Category Archives: History

Second Century Rome

Posted on by
Reply
Study The Church
Lands controlled by the Roman Empire in 117 A.D. during the “Pax Romana” under the reign of Augustus Caesar.

During the reign of Augustus Caesar from 14-180 AD, there was little turmoil and general peace, earning his rule the name “Pax Romana” or Roman peace. Augustus created a large standing army at all times, a different approach from earlier eras when there was only a standing army during times of war. Conquering Egypt with 60 legions, Augustus still kept 28 in service. The plan was to instantly obliterate anyone who decided to attack Rome. Following the reign of Augustus, there was stability at some times, with there being some good emperors but also some horrible emperors who took the throne during the second century. 

Augustus had complete power over Rome and was feared. However, he was not known as especially brutal and was still generally considered to be a great emperor. He managed to acquire massive amounts of troops because of conscription. Augustus died towards the end of the first century with no male heir, so his wife’s son Tiberius, was named emperor. 

Tiberius had a mostly uneventful reign (14-37) yet power became even more centralized to the emperor under his leadership. From 37-41 AD, Caligula ruled over the Roman Empire. He was insane, cruel, and believed himself to be a god. This theme of the emperor being divine would continue with later emperors. The people of Rome hated this and such emperors would usually end up getting assassinated. For instance, Caligula even made a temple to himself and was murdered by the Praetorian guard because of this. 

After Caligula’s reign, Claudius took the throne and inherited an awful situation, with Rome being in massive debt and rebellion breaking out across the empire. Claudius turned out to be a competent emperor and saved Rome from these troubles. One of the most infamous Roman rulers ever, Nero, ruled from 54-68 and was apparently said to have been sane and sensible during his first five years as emperor. In the second half of his reign, Nero was known for tyranny and especially mass killings of Christains. His most heinous crimes include murdering his own mother for annoying him, burning the bodies of Christains to light his garden, and lighting the city of Rome on fire for an unknown reason. Obviously, Nero was despised by the people who caused a rebellion, leading Nero to commit suicide. The rule from Tiberus to Nero is known as the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. 

A large power gap was left after Nero’s death and in 69 AD is remembered as “The Year of the Four Emperors.” Eventually Vespasian took power ruling for 10 years and his sons continued what is known as the Flavian Dynasty. Under Vespasian, Rome stabilized, continuing the cycle of the situation getting out of control under an incompetent emperor and then being saved by a good emperor. Some notable events during the Flavian Dynasty include: the sacking of Jerusalem in 70 AD under Vespasian and the Colosseum in Rome being constructed in 80 AD under Vespasian’s son Titus. Roman art and engineering flourished during this time as impressive aqueducts were built and many works of art were made, being almost completely copied off of Greek art. 

Augustine’s “Confessions”

Posted on by
Reply
Catholic painting of Saint Augustine of Hippo.

Between 397 and 400, Augustine of Hippo wrote the book “Confessions” in which he described his crisis of faith, his sinful youth, and his conversion to Christianity. One of the first major autobiographies written in latin, “Confessions” is considered by many to be one of the great masterpieces of Western literature. 

Augustine wrote that in his early life, he was a Manichaeist and even worshiped the stars, stating that he practiced astrology and thought that the universe was not controlled by a god. Augustine explained that during his youth, he stole things for no reason simply because he found pleasure in it, that he had many lovers, and was lustful. 

During his early adulthood, Augustine had a child with a woman to whom he was not married and did not love. However, Augustine decided to marry her, but had many mistresses. He was lost, and wrote that he did not understand the purpose of life. Thankfully, Augustine’s  friends helped convince him that Christianity was the most logical and plausible religion in the world. 

Eventually converting, Augustine was still depressed since he felt like he did not deserve to make it to God’s kingdom when he died. Because of their earthly sacrifice, Augustine stated that the martyrs have a place in heaven, but he will not due to his sacrifice to men instead of God. 

Since the book “Confessions” was composed after Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire and martyrdom was no longer a threat, Augustine believed more than ever that he could not obtain a place in heaven because of his sin. He said his lust and lack of faith made him melancholy, writing that “A starving beggar is happier than I.” Nevertheless, Augustine did conclude that Christianity was the true faith and that the trinity is the most rational conclusion to the question of the universe. 

Justin Martyr’s First Apology

Posted on by
Reply
Saint Justin Martyr.

In Justin Martyr’s First Apology, he said that Christians are the reason for justice because they treat people with fairness. He proclaimed that Christians should never be afraid of execution and that they will acquire the Kingdom of Heaven if they die a martyr’s death. Justin stated that demons are spreading lies about Christians that men will believe, and men will persecute Christians due to this devilish deception. 

Writing that the final judgement will come as a surprise in the night, Justin Martyr explained that Christians should always be ready for the day. Boldly he taught that Christians should also fear hell and that people will blame Christians for disasters that other people created. Justin cited the Old Testament passages that referenced the judgement of Israel for rejecting Christ, that Jews are condemned for this but they can still repent and become Christians. 

Jesus is the judge of nations, proclaimed Justin, and his birth, life, death, and resurrection had been foretold since the Old Testament. He explained that the prophets and Jesus told of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70, stating that many of the Jews will reject Christ, Christ will judge all nations and all men who refuse to repent. 

According to Justin Martyr, Greek philosophers like Plato and Socrates were influenced by Old Testament prophets, but also by demons. Continuing, he wrote that baptism is a form of illumination since it washes away all your sins, making you born again and that the sacraments of the Church are necessary to obtain the grace of God. 

Declaring that the Emperor of Rome was not a god, Justin said that God’s laws are above all earthly rulers and people should never submit to their manipulation. All Christians should confess Christ publicly and not submit to idolatry, Justin urged, even if nonconformity results in your death on earth. After all, this is the path to obtaining eternal life in Heaven.