Transcript son of God
Roman Gods Roman Gods Janus Jupiter Saturn Genius Mercury Apollo Mars Vulcan Neptune Sol Orcus Liber Tellus Ceres Juno Luna Diana Ninerva Venus Vest Plus 23 other gods Pax Romana Religious Tolerance Pax Romana Religious Tolerance To Jews in Jerusalem “just keep the peace” For years Jews died while refusing to bow down and worship other gods (10 commandments) – Including the emperor…they came to an unspoken agreement…just stay quiet and we will not force you to worship the Emperor Divisions of Judaism Pharisees – • the most meticulous observers of the ancestral law • Most Jews were prepared to accept that claim Sadducees – • Sadducees did not believe in the authoritative nature of the ancestral laws • Sadducees were more Hellenized and less traditional • a great deal of following among the well-to-do and among the priestly classes Common Jew – • Plain simple folk: observe the Sabbath, who observe the holidays, the festivals, who go with the pilgrimage to temple, who observe the Jewish food laws, the Jewish rituals, believe in the Jewish God, follow the ways by which to make the life holy, follow the dictates of the Torah in a kind of simple plain way, Divisions of Judaism Essenes – • the Jews of Qumran, the Dead Sea Scrolls • separated themselves from the community Zealots – • Began by Judas of Galilee ** • Included the Sicarii and other revolutionaries • "We must destroy the Roman Empire or we must destroy Jews who cooperate with the Roman Empire. We will kill all collaborators, no King but God," • **Josephus the Historian • Looking for a “Messiah” • Descendant of King David • Descendant of King David • Recruited 12 apostles – a “person sent forth” • Believed in Jewish Tradition • Believed in Jewish Tradition – One God • Believed in Jewish Tradition – One God – Accepted 10 Commandments • Believed in Jewish Tradition – One God – Accepted 10 Commandments – Defended the Prophets Oh – oh… • Called himself the Son of God • Politically, “son of God” was equal to Emperor • Called himself the Son of God • Religious issue, “son of God” meant more than one god • Called himself the Son of God • Proclaimed Spiritual Salvation • Called himself the Son of God • Proclaimed Spiritual Salvation • Eternal Life • Called himself the Son of God • Proclaimed Spiritual Salvation • Eternal Life • Some believed he was the Messiah Both Jewish Leaders and Roman Authority felt threatened Afraid of Zealot’s “Messiah” • Both Jewish Priests and Roman Authority felt threatened • Crucified on Cross not uncommon…most Roman Death Sentences were on the cross • Both Jewish Priests and Roman Authority felt threatened • Crucified on Cross • According to Tradition: – Left his tomb U.S. celebrates Christmas…most of eastern Christian world celebrate Easter as most important Holiday. • Both Jewish Priests and Roman Authority felt threatened • Crucified on Cross • According to Tradition: – Left his tomb – Disciples saw him afterwards Three Major Forms • Ebonites Jews or Gentile Conversion – Christian A party of Jewish Christians in the Early Church, who either held that circumcision and the observance of the Mosaic Law were necessary for salvation while accepting teachings of Jesus “I have not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it” What does this mean? “Judaizers” Three Major Forms • Ebonites Jewish – Christian • Gnostics – Greek word for Knowledge… Accepted Hellenistic thought – Greek Philosophy Denied Jewish belief and Old Testament as a whole Three Major Forms • Ebonites Jewish – Christian • Gnostics – Greek word for Knowledge Denied Jewish belief and old testament as a whole • Pauline Christianity – Spread Christianity to Gentiles (non-Jews) Destruction of Jerusalem (70 AD) Zealot Revolt • 1,000,000 people were killed during the siege • majority were Jewish • 97,000 were captured and enslaved “…Men and women, old and young, insurgents and priests, those who fought and those who entreated mercy, were hewn down in indiscriminate carnage. The legionaries had to clamber over heaps of dead to carry on the work of extermination." Destruction of Jerusalem Nazarenes • Separated themselves from Judaism • Elected a Gentile (Marcus) to lead them • Allowed them to exist in Roman Empire…. • All People – Jew, Gentile, Slave, etc • Written in Greek and Latin • Comfort in Message of Love Peter established a church in Rome • Paul Vision to preach to the Gentiles – Traveled from Mesopotamia to Rome Persecution Unspoken pact with Jews – Growing Christian numbers were a problem They refused to bow to other gods as the Jews Both Peter and Paul killed under Emperor Nero Emperor Constantine Claims a vision: Put the cross before his army Emperor Constantine Edict of Milan 313 AD Emperor Constantine Edict of Milan 313 AD Legalized Christianity Counsil of Nicaea • Defined Christianity • Unified Roman Empire Emperor Theodosius Declared Christianity official religion of Roman Empire February 27, 380 A.D.