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[[File:Suetonius.jpg|right|thumb|Suetonius, friend of senator Pliny the Younger who thought of him as a "quiet and studious, a man dedicated to writing." Trajan granted him the ''ius trium liberorum''<Ref>The jus trium liberorum was a reward gained by compliance with the Lex Iulia and Papia Poppea. The privilege concerned both sexes, but impacted women more. It  included exemption from various charges, such as that of guardianship, and a prior claim to magistracies </Ref> even though his marriage was childless. He was the ''secretary of studies'', director of Imperial archives, and became the Emperor [[Hadrian]]'s secretary until dismissed because of an affair with the empress Sabina.]]

== Suetonius ==


[[Suetonius]], in full Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, (born 69 CE, probably Rome [Italy]—died after 122), Roman biographer and antiquarian whose writings in Latin include De viris illustribus (“Concerning Illustrious Men”), a collection of short biographies of celebrated Roman literary figures, and De vita Caesarum (Lives of the [[Caesar]]s).

In politics, [[Suetonius]] describes [[Caligula]] as vicious, cruel, and self-absorbed throughout his life to both those of the senatorial class and his close allies alike. While this was true about others like [[Domitian]] Suetonius did display a biases sympathy to the Senatorial elite. 

== Moral breakdown ==

[[Suetonius]] could see the worst of the political corruption and authoritarian abuses of the most powerful but also wrote about Agrippina's incestuous activities with her brother [[Caligula]] during his reign (Suet. Calig. 24.1) and [[Nero]]'s desire for his own mother. But seeing the subtle alterations in cultures is often more difficult to recognize as the thinking of the people changes.

The Roman [[family]] which had been the moral fabric of society. It had entwined the lives the Roman people through social bonds of virtue. But because of a growing excess of pride and greed throughout the generations the masses had been degenerating for over a century. 

What was causing this decay and rot of the moral degeneration of the once great nation?

What was done and what should have been done?

== Forcing the heart ==

: "In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous." Publius [[Tacitus]]

The '''Lex Papia et Poppaea''' was introduced in Roman law in 9 AD to strengthen the [[social bonds]] of [[marriage]]. There were provisions against [[adultery]] and it even restricted the practice of celibacy in older men. They were facing population collapse for the very reasons [[Polybius]] had described in detail concerning the Roman society's devolvement<Ref>"Evolve" conveys the notion of progression, moving forward: "a process of continuous change from a lower, simpler, or worse to a higher, more complex, or better state".  "Devolve" conveys the notion of regression, going backwards or down: "a downward evolution to a lower state."(Merrian-Webster).</Ref> from the [[Libera res publica]] free from [[tyranny]] into an indirect [[democracy]] a [[Socialist]] State establishing again despotism, chaos, and [[tyranny]]. 

: "Lawsuit  upon  lawsuit  had  accumulated  in  all the  courts  to  an  excessive  degree,  since  those  of  long standing  were  left  unsettled  though  the  interruption of  court  business..."<Ref>''THE LIVES OF THE CAESARS'',  Suetonius, THE  DEIFIED  VESPASIAN X.  .</Ref>

Despite the warning of men like [[Tacitus]] that, "The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the government" there were those who continued to make laws to contain the corruption found growing in the [[heart and mind]] of the people:

These feeble legislative attempts to shore up the damage done by their public ''feasts'' of [[legal charity]] were a continuation of earlier new statutes passed by [[Augustus Caesar]] in 18 BC. The '''Lex Julia de maritandis ordinibus''' 27 years earlier had already almost required every ''citizen to marry'' to fulfill their ''civil duty''. 

'''Lex Julia de maritandis ordinibus''' had also limited marriage across ''social class boundaries'' but set limitations on the rise in  ''concubinage'' by prohibiting inheritance to its offspring and there by encouraged the bearing of children within legal [[marriage]]. Was Rome concerned that "strange wives" were the problem contributing the moral breakdown?

The wealth of individuals grew in Rome under the freedom of the [[Republic]] but not always at the expense of personal labor. [[Julius Caesar]] after leaving the priesthood to become a general would plunder the neighbors of Rome to enrich their own [[temples]] and fill their [[tables]] with the [[dainties]] provided by the [[cities of blood|blood of others]].

: "Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable." Publius [[Tacitus]].

[[Julius Caesar]] had also passed reforms with his '''‎Lex Julia de repetundis''' back in 59 BC when he was ''repeating'' the basic principles and moralities of the Roman character. Evidently he was missing something by relying on his legislation. Those who wanted to prosecute him for war crimes could not be heard over the clamor to eat at his ''[[public religion|public feasts]]''.

[[Julius Caesar]] would eventually have to pass the '''Lex Julia municipalis''' 14 years later in an attempt to reduce the corruption in government institutions while at the same time the [[social bonds]] of society [[degenerate]]d the [[masses]].

What was the the critical precepts of the God and the [[kingdom of God]] were the Caesars missing?
What was the distinctions between the practices of [[Abraham]], [[Moses]], and the [[prophets]]?

What was the gospel of [[John the Baptist]] and [[Jesus]] who was the [[Christ]] and how was it different from the world of the Caesars?

==The mention of Chrestus ==

[[Suetonius]] might be mentioning Jesus Christ when he wrote:
:  "Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus(similar "Christos"), he, [Emperor Claudius] expelled them from Rome."  ''Lives of the Twelve Caesars'' by Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus.

This was in the biography of the Emperor Claudius Divus Claudius, which refers to ''agitations'' in the Roman Jewish community and the expulsion of Jews from Rome by Claudius during his reign (AD 41 to AD 54), which may be the expulsion mentioned in the [[Acts 18|Acts of the Apostles 18:2]].
 
[[Tertullian]] wrote of Nero being the first Emperor to murder Christians: "We read the lives of the Cæsars: At Rome Nero was the first who stained with blood the rising faith" [[Tertullian]], Chapter XV. He depended upon the writings of [[Suetonius]] to make this comment.

In [[Nero]] 16, [[Suetonius]] writes of executive orders signed by the ''[[Emperator]]'' [[Nero]] to maintain ''public order''. He halted chariot races because there was belief the drivers were cheating which lead to riots. Also there were forms of lockdowns that affected serving of cooked foods in taverns and the distribution of public welfare(''Public banquets, such as the civic feasts offered for all of the inhabitants of a city'' or ''epulum'' a "[[Public religion|public feast]]").

In these orders there were punishment for Christians listed: 

<blockquote>
"During his reign many abuses were severely punished and put down, and no fewer new laws were made: a limit was set to expenditures; the public banquets were confined to a distribution of food; the sale of any kind of cooked viands in the taverns was forbidden, with the exception of pulse and vegetables, whereas before every sort of dainty was exposed for sale. '''Punishment was inflicted on the Christians, a class of men given to a new and mischievous [[superstition]].'''<Ref>''THE LIVES OF THE CAESARS'',  Suetonius, Book VI,  Nero XVI. Latin: "afflicti suppliciis Christiani, genus hominum superstitionis novae ac maleficae ;" ''afflicted by the executions of the Christians, a race of men of new and evil [[superstition]];''</Ref>   He put an end to the diversions of the chariot drivers, who from immunity of long standing claimed the right of ranging at large and amusing themselves by cheating and robbing the people. The pantomimic actors and their partisans were banished from the city."
</blockquote>



{{suetoniussuper}}

It was the system of religion fostered by the Romans that brought the seed of corruption, first to the heart and mind of the people and then to their governors, rulers and despots. They knew that religion was a way to fulfil a duty to God or gods and their fellow man but it was ''the means and the method'' that would eat away at the soul of society and sear their conscience.


The distinction was the unwillingness of some to sign up for the [[social welfare]] systems of [[legal charity]] run through the [[temples]] of [[Rome]] because because they had instituted the rule of [[force]] and [[covetous practices]] and therefore were seen as [[idolatry]].<Ref name="Isidolatry">{{Isidolatry}}</Ref>

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