Seminar 1: "Between the Testaments"

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Part 1: THE CAESARS OF ROME
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"CAESAR" is the name of the branch of the aristocratic family of
Julius Caesar which established an ascendancy over the Roman Republic
in the triumph of Augustus (31 B.C.) and kept it until Nero's death in
A.D. 68. All rulers of the Roman Empire at this time had Caesar
prefixed to their name. The name of Caesar became so identified with
the emperor that the idea of Caesar became synonymous with the
emperor.  Even after the Roman era in the Byzantine Empire, anyone
chosen as ruler was called Caesar.  Eventually the name Caesar became
Czar for the Russians, and Kaiser for the Germans.

JULIUS CAESAR: (49 B.C. - 44 B.C.)
Following a century of revolution Pompey and Julius Caesar emerged
as the dominant political and military forces of the Republic. Pompey
surrendered his military conquests to the Senate while Julius being
more astute continued his pursuit of power which led to a civil war
between Pompey and Julius Caesar. Caesar won that conflict and
established himself as sole dictator for the next five years.

Julius Caesar ruled Rome as a Republic, before it became an Empire, in
49-44 B.C. He did much that infuriated the Roman Senate by assuming
dictatorial powers and was killed by a group of jealous republicans
(led by Brutus and Cassius) as he walked into the Senate in the Ides
of March, 44 B.C.

AUGUSTUS CAESAR: (44 B.C. - A.D. 14 )
Julius had no natural successor and the Senate had failed to foresee
the need for one.  Julius Caesar had adopted his nephew who at the
time of his death was studying in Greece.  In the political confusion
the brash 19 year old Octavian rushed to Rome and took his uncle's
title and name.  Civil War ensued until in 31 B.C. Octavian defeated his
enemies Anthony and Cleopatra and so was crowned, declared deity, and
his coinage was minted on the occasion declaring him Augustus Caesar.

Augustus' reign as emperor of the Roman Empire began what is known as
the PAX ROMANA, or Roman Peace, which lasted 200 years. He had a sense
of mission in uniting the Empire while uniting the political opponents
within the Senate.  Augustus introduced many much needed reforms
resulting in peace and prosperity, and therefore the admiration of the
people. He was responsible for transforming the city of brick into a
city of marble. Under his watchful eye art and literature reached its
pinnacle.  Rome reached its peak of splendor under Caesar Augustus.

Augustus died in A.D. 14. He had no natural offspring and was forced to
choose from his relatives a successor. He chose TIBERIAS his stepson
who reigned from A.D. 23 to 27.

TIBERIAS CAESAR ( A.D. 14-37) was a paranoid emperor. (And who wouldn't
be with the Roman political intrigues!)  He was suspicious of everyone
which led to his long stream of "treason trials".  He was as unpopular
as Augustus was popular. It was during Tiberias Caesar's reign that
Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea and Jesus Christ was crucified.

CALIGULA (Gaius) (37-41) was next to succeed to the throne. He was a
madman and the world was mercifully spared his maniacal ways when he
was murdered by his own Praetorian Guard (body guards).

CLAUDIUS CAESAR (A.D. 41-54) was Caligula's uncle and began his rule at
the ripe old age of 50. He was a repulsive man with cerebral palsy.
Despite his handicap he was an able ruler and added to the Roman
Empire Mauretania, Britain, Lycia, and Thrace.  He was poisoned by his
evil wife, Agrippina, who wanted to assure that her son by another
marriage became the successor.  Her 17 year old son was Nero.

NERO (A.D. 54-68) was a hedonist, playboy, and fancied himself an
artist. Insanity, paranoia, and jealousy must have run in the Caesar
blood for he murdered his own mother. In A.D. 64 fire broke out in the
slum area near the Capena Gate and destroyed half of Rome.  Rumor
accused the emperor himself of starting the fire to clear the area for
his grandiose building plans. ("Nero fiddled while Rome burned") To
distract attention from himself he blamed the Christians and began the
most horrible persecution up to that time. He probably gave the order
to chop off the head of the Apostle Paul. Eventually his subjects
revolted and in A.D. 68 he committed suicide. His dying words were:
"Qaulis artifex pereo"  (What an artist dies with me?")



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Part 2: THE CAESARS' TIMELINE
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Biblical Caesars were Augustus, Luke 2:1, Tiberius Acts 11:28, 17:7,
18:2, Claudius, and Nero is implied.


27 BC - AD 14  Augustus Caesar |
    AD 14-37  Tiberius Caesar |
    AD 37-41  Caligula        |--- Roman Emperors during N.T. times
    AD 41-54  Claudius        |
    AD 54-68  Nero            |

    AD 68-69  Galba, Otho, Vitellius
    AD 69-79  Vespasian
    AD 79-81  Titus
    AD 81-96  Domitian