Imperial Cult and Honorary Terms in the New Testament (Paradosis: Contributions to the History of Early Christian Literature and Theology 23)

PARADOSIS Contributions

to the History

of Early

Christian Literature

and

Theology

XXIII

Sr. D O M I N I Q U E

CUSS, F.C.J.

IMPERIAL CULT AND HONORARY TERMS IN T H E NEW T E S T A M E N T

T H E UNIVERSITY PRESS FRIBOURG SWITZERLAND 1974

Publication subsidized by the Fribourg University Council Fribourg Switzerland © 1974 by the Fribourg University Press, Fribourg Switzerland Imprimerie St. Paul, Fribourg

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I wish t o express m y appreciation f o r t h e interest a n d h e l p o f M m e L i l l y K a h i l , P r o f e s s o r o f A n c i e n t H i s t o r y at t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f F r i b o u r g / Switzerland, d u r i n g m y

years o f study u n d e r

her

guidance. M y t h a n k s are also due t o R e v e r e n d P e r e C. S p i c q , O . P . f o r his helpful c r i t i c i s m a n d s u g g e s t i o n s . I t h a n k M r . P . D e v a m b e z , Conservateur-en-Chef du D 6 p a r t e m e n t des A n t i q u i t 6 s g r e c q u e s e t romaines au M u s e e du L o u v r e , D r . R . H i g g i n s a n d t h e m e m b e r s o f the D e p a r t m e n t

o f G r e e k a n d R o m a n A n t i q u i t i e s at t h e B r i t i s h

Museum, and Professor T . Zawadzki, o f F r i b o u r g University. I a m grateful t o all t h o s e w h o e n c o u r a g e d a n d h e l p e d m e , especially d u r i n g t h e m o n t h s o f r e s e a r c h at t h e B r i t i s h M u s e u m , a n d t o P . a n d K . G i l l and J . T . M c G r a t h , M . S. F . S. f o r r e a d i n g a n d c o r r e c t i n g m y work. T h e p h o t o s o f t h e c o i n s a n d t h e « A p o t h e o s i s D i p t y c h » are r e p r o ­ duced w i t h t h e permission o f t h e T r u s t e e s o f t h e B r i t i s h M u s e u m .

5

PLAN

Acknowledgments

5

Bibliography

9

Abbreviations

17

Introduction

19

I . The Sources of the Imperial Cult and Its Early Development a) Divine Honours in the Hellenistic East b) Divine Honours in the Roman Republic c) Divine Honours in the Early Empire

23 24 27 30

II. New Testament Implications towards the Roman Empire and the Emperor. a) The Attitude of Christ towards the Roman Empire b) The Attitude of St. Paul towards the Emperor c) The Attitude of Pilate and the Significance of the Expression 'Friend of Caesar' III. References to the Imperial Cult in the Apocalypse 1. The 'Blasphemous Titles' of the First Beast a) The Title 'Ktipios' in Imperial and Christian Usage b) ' S C O T T J P ' - Its Hellenistic and Christian Meaning c) The Title of 'Divi Filius' 2. Acclamations - a Possible Interpretation of the Term 'Blasphemous Titles' as Used in the Apocalypse 3 . The Legend of'Nero Redivivus* c

36 36 39 44 50 50 53 63

71 74 88

9

IV. The Significance of the Second Beast of the Apocalypse and Its Implications in Imperial Worship a) The Priesthoods b) The Significance of the Term 'Image of the Beast' and the Importance of Statues in Imperial Cult Worship

96 96 104 7

V. Two Cult-Expressions Paralleled in Imperial and Christian Usage 1. The Notion of 'Ascension* as an Expression of Glorification 2. The Profane and Religious Implications of the Term 'ETtupdcveia' VI. Persecution in Relation to the Imperial Cult

113 113 134 145

a) Direct Persecution and Its Causes

146

b) Indirect Persecution

154

Conclusion

159

Scriptural Index

162

Indices Modern Scholars

163 166

8

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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G., Latin Historical Inscriptions Illustrating the History of the Early Empire. London, 1938. M E Y E R , P., Griechische Texte aus Agypten. Berlin, 1916. N E W T O N , C. T., Collection of Ancient Greek Inscriptions in the British Museum. Oxford, 1874. P A T O N , W. R. & H I C K S , E . L . , The Inscriptions of Cos. Oxford, 1891. S E Y R I G , H . , Inscriptions de Gythion. RA X X I X (1929) pp. 84-106. W E N G E R , L . , Griechische Inschriften %um Kaiserkult und %um Grahrecht. ZRG X L I X (1929) pp. 308-328. W I L C K E N , U . , Griechische Ostraka. Leipzig & Berlin, 1899. MCNEILL,

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1

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As M.

P.

CHARLESWORTH

Especially in Rome. HThR X X V I I I 2

•J5(J07]aav...» 3 Ibid. 1 8 , 4 :

24

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8k

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