View source for Augustus Caesar

[[File:augustus.jpg|right|thumb|Augustus inscribed a long record on one of the monuments of Mars, including the claim that in 27 BC ‘I was by universal [[consent]] in absolute control of affairs, I transferred the state from my own control to the will of the Senate and the Roman people […] After that time I took precedence over all others in rank, but of power I possessed no more than those who were my colleagues in any magistracy’. He continued to rule over the judicial, military and civil affairs of the citizens until by his last term he would do so without an oath. ]]

== Gaius Octavius ==

Augustus was born Gaius Octavius into an old and wealthy equestrian branch of the plebeian gens Octavia. His maternal great-uncle [[Julius Caesar]] was assassinated in 44 BC, and Octavius was named in Caesar's will as his adopted son and heir. Along with Mark Antony and Marcus Lepidus, he formed the Second Triumvirate to defeat the assassins of Caesar. Following their victory at the Battle of Philippi, the Triumvirate divided the Roman Republic among themselves and ruled as de facto dictators.

Over 30 years before [[Christ]] was born Octavian became Caesar Augustus. He had formed his first army by 19 and won accolades of praise his whole life.

== The Love of Caesar ==

<blockquote>
"[[Augustus Caesar|Augustus]] was sensible that mankind is governed by [[name]]s; nor was he deceived in his expectation, that the [[senate]] and people would [[employ|submit to slavery]], provided they were [[legal charity|respectfully]] assured that they still enjoyed their ancient freedom.  A feeble senate and enervated people cheerfully acquiesced in the pleasing illusion, as long as it was supported by the virtue, or even by the prudence, of the successors of Augustus. It was a motive of self-preservation, not a principle of liberty, that animated the conspirators against [[Caligula]], [[Nero]], and [[Domitian]]. They attacked the person of the tyrant, without aiming their blow at the authority of the emperor."<Ref>Gibbon's ''Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'', Chapter 3 The [[Constitution]] In The Age Of The Antonines. Part II. Sec. I. The death of [[Caesar]]</Ref>
</blockquote>

The "feeble senate and enervated people" was the result of general prosperity of the nation but also the inability or lack of will to prosecute '''[[Julius Caesar]]''' for his war crimes against the people of Gaul. 

The "treats and gratuities"<Ref>"That the man who first ruined the Roman people twas he who first gave them treats and gratuities" [[Plutarch]]'s Life of Coriolanus (c. 100 AD.)</Ref> that were bestowed upon the people by that former ''[[Julius_Caesar#Flamen_Dialis|Flamen Dialis]]'', the high priest of Jupiter who turned [[Emperator|commander in chief]] lead to the degeneration of the [[masses]].

He funded these gifts and bribes with the spoils he had robbed from Gaul and the immoral slave trade of women and children shipped off to finance his armies. This was only the beginning of the [[covetous practices]] that leads to the [[Augustus_Caesar#Dissolving_the_social_bonds_of_liberty|dissolving]] of the [[social bonds]] of liberty which Augustus and the [[Caesar]]s would continue.

To some, Caesar was a great [[Father]] of society, the founding father of a new system where society prospered with liberty and justice for all. His promise of returning to the Constitutional Republic, his advocacy of family values, his pledge of welfare reform constantly raised the hopes of the [[masses]]. Rome's military success, its system of justice and its golden eagle heralding it as the greatest nation in the world won him great popularity and unquestioning loyalty.

<blockquote>
"The year 2 B.C. marked the 25th anniversary of Caesar Augustus's rule and the 750th anniversary of the founding of Rome. Huge celebrations were planned. The whole empire was at peace. The doors of the temple of Janus were closed for only the third time in Roman history. To honor their emperor, the people were to rise as one and name him [[Pater Patriae|pater patriae]], or Father of the Country. This enrollment, described in the Book of Luke, which brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, has always been a mystery since no regular census occurred at this time. But the [[Pater Patriae|pater patriae]] enrollment fits perfectly."<Ref>''The Star of Bethlehem'' by Crag Chester, Imprimis D/96 Hilsdale College.</Ref>
</blockquote>

Even the benevolent benefactor of Augustus Caesar was impressive to the people of Judea. He was not the hated tyrant with occupying army. Things were good or getting better. Taxes were getting higher but so were profits as the concept of inflation began to insidiously creep into their lives. Eventually a series of devastating recessions would bring down the economy of Rome and all those who were plugged into its flow of power and affluence but for now things were good.

All Jews did not hate the Emperor (Emperator,<Ref>[[Emperator]], emperatoris m. commander in chief. Collins L.E. Dictionary. 1962.</Ref> the commander in chief) of the mighty multinational military force that kept the peace throughout the [[world]].

=== Mourning Caesar ===

<blockquote>
"The annual Temple-tribute was allowed to be transported to Jerusalem, and the alienation of these funds by the civil magistrates treated as sacrilege. As the Jews objected to bear arms, or march, on the [[Sabbath]], they were freed from military service. On similar grounds, they were not obliged to appear in courts of law on their holy days. Augustus even ordered that, when the [[Public religion|public distribution]] of corn or of money among the [[citizen|citizens]] fell on a [[Sabbath]], the Jews were to receive their share on the following day. In a similar spirit the Roman authorities confirmed a decree by which the founder of Antioch, Seleucus I. (Nicator),[d Ob.280 B.C.] had granted the Jews the right of citizenship in all the cities of Asia Minor and Syria which he had built, and the privilege of receiving, instead of the oil that was distributed, which their [[religion]] forbade them to use, [e Ab. Sar ii. 6] an equivalent in money. [Jos.Ant. xii. 3. 1] These rights were maintained by Vespasian and [[Titus]] even after the last Jewish war, notwithstanding the earnest remonstrances of these cities. No wonder, that at the death of [[Caesar]] [g 44 B.C.] the Jews of [[Rome]] gathered for many nights, waking strange feelings of awe in the city, as they chanted in mournful melodies their Psalms around the pyre on which the body of their [[benefactor]] had been burnt, and raised their pathetic dirges."<Ref>''Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah'' by Alfred Edersheim, Chapt. V </Ref>
</blockquote>

Jews did not hate [[Rome]] for the most part. Many loved and desired their protection, generosity and social security, besides they were good for business. There were rebels, as always, malcontents and doomsdayers. 

There were tax protesters, religious zealots, and extreme fundamentalists who spoke of moral declines. The Roman system was prepared for these rabble. As long as the people were generally comfortable and busy and, of course, divided, the local courts and their judges and centurions could handle the riffraff and rebels that resist the progress of society and liberal morals.

The Rulers and Caesars of the [[world]] were the protectors of the peace, the [[benefactors]] of their [[welfare]] systems but they exercised authority one over the other.

There was corruption, as always with a balancing distribution of reform. But as mires will do the more the people struggled the deeper they sank.

<blockquote>
[[2 Peter 2]]:22 "But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in [[the mire]]."
</blockquote>

== Dissolving the [[social bonds]] of liberty ==

Nothing dissolves [[the bands]] of a free society and divides the people from each other like the [[One purse]] systems of welfare through the [[socialist]] state. Many Romans forgot the warnings of [[Polybius]] concerning "The [[masses]] ... with an [[appetite]] for [[benefits]] and the habit of receiving them by way of a rule of [[force]]..." which is the essence of [[legal charity]]. But the people of Judea also forgot [[Ten Commandments|the commandments]] of God and the warnings of [[Proverbs 1]] about consenting to have "[[One purse]]", or those of [[Proverbs 23]] concerning eating the [[dainties]] of rulers without a "[[Knife]] to thy throat". 

[[Herod]], with the [[apostasy]] of the [[Pharisees]], instituted their alternative form of social [[welfare]] that would no longer strengthen the poor following the ways of [[Sodom]].<Ref>"Behold, this was the [[iniquity]] of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." [[Ezekiel 16]]:49 </Ref> 

A [[social safety net]] instituted through the power of the state is not only a "[[snare]]" but will divide and weaken the [[social bonds]] of society as "The people, having grown accustomed to feed at the expense of others and to depend for their livelihood on the property of others... degenerate again into perfect savages and find once more a master and monarch." They would need to [[repent]] of that ''grievous sin''<Ref>"And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;..." [[Genesis 18]]:20</Ref> before they could be saved of its consequences.

<blockquote>
"His reign gave them a third of a century of peace and prosperity and the new harbor at Caesarea increased trade. But Herod's lavish building programs cost immense sums of money and taxes were necessarily high. By the standards of the time he was not a bad ruler. He was brutal but far less so than the Hasmonaeans. Herod's greatest asset was in fact the very thing for which Jews most criticized him - his half-hearted attitude towards Judaism. Augustus had realized Herod's true value when he gave him Samaria and the coastal strip for although Herod was careful not to offend the Jews he did not oppress the Samaritans and non-Jews. A Hasmonaean ruler would certainly have persecuted them and similarly a non-Jewish ruler would have had little sympathy with the Jews."

"[[Herod]]'s greatest fault was his ungovernable passion both in love and hate. This coupled with his constant fear of losing this throne led to most of his 'crimes' especially those committed within his own family."<Ref>''Living in the Time of Jesus of Nazareth'' by Peter Connolly, Oxford University Press (October 20, 1983).</Ref>
</blockquote>

[[Herod]] entertained and cultivated his relationships to [[Essenes|Essene]] prophets like [[Menahem the Essene|Menahem]], who had predicted his rise to power when he was a boy. There are reports that Herod had even agreed to divide his dominion with the Messiah whose arrival was also expected and prophesied. Herod had been ruthless but even ruthless dictators have their fans. Herod's popularity, though great, was not universal and as economies stumbled the people looked for scapegoats real or imagined.

<blockquote>
"As an Idumean he [Herod] was disliked by Judeans; as the usurper of the Hasmoneans he was resented by the aristocracy. During his reign he succeeded in creating his own 'aristocracy' from those loyal to Rome and appointed by himself."<Ref>''The Old Testament World'' by John Roberson and Philip Davies, Cambridge University Press (March 9, 1989).</Ref>
</blockquote>

This magical system of prosperity and social welfare was sweet in the mouth but sour in the belly. All things that are too good to be true eventually come to an end and Herod's Great Society and Social Experiment was no exception to the rule.

<blockquote>
"[[Herod]] was [[force]]d to tax the Palestinians beyond their abilities to pay, eventually in many cases seizing others' wealth for himself and reducing many Jewish landlords to tenant farmers (Ant 17.304-9). Property (chrema and ousia are the Greek words employed) was seized; in addition to the taxes, '[[tribute]]' was imposed 'on everyone each year,' and these entailed 'lavish extra contributions' (Ant 16.308)."<Ref>''Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls'' (1992), p. 170 James H. Charlesworth, Anchor Bible; 1st Paperback Ed edition (July 1, 1995).</Ref>
</blockquote>

Before the end of the century a series of devastating recessions or "dearths"<Ref>[[Acts 11]]:28 "And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar." [[dearth]] {{3042}} </Ref> had spread across the Roman Empire. The popularity of Rome, along with its comforts and privilege, diminished as the power over its subject and client states shifted from social benefits to a forced compliance and heavy [[tribute]] or taxes. To pay for excesses the power of this created authority would only relent after the people were expended, exhausted and oppressed.

== Caesar the god ==


[[Augustus Caesar]] claimed to be a god or at least the [[Apotheos]] of [[Rome]]. Paul said there are [[Gods|gods many]]. Once we examine and understand how the term "[[gods]]" has been used in history and therefore how it is often meant to be understood in the [[Bible]] we can conclude that almost every government is a [[theocracy]] of sorts.  The difference is who are the [[gods]] of your government or is your God the God of heaven?

[[File:Tiberiusdivineson.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Concerning the question to [[Pay tribute]]: The coin Jesus held up was likely the ''Antiochan tetradrachm'' bearing the head of Tiberius, with [[Augustus Caesar]] on the reverse or the denarius featuring Tiberius with the inscription "'''Ti '''[''berivs''] '''Caesar Divi Aug'''[''usti''] '''F'''[''ilius''] '''Augustus'''''", ("Caesar Augustus Tiberius, son of the [[Imperial Cult of Rome|Divine]] Augustus") with '''Pontif Maxim''' (''Pontifex Maximus'' or High Priest) on the reverse. Of course for Christians [[Jesus]] was High priest and king and whatever was given to His Church, which had been '[[appoint]]ed a kingdom', was considered paid in full.]]


* "And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s."

On the coin was the ''graven image'' of  the "son of the [[Imperial Cult of Rome|Divine]] Augustus" run through the [[temples]] of [[Rome]]. Octavian was called '''"Augustus Caesar, the [[savior]] of the whole world”''' by all the people who saw his [[exercise authority|exercising authority]] as a solution to the [[world]]'s problems. He was also called the [[Father]] of [[Rome]] and the [[Son of God]].

He was also called the [[Savior]] of the [[world]] of [[Rome]] in the minds of many people who believed that his power as Emperor was able to establish “Pease on earth,” with his "Pax Romana".

Evidently, the [[Pharisees]] had the coin in their possession. This was a violation of their own laws "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image" nor have "any other [[gods]] before the God" of heaven.

Octavius' title was not only the ''Divine Augustus'' and [[Patronus]] but he [[Apotheos|appointed of the gods]] of [[Rome]]. As one of the head "[[father]] on the earth" he could demand [[tribute]] from his people as a [[patrimonial]] right of [[Caesar]].

The [[1923|superscription or epigraphe]] was of Caesar who loaned money into circulation through the [[temples]] of Janice and Moneta and taxes were often required to be paid in kind. There was lots of [[benefits]] and [[free bread]] offered by Caesar's system of welfare but Jesus said it "[[Corban|made the word of God to none effects]]".

== Not of this World ==

[[File:Earth.jpg|right|thumb|350px|There are several words in the New Testament that are translated [http://www.hisholychurch.org/news/articles/world.php world] and most of them do not mean planet. ]]

{{#ev:youtube|jUQlOGyf7to|300|right|This World. What did Jesus mean by ''not of this [[world]]''? The [[Kingdom of God]] was at hand, Jesus took it from the [[Pharisees]] and [[appoint]]ed it to His [[little flock]]. NN Video Series:6-10 4:01}}


* '''"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this '''[[world]]''', then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."''' [[John 18]]:36

Was Jesus simply telling Pilate, who was sitting in the judgment seat, “My Kingdom is not a part of your constitution, order, or government and you have no jurisdiction to judge Me or My Kingdom”? When Jesus was born, Augustus Octavius had already been the Emperor of [[Rome]] for almost 25 years:

<blockquote>
"He [Augustus] was now, to quote his own words, 'master of all things,' and the Roman world looked to him for some permanent settlement of the distracted Empire. His first task was the re-establishment of a regular and constitutional government, such as had not existed since Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon 20 years before.'... At home it was understood that he would, year by year, be elected consul, and enjoy the powers and pre-eminence attached to the chief magistrate [god] of the Roman state. Thus the republic was restored under the presidency and patronage of its 'first citizen' (Princeps Civitatis)."<Ref> 1910 Encyclopedia Britannica  </Ref>
</blockquote>

Most people do not understand that the office of [[Emperor]] was an elected position with a ten-year term, requiring an oath of office, and was equivalent to the Commander-in-Chief of the army and navy. He was often elected Principas Civatas or president of [[Rome]]. Besides holding those offices he also requested the office of the [[Apotheos]] of Rome, which means he was the "appointer of gods". That meant he appointed all the imperial judges or magistrates throughout the Empire, just like the President of the United States, who has also been labeled [[Apotheos]].


== The new normal ==

The new normal always comes as the old normal is passing away. History does repeat itself especially when the people forget [[the way]] of [[righteousness]] or the secrets of their success and of course believe themselves wise in their own eyes and forget the [[warnings]] of their past [[prophets]].

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== Footnotes == 

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[[Category:People]]