The First Century

Episode 35: Gaius returns to Rome for a double triumph

After 'victories' in Germania and Britannia, Gaius returned to Rome on Aug 31, 40 CE to celebrate a double triumph. Gaius orders Lepidus executed and then banished his own two sisters to the island of Pontus, where Agrippina becomes a proficient swimmer. Herod Agrippa returns to Rome and hosts Gaius at a fabulous dinner. Gaius is so impressed he grants Herod Agrippa a special wish. Agrippa only asks Gaius not to install his statue in the Jerusalem Temple. Gaius agrees, but ultimately is so incensed at Petronius, governor of Syria, that he orders him to commit suicide. The head of the praetorian guard gets the idea to rid the empire of the princeps.     SHOWNOTES Gaius and Petronius (Philo, Embassy to Gaius, §§ 278–289; Jos. Ant 18.8.2–9). Gaius' excess and cruelty in killing a father and his son (Seneca, De Ira 3.18; Cassius Dio 59.25.6). Gaius toying with the crowds while Cassius Charea gets an idea (Dio 59.25.5; Jos. Ant. 19.11 [70]).

Episode 34: Paul's Escape from Damascus and Visit to Jerusalem

After being in Arabia for three years, Paul returned to Damascus, where he was arrested. After a daring escape with the help of some friends, he made his way to Jerusalem where he stayed for fifteen days. While there, he met Peter, John, and James, the brother of the Lord. From them, he learned details about what Jesus did and said. He also learned many other sayings and statements that encapsulated the faith of those who believed Jesus was now at God's right hand. What he learned over these fifteen days confirmed and informed his own understanding about Jesus.    SHOWNOTES Paul being in Arabia for three years (Gal 1:18)  Escape from Damascus (2 Cor 11: 32-33; Acts 9:23-25) Four statement formula (1 Cor 15:3-5) Aramaic hymn in six stanzas about God highly exalting Jesus and giving him the name: Lord (Phil 2:6-11). The translation in the podcast is from Joseph Fitzmyer, According to Paul [https://www.amazon.com/According-Paul-Studies-Theology-Apostle/dp/0809133903], (1993) p. 103-4. Paul's recounting of the Last Supper (1 Cor 11:23-26). That the Christian community gathered on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2). That Jesus said, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:28). That Jesus was in heaven now, and would return at a time appointed by God, though nobody knew precisely when that would be (Acts 3:21; cf. 1 Thess 1).  Jesus told his disciples that they would not even be able to go through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes (Matt 10:23). The prayer of the community was simply ‘Marana Tha’ an Aramaic term which meant, “Our Lord, Come!” (1 Cor 16:22; Didache 10:14). Aramaic statement of belief about Jesus:      Who was descended, From the seed of David, According to the flesh,      Who was appointed, Son of God, According to the Spirit of holiness as of his resurrection from the dead (Rom 1:3-4). Early Christian belief that after Jesus' death, God begot him by raising him from the dead and thereby making him his son (cf. Acts 13:32-33). Paul departed Jerusalem for Caesarea Maritima and beyond. He sailed to his hometown of Tarsus (Acts 9:30), capital of Cilicia, and visited that region, as well as Cyprus and Syria (Gal 1:21).

Episode 33: Caligula visits Germany

Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus, aka, Caligula, son of Agrippina and Germanicus, decided to go to Germany to attack barbarians as his father had done, and for which he was given the name, Germanicus. Caligula determined that the Roman general of the upper Rhine was too popular and not to be trusted so he executed him and replaced him with Galba. But attacking barbarians was more challenging than it first seemed. So Caligula performed other feats instead, sending letters to Rome chastising the senate while the princeps worked on behalf of the empire. In Syria, Petronius realized that installing a statue of the emperor in the Jerusalem Temple might be more trouble than it was worth. The Christians saw this as an indication of the impending end times, when Jesus would return victorious.    SHOWNOTES   Events leading up to the letter from Caligula to the Senate (Suetonius, Caligula, 43-45). Attack on Jews in Antioch Syria (Malalas, in Downey, History of Antioch in Syria, p. 193).

Episode 32: Caligula attempts to install his statue in the Jerusalem Temple; A foiled assassination attempt

Gaius (Caligula) heard that Jews were causing trouble in Jamnia and in Alexandria, Egypt. He raised the stakes by ordering that his statue be installed in the Jerusalem Temple. For that task he sent Petronius as the new governor of Syria. Vitellius, who was marked for execution, saved his own life with sycophancy, and began to worship Gaius as a god. In a demonstration of the princeps' love of chariot racing, he set up a new track near the Vatican Hill and to adorn it, he brought an obelisk from Egypt. To find some refreshment Gaius went on a trip to Northern Italy only to discover that his two sisters and his friend Lepidus were plotting to kill him.    SHOWNOTES  Delegation from Alexandria (Philo, Embassy to Gaius, 28; Josephus, Antiquities, 18.8.1) Machaon and his dog on the couch of Jupiter (Dio 59.9.3) Vitellius' sycophancy (Dio 59.27.2-5) Vespasian appearing indifferent before Gaius' spectacles (Suetonius, Vespasian, 2). Obelisk brought from Egypt to the Vatican (Pliny, Natural History, 16.76) [This obelisk is believed to be the one still standing in Saint Peter's square today]. Gaius as a fan of the greens (Dio, 59.14.5-6) Gaius' vengeance against Flaccus (Philo, Against Flaccus, 21)

Episode 31: Exile of Antipas; Trouble in Jamnia

After serving as tetrarch since 4 BCE, Herod Antipas and his wife Herodias are driven by envy at Herod Agrippa's recent promotion. Antipas and Herodias decide to make their case to Caesar directly, but their plans are revealed and undermined by Agrippa and Vitellius, the Roman governor of Syria. In the meantime, in Jamnia of Judea, the Gentiles and Jews quarrel, requiring the intervention of Caesar's procurator of that city. Gaius Caesar continues to disrespect the Senate and even entertains the notion of making his horse a consul. Gaius' cruelty and violence continue to increase.   SHOWNOTES Herod Antipas and Herodias (Josephus, Antiquities 18.143,147, cf. 240-252; Josephus, War. 18.181; Philo, Legatio ad Gaium 23–24).  Jamnia events (Philo, Legatio ad Gaium §§162, 198–203; cf. Josephus, Antiquities 18.257–260). Gaius' horse 'swift' as consul (Dio 59.14.7).