Today some claim that Jesus is just an idea, rather than a real historical figure. One of such is Joseph Atwill. Joseph Atwill’s book Caesar’s Messiah is a 2005 book known for its anti-Christian biases. The book argues that the New Testament Gospels were written as wartime propaganda by scholars connected to the Roman imperial court of the Flavian emperors: Vespasian, Titus and Domitian.
Atwill in his book argues that the stories of Jesus in the New Testament are actually stories of Titus’ campaign through Galilee and the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple. In effect, he argues that the biblical character Jesus Christ is a typological representation of the Roman Emperor Titus.
He goes on further to posit that the Gospels are clever satires created by the Flavian Emperors and their supporters. According to Atwill, their primary purpose in creating the religion was to control the spread of Judaism and moderate its political hostility. The Jewish nationalist Zealots had been defeated in the First Jewish–Roman War of 70 AD, but Judaism remained an influential movement throughout the Mediterranean region.
When Did These Emperors Rule?
Before we look at some evidence of Jesus’ reality on earth, it is worth noting that the Flavian dynasty ruled the Roman Empire between 69 and 96 AD, encompassing the reigns of Vespasian (69–79), and his two sons Titus (79–81) and Domitian (81–96). So Titus Caesar Vespasianus as referred to by Atwill was Roman emperor from 79 to 81 AD. Before becoming emperor, Titus gained renown as a military commander, serving under his father in Judea during the First Jewish–Roman War.
Meanwhile, history establishes that Emperor Claudius who ruled from AD 41-54 was likely and inadvertently the first emperor, then, to persecute Christians. In fact, it was Claudius who in 49 AD, expelled Jews (probably especially Jewish-Christians) from Rome for causing a disturbance. This happened to be the second of such expulsion. The first was in 19 AD, under the reign of the emperor Tiberius. Ancient sources provide several different reasoning behind this expulsion. However, with the second expulsion which took place under Claudius in 49 AD, it is recorded by one Suetonius, a Roman historian, that the Jews were expelled due to disturbances they caused in response to the rise of Christianity in Rome. This apart from other secular historical sources is also recorded in Acts 18:1-4, and it reads:
After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks (emphasis mine).
So, you realise from historical records that significant Christian activities and missionary work took place even before the Flavian dynasty came into being between AD 69 and 96.
Again, Emperor Nero ruled the empire from AD 54 to AD 68 just before the Flavian dynasty led by Vespasian. And history indicates that Nero was one of such emperors who harshly and beastly persecuted the Christians in Rome. In fact, it was during his era that many of the Apostles were killed including Peter and Paul between AD 60-66. What I am seeking to establish here is that Christianity existed way before the Flavian emperors who is purported to have invented Christianity became came into the scene.
Watch out for Part 2 of this series.
References:
Bromiley, G. W. (1959). The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Volume 4. Eerdmans.
Carrington, P. (2011). The Early Christian Church (Vol. 1). Cambridge Univ Press.
Gathercole, S. What is the historical evidence that Jesus Christ lived and died? Viewed on https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/14/what-is-the-historical-evidence-that-jesus-christ-lived-and-died. Accessed it on December 2, 2021.
Galli, M. (1990). Persecution in the Early Church: A Gallery of the Persecuting Emperors. Viewed from https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-27/persecution-in-early-church-gallery-of-persecuting-emperors.html. Accessed on 18th January 2022.
Josephus, F., & Haverkamp, S. (1900). Complete works of Josephus; Antiquities of the Jews, The wars of the Jews, Against Apion, etc. etc. New York: Bigelow, Brown.
Josephus, F., Maier, P. L., & Josephus, F. (1994). Josephus, the essential works: A condensation of Jewish antiquities and the Jewish war. Grand Rapids, Mich: Kregel Publications.
Just, F.(2005). Persecutions of Christians in the Early Roman Empire. Viewed on https://catholic-resources.org/Bible/History-Persecutions.htm. Accessed on 18th January 2022.
Klein, C. The Bible Says Jesus Was Real. What Other Proof Exists? https://www.history.com/news/was-jesus-real-historical-evidence. Accessed it on December 2, 2021.
Vermes, G. (2011). Jesus in the Jewish World. SCM Press.
Apostle Benedict Eghan is a Minister of the Gospel with The Church of Pentecost and is currently the Resident Minister of Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC), Tesano. He also doubles as the Personal Assistant to the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye. Read More…