Hindus believe that all religions are ways to find
truth (Of India and the Hindus).
10.What leads Buddha to renounce the world and begin
a life of meditation?
When Buddha was born, he was a prince in a royal
family named Gautama. He was kept from all pain
and suffering, but one day he sees an old man suffering. He renounces his wealth, his office, and his
family and becomes a wandering hermit seeking
enlightenment through meditation (Buddha and
the Kingdom of Truth).
The next session will be a student-led discussion. Students will be creating their own questions concerning the
issue of the session. Students should create three Text Analysis Questions, two Cultural Analysis questions, and two
Biblical Analysis questions. For more detailed instructions,
please see the chapter on Death on the Nile, Session V.
Issue
What will your legacy be?
Session VIII:
Student-Led Discussion
A Question to Consider
What will your legacy be?
All of us should recognize that we inevitably
will have a legacy. There is no avoiding it. We
should also desire to have a good legacy even
though it is quite possible to live a good life and
to quickly be forgotten by men. Our final legacy
will not be written in history books, but by the
judgment of God. Finally, we should recognize
what makes a good legacy—faithfulness. We
should aim at being faithful in all that we do, so
that our descendants can look back on our lives
and recount our pattern of faithful living as an
example that was worth following.
Students should read and consider the example questions below that are connected to the Question to Consider above. Last session’s assignment was to prepare three
questions and answers for the Text Analysis section and
two additional questions and answers for both the Cultural and Biblical Analysis sections below.
Text Analysis
Example: How does Augustus both demonstrate his
weakness and his excellence in the banishment of Julia?
Answer: First, Julia’s waywardness paints a less than ideal
picture of Augustus as a father. He was blind to her indiscretions and only later in life did he recognize the kind of
woman that she had become. We see, however, that as
the leader, and father, of the Roman Empire he is willing
to apply justice to his own family. This example was inspiring to the people of Rome, knowing that the Emperor
would not exempt his own family from justice.
Reading Assignment:
Cultural Analysis
“ December 25 , Year 1” to “My
Dear Tiberius”
Example: How has America profited from the pattern of leadership demonstrated by President George Washington?
th
Answer: Every time governing power changes hands
peacefully in America we should remember and thank
God for General Washington. He could have refused to
relinquish power. Most people at the time would have applauded his remaining in office. He could have had the
titles and privileges of a king, but instead, he served his
country, laid his power aside, and returned to his farm.
He was called a modern-day Cincinnatus and was, of
19
20
O
m n i b u s
IV
course, inspired by the example of that great Roman. We
benefit from Washington’s example in many ways.
Other cultural issues to consider: Term limits (what
are the pros and cons); founders of companies, like Bill
Gates, John Rockefeller, Steve Jobs, and Andrew Carnegie; for positive examples of leaders who had a great legacy see Elizabeth I, Augustine of Hippo, and Augustine
of Canterbury; for negative examples of founding fathers
try Robespierre and Vladimir Lenin.
Biblical Analysis
Example: What was David’s legacy for Israel?
Answer: While David had some egregiously bad shortcomings (e.g., the census and his sin with Bathsheba), his
legacy was overwhelmingly positive. He is the example
of a king with his heart in the right place—he was a man
after God’s own heart. When he failed and sinned, he
confessed (without political spin) and repented. He faced
trials with courage and faith. He poured out his heart to
the Lord in poetry. He faced down a giant who would
stand against God’s people. He set a standard for kingship and painted a picture of what his descendant, Jesus
Christ, would be as a ruler.
Other Scriptures to consider: Consider how Christ’s
example affected the lives of his disciples in Acts 2:14ff
and 4:1–21; consider how the life and example of the father affected the lives of the prodigal son and his older
brother in Luke 15:11–32.
Summa
Write an essay or discuss this question, integrating
what you have learned from the material above.
Where do you or will you have the opportunity
to serve as a “father or founder”?
Most of you will, by the grace of God, be the
founders of new families. You will have the joy,
the challenge, and the responsibility of founding
a new family, setting patterns and rules for that
family, and leading a life consistent with those
principles. When you fail, will you repent? If you
do not, do not expect your children to. Will you
live within your means? If so, your children are a
lot more likely to live within theirs. Some of you
will found new businesses or new local churches.
If so, know that you will leave your mark on those
institutions.
Reading Assignment:
“ Hermann, the German Hero” to “A New
Religion for Rome”
Session IX: Discussion
“The German Border” to “A New Religion for Rome”
A Question to Consider
What causes are on the horizon that will cause the
Roman Empire to fail?
Edward Gibbon wrote in his famous The Decline
and Fall of the Roman Empire about what caused
Rome to fail. He blames, among others, Christians
for focusing Romans on the afterlife, promising
them a better life after death. We see at the
end of Augustus Caesar’s World a number of
forces that will begin to transform and erode the
empire. With Augustus’s reign the doors of the
Temple of Janus are closed because peace had
come to the Roman world, but the Roman clashes
with Germanic barbarian tribes previews one
force that will erode Roman rule. The religion of
Rome was also deteriorating. Faith in the Roman
gods had declined as men like Cicero had set aside
the contradictory and confusing histories of the
gods. Emperor worship would furnish the empire
some unity, but this was gained at a terrible price
as Christians were slaughtered wholesale for
refusing to proclaim the emperor a god. Finally,
Christian martyrs, missionaries, and apologists
would spread the faith throughout the empire.
Discuss or list short answers to the following questions:
Text Analysis
1. What do the Romans stop doing at the border of Germany? Why?
At the borders of Germany the Romans stop their
conquests. There the border of the Roman Empire
will be settled. The job of the Roman armies is
transformed. Formerly, they were constantly on
the attack. Now, they will attempt to hold ground
against invasion. They stopped conquering at
the Danube because they did not believe that
the land in Germany was worth conquering (The
German Border).
2. What does Augustus consider doing to raise more
troops to fill the needs of the army during the rebellion in Pannonia?
Augustus considers whether he will have to call
for slaves to fill spots in the legion and thereby be
freed (My Dear Tiberius).
3. Just as Augustus considers the peace and prosperity
of his empire what “gift” arrives from Germany?
Augustus is sent the head of Varus, the former
Augustus Caesar’s World
governor of Syria who was leading Rome’s forces
in Germany. Augustus is overwhelmed with grief
(Hermann the German Hero).
4. How does Hermann the German learn to fight so well?
Like many Germans, Hermann had been trained
by the Romans. He served Varus, but eventually he secretly turned against the Romans, set
an ambush for the legion, and almost completely
destroyed it (Hermann the German Hero).
5. Who might have been visiting the Temple in Jerusalem
during the census of A.D. 6, and what did he do there?
Jesus might have been visiting the Temple during
the census. This might have been the time when
he questioned the religious leaders (The Kingdom
of Heaven).
6. The Empire crucifies Jesus and, eventually, persecutes His followers. What does this cause?
Christianity grows and continues to grow as Rome
persecutes it (A New Religion for Rome).
Cultural Analysis
in money instead of any god?
American foreign policy tends to overestimate
economic motivations in the lives of our enemies.
We tend to try to buy off our enemies, even at
some points giving aid to rulers who oppress their
people. We think that other people are just like
us. We fail to remember that our own forefathers
were willing to risk, as they said, “our lives, our
fortunes, and our sacred honor.” Also, recent
presidents have begun to celebrate Islamic holidays at the White House to prove that we are not
against Islam.
Biblical Analysis
1. Why did the Babylonian Empire fall (Daniel 5)?
It fell because of arrogance after serving God’s
purposes, and He was now going to use the
Persian Empire to restore His people to the land.
This arrogance was demonstrated by Belshazzar’s
willingness to celebrate at his drunken feast using
the golden utensils from God’s Temple.
1. The Roman Empire failed both internally and externally. Its virtues turned to vices. Its armies began to
falter (as conquests gave way to holding ground). Its
people were left without any religion except pleasure
seeking. Today, many would say that America has become an empire of sorts. What signs do you see that
America is facing the same sorts of internal and external failures that felled Rome?
2. Why was the wicked empire of the Assyrians spared
from God’s judgment at least temporarily (Jonah 3)?
America is faltering at home and abroad. We have
lived beyond our means and continue to run up
huge debts as a nation collectively and as families.
We are also suffering from a crisis of religion.
We have rejected Christ in favor of embracing
all religions (which really means embracing no
religion). Increasingly, other nations oppose us,
and we have trouble stopping people and forces
that seem to continually rise up against us. Finally,
there is a crisis of virtue. We have become a
people addicted to prosperity and ease who will
not do the kind of hard work that it takes to lead
the world.
Nebuchadnezzar saw a dream which showed all
of the coming empires. During the time of the
Roman Empire “a stone not cut by human hands”
(i.e., an altar stone) would strike the statue representing the empires of the world, crush them, and
then this rock would fill the world. This rock is
Christ, who came during the rule of Augustus. His
kingdom today continues to grow and expand.
The stone of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream continues
to fill the world.
2. The Roman Empire was pragmatic when it came to
philosophy and religion (whatever gets you through
the night) so long as people recognized the authority
of the empire and did not cause trouble. Theirs was
an economic empire built on power and the creation
of wealth. Most of the conquered countries did not
rebel because of fear but also because Roman rule
generally brought prosperity. Do you see any sign
that America’s position in the world is one that downplays the importance of religion and is built on faith
They were spared because they repented. Later they
would bring judgment on the Northern Kingdom
of Israel but would be brought down by God as
they surged toward Jerusalem (2 Kings 19).
3. What did God forecast concerning the empires of
this world (Daniel 2)?
Summa
Write an essay or discuss this question, integrating
what you have learned from the material above.
What can you do to preserve America’s strength
and place of leadership in the world?
First, you need to recognize that if America has
served its purpose, there is nothing that anyone
can do to change it. We, as faithful citizens,
however, need to faithfully serve our country
and call her to repentance. Repentance and faith
are the only paths toward peace with God. This
repentance would need to happen in the lives of
21
22
O
m n i b u s
IV
individuals, in our families, and in our churches.
We would also need to repent of some things on
a national level. We would need to put away the
foolish practice of treating all religions as equally
true and admit that our greatness as a nation is
a result of the blessing of God and has resulted
because many men and women in the past served
Christ faithfully. Also, we should engage ourselves
politically. This engagement should not be done
in an immature manner. (We should not expect
to be elected president if we have not faithfully
served in lesser offices.) Perhaps running for lowlevel offices locally when you are ready would be
a great first step to becoming faithfully engaged
in political life, or you could work to support an
officer or leader in your church who would run
for public office. Finally, we need to cry out to
God. Repentance will only come as He, and if He,
sends His Spirit to bring conviction. Without His
blessing, we can do nothing.
erty, and use it to finance their war (Bloody
Fingerprints).
5. What does Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights, commemorate?
The Feast commemorates the cleansing of the
Temple when Judas Maccabeus threw the Greek
forces out of the Temple. On Hanukkah, Jews
exchange gifts for eight nights because the oil
in the lamp at the Temple burned for eight days
miraculously (Festival of Lights).
6. How does Herod the Great become King of Judea?
The Roman Senate names him king. After receiving the Senate’s blessing, he raises an army and
drives out the forces of the Parthians and besieges
the Maccabean rulers in Jerusalem (Herod King of
the Jews).
7. How does Octavian become Tiberius’s adopted father?
Octavian falls in love with Livia. He arranges for
her to be divorced from her husband so that he
can marry her. He adopts her children and Tiberius
is one of them (Livia, the Future Empress).
8. How does Herod’s wife Mariamne die?
Optional Session A:
Recitation
“Under a Lucky Star” to “A New Religion for Rome”
Comprehension Questions
Answer the following questions for factual recall:
1. What is the Act of Oblivion?
Brutus convinces the Senate to pass the Act of
Oblivion, which states that the Senate will not
hold any of the conspirators who killed Caesar
responsible for their actions. Thus, the Senate will
remember these facts no more (sweep them into
oblivion) (Conspirators Without a Plan).
2. Who crossed the Rubicon? Why did he do it?
Roman generals were forbidden to cross the
Rubicon River because the Senate feared they
would bring their armies and attack Rome. Julius
Caesar crosses the Rubicon, saying, “The die
is cast.” He subsequently defeats Pompey and
becomes the ruler of Rome before he is assassinated (Gaul, Geese, and Black Vultures).
3. How old is Octavian when he takes office for the first
time as Consul?
He is 19 years old (Octavian Plays the Game).
4. How do Antony and Octavian pay to raise their army
to attack Brutus and Cassius?
They murder their enemies, take their prop-
When Herod goes to meet Octavian, he fears for
his life and leaves an order that his wife Mariamne
is to be killed if he dies—so that she will not love
another. She learns of his plan and her love for
her husband goes cold (go figure!). Eventually,
Herod has her killed and then almost goes mad
from the guilt (Herod and Mariamne).
9. How is Caesar Augustus’s trip to Gaul different from
Julius Caesar’s visit?
When Augustus visits, he comes as an administrator. When Julius Caesar came to Gaul, he came
as a warrior and conqueror (Tales of the Wild
Northwest).
10.What happens to Augustus around the time Agrippa
takes him to see the Pantheon?
Augustus gets so ill that he believes he is going to
die. He even gives his signet ring to Agrippa, but
he recovers (The Pantheon). Optional Session B:
Activity
Augustus for a Day
Pick a day for one member of your class or family to
serve as Augustus for the day. During their Day as Cae-
Augustus Caesar’s World
sar, they can make any rule that they want. You will need
a large bag of M&Ms (or other treat), a stopwatch or clock,
and a pair of dice for this activity. Others must follow the
rules, but only under the following conditions:
1. The person in your family or class whose birthday is
closest to Augustus’s, September 23rd, gets to be Augustus for the day.
2. A teacher or parent needs to serve as the judge.
3. Everyone gets 20 M&Ms at the beginning of class.
They can do whatever they want with these, but saving them is a good idea. Augustus, however, receives
100 M&Ms. Everyone’s M&Ms must be kept in a bag
at all times unless they are being eaten.
4. Augustus may not ask anyone to do anything that is
malum in se (evil in and of itself) or anything that is
malum prohibitum (evil by prohibition) if the parent
or teacher forbids it. He may use his candy to bribe
others.
5. Anytime a third- to two-thirds of the empire (i.e., the
class or family) rebels against Augustus, he must enter into the Forum to see if it is the Ides of March. To
see if it is the Ides, dice must be rolled. If the sum of
the two dice is even, then Augustus is removed from
office and has to give up three-quarters of his M&Ms.
If the sum of the dice is 3, 5, 9, or 11, then Augustus retains his crown, and he confiscates half of the
M&Ms of all who were part of the conspiracy. If the
sum of the dice is seven, Augustus retains his crown
but no M&Ms change hands.
6. If Augustus is removed from office, then each conspirator chooses a number between two and twelve.
The closest wins and becomes the new Augustus. If
there is a tie, roll the dice again until one is closer.
7. If more than two-thirds of the class or family rebels,
then Augustus retains his crown only if the sum is 6,
7, or 8. On all other sums, Augustus is replaced. (See
step #6 for how to choose a new Augustus.)
8. For every 5 minutes that Augustus rules wisely (i.e., is
not removed), all players receive 5 additional M&Ms
and Augustus receives an additional 15 M&Ms.
When a new Augustus is crowned the clock restarts
and a new 5 minutes begins.
9. At the end of the time allotted for this activity, you
may eat, trade, or share you M&Ms.
Endnotes
1
2
3
4
The article is available through Link 1 for this chapter at www.
VeritasPress.com/OmniLinks.
Back in those days Indiana had classless basketball. All 386
teams played in one tournament to decide a state champion.
Theoretically, the smallest school in the state could win the
whole thing—thus, the movie Hoosiers when the 1954 Milan
team basically did run the table.
After high school, he continued to do well but was never quite
as dominating. He was All-Big Ten Conference at Indiana University. He was chosen in the second round of the NBA draft,
but after some injuries never really found a place in the league.
He has done well, but I have always wondered what it was like
to bear the weight of so many hopes and dreams.
Some recent scholarship, however, contradicts Foster’s views
of Saturnalia. She implies that Christians were trying to use a
pagan feast that was already popular. Now there are some who
think that it was actually desperate pagans who were trying to
“piggy back” onto the increasingly popular Christian holiday of
Christmas. More information on this is available through Link
2 for this chapter at www.VeritasPress.com/OmniLinks.
23