Homework for this week

Small Beginnings: After Acts

Rome was the commercial hub of the urban areas. It was the hub, and the spokes went out to the world. The Romans built their culture through roads, military, and language. The once culture that overthrew them was Greece. Rome began as a republic first, and eventually changed into an Empire.

Julius Caesar (100 BC - 44 BC) ran the triumvirate of the Roman Senate. The triumvirate was a three-part government. It did not, however extend to the providences. Julius wasn't emperor, but he did lay the groundwork for the empire.

Augustus Caesar was Julius's grand nephew. He came into rule in 46 BC; he had a charismatic personality. He was the one who brought all the providences in along with the cities. He also integrated it as a whole...one system and one empire. There began to be a strong relationship between Rome and the outlying cities.

Tiberius was the stepson of Augustus Caesar. He came into rule in 67 AD. The rule during his reign was like a league of centurions...powerful and unstoppable.

Caligula was his nephew/adopted son and he stepped onto the throne in 37 AD. He was thrown into a series of conflicts. This was also about the time when there began to be Caesar worship.

Claudius, his brother, came into rule next but was quickly assassinated.

The next emperor on the throne, was Nero, also named the "Son of Glory." Anything he wanted went well for him, but eventually this went to his head. By the time of 68 AD, everything was in disarray. Within the next 13 months, the city of Rome went through 4 different emperors at varying times. Many people thought of, and still think of Nero as the Anti-Christ. If he really had been the Anti-Christ, however, that would rule out any chance of any future Anti-Christ, which is very unBiblical.

During this whole time, however, the Roman culture was completely uninterrupted.

Flavian, the next Roman ruler, focused mainly on the military. He got rid of all old Roman images and traditions and made it become very militaristic. There became emperor cult worship. All the great emperors were generals and all the bad ones weren't.

Septimius Severus eventually broke up the the civil and military realms.

Vespasian and Titus dissipated the Roman republic.

The Roman army was mainly made up of illegal aliens escaping over the borders fleeing from the Germanic tribes. But their allegiance would lie with other cultures. If you look at our army and nation, you will see this happening. We are freely allowing illegal immigrants into our nation and army. Do you honestly believe that their allegiance will lie with us and our future though??

Emperors came and went. The culture continued despite laws and ages rising and falling. As Rome was known for it's Pax Romana it became easy for Christians to take over and spread very quickly. Rome being the hub got the gospel out in a timely manner.

Pax Romana - Rome makes the peace.

Rome set up the way for Christ. It set the stage and prepared people for what was to come. Within 5 generations, the world was turned upside down. Barbaric invasions, pressure from vigilantes, and terrorists, and civil havoc would normally have had the world in a tizzy, but the world remained rather stable, due to Christianity having swept across the whole world. Even though many emperors attempted to destroy Christianity, it still remained.

Linua Franka - language of trade. Anyone could talk to anyone. It was a common tongue. This opened a trade culture...a cultural norm with standards.

The Jews were the one nation who remained with their cultural traditions faithfully. Just as the Jews remained distinctive and different, the Christians developed this also. This was not very well liked by those looking on around them.

Christianity gave the people an absolute and a standard for people to follow which made it attrctive compared to Rome where there were so many voices and every man did what was right in his own eyes.

Jerusalem's attack in 70 AD was a judgment on the church. The Church was now scattered among Rome, which was now ready to accept the gospel. The Church being scattered made it easier to spread it.

In the 2nd century, the Canon of the New Testament was placed all together. Many people debate this, but the book of Revelations was written before 70 AD.

Antioch was the first real church. Barnabus, a leader of that church, was known as the "son of encouragement". Clement of Antioch wrote a series of letters to the Corinthian church. Ignatius was the pastor of the church at Antioch and he wrote 7 letters. Polycarp was another strong believer who stayed with the faith, even in his old age. Papius was a writer and the pastor of the church in Phrygia. Justin Martyr wrote defenses for the Christian faith. Tatiun established the canon for the New Testament. Clement (a different one) laid down hermeneutics for the Alexandrian church. He was a great lawyer and was trained in the defense of the gospel. He was very effective and persuasive.

Every time the Romans tried to bead down the Christians, even more converted. By the time of 250, Rome was completely won over culturally to Christianity.

Jeruselum: Mother Church - foundation
Antioch: Fountainhead of Hope - sent out missionaries
Alexandria: Safegaurd of Truth - intellectual
Constantinople: Imperial Sea - powerful presence
Rome: First Among Equals - leadership of church

When the church acts like the church, the power of the gospel is irresistible.


Also folks, there will be no Argumentation class notes this week. We didn't get to that class last time.