Biblical Nations - Roman Empire

Roman Empire

Key Scripture: Acts 23:11

Figures: Caesar Augustus, Pontius Pilate, Nero, Aquila and Priscilla

First, a quick note: I will be out of the country next week to celebrate my anniversary, so there will be a hiatus until the beginning of January.  I wish you all a very merry Christmas, and may 2025 become your best year ever! 

Earlier in our study of biblical nations, we spent time with some of the major empires that ruled over the Hebrew people or that impacted them in significant ways.  You may have noticed that one particular entry was missing, and it's the biggest of them all.  Today, we fill that gap.  Rome, the greatest empire known to western civilization (and possibly the world), was the dominant superpower at the time of Jesus' birth and throughout the entire New Testament.  The empire itself lasted for over 500 years, not to mention the rise and remnants that spanned an additional millennium or more, and it likely has had more research than any other civilization.  For our purposes, however, we will look at how a city in central Italy grew to impact the biblical narrative and actually served to help spread the Gospel during the earliest days of the Christian Church. 

Legend states that twin brothers Remus and Romulus founded the city in 753 BC on the site along the Tiber River where a wolf suckled them after they were orphaned.  In reality, archeological evidence may prove the presence of residents on Rome's Palatine Hill as early as the 10th century BC.  The origins of the various people groups in the region, which came to be called Latium, are not part of historical record but are likely part of the family of Japheth like the majority of Europeans.  Etruscans, a civilization hailing from just north of Rome, dominated the city's culture and contributed extensive engineering developments such as the first true Roman wall (the Servian wall) and a sewage system (the Cloaca Maxima), as well as at least three kings.  After hundreds of years of growth and expansion, Rome eventually became the preeminent local power and established itself as a republic shortly before 500 BC.  It wasn't until the events surrounding Julius Caesar's triumphant return to the capital city, including his eventual assassination and the rise of his heir, Caesar Augustus, in 27 BC that the Roman Empire was established just in time for the birth of the most significant individual in history.

At the time of this writing, we are just days away from Christmas.  In nearly every church the start of Luke's account of the life of Jesus will be read, including the order from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be taxed - an event that corresponds to a Roman census that took place sometime between the years of 2 BC and AD 7.  The nativity story tells of how Joseph and Mary journeyed to the city of King David, Bethlehem, where Jesus was born and the Idumean ruler of the Roman province of Judea, King Herod "the Great", ruthlessly attempted to kill the perceived threat to his seat of power.  The Pax Romana was a period of relative stability throughout the Mediterranean world that allowed a significant amount of freedom for inhabitants to travel, including this young family who fled to Egypt from the crazy tyrant's murderous scheme to the Messiah Himself who journeyed throughout the provinces of Galilee, Judea, and Samaria during His ministry.  Even the early disciples benefitted, spreading the news of Jesus far and wide, but an expansive empire that defied its ruler also created certain hazards for those who claimed there was only one true God.  Jesus was crucified while Pontius Pilate governed Judea under the rule of Augustus' successor, Tiberius, and the church faced its first major tribulation at the hands of Nero, Rome's 5th emperor, shortly thereafter.

How the church expanded to Rome is unknown, as Paul had dealings with believers from there and had written an epistle to them before he ever arrived.  Two of his companions and friends, a couple who shared in the apostle's original trade of tentmaking, were Aquila and Priscilla.  They had been among the Jews who had been expelled from the city of Rome during the reign of Nero's predecessor, Claudius, possibly due to a disturbance stemming from Jewish opposition to Christian evangelistic efforts (since followers of Jesus were still considered a Jewish sect by the authorities).  Ultimately, Paul's letter to the Romans is the most complete explanation of his theology, as he communicates his beliefs to a community he had not yet met but intended to visit.  According to the Roman historian Tacitus, Nero blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome in AD 64 and unleashed severe methods of torture on them.  Rumors had been spread throughout Roman society that followers of Jesus practiced superstitions and impious practices that included cannibalism and orgies.  As such, they were an easy target.  Tradition states that Paul, Peter, and numerous other Christians were martyred before Nero's death in AD 68.  Rome became increasingly unsettled by events that took place in Jerusalem, and a future emperor named Titus ultimately destroyed the city in AD 70, just as prophesied by Jesus shortly before his own death.

The last surviving New Testament writer was John, believed to be the youngest of the original 12 disciples, who was exiled to the island of Patmos under the reign of Emperor Domitian.  The aging follower of Jesus had lived to see 11 different emperors of Rome, but despite the worship given to these mortal rulers John did not see them as worthy and wrote the book of Revelation at the end of his life while looking forward to the eternal reign of his friend and Lord, Jesus.  The Roman Empire was divided into two, with Constantinople becoming the capital of the east, and Christianity was elevated in status until the Nicene branch was named the official state religion.  The Bishop of Rome became the most visible leader of Christianity at that point, later becoming the Catholic pope.  The Western Roman Empire finally collapsed when a Germanic leader named Odoacer deposed the last emperor, Romulus Augustus (who was considered by many to be illegitimate anyway), in AD 476 and his hand-picked choice to rule was in turn assassinated in AD 480.  A period of Gothic wars raged throughout the Italian peninsula, leaving the great city in ruins.  With no maintenance, large portions of the city effectively became marshland as the sewer system failed and the Tiber flowed into the areas of low elevation.  Formerly the home of millions of people, Rome's population dropped to tens of thousands (although a legend states that a brief period existed where not a single person remained).  The Eastern Romans, by that point known as Byzantines, began restoring the city during the 5th century reign of Justinian I.  During the 8th century Pope Gregory II led Rome to sever its ties with Byzantine Empire and sided with Charlemagne to create the Papal States, and in AD 800 Pope Leo III crowned the ruler of the Franks as Holy Roman Emperor.  The city was re-established as a leader in world governance as Charlemagne was instrumental in building what became known as Christendom, lands that had Christianity as its dominant religion, which looked to the pope's leadership in Rome.  Today, Rome is not only the capital of Italy but also houses the Vatican City (or Holy See) which is recognized as an independent nation - which makes it the only city in the world with two national capitals.  Although all of the pieces of the Roman Empire eventually collapsed or were conquered, the city remains populated by the same people groups that have been there throughout its history, and it is among the world's great historical locations.