Introduction
In this article, we will explore the origins and implications of the term "Evangelion" which can enrich our comprehension of the revolutionary message Jesus brought into the world and give us insight into what that message means for us as Christians today. The Greek root word for evangelion is "aggelion" which means "message" or "news," and with the prefix "eu-" meaning "good," it translates to "good news." Jesus, the Son of God, used this word to describe the coming of His kingdom. He proclaimed this in a truly radical, provocative and revolutionary context.
Caesar, the “son of god”
The term "son of god" was a staple in Roman culture. Caesars, the ruler of Rome, were regarded as "sons of God," reinforcing their divine right to rule. When Caesars died, they were deified and worshipped, a practice deeply rooted in the cult of the emperor.
Numerous public inscriptions have been discovered among the ruins of Rome. These inscriptions served as a form of civic catechism, outlining the beliefs and knowledge expected of Roman citizens. One central tenet that all Romans were expected to accept was the emperor's supreme power and divine status as the son of god. Here are some examples, highlighted by Craig Evans, from a larger collection:
Julius Caesar (48-44 B.C.): An inscription from Ephesus describes him as “the manifest god from Ares and Aphrodite, and universal savior of human life.” Another from Carthaea reads: “The Carthaean people honor the god and emperor and savior of the inhabited world, Gaius Julius Caesar, son of Gaius Caesar.” Many other similar inscriptions from this period echo these sentiments.
Augustus (30 B.C.-A.D. 14): Inscriptions refer to him as “Emperor Caesar Augustus, son of god”; “Emperor Caesar (Augustus), god from god”; and “Emperor Caesar Augustus, savior and benefactor.” One from Priene celebrates his birthday as “the birthday of the god.”
Tiberius (A.D. 14-37, who reigned during Jesus’ crucifixion): He is called “Emperor Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of god” and “Emperor Tiberius Caesar, new Augustus, son of god, Zeus the liberator.”
Nero (A.D. 54-68): Known for his tyranny, he was described as “Nero Caesar, the lord”; “Nero Claudius Caesar… the savior and benefactor of the inhabited world”; “The good god of the inhabited world, the beginning and existence of all good things”; “the son of the greatest of the gods”; and “Nero, the lord of the whole world.”
The Gospel of Rome
An inscription discovered in Priene, modern-day Turkey, references Caesar Augustus and states: “the birthday of [Augustus] has been for the whole world the beginning of the gospel (evangelion) concerning him.” (Priene 150.40-41).
This inscription, found on a government building from 6 B.C., provides insight into how the term “gospel” was understood in relation to Caesar Augustus. Here is more of what it says:
"The most divine Caesar . . . we should consider equal to the Beginning of all things . . . for when everything was falling into disorder and dissolution, he restored it once more and gave the whole world a new aura; Caesar . . . the common good Fortune of all . . . The beginning of life and vitality . . . All the cities unanimously adopt the birthday of the divine Caesar as the new beginning of the year . . . Whereas the Providence which has regulated our whole existence . . . has brought our life to the climax of perfection in giving to us the emperor Augustus . . .who, being sent to us and our descendants as Savior, has put an end to war and has set all things in order; and, having become god manifest (Phaneis), Caesar has fulfilled all the hopes of earlier times."
The “gospel” of Caesar Augustus, known today as the Pax Romana, refers to the period of peace in the Roman Empire that began during his reign, into which Jesus was born.
The Roman Empire with Caesar at its helm, revered as the divine "son of god" carried out what it considered it’s divine mandate. The Romans embarked on a relentless campaign to conquer the known world, believing that their mission was to establish an era of peace, the famed Pax Romana, through the might of the sword. Each conquest was not merely a military victory but a profound cultural and political transformation for the subjugated people.
When a city fell to Roman forces, the clash of swords and the cries of battle gave way to the arrival of Roman "evangelists," heralds who came bearing the "good news" of their new reality. These evangelists marched into the conquered city, their voices ringing out with proclamations of Roman dominion: “Good News! You are now a Roman and Caesar is your king!”
This proclamation was laden with both promise and expectation. On one hand, it signified the end of resistance and the imposition of Roman law and order. The conquered people were now part of the vast and sophisticated network of Roman civilization, with its roads, aqueducts, and architecture. They could now participate in the economic and social benefits of being Roman citizens, albeit as second-class subjects to the empire’s core populace.
On the other hand, the gospel of Rome also meant the imposition of Roman culture and religion. Temples to Roman gods were erected, and the emperor’s image was often displayed prominently as a reminder of his divine status. Festivals and public events celebrated Roman achievements and the emperor's divine lineage, further embedding Roman ideology into the fabric of everyday life in the newly conquered territories.
The message was clear and uncompromising: submission to Rome brought order, stability, and the benefits of Roman civilization, but it also demanded loyalty to Caesar as both emperor and divine figure. This duality of promise and subjugation encapsulated the essence of Roman expansion. The Romans believed they were bestowing peace and prosperity through their dominion, yet this peace was enforced by the sword and maintained through an unwavering expectation of allegiance to the emperor.
In this way, the evangelists of Rome functioned as the voice of imperial power, spreading the Roman gospel to every corner of the known world. Their message was a stark reminder of the empire’s might and the emperor’s divine right to rule. Through conquest and proclamation, Rome sought to create a unified world under the aegis of its divine leader, heralding a new era of Roman peace and prosperity, albeit one forged through the crucible of war and conquest.
The Revolutionary Impact of Jesus’ Message
Our Lord brought a profoundly different message of peace and non-violence. His proclamation of the kingdom of God challenged the prevailing Roman ideology, offering a radically different concept of power and authority. Jesus' teachings emphasized love, forgiveness, and non-resistance, standing in stark opposition to the Roman practice of conquest through violence.
In the midst of the Roman Empire’s grand narrative of conquest and divine rule, a similar but radically different message began to emerge from the followers of Jesus. These Christian evangelists, with their teachings of love, peace, and the kingdom of God, posed a profound challenge to the very foundations of Pax Romana. Their message was not only spiritually revolutionary but also politically subversive, threatening the established order of Roman society.
The Christian evangelists proclaimed a gospel that stood in stark contrast to the Roman Evangelion. While Roman evangelists announced the “good news” of Caesar's brutal victories and divine status, Christian evangelists spread the good news of Jesus Christ, the true Son of God, who brought salvation and peace through love and sacrifice, not through violence and conquest. This was a message that inherently questioned the legitimacy of the Roman emperor’s divine status and the empire's reliance on military power.
Central to the Christian message was the belief that Jesus Christ, not Caesar, was the true Lord and Savior. This was dangerous in a society where the emperor was worshipped as a god and loyalty to Caesar was paramount. The declaration that “Jesus is Lord” directly undermined the emperor’s authority and the religious foundations of the Roman state. For Christians, allegiance to Jesus transcended all earthly allegiances, including that to Caesar, which placed them at odds with the empire’s demand for absolute loyalty.
Moreover, the teachings of Jesus promoted a kingdom not of this world, characterized by peace, justice, and non-resistance. Jesus' instruction to “put away your sword” (Matthew 26:52) and His assertion that His kingdom was “not of this world” (John 18:36) were revolutionary. They implied a form of governance based on love and humility rather than power and domination. This was a direct affront to the Roman ideal of peace through strength and conquest. The Pax Romana was maintained by the sword; the peace of Christ was offered through self-sacrifice and non-violence.
The Christian evangelists’ call to love one's enemies and to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39, 44) was equally subversive. In a culture that valued honor and retribution, these teachings promoted a radical form of forgiveness and humility. By advocating for a community where the last would be first and the meek would inherit the earth, the Christian message upended the social hierarchies that underpinned Roman society.
The early Christians’ refusal to participate in the emperor cult and their gatherings in secret also made them appear subversive and disloyal. Their communal lifestyle, sharing of resources, and care for the poor and marginalized further distinguished them from the Roman way of life, fostering suspicion and resentment among the authorities.
Jesus' message was revolutionary because it directly confronted the oppressive practices of the Roman Empire. By proclaiming a kingdom of peace and non-resistance, He provided a powerful alternative to the Roman model of governance. His teachings empowered the marginalized and offered hope to the oppressed, challenging the very foundation of Roman authority.
Jesus’ call to love our enemies and to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39, 44) subverted the conventional wisdom of retributive justice. His emphasis on humility, service, and self-sacrifice presented a radical departure from the Roman values of honor, dominance, and power. This was not just a spiritual message but a revolutionary socio-political stance that threatened the status quo.
Conclusion
As Christians, we can appreciate how the term Evangelion, initially used to celebrate the accomplishments of Caesar and the Roman Empire, was profoundly redefined by Jesus Christ to symbolize a message of peace, love, and non-resistance. While the Romans heralded their conquests and the expansion of their empire as "good news," Jesus proclaimed a kingdom not of this world, founded on principles fundamentally opposed to violence and coercion. His revolutionary message offered hope and salvation through peaceful means, challenging the oppressive systems of His time and establishing a new understanding of power and authority.
The teachings of Jesus continue to resonate with us today, serving as a timeless reminder of the transformative power of love and the possibility of a kingdom built on peace rather than violence. His message was not only a spiritual beacon but also a radical socio-political stance that questioned the very foundation of Roman authority. The Christian evangelists, by spreading this good news, challenged the prevailing norms and offered a powerful alternative to the violence and domination that characterized the Roman Empire.
In essence, the contrast between the Roman and Christian gospels highlights the revolutionary nature of Jesus’ teachings. While Rome sought to impose peace through conquest and the sword, Jesus invited us to embrace a kingdom of peace through love and self-sacrifice. This stark difference underscores the enduring relevance of Jesus' message and its profound impact on history and our lives as Christians today.
As Christians, it can be easy for us to compromise with “Rome”. Have you allowed “peace through violence and conquest” to guide your actions? If so, say this prayer:
Father, your son Jesus came to this world proclaiming the good news of his kingdom of peace and non-violence. I admit that I have compromised his way for the violent ways of this world. I renounce the lie that violence is necessary for the kingdom of God and I announce the truth that peaceful non-violence is the one and only true way of Jesus. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and lead me into the path of righteousness. In Jesus name. Amen!
Bibliography
The Holy Bible, New International Version. Biblica, 2011.
Crossan, John Dominic. Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography. HarperOne, 1995.
Wright, N.T. Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters. HarperOne, 2011.
Horsley, Richard A. Jesus and Empire: The Kingdom of God and the New World Disorder. Fortress Press, 2002.
Ehrman, Bart D. The Triumph of Christianity: How a Forbidden Religion Swept the World. Simon & Schuster, 2018.
Evans, Craig A. Mark 8:27-16:20, Volume 34B (34) (Word Biblical Commentary), Zondervan Academic; Revised ed. edition, 2015.
Footnotes
Matthew 26:52, New International Version.
John 18:36, New International Version.
Matthew 5:39, 44, New International Version.