Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 79:315 (Jul 1922)
Article: “The Roman Influence In The New Testament”
Author: James L. Kelso

BSac 79:315 (July 1922) p. 310

“The Roman Influence In The New Testament”

James L. Kelso

The New Testament throbs with the life blood of the Roman Empire of the first century, for it was within Rome’s geographic borders and under her political administration, and in the atmosphere of her economic and religious life that the New Testament had its setting.

In the days of Jesus Christ, Palestine was not an independent Jewish kingdom, but an integral part of the Roman Empire. Herod the Great was simply a petty king to whom Rome had entrusted the administration of the country; the census mentioned in Luke 2:1 shows that Rome was the real power in the land and that her governor in Syria had general oversight of Palestine. When Herod died, his sons hastened to Rome to secure the favor of the emperor; Archelaus was especially anxious to have his father’s power and was willing to undergo any humiliation from the emperor, if he might be granted this favor. He was successful in his plea and won the lion’s share of power in Palestine; his brothers, Antipas and Philip, receiving only the smaller and less lucrative portions of the land as their spheres of government.

The Jewish people were bitterly opposed to the rule of Archelaus and finally the emperor investigated their charges and then at once removed Archelaus and in his place sent out a Roman procurator to govern the land. Antipas and Philip still retained their old positions, but the new procurator had general oversight of their work.

Now this Roman influence in Palestine is of high importance in the study of Jesus the Christ; indeed, it is intimately connected with his birth, his life and his death.

The home of Mary was in Nazareth, and in the ordinary course of events Christ would have been born there. But “in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.

BSac 79:315 (July 1922) p. 311

And all went to enroll themselves, every one to his own city. And Joseph also went from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; to enroll himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child. And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son.” Thus it was by the providential issuing of a Roman decree that the Old Testament prophecy of the birthplace of the Messiah was fulfilled, and Jesus was born in Bethlehem instead of Nazareth.

In the days of Christ’s ministry, when the Jewish leaders began to be embittered against him, they watche...