Excavations all over the middle eastern world have discovered
various materials from stone, metal, papyrus, wax, pottery on which were written
in the Greek language called "koine" or common Greek. This is the Greek forced
on the world by Alexander the Great when he the world ruler.
Before Alexander, the Greek language was an assortment of
various dialects each one localized to a small area. Alexander wanted a Greek
language common to all peoples. It was called "koine" which means "common." This
is the language of the New Testament as well as volumes of other writings that
have been discovered. Among them were old discarded office records, books, legal
documents, bills of divorce, personal letters, tax papers, family letters,
notes, diaries, etc.
Those contemporary with the New Testament show how people
thought, their values, customs, ideas as well as how they wrote and used words.
One of the great sources of koine writings came from writings on broken pottery
which are called the "ostraca." These were less expensive and were the main
writing materials of the poorer classes.
Koine Greek was more popular in Rome than was Latin. Rome
capitalized on this common language known around the civilized world. Rome
became the center for and accepted all the cult religions. Rome’s policy was to
allow its subjects to have their own religion as long as they accepted Emperor
worship.
One of the titles of the Emperor was the koine Greek word,
"kurios," which means "Lord." It was a divine title of the emperor! But, it was
also the main word used to translate the Hebrew word "YHVH" by the Septuagint
(LXX) translation of the Old Testament.
Paul said there were many "lords" but for Christians there
is only one Lord – Jesus Christ (1Cor. 8:5-6). Festus referred to Caesar as
"lord" when planning to send Paul to Rome (Acts 25:26). Polycarp, John’s
disciple, was asked, "What is the harm in saying, ‘Lord Caesar." He still
refused and was put to death by Rome.
But we are told that Jesus has been exalted and given a
name above every name and that every knee will bow and "every tongue will
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (kurios), to the glory of God the Father"
(Phil. 2:10-11 NAS).
The early Christians came into conflict with the cult of
Caesar through other words used by the New Testament and by Rome.. In the koine
Greek the word "king" was applied to Roman emperors. The emperor often took the
title "king of kings" as ruler over all other rulers in the known world. To
claim to be a king put one in conflict with Caesar! "…whoever makes himself a
king speaks against Caesar!", cried the Jews before Pilate (John 19:12).
Later they said, "We have no king but Caesar" (v. 14-15). Pilate, looking
at the scourged, bleeding, and weakened Jesus did not take the claim of king
seriously. Pilate found no real threat in this man and wanted to release Him but
the Jews cried out, "if you release this man you are no friend to Caesar."
Later Paul wrote, "…to the only King…"(1Tim. 1:17; 6:15).
Emperors were often referred to as "saviors" and at least
eight of them took the title, "savior of the world." It was no wonder. Rome
brought peace, restored order to lawless areas of the empire and brought in a
system of justice so the Roman citizens had the rights of due process of law. "Pax
Romana" was the phrase hailed around the world as Rome brought world peace and
kept order. Roman roads brought prosperity through commerce. Rome saved people
from disorder, injustice, poverty and war.
But another "savior of the world" (John 4:42; Titus 1:3-4;
Jude 24) came to save people from their sins. Most preferred the savior from
Rome to the Savior from Galilee for men loved darkness rather than light because
their deeds were evil!
The emperor held the title, Pontifex Maximus" – Latin
translation of "archiereus" which is "high priest." In the cult of Rome the
emperor was the high priest on the throne of Caesar! But we have a great high
priest who passed into the heavens and is on the throne of God (Heb. 4:14-16).
In the cult of Caesar there was the title "friend of the
emperor." It was the Greek word, "philos." On the night of His betrayal Jesus
called his disciples "friends" (John 15:14-15). The Jews knew what this mean
when the told Pilate that if you release this man "you are no friend to Caesar"
(19:12).
Written documents from the emperor were called "hiera
grammata" in Koine Greek. This meant "the sacred writings." Imagine Paul
referring to the old testament as "hiera grammata"(2Tim. 3:15). He did this
while in prison for the second and last time as he died there in Rome
Any news about Caesars was called "euaggelion" (pronounced
u-an-gel-e-on) or "good news", or glad tidings or the old English word,
"gospel." Paul wrote to the people in Rome, "I am eager to preach the "euaggelion"
to you in Rome"(1:15). He then stated, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel (euaggelion).
Rome had good news about the emperor, the apostles had the good news about our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Imagine Paul (a little Jewish man according to
tradition) walking into Rome on the Appian Way in front of all the great
buildings, the coliseum, Roman senate buildings, etc. Even coming to the capitol
city of the world, Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the good news!" Are you?
