Download Roman Imperial Theology and the Gospels

Roman Imperial Theology
and the Gospels
Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus - Rome
http://www.maquettes-historiques.net/R118.jpg
• Julius Caesar had become too powerful –
a threat to the Roman Senate
• Brutus and Cassius led the assassination
– 44 BC
– They called themselves the “liberators”
– Brutus celebrated the event by issuing a coin
Commemorated the assassination of Julius Caesar
on March 15, 44 BC
Issued by Marcus Junius Brutus in 43/42 BC
• Obverse - His own image
• Reverse - A liberty cap flanked by two daggers &
“EID MAR” (15th March)
http://coins.about.com/od/famousrarecoinprofiles/p/eidmarprofile.htm
• The Roman Senate then
“voted to give Caesar
divine honors” (Plutarch,
Caesar 67:4)
• Plutarch indicated signs
of Caesar’s deity
In 17 BC, a comet appeared in the sky and was interpreted as the Divine
Julius Caesar returning to watch over Rome. The comet is shown as a star
of eight rays with a feathery tail trailing behind. The legend is DIVVS IVLIVS.
– “Divine Julius” [minted by Octavian]
– “a great comet, which
showed itself in great
splendor for seven nights
after Caesar’s murder”
(Plutarch, Caesar, 69:3)
http://www.brucemuseum.org/aboutus/press/
meteorites.doc
http://dougsmith.ancients.info/feac59ugl.html
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A double-headed coin minted by Octavian (27 BC – AD 14), grand-nephew
and adopted son of Julius Caesar and known in the NT as Caesar Augustus
(Lk. 2:1). Note: he identified himself on the reverse as “son of the divine.”
[Son of God]
DIVOS IVLIVS (the divine
Julius)
•Octavian's accompanying legend
reads CAESAR DIVI F (son of the
divine ...
• Octavian: Caesar Augustus (27 BC – AD 14)
• The Roman historian Suetonius (AD 75-140)
recorded that immediately after Caesar’s funeral
a person named Numerius Atticus swore under
oath that he had seen Augustus’ soul ascend
into heaven. (Suetonius, Deified Augustus 100:4)
• One month later the Senate officially granted the
status of divinity to Augustus
– Established a temple and priesthood for his worship.
– The official start of the Imperial Cult in the West.
• See: Richey, Roman Imperial Ideology and the Gospel of John, 34.
http://www.humanities.mq.edu.au/acans/caesar/Portraits_Posthumous.htm
It seemed good to the Greeks of Asia, in the opinion of the high
priest Apollonius of Menophilus Azanitus:
• In his Aeneid, Vergil (d. 19 BC) claimed
Augustus was chosen by Jupiter to
establish a universal empire. In fact,
Rome had been founded by Jupiter to be
“lords of the world.” (Aeneid, 1.254,278-79,282)
“Since Providence, which has ordered all things and is deeply
interested in our life, has set in most perfect order by giving us
Augustus, whom she filled with virtue that he might benefit
humankind, sending him as a savior [soter], both for us and for
our descendants, that he might end war and arrange all things,
and since he, Caesar, by his appearance (excelled even our
anticipations), surpassing all previous benefactors, and not even
leaving to posterity any hope of surpassing what he has done, and
since the birthday of the god Augustus was the beginning of the
good tidings [archein / euangelion] for the world that came by
reason of him,” which Asia resolved in Smyrna.
The Priene Calendar
Inscription in honor of Caesar Augustus (OGIS 458; ca. 9 BCE).
• The inscription was put in prominent
places throughout the empire.
• Augustus’ birth was noted as “good news”
–euangelion – “gospel”
• He was called a “savior” for humankind
• Inscription in ancient Amphipolis honoring
Augustus:
“Imperator Caesar, God, Son of God, Augustus,
Savior, and Builder of the City.”
One of the main stops along the Via Egnatia.
• Note similarities with how Mark begins his
gospel.
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Temple of Augustus at Caesarea, built by Herod the Great
Honoring Augustus’ Deity
• Tiberius (AD14-37)
– Was not deified; perhaps because he was not
related by blood or adoption to the Caesar
Augustus.
• Caligula (AD 37-41)
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-photo/eric/israel_1975-76/198477060/cae10.jpg/tpod.html
http://www.holylandphotos.org/browse.asp?s=1,2,6,16,288,302
• Claudius (AD 41-54)
– The senate deified him, but Nero nullified his
deification.
– Vespasian reinstated his divine status.
• Nero (AD 54-68)
– Was not deified by the Senate; was cursed by
them.
• AD 68 – civil war – 3 emperors in 18 mths
– Galba, Otho, Vitellius; the general Vespasian
was elected emperor in December 69.
Arch of Titus
– Deified himself
– Ordered statues of himself placed in temples,
shrines, synagogues so people could worship
him.
– He was assassinated; the senate “undeified”
him, had his statues smashed and his name
removed from inscriptions.
• Vespasian (AD 69-79)
– Did not take seriously the deification of
emperors.
– The senate deified him after his death.
• Titus (AD 79-81) – son of Vespasian
– Deified by the Senate.
– Arch of Titus – built by brother, Domitian
• “the son of the god”
• Titus is on the back of an eagle being taken to
heaven.
"Senatus Populusque Romanus Divo Tito Divi Vespasiani Filio
Vespasiano Augusto"
The Roman Senate and People to Deified Titus, Vespasian
Augustus, son of Deified Vespasian
Commemorating the defeat of the Jews
http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/titus/titus.html
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• Domitian (AD 81-96) – son of Vespasian
– Deified himself in 86.
– Cursed by the Senate after he died.
Basic Aspects of Roman Imperial
Theology
• The gods have chosen Rome.
• Rome and its emperors are agents of the
gods’ rule, will, and presence among
human beings.
• Rome manifests the gods’ blessings
among those that submit to Rome’s rule.
– Security, peace, justice, faithfulness, fertility
From: Warren Carter, The Roman Empire and the New Testament, An
Essential Guide (Abingdon Press, 2006), p. 83
Dimensions of the Imperial Cult
• The official cult of deceased emperors
centered at the city of Rome itself.
– At death several emperors were “inducted”
into the realm of the gods by the senate.
• Communities in the provinces established
imperial cults.
– Organized by “high priests” who oversaw the
building of temples, shrines, etc.
• Festivals, games, regular sacrifices
Terms Used for the Emperors
God
Son of god
God made manifest
Lord
Lord of the whole world
Lord’s day
epiphany
imperator
sacred writings
Savior of the world
Lord and god
(dominus et deus)
• Civic cults
– Established by cities.
– Maintained contact with other civic groups.
– Had their own priests and other officials.
• Unofficial groups
– Local shrines, monuments – smaller groups
or households and associations
From: Philip A. Harland, “Emperor worship” in New Interpreter’s Dictionary
of the Bible (Abingdon Press, 2007), 2:256.
In Latin a distinction was made between
Deus – used for immortal gods
Divus – used for gods who had been men
In Greek, both were called theos.
So the Greek equivalent of divi filius was
theou huios, son of God.
[Keith Hopkins, Conquerors and Slaves (1978) from Crossan, Reed, In
Search of Paul, 235]
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Josephus - Jewish military general / historian
“It is impossible that so vast an empire
should be established without God’s
providence.” (Jewish Wars 2.390)
Believed the Jewish prophecy that one from
Judea would rule the world spoke of
Vespasian, who was appointed emperor
while in Judea. (Jewish Wars 6.313)
• Christians would have been very familiar
with all this – especially outside of
Palestine.
• Even within Palestine, Herod the Great
made sure the Jewish people were
represented in honoring the emperor and
the imperial cult appropriately.
• Within Hellenistic cultures everyone was
expected to participate.
• This is part of the context in which the
gospels were written.
• Jesus had already been viewed as
Messiah, Lord, God, savior of the world for
some time.
– Paul had already written most, if not all, of his
letters.
– Such ideas about Jesus were prominent
among Christians.
• The imperial cult united the empire.
– There were many gods and traditions in the
various parts of the empire.
– The imperial cult brought some sort of unity
and consistency to the empire.
• The cult provided a means for “patriotism.”
• The cult reinforced the power and control
of the emperor and his forces.
• Several NT texts have the Roman Imperial
milieu in their cultural context.
– 1 Peter
– Several of Paul’s letters
– Revelation
• When Christians confessed Jesus as
Messiah, Lord, God, Savior, it was an
obvious challenge to the Imperial system.
The Gospels present Jesus from 2 perspectives
• Jesus’ coming fulfills the Jewish prophecies of
one coming from God to renew his people and
establish a new kingdom/covenant.
• Jesus is the one whom God has sent – not the
Roman emperor.
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• Miracles announced his birth.
• Miracles identified him as from God.
• Jesus is the one who truly is
– Savior
– Son of God
– God
– God made manifest – emmanuel
– Lord and God
– Savior of the world
Ruins of an Imperial Temple at Ephesus
Honoring Vespasian, Titus, Domitian,
Jesus is the chosen one
messiah = Christ = anointed
He will save his people from their sins – MT. 1:21
The beginning of the gospel (good news) is
the beginning of Jesus’ ministry - Mk 1:1
The gospel of the kingdom – Mt. 4:23; 9:35
Ruins of an Imperial Temple at Ephesus
Honoring Vespasian, Titus, Domitian,
BiblePlaces.com
http://www2.luthersem.edu/Ckoester/revelation/ephesus/Temple.htm
Ruins of a temple dedicated to the deified Julius Caesar
and the goddess Roma, 29 B.C. at Ephesus
http://www2.luthersem.edu/Ckoester/revelation/ephesus/Emperor.htm
Temple of Artemis, Ephesus
Google.com/images
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"I have seen the walls and Hanging Gardens of ancient Babylon, the statue of
Olympian Zeus, the Colossus of Rhodes, the mighty work of the high
Pyramids and the tomb of Mausolus. But when I saw the temple at Ephesus
rising to the clouds, all these other wonders were put in the shade"- Philon of
Byzantium
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