roman gods janus jupiter saturn genius mercury apollo mars vulcan neptune sol orcus liber tellus...

Roman GodsRoman GodsRoman Gods

JanusJupiterSaturnGeniusMercury

ApolloMars

VulcanNeptune

SolOrcusLiberTellusCeresJunoLunaDiana

Ninerva VenusVest

Plus 23 other godsPlus 23 other gods

Pax Romana

Religious Tolerance

Pax Romana

Religious Tolerance To Jews in Jerusalem

“just keep the peacejust 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 JudaismDivisions of JudaismPharisees – Pharisees –

•the most meticulous observers of the ancestral law•Most Jews were prepared to accept that claim

Sadducees –Sadducees –

•Sadducees did not believe in the authoritative nature of the ancestral laws•Sadducees were more HellenizedHellenized and less traditional•a great deal of following among the well-to-do and among the priestly classes

Common Jew –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,

•The Jews did not “kill Jesus”. The common Jew was just a member of society.•Roman Law and a few Jewish political leaders led the trials against Jesus.

Divisions of JudaismDivisions of Judaism

EssenesEssenes – –

•the Jews of Qumran, the Dead Sea Scrolls•separated themselves from the community

ZealotsZealots – –

•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 “MessiahMessiah”

• Descendant of King David

• Descendant of King David

• Recruited 12 apostles– a “person sent forth”

• Believed in Jewish Tradition


– One God


– One God

– Accepted 10 Commandments


– One God

– Accepted 10 Commandments

– Defended the Prophets

Oh – oh…

• Called himself the Son of God

• Politically, “son of God” was equal to Emperor


• Religious issue,

“son of God” meant more than one god


• Proclaimed Spiritual Salvation



• Eternal Life



• 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


• Crucified on Cross

• According to Tradition:According to Tradition:– Left his tombLeft his tomb U.S. celebrates Christmas…most of eastern Christian world celebrate Easter as most U.S. celebrates Christmas…most of eastern Christian world celebrate Easter as most

important Holiday.important Holiday.


• Crucified on Cross

• According to Tradition:According to Tradition:– Left his tombLeft his tomb

– Disciples saw him afterwardsDisciples saw him afterwards

Three Major Forms

• EbonitesEbonites - Jews or Gentile Conversion – ChristianA 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 - Ebonites -

Jewish – ChristianJewish – Christian

• Gnostics –Gnostics –Greek word for Greek word for KnowledgeKnowledge……

Accepted Hellenistic thought – Greek PhilosophyAccepted Hellenistic thought – Greek Philosophy

Denied Jewish belief and Old Testament as a wholeDenied Jewish belief and Old Testament as a whole

Three Major Forms

• Ebonites - Ebonites -

Jewish – ChristianJewish – Christian

• Gnostics –Gnostics –Greek word for Greek word for KnowledgeKnowledge

Denied Jewish belief and old testament as a wholeDenied Jewish belief and old testament as a whole

• Pauline Christianity Pauline Christianity – Spread Christianity to Gentiles (non-Jews)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

NazarenesNazarenes•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 RomePeter established a church in Rome

• Paul Vision to preach to the Paul Vision to preach to the GentilesGentiles– Traveled from Mesopotamia to RomeTraveled from Mesopotamia to Rome

PersecutionPersecutionUnspoken pact with Jews –

Growing Christian numbers were a problemThey refused to bow to other gods as the Jews

Both Peter and Paul killed Both Peter and Paul killed under Emperor Nerounder Emperor Nero

EmperorEmperorConstantinConstantin

ee

Claims a vision:Claims a vision:Put the cross Put the cross

before his armybefore his army

Edict of MilanEdict of Milan313 313 ADAD


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Edict of MilanEdict of Milan313 313 ADAD

Legalized Legalized ChristianityChristianity

Counsil of NicaeaCounsil of Nicaea

•Defined ChristianityDefined Christianity•Unified Roman EmpireUnified Roman Empire


ee

EmperorEmperorTheodosiusTheodosius

Declared Christianity official Declared Christianity official religion religion

of Roman Empireof Roman Empire

February 27, 380 A.DFebruary 27, 380 A.D.

roman gods janus jupiter saturn genius mercury apollo mars vulcan neptune sol orcus liber tellus...

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