made to the course of church and culture at the Baptist Theological Seminary Trujillo.
Roman rule and the publicans
To understand and appreciate the environment in which Jesus acted, it is important to know the political situation, the reaction from Judaism to Roman rule and Roman administrative policy against that reaction.
° Background of Roman
There were disputes over the succession of government in Judea and both sides, seeing the imminent invasion near Rome, were quick to gain favor with the conquerors. In this regard, one side took advantage and encouraged the Roman invasion to be as future leaders and the other side put up a weak resistance, however the invasion was imminent and irresistible.
· THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT
Rome emerged as a republic governed by the oligarch class and was gradually incorporating the people in the exercise of government. It was militarily conquered the Italian peninsula and then defeating the Carthaginian Empire managed to dominate the entire Mediterranean world giving peace and order and facilitating the interactions between the conquered provinces, and was providing the stage for the subsequent spread of the gospel.
Rome was a republic in name, but it was an absolute monarchy. Governmental powers were the senate and the emperor. The emperor's powers were absolute, was within its powers to direct the Roman army which gave him the power to use public force both in Rome and the provinces, could promote someone to a public office and used them as prizes for their favorites, also could veto the Senate in its decisions or remove from office. The Senate was consisting of several hundred men who had entered a part of it because of their wealth or influence or for having been elected to public office by a popular assembly, the senate or the emperor. Its functions were extremely limited to the will of the emperor and served a purely decorative.
The provinces could be conquered by force, mostly, but also was annexed voluntarily. Were of two types, senatorial or imperial. The first were those whose governors were appointed by the Senate and were called proconsuls. The latter were under the direct leadership of the Emperor's rulers were called solicitors. Rarely provinces were ruled by vassal kings. Roman colonies there were also scattered throughout the provinces to which they were called small blunt. There were also free cities, or local self-administered.
The revenues were of two types: taxes and duties. Taxes were rights in goods and services and were collected by local agents and referred to representative government of the empire. The taxes were on property rights and individuals and were collected by management representative of the empire and could be paid in kind or money. The contributions are spent in local government, utilities, construction improvements, repairs and reconstruction and a considerable balance was sent to Rome. Taxes senatorial provinces were sent to the Senate and the Senate spent on pay and administration of the province of Italy. The tribute of the imperial provinces were sent to the emperor and spent on improving food and the city of Rome, the maintenance of the army and the emperor's personal expenses.
The Roman army was an essential part of the empire, is comprised of legions and auxiliaries. The former were recruited from Roman citizens and the provinces were Romanized and auxiliaries recruited from other provinces. Active duty lasted from 20 to 25 years. Received harsh treatment but economically desirable when compared to the quality of life of the time. Were taken into account by the people.
· Policy ROMAN JUDEA
While the conquered provinces to be submissive and obedient to Rome, it treated them with consideration, left with a fairly autonomous government, especially for the administration of domestic affairs, had religious toleration and legal protection and taxes were not too burdensome, it is considered that Judea were relatively better off than under other foreign or domestic governments. It was the famous Roman peace, ie the state of order, organization and peaceful life that provided Rome with his army and its political administration that allowed daily activities such as travel, trade, etc. be made with relative ease. However, some fanatics and extremists groups were askance at a government taxed gentle and waved to the people, the more open the rebellion became more violent was the Roman response to trigger the destruction of the Jewish nation.
On the religious policy of Rome had two kinds of religions, religious cults lawful or permitted, and in many cases protected by the Emperor and the religious cults illicita no legal or not part of the affairs of the empire and were only hampered and persecuted when they were seen as threats to the cohesion of the empire. Christianity was initially considered a lawful religious as a branch of Judaism but later became illicita and was persecuted religious when it is considered detrimental to the rule. The persecution of Christianity began as pure personal whims of emperors and only later became a systematic persecution when their numbers grew considerably and it was feared that compromise the integrity and perpetuity of the empire.
With regard to the worship of the emperor, this was seen as an activity of political and denied it was seen as disloyalty and even treason. In Rome the worship was seen as a way of perpetuating the power and authority of the Roman emperor no matter who is in office, was the idea of \u200b\u200bgenius, hardly be considered truly divine to the emperors in the West, but East was different Asian minds have no difficulty to deify their emperors and took advantage of the situation. Eastern Christians had more difficulties in this regard.
In the first instance the Jewish people was under arrangements made by Rome Edomites rulers, but to the Jewish protest, Rome began to Judea under the Syrian government and received a solicitor. The prerogatives of prosecutors were collecting taxes, command the military forces of the province and act as judges in important cases.
vassal kings Edomites broke many Jewish laws. Herod games and skills introduced in the Greek style and ordered the construction of many large buildings.
· THE PUBLICAN
publicani In official language. Were Jews who were employed in the collection of taxes. Were organized by districts, and each collector acquired the right of collection of his district. That right must pay a fixed fee each year to the Roman government and any surplus was his own gain. The laws were so irregular that left about great opportunity for extortion. Were hated by Jews loyal to their extortion and serve as instruments of a foreign power.
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