GUEST ARTICLE
Nero Caesar
and the Christian Faith
Article description: Nero
Claudius Caesar was one of the most despicable characters
on the stage of human history. But there are some important
lessons to learn from his interaction with the Christians
of the first century.
One of the most despicable manifestations of human flesh
ever to disgrace this planet was Nero Claudius Caesar. Born
in A.D. 37, Nero was educated at the feet of the philosopher
Seneca (whom he eventually forced to commit suicide). Nero
murdered his way to the imperial throne, which he occupied
from A.D. 54-68. His life was characterized by debauchery,
violence (he caused his own mother to be killed), and extravagance.
In A.D. 64, a terrible fire broke out in Rome . It was strongly believed that Nero
deliberately torched the city in order to justify building
a more splendid one. At any rate, the conflagration raged
out of control for more than a week, substantially destroying
about 70% of the area. As a consequence of this tragedy,
and the widespread belief in Nero’s complicity, the emperor
became the brunt of intense criticism. The ruler seized upon
a plan. Due to the fact that Roman sentiment was hostile
toward Christianity, the emperor would blame the followers
of Jesus for this crime. Thus did he, and in A.D. 64, a fierce
persecution was launched against the saints in Rome .
We do not know for certain how or when the cause of Christ
was planted in Rome . Apparently it
was not the result of apostolic mission efforts (cf. Rom.
1:11). It could be that some from Rome ,
converted on the day of Pentecost (cf. Acts 2:10), migrated
back to their home city and established the church there.
At any rate, this was the first real test of faith for the
saints in the “eternal city.”
The Neronian persecution was vicious indeed. Tacitus (c.
A.D. 60-120), a Roman historian, has preserved a record of
this situation. We quote the following from his Annals (XV.44).
“And so, to get rid of this rumor, Nero set up [i.e., falsely accused] as the
culprits and punished with the utmost refinement of cruelty a class hated for
their abominations, who are commonly called Christians. Christus, from whom their
name is derived, was executed at the hands of the procurator Pontius Pilate in
the reign of Tiberius. Checked for a moment, this pernicious superstition again
broke out, not only in Judea, the source of the evil, but even in Rome ….
Accordingly, arrest was first made of those who confessed [to being Christians];
then, on their evidence, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much on the
charge of arson as because of [their] hatred for the human race. Besides being
put to death they were made to serve as objects of amusement; they were clothed
in the hides of beasts and torn to death by dogs; others were crucified, others
set on fire to serve to illuminate the night when daylight failed. Nero had thrown
open his grounds for the display, and was putting on a show in the circus, where
he mingled with the people in the dress of charioteer or drove about in his chariot.
All this gave rise to a feeling of pity, even towards men whose guilt merited
the most exemplary punishment; for it was felt that they were being destroyed
not for the public good but to gratify the cruelty of an individual.”
There are several interesting things to consider about this
topic.
- Nero was the Caesar to whom
Paul appealed when he was unjustly accused by the Jews
and falsely imprisoned (cf. Acts 25:11). The apostle was
taken to Rome and kept under guard for two years
(Acts 28:30), before Nero finally heard his case.
It is not correct to say: ”...
it is unknown whether Nero took any personal part in the
Apostle’s trial” (Cross, 945), inasmuch as an angel had explicitly
informed Paul: ”... you must stand before Caesar” (Acts 27:24).
The great apostle won his appeal (as chronological data in
1st Timothy, Titus, and 2nd Timothy reveal), only to be later
condemned by the malevolent ruler. According to the historian
Eusebius, Nero beheaded Paul and had Peter crucified (II.25).
- When Paul wrote to the Christians
in Rome ,
he admonished: “Let every soul be in subjection to the
higher powers…” (13:1). He points out that government,
generally speaking, is for the ordering and protection
of society. Laws directed to that end ought to be obeyed.
Similarly, Peter wrote: “Be subject to every ordinance
of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme;
or unto governors, as sent by him…” (1 Pet. 2:13,14).
These passages are subtle indicators
of the inspired nature of the New Testament. Men who
were writing under ordinary human impulses would hardly have
encouraged brethren to honor and obey one as vile as Nero.
But Christians are to be good citizens regardless of the
character of their leaders.
- Tacitus mentions “Christus,” from
whom the “Christians” derived their name. This is a clear
reference to Christ. In Greek “Christ” is Christos. The
historian affirms that “Christus” was “executed at
the hand of the procurator Pontius Pilate in the reign
of Tiberius.”
In view of this, how can certain
atheists, with a vestige of remaining conscience, continue
to claim that the ancient historians never mentioned Christ.
A recent writer asserts that “there were no references to
Jesus by contemporary historians.” He even includes Tacitus
(Matthews, A10). Another skeptic
classifies Tacitus’ testimony as “doubtful,” and suggests
that the historian was merely reporting what Christians believed,
and not what he viewed as actual history (Hayes, 147). Such
writers have forfeited every ounce of literary credibility.
- Tacitus says that Nero’s persecution
resulted in the apprehension of some Christians who, in
turn, testified against their brethren so that “an immense
multitude was convicted” and put to death. It is of
some interest that there were church members in Rome who
were willing to surrender their brethren to the authorities
for persecution.
This cannot but remind us of a
situation Paul encountered while he was in the city. When
the apostle wrote to the Philippians, he exposed the fact
that some of the brethren in Rome were envious of his labor in the gospel.
Paul charged that they “preach Christ even of envy and strife” hoping
to “raise up affliction” for him in his bonds (1:15-17).
They would rub salt in the apostle’s wounds! (cf. Mt. 24:10).
It is not difficult to imagine that some of these were the
very ones who “turned state’s evidence” under Nero’s brutal
assaults.
- Tactius describes the torture
to which Christians were subjected—thrown to wild
dogs to be torn apart, burned alive to serve as torches
in the
night. What suffering! What faith!!
The crucial question is this: In
spite of some defectors, why was that “immense multitude” of
saints so willing to endure this horrible treatment? It can
only be that they had strong evidence that Christianity was
genuine—that Jesus of Nazareth, the founder, had risen from
the dead, and that he offered the hope of eternal life to
those who endured in faith.
It is a tragic footnote to history that Rome eventually became the focal point of
an egregious apostasy from the faith. Can we learn anything
from this?
--Wayne Jackson
Sources
Cross, Frank (1958), The Oxford Dictionary
of the Christian Church ( London : Oxford Press).
Hayes, Judith (1996), In God We Trust: But Which One? ( Madison , WI :
Freedom From Religion Foundation).
Matthews, Ralph (1997), The [ Stockton , CA ]
Record, August 8.
© 2003 by Christian Courier Publications.
All rights reserved.
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