Roman Empire: Roman Writers

During the Roman Empire, many writers would attempt to document the monumental changes taking place before their eyes. However, only the testimonials of a small number have survived to the present day – and even fewer are cited as authoritative on the subject. Among this privileged minority are: the Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus, the biographer and antiquarian Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, and the Roman Emperor Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus – better known as Cladius I. Together, the accounts of these ancient writers provides us with meaningful insight into the historical context under which early Christianity had evolved.

Tacitus (c. 55-120 C.E.): Arguably the greatest Roman historian of his day, Cornelius Tacitus is best known for his two major works, Annals and Historie, both of which deal with the history of the Empire between the years 14 and 96 C.E., and in particular on the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned during the Year of the Four Emperors.

The writings themselves are written in a concise, chronological style characterized by an often unconventional use of the Latin language – in all, they have provided a considerable challenge for those wishing to translate his text.

One of Tacitus’ most candid accounts regarding the treatment of Christians during the Roman Empire comes in a discussion of the Emperor Nero. He relates the story of how on one July night in 64 C.E. a fire arose that proceeded to burn for nine days, in the process destroying all but one quarter of the great city of Rome. He states that in order to curb growing speculation that Nero himself maliciously started the fire, the Emperor used the Christians as a scapegoat – using it as an excuse to persecute them.

Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out ... Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle, and was exhibiting a show in the circus, while he mingled with the people in the dress of a charioteer or stood aloft on a car. Hence, even for criminals who deserved extreme and exemplary punishment, there arose a feeling of compassion; for it was not, as it seemed, for the public good, but to glut one man's cruelty, that they were being destroyed.

This and other accounts provide additional evidence for the existence of the early Christians, and more specifically, of Christ himself. They also serve to verify theological accounts of Roman methods of torture, and in particular how they were applied to Jesus and Christians in general.

Suetonius (c. 70-135 C.E.): Born of North African Descent to a wealthy family, Suetonius went to Rome at an early age to become educated. There he encountered Pliny who encouraged him to have his works published, and whom Suetonius later accompanied on his military endeavors. Beyond this little is known about the Roman biographer, save that he was briefly the private secretary of Emperor Hadrian.

His most famous work, De vita Caesarum (The Twelve Caesars) concerns the biographies of the Julio-Cladiun Roman Emperors from Julius Cesear to Nero, and – in two additional books added at a later date – treats the reign of the Flavian dynasty. His writings are known for their candid nature – in fact, they have often been criticized for being more like tabloids than authoritative biographies – and are often characterized by an implicit disdain for what he perceived to be the Emperors’ insatiable “greed”.

His accounts also provide us with some of the earliest historical records of the existence of Jesus Christ, although these references are still debated by certain scholars.

Since the Jews were constantly causing disturbances at the instigation of Christus, he expelled them from the city...

Emperor Claudius (c. 10 B.C.E.-54 C.E.): Claudius was declared Emperor of Rome circa 40 C.E., after the assassination of Caligula. He ruled until 54 C.E. when he was supposedly poisoned by his successor, Nero. He wrote a large volume of work throughout his life, covering such topics as the Roman Empire and other more obscure antiquarian subjects. He was emperor during the Council of Jerusalem – in which it was determined that Gentiles need not become Jewish before becoming Christians – and was responsible for reportedly ordering the expulsion of Jews (or Christians, depending on the historical text being used) from Rome in the year 49 CE. This stems from historical accounts describing his suspicion of religious institutionalization.