Episode 4 – Jews Expelled from Rome, Nero Blames Christians, Domitian Persecution

Episode 4 – Jews Expelled from Rome, Nero Blames Christians, Domitian Persecution

Welcome to another episode of The Hidden History of the Church. This program looks at Historical Christianity. I’m your host and guide Hank Wilson. Why Hidden History of the Church? First of all, it’s not really hidden, it’s just not taught, especially by many modern ministers. Way too many people today only know Christianity from what they see on TV and through social media. Too many have no idea of how Christianity started or what the real purpose of the church is supposed to be.

Today I want to talk about 3 incidents that took place very early in the church’s history and all of which clearly demonstrate how things were in the early days and also which helped shape things that were to come. The first is the expulsion of the Jews from Rome, yes remember, the early followers of Jesus were Jews, then the persecution of Jesus followers by Nero, and finally the persecution of Christians by Domitian.

In 49 AD, according to the Roman historian Suetonius, Emperor Claudius expelled Jews from Rome. He ordered this because apparently there had been disturbances that might have been caused by disputes within the Jewish community. The expulsion is noted by several ancient sources, including, as I mentioned, Suetonius, the Jewish historian Josephus, and a brief mention in the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament.

According to Suetonius, who wrote in his The Twelve Caesars, says that Claudius expelled Jews because they were “constantly rioting at the instigation of Chrestus” (Vita Claudii 25.4). The term “Chrestus” is widely interpreted to be a misspelling or variant of “Christos” (Greek for “Christ”). Many historians and ancient studies scholars often interpret this as a reference to growing conflicts between traditional Jews and what we label as Jewish Christians, or simply the followers of Jesus. Since His followers referred to Him as the Christ or Messiah, this would invariably cause conflict with more traditional or orthodox Jewish believers. As Christianity spread among the Jews, debates about Jesus as the Messiah might have indeed led to unrest within the Jewish community.

According to Jewish Historian Josephus, while not specifically mentioning this expulsion, does describe tensions between Jews and the broader Roman society during the reign of Claudius’. This might indicate that there was a more general atmosphere of tension in Rome regarding Jewish practices and beliefs.

Another mention is in the New Testament, in the Acts of the Apostles in chapter18 verse 2 where we read that the Apostle Paul meets a Jewish couple, Aquila and Priscilla, in Corinth who had “recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had commanded all Jews to leave Rome.” This provides additional evidence that Jews were indeed expelled and again, since the followers of Jesus were considered Jews, those followers would have been affected as well. But why would the emperor expel the Jews?

As I mentioned, the expulsion seems to have been driven by internal disputes between members of the Jewish community in Rome and not any conflict with Roman citizens or authorities. Claudius, who desperately wanted to maintain order, so more than likely he saw these disruptions as a threat to public peace. By expelling the Jewish community, he may have sought to prevent any potential social or religious unrest in the city. Regardless of why, it seems to have been a temporary expulsion.

After Claudius’ died in 54 AD, Jews began to return to Rome, because apparently there was no active policy in place to enforce their continued exclusion. In fact, by the time the Apostle Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans around 57-58 CE, a Jewish community had reestablished itself in Rome. The long-term effects of the expulsion can, I believe, be seen until this day.

Claudius’ expulsion of the Jews clearly showed how tenuous was the position of Jewish communities within the Roman Empire. Even though Jews were generally tolerated and allowed to practice their religion, they were also vulnerable to expulsion if their presence was perceived as disruptive. In fact, the expulsion also demonstrates some of the challenges that arose as Christianity began to spread, often within Jewish communities. This spread would often lead to internal conflicts that sometimes drew the attention of Roman authorities. Within a few years, Christians would become the target of one of, if not the, most vicious persecutions in the historical church. It’s called the Neronian Persecution.

When we talk about the Neronian persecution, we are referring to what was an incredibly intense persecution of Christians in Rome under Emperor Nero that took place around 64 AD. This persecution is one of the earliest recorded and most infamous episodes of anti-Christian violence in the Roman Empire. Church tradition has it, that it was during this time period that both the Apostle Peter and Paul were put to death. Peter by crucifixion and Paul by beheading. But what would have caused Nero to persecute the Christians.

In July of 64 AD, a massive fire broke out which devastated many parts of the city of Rome. The fire burned for several days, and it destroyed homes, temples, and other structures. Some sources claim that there were rumors that Nero himself had started the fire in order to clear space for a lavish new palace, to be called the Domus Aurea or the “Golden House”. In order to deflect these rumors and accusations, Nero needed a scapegoat and so he blamed the city’s Christians. The group at the time was still very much a minority religious group that was viewed with suspicion by ordinary Roman citizens.

Nero’s actions against Christians were brutal and very public. Tacitus, a Roman senator and historian, even though he wrote several decades after Nero’s rule went into great detail. His account suggests that Christians were tortured and executed in horrifying ways, including:

Crucifixion, Being burned alive, Christians were reportedly coated in pitch or tar and set ablaze to serve as night-time “lamps” for Nero’s gardens. They were mauled by wild animals in arenas. This was actually a very common form of execution for prisoners and slaves at the time.

This was not an empire wide persecution; it was very localized to Rome. At this point in time, Christianity was still a relatively small sect, mostly comprising lower-class citizens, slaves, and non-Roman natives, and had not yet gained widespread attention or hostility. The question we must ask is how accurate are the reports?

While Tacitus, Suetonius, and later Christian sources provide accounts, there’s disagreement about their accuracy. Some scholars suggest that Tacitus may have included embellishments, influenced by Roman attitudes toward Christians in his own time. Regardless, the persecution happened, and it marked a turning point in relations between Rome and the early Christians. It highlighted the vulnerability of early Christians and contributed to their self-perception as a persecuted and resilient group. Over time, stories of martyrdom from the Neronian persecution became symbolic in early Christian communities, strengthening their identity and devotion. That was only a part of the legacy.

The Neronian persecution, though brief, had a profound impact on the relationship between Christians and Roman authorities. Nero became a symbol of tyranny and anti-Christian oppression in Christian literature. The persecution also initiated a pattern of suspicion, leading to subsequent persecutions under later emperors, until Christianity was eventually legalized by Emperor Constantine in the early 4th century. We’re still a good 200 years before we get close to when Christianity was officially recognized and blessed by the secular powers, we have to talk about our 3^rd point, and that is the persecution of Christians by Domitian.

The actual persecution of Christians that took place under Emperor Domitian, who ruled from 81–96 AD is much less well-documented than the actions of Nero. Regardless, it remains a significant chapter in early Christian history. Domitian’s reign was marked by a much stricter and more autocratic approach than with many of the earlier emperors. He placed an increased focus on loyalty to Rome and to himself as emperor. Although he did not openly launch a widespread campaign against Christians, there are multiple indications of localized persecution, that was due to his strong enforcement of imperial cult worship. What motivated him?

Domitian is best known for his desire to promote the imperial cult, which required subjects, especially in the provinces, to honor the emperor as a deity or a god. Any refusal to participate in the imperial cult was seen as a threat to the unity of the empire and as a political act of dissent. Christians, along with some Jews, refused to participate in emperor worship, which of course would have placed them under suspicion.

He also was very insecure and held deep suspicions about any potential threats to his power, of course this often led to frequent accusations of treason and even conspiracy. Since Christians were thought of as members of a secretive and “foreign” religion, they would have easily been among those accused of defying the emperor’s authority. Any such accusations could have easily led to a person being tried and persecuted. But what about actual accounts of persecution?

The main sources that we have about Domitian’s persecution are from later Christian writers such as Eusebius and Tertullian and even from the Roman historian Suetonius. Unfortunately, the accounts from these sources are inconsistent and sometimes contradictory. There are some details from the persecution that most historians can agree upon.

Eusebius mentions that Domitian executed some members of his own family and other prominent figures, including his cousin Flavius Clemens, for “atheism.” This charge likely referred to his adherence to monotheistic beliefs (possibly Christian or Jewish), which rejected the Roman gods and imperial cult. Clemens’ wife, Flavia Domitilla, was exiled, and while the truth is unknown, it is thought that she may have been a Christian or sympathetic to Christianity.

The term “atheism” was often used by Romans to describe people who refused to worship Roman deities. This label was applied to Jews and Christians who, in rejecting polytheism, appeared to undermine Roman religious norms and the emperor’s divine status. The question is though, was there widespread persecution?

There doesn’t appear to have been any empire-wide decree targeting Christians under Domitian, although it is likely that some Christian communities may have faced localized persecution. Christians in Rome, Asia Minor, and other regions could have been subject to trials and punishments if they were denounced or accused of subversive behavior. Historians debate the actual extent of Domitian’s persecution of Christians. Whereas we know that Nero openly targeted Christians, Domitian’s actions appear to have been broader in scope, directed at any group or individual who might undermine or threaten his rule. The persecution of Christians seems to have been part of a larger campaign against perceived political dissenters rather than a targeted action against the religion itself.

There are some scholars who suggest that later Christian writers may have retroactively portrayed Domitian as a much greater persecutor then he really was in order to fit a narrative of constant Roman opposition to Christianity. They take the view that Christian writers of the 2nd and 3rd centuries looked at Domitian’s regime as emblematic of anti-Christian tyranny, even if the actual incidents were limited.

Though the Domitian persecution may not have been as severe or widespread as Nero’s, it definitely contributed to an environment of fear and secrecy among Christians. This era likely influenced Christian literature, especially the Book of Revelation, which many scholars believe was written around this time. The book’s coded language, vivid symbols, and themes of persecution and resistance to a tyrannical ruler are often interpreted as veiled criticisms of Domitian and his demand for emperor worship.

In Christian history, Domitian came to symbolize another oppressive ruler, reinforcing early Christian identity as a persecuted, resilient faith. Even if the historical details remain unclear, this period solidified a narrative of conflict between Roman authority and Christian beliefs, which continued to shape Christian self-identity in the centuries that followed.

OK, I think that’s going to it for today. Until next time In the meantime, read your bible, especially the Gospels. I’m not an Old Testament minister, I believe you can get what you need from reading the New Testament and the words of Jesus. And besides, if you can’t tell others what Jesus taught, and NOT what some preacher, even me, said he said, then you’re doing your faith a disservice. We are called to BE Christians, not play at being a Christian. We are called to follow His teachings; we are instructed to practice what Jesus preached.

If you’re interested in how Jesus can help you with what you’re going through in your life, you might want to check out my audiobooks. There’s “Fearless Faith: Finding Hope in the Storms of Life” I discusses what we can rely on when facing one of life’s many storms. Have you ever watched a movie where part of the setting is aboard a ship, and someone falls overboard? Or do you remember the scene in the film “It’s a wonderful life” when younger brother Harry falls through the ice? Or how about any movie set in the jungle when a member of the party steps in quicksand and begins to sink? Or any scene set in the mountains where somebody has fallen off a cliff and is stranded?

And A Fresh Start: Embrace the Unknown: A Spiritual Guide to Preparing for Life’s Challenges –

If you have any questions, use the contact form here on the website, I’ll get back to you as quickly as I can.

I’ll talk to you next week, until next time, I’m Hank Wilson, God bless y’all and peace.