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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
VOLUME 6, NUMBER 21, MAY 28, 2006 “CHRESTUS” I thought that you might find the following material informative, interesting, and faith-building in view of the fact that from time to time a “scholar” will question whether or not Jesus was an actual, historical figure. There was a circumstance that occurred in the life of the Jews in Rome that probably played a very significant role in explaining why the book of Romans was written by Paul in the way that he did. The ancient, non-Christian, historian Suetonius tells us that the Emperor Claudius, “expelled all the Jews from Rome because they were constantly rioting at the instigation of Chrestus” (Life of Claudius 25:2). Most scholars are convinced that “Chrestus” is a corruption of the term “Christ” and that Seutonius is thereby hinting at disputes within the Jewish community over Jesus’ claim to be the Christ. Modern historians are less certain over the date of his expulsion. However, a fifth-century Christian writer, Orosius, puts the event in A.D. 49; and this date fits in nicely with Acts 18:1-2, which says, “After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome …” Just imagine for a moment the catastrophic effect such an action would have had on the fledging Christian community in Rome. Originating from the synagogue, the bulk of the early Christians there would probably have been Jewish. Suddenly they are forced to leaven (Claudius would not have distinguished between Jews and Jewish Christians). Those left behind would have been the Gentiles who had been converted over the years. It is probable, if not certain, that many of those Gentile converts had been from the class of the “God fearers.” “God fearers” were Gentiles who had an interest in Judaism and heard the message of Jesus in the synagogues. Many of them may even have been Jewish proselytes. This type of individual seems to have been alluded to by Paul when he began his address in one of the synagogues of Antioch of Pisidia by saying in Acts 13:16, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.” At any rate, these Gentiles would have been the only Christians left in Rome, so the church naturally became less and less Jewish in orientation. But by A.D. 54, the date of Claudius’ death, Jews are beginning to return. As Jewish-Christians (like Priscilla and Aquila ) filter back into the church, they find that they are now in the minority. The social tension created by this historical circumstance goes a long way in explaining the tensions between Jews and Gentiles to which the letter to the Romans abundantly attests.
Greg Litmer SLAVERY
Every now and then someone will ask a question about slavery, such as “Why didn’t Jesus or one of the apostles specifically condemn slavery?” I believe that to be a very good question and one that deserves at least a little consideration. First, I believe that the New Testament clearly teaches that a person can be satisfied and content in whatsoever state or situation he or she finds that they are in. The New Testament emphatically views this life as simply a journey, a pilgrimage, to a much better and eternal existence for the Christian. Its emphasis is not on the physical, the here and the now. Secondly, Roman-era slavery was a nonracial institution. There were slaves of all races. Thirdly, most slaves could reasonably expect emancipation by the time they reached thirty years of age. Fourth, the work of a slave was not limited to hard labor; slaves worked in a variety of different occupations – including household management, teaching, business, and industry. In fact, many slaves were property owners. Interestingly, because of the terrible poverty of many free laborers, the economic and living conditions of slaves were often far better. This led a great many free laborers to sell themselves into slavery as a means of economic advancement. Please do not misunderstand. This is not to say that slavery is not essentially an ungodly structure that deprives a person of freedom and dignity. It is simply to make the point that Roman era slavery did not share all of the same features of slavery that we are most familiar with.
Greg Litmer REFLECTIONS
“Sometimes Paul is viewed as rather austere and aloof from his readers, too authoritarian and browbeating the opposition in severe tones and with a temper. True, he can be harsh in this letter (Gal. 1:6-10; 5:12 ), but his stern face is usually directed to the teachers who were undermining the Christian faith and experience of his congregation.”
Clinton E. Arnold , Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary
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