Unlocking the Bible,
by Pastor Colin Smith
A study of Romans 12 during these troubling, uncertain political times.
"Overcoming Evil with Good"
5 Roman Emperors:
(spans approx. 70 years after Christ's birth)
1. Emperor Augustus (
23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14)
Reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (Luke 2:1)
2. Emperor Tiberius (6 November 42 BC – 16 March 37 AD)
Year 29 AD: the start of Jesus' ministry.
Reigned from 14 AD to 37 AD
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene ... (Luke 3)
3. Emperor Caligula (
31 August 12 – 24 January 41 AD)
Reigned as emperor from AD 37 to AD 41.
4 traumatic years
He had an illness that affected him deeply and turned him into a tyrant, thus increasingly losing his mind. Ordered an altar built for himself. Believed he was a god.
Roman secular historian, SUETONIUS wrote that Caligula ordered all statues of gods from around the Roman empire should be brought back to Rome. Heads cut off, images on faces and new heads s/b of Caligula. A golden statue in the temple had to be dressed like him daily. There were excesses, indulgences, orgies. Caligula spent all of the assets/money of the state passed on by Emperor Tiberius.
A man ought to be either a good economist, or an Emperor - - Caligula
Four years later, Emperor Caligula was assassinated by 2 members of his Guards
4. Emperor Claudius (
1 August 10 BC – 13 October AD 54)
reigned as Emperor from AD 41 to 54
Gave edict regarding Jews -- that all Jews depart from Rome. Yet, there was somewhat of a relief after Emperor Caligula. Priscilla & Aquila had moved to Corinth because Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart Rome.
After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. (Acts 18:1,2)
5. Emperor Nero (
15 December 37 – 9 June 68 AD)
The year was 54 AD. His Uncle was Emperor Claudius. Nero ruled for 15 years. He committed suicide at age 32.
- Nero had a good singing voice. Historian, Suetonius, wrote that spectators even pretended to be dead in order to be carried out of Nero's ego-filled shows
- Nero was a man of extraordinary cruelty. He arranged for the murder of his first wife, his aunt, and of his mother.
- Nero married 5x ... to 3 women ... and to 2 men ... over the course of 15 years.
"The whole of [Nero's] life was one continual scene of lewdness, sensuality, cruelty and folly." -- Suetonius
What were the CHRISTIANS up to?
At 33 AD the Church was "born". The next 30 years, as recorded in the Book of Acts, were years during the reign of Caligula, Claudius, and Nero.
The Book of Romans, was written by the Apostle Paul in Corinth during Winter of year 56-57 AD. Romans 12 was written when Nero was Emperor - - wow!! Apostle Paul wrote Believers to submit to governing authorities (during the reign of Nero!).
Shortly after the Book of Romans was written, false charges were brought against the Apostle Paul in Caesarea and he was arrested. But Paul was a Roman citizen. Any Roman citizen charged with a crime had the Right of Appeal to be tried in Rome itself, rather than in a conquered province. See Acts 25:11
"... I appeal unto Caesar."
Two years after AD 60-61, the Apostle Peter was in Rome. While he was there, he wrote 1 Peter. Moved by the Holy Spirit, Peter writes in 1 Peter 4:12 (AD 63)
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
Peter was prophetically speaking about the great fire of Rome which happened in AD 64 -- one year later.
Tacitus, Roman historian, wrote that only 4 of the 14 Roman precincts were unaffected by the fire. As Rome burned, Nero sang. Thus, the famous saying, "Fiddling while Rome burned."
People knew that Nero was behind the fire. Thus, Nero needed a scapegoat -- Christians!
Tacitus: To scotch the rumour, Nero punished with utmost cruelty, a class of men whom the crowd styled, "Christians". Christians were arrested ... vast majority convicted ... for hatred of the human race.
Their death was made a matter of sport... Hence there arose a feeling of pity toward Christians. Their death was to satisfy the savagery of one man ...
This was only 6 years after Paul's appeal to the Emperor.
Christians have been here in these evil, uncertain times before.
Christians are here today, but the ROMAN EMPIRE is not -- Pastor Colin Smith
Tertullian (c. 155 – c. 240 AD), Christian writer, was the first to call Nero the first persecutor of Christians.
"Examine your records. There you will find that Nero was the first that persecuted this doctrine." (Tertullian, wikipedia).
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