a ugustus caesar world - classical christian...

A u g u s t u s C A e s A r ’ s W o r l d

Have you ever known someone who acted like he was a god? Once I had a student who unwittingly claimed to be one. One day after school I found myself staring up at the Birthday Bulletin Board in the hallway. On the board there are small pictures of the students whose birthdays fall in that month. Under each picture is a small rectangular white tag bearing the student’s name. I did not often look at the board, but today I was waiting for someone and had a few moments to kill, so I stared up at the board. It is amazing what you can learn about students from singular pictures. Young stu-dents, of course, did not pick their own pictures, so most of them had a plain picture that was sent in by their parents. Teenag-ers, however, were more careful about their photos—particularly the girls. Often they were doing a favorite activity—surfing or riding horses or nibbling wa-termelon. Their photos were always perfect—especially their hair. Then I saw it! The photo to end all photos! It was of a young boy en-rolled at my school. The picture, at first glance, c o m m u n i c a t e d much more than he, or his parents, ever meant to say. By a series of in-teresting coinci-dences this photo made some ex-traordinary claims. The picture, you see, was from a Christmas

photo, and it was one of this young lad in his mom’s fa-vorite Christmas sweater. This photo had been turned into the family Christmas card. This card had been sent in to adorn the birthday board. By an act of humorous accidental coincidence, the size of the rectangular name tag exactly matched the size of the Christmas card. The gloss of the paper and the fonts matched. The name

tag and the card looked like one item. So don’t

blame me if I did a double take when

I read:

The Savior Is

Born Andrew Smith

The boy was bright,

I thought, but having just spent

time with him in my office for a disci-

plinary issue, he was

not living up to my

messi-anic

o m n i b u s i V2

expectations. Of course, this photo coincidence was only an accident, and, of course, I already had a Messiah and did not need another. It did cause me to think, however, of what it would be like for people to think that you were a god. The Hebrew word for glory means “weight.” The most glorious things are the weightiest. God, of course, is all glory and all weightiness—mountains shake when He touches them. What weight would a man have to bear if his friends, acquaintances, and family members thought he was a god? In Augustus Caesar’s World we will study a man who was called a god. We will see what this weight of glory does to him, his family, and his world because, you see, he owned most of the world. While others were call-ing Augustus a god, one of the oddest things happened. In Augustus’s kingdom, in an out-of-the-way village that meant less than nothing in terms of world politics, in a stable, the true God arrived to begin His rule and reign.

generAl informAtion

Author and Context Genevieve Foster was an inspiring author who lived a quite interesting life. She was born in Oswego, New York, in 1893. Soon after her birth, however, tragedy struck. Her father died, and she and her mother moved to Whitewa-ter, Wisconsin, to live with her grandparents. There she grew up as an only child surrounded by an interesting and artistic group of women. In school her artistic work showed real promise. She attempted her first novel at age ten—it was only one chapter. Later, she earned a degree in classics from the University of Wisconsin. After her undergraduate work she went on to the Chicago Acad-emy of Fine Arts. She ended up working in advertising doing some work in children’s literature (which she found to be boring). After marrying Orrington C. Foster, she designed and oversaw the construction of their new home. She continued to do a little work in advertising, but her focus soon was on her home and two children—Orrington Jr. and Joanna. As the children grew, she was involved in their education and became interested in his-tory. Her children’s books on history won acclaim and awards beginning with George Washington’s World. Her approach to her subjects inspired a new sort of thinking about children’s history books. She wrote “horizontal his-tory” focusing on what was going on all over the world during a particular person’s lifetime. George Washing-ton’s World not only focuses on the American War for Independence, but also the French Revolution and the rise of the British Empire. Her books make it easy to see

the connections between different stories and different histories by blending them into one story. She traveled extensively and wrote with great passion.

Significance Augustus Caesar’s World continued Genevieve Foster’s pattern of horizontal history. It covers most of the signifi-cant events in all parts of the world during the lifetime of Octavian (who became Caesar Augustus). By doing this, we get to see more clearly many of the external and inter-nal forces driving the young Augustus toward imperial rule. We also witness the rise of many other movements and people—from the movement of Palestinian Jewish Zealots to the rise of rebellious German warlords like Hermann—that affect Rome and Augustus. Chief among these multiple focuses is the Roman province of Judea. Foster provides interesting insight into what scholars call the “Intertestamental Period” between the end of Old Testament prophecy and the coming of Christ. We learn extensively of the rise of Herod the Great, the ruler who tried to kill the infant Jesus to protect that power he had received by serving the Romans. We also learn of Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, who killed John the Baptist. Foster obviously respected Christianity but her perspective on religion in general was more pluralistic, believing that truth can be found in many different reli-gions. Her view can be summed up in her quotation end-ing the chapter “Questions and Answers” when she says, “No one person or race or nation has ever been or will ever be able to know all Truth or express all the Good to be found in the world.” The reader should be wary of her worldview, which subtly seems to affirm Christianity at points while failing to commit to its truth.

Main Characters Octavian, who later becomes Caesar Augustus, is the main character of this book. His life sets the parameters of the book. We begin by learning of Octavian as a young man. Prophecies are made over him in his youth that he will rule the world. He, however, is an unlikely candidate for world domination. He is often ill and many times on the edge of death. He is not handsome or dashing or known as a great general. He is, however, thoughtful and calculating and disciplined. In this book we witness Oc-tavian’s growth as a leader, his conquest of the Roman world, his careful rule and construction of the Roman Empire. We also get a glimpse into Augustus’s most try-ing times. (Of course, Genevieve Foster did not live dur-ing his times, but she tries to guess at the feelings and thoughts that would have had to have been running

Augustus Caesar’s World 3

through Augustus’s mind during his greatest moments of trial.) Foster displays his uncertainty in dealing with the Senate as he jostles with Antony for their favor. We witness his shame as a father as he is forced to exile his wayward daughter, Julia. We see his overarching care for the empire he has founded and his hope that he can pass the care of Rome on to Tiberius. There is a vast array of other significant characters. Here are just a few:

Julius Caesar: He is, of course, the general and dictator who first consolidates the rule of Rome under his own authority. He adopts Octavian, but is murdered in the Forum by many Senators led by Brutus and Cassius—before he can officially take all power to himself.

Mark Antony: Julius Caesar’s friend helps to lead Caesar’s army. He seeks control of the empire after Caesar’s death and eventually, with Octavian, destroys Brutus and Cas-sius. He falls in love with Cleopatra and is defeated by Octavian in the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C. He later com-mits suicide.

Cleopatra: She is the Queen of Egypt whose beauty and wiles attract the attention of both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. She bears the children of both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony and commits suicide after she and Antony are defeated by Octavian.

Cicero: Cicero is the great orator, protector, and advocate of the Roman Republic. He struggles to maintain the

In Augustus’s kingdom, in an out-of-the-wayvillage that meant nothing in terms of world

politics, the true God arrived to begin His earthly reign. The Columba Altarpiece by

Flemish painter Rogier van der Weyden (c. 1399–1464).

o m n i b u s i V4

republic as it is disintegrating. He famously unmasks the Cataline Conspiracy which thought to overthrow the republic, and he opposes those who would seek to rule Rome personally—like Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. His vocal opposition to Antony causes enmity between them, and when Antony gains control of Rome as part of the Second Triumvirate, he quickly has Cicero killed.

Herod the Great: Herod becomes the king of Judea by carefully and ceaselessly currying the favor of his Ro-man overlords. He replaces and destroys the Maccabean rulers of Judea. He tries to win the favor of the Jews by rebuilding the Temple and making it more glorious. He is always viewed as an outsider and a Roman servant by faithful Jews. He is consumed by jealousy and tries to kill the Christ child when the Magi bring word of His birth.

Virgil: He is the greatest poet of the Golden Age of Ro-man poetry. His poem, the Aeneid, justifies the rule of Augustus over Rome. Augustus is his patron and loves his poetry. His work becomes something like scripture for the Romans even though he wants it to be burned at his death because he has not fully completed it. Augus-tus orders that the Aeneid be saved.

Jesus: Foster periodically turns her gaze toward Pales-tine to keep up with Jesus as he is growing up during the reign of Augustus.

Summary and Setting This book follows the history of the Late Roman Re-public and the Early Roman Empire during the lifetime of Augustus Caesar. It also, as horizontal history, tells what is happening all over the world during the time of Augustus’s life. We trace out the life of Octavian as he scrambles to avoid being destroyed along with his adop-tive father, Julius Caesar, when Caesar is murdered in the Senate on the Ides of March. He allies himself with Antony, but soon finds himself in a struggle to the death with Antony for control of the Roman Empire. As em-peror, Augustus works hard to bring peace, stability, and prosperity to Rome. He accomplishes this (it is during his rule that we see the beginning of the Pax Romana—or the “Peace of Rome”) and sets the pattern of government and rule that is to extend to the end of the empire. He is hailed by Rome as a god and, again, becomes a pattern for future emperor’s who will demand that the rest of world view them as gods. Finally, we see Augustus as his years wind down. We see the tragedies in his family— the deaths of his grandsons, Gaius and Lucius, and the exile of his daughter. Finally, he passes on his rule to Tiberius and dies.


Worldview Growing up in Indiana, I was well acquainted with the gods. Not that any divinity was mentioned in class. No, at the public school I attended the gods came out after school—to be more exact, Friday nights during the winter. Indiana gods put balls through hoops. I was a football and baseball player, so I could have been jeal-ous, but I enjoyed basketball as a cultural event and spectacle. To be a great high school player in Indiana was something like being, if not a full-blown god, a least some sort of lesser deity. The names of these great heroes were recounted from of old and were recited each Satur-day morning at the mead hall—or at least at the barber-shop. Their nicknames echo in my mind in the voices of the elders of the community as even older men nodded in agreement behind them—the Rocket, the Dynamic Duo, The Big Dog and the Big O. Many simply went by their last name: Bird, Cheaney, Oden, Alford, Graham, Edwards, and Jones. There was one player, however, who stood head and shoulders above all others as I grew up. His name was Damon Bailey. Damon came from the small town of Heltonville, In-diana. I still remember the first time I heard his name. A friend of mine—a good player in his own right—came back from the summer basketball tournament for seventh grade players. I asked how his team did, and he said, “I played against Damon.” The questioning look on my face caused him to add forcefully, “You know. Damon Bailey.” “How did you do?” I inquired. “I guarded him, and he scored 49 on me,” he said. I gasped. He paused. “They took him out at halftime.” Damon’s legend continued to grow. It did not shock me then when Damon was featured in Sports Illustrated as an eighth grader.1 Bob Knight, then the fiery and bril-liant basketball coach of Indiana University, was coming to watch his Jr. High games. So my father, brother, and I went to the semi-state games to see Damon the year that both he and I were freshman. He was on his way to the first of his four all state honors in a state that was crazy about basketball. Over 16,000 spectators attended that game at Robert’s Stadium in Evansville.2 Damon led his team, the Bedford North Lawrence Stars, to victory. Bed-ford’s offense was something to watch. He was a sly rabbit running through a forest of moving trees as other players constantly set picks to get Damon open for a short jump shot. He both anticipated and reacted to the movements of the older, usually taller guys who were guarding him. The goal of the offense was to get Damon an open, short

Regardless of what you think about Octavian, you have to admit he must have been something special

to have such a yummy salad named after him!

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a rather pale and sickly young man. Often he was near death because of illness. Still, he persisted and gained the favor and attention of Julius Caesar. He was, however, the right man at the right time for Rome. As Augustus enters history, the great Roman Re-public had fallen on hard times. Not that the power of Rome was decreasing—it was in fact at its height—but the forces that made Rome a republic were crumbling. This disintegration was occurring on many levels, but at the deepest level the Roman people had become too slav-ish and corrupt to maintain a democratic republic. The power of the Roman Republic (and of all repub-lics for that matter) demands a certain sort of people. The Romans of the republican era were these sorts of men. They were men of austerity, principle, and independence who worked to build their fortunes through industry, thrift, and hard work. Cincinnatus was the pattern of greatness for the Roman Republic. He was a poor farmer called from his field to fend off invasion. He was given absolute power by the state for six months as dictator. In a matter of days he marshaled his troops and beat back the invaders. After the military threat was quelled, he could have used the rest of his six-month term to fill his pockets with the wealth of others or to settle scores with any who were his enemies. Instead, he humbly returned power to the Senate and returned to his farm and rela-tive poverty. The Romans, after the rape of Lucretia (see the chapter on Livy’s Early History of Rome in Omnibus I), had chased their king out of Rome and decided that Rome could be ruled by a class of aristocrats called Pa-tricians. The men that led Rome served the city, fought in her constant wars as free men, ran their own farms and industries, and struggled mightily to retain their own rights and independence. These Patricians had to bear great responsibility. While a plurality of political leaders seems normal to us, in the ancient world, Rome was an oddity. Most tribes were ruled by kings who often abused power (as God warns that kings will do in Deuteronomy 17) and abused the people. Year in and year out the Romans fought and overcame the warring tribes surrounding them in Italy. Eventually, Roman armies began to conquer lands out-side Italy. Wealth and slaves multiplied. As wealth and slaves multiplied, virtues and principles were forgotten. Eventually, Roman virtues were in crisis. The sexual immorality of Cleopatra replaced the fidelity of Lucretia. A mad scramble for power and wealth replaced the aus-tere virtue of Cincinnatus as men like Julius Caesar used the wealth of conquest to stake their claims to ultimate power over the republic. At this point the people of Rome had fallen far from the hardy men and women of the republican times who fought in the legion and spun the

jump shot or a path to drive the ball to the basket. More of-ten than not he got the ball. More often than not he hit the shot. That night, I believe he scored 22 consecutive points for his team. Watching him play was a thing of beauty. Some of the stories filled my high school years—some must have been apocryphal. He had everything that an emperor would desire. He had a Praetorian Guard that protected him from the media, and crazy fans whisking him away to solitary places after victories. He had legions of fans. He had the hearts of the people, and it was only going to get better. In his high school years, he was All-State four times. He scored over 3,134 points during high school, and in his final game he led his team to the state title in a come-from-behind victory, scoring his team’s fi-nal 11 points. He scored 30 of his team’s 63 points. This all occurred in front of 41,000 cheering fans—the larg-est crowd to ever watch a high school basketball game. He bore the weight of basketball divinity. His high school built a new gymnasium and named it after him. He was the golden child during the golden age of Indiana high school basketball who was, some thought, to bring bal-ance and restoration to the game—eventually remaking the NBA into something that resembled basketball (as if a 6’3” decently—but not extraordinarily—quick and ath-letic shooting guard would dominate the game). We all believed he was magic, and watching him play in high school was as close to basketball perfection as I could imagine. His first name served as a one-word summary for the obsession of a state. High school kids wore shirts bearing his name (even some from other schools). Many bowed worshipfully when he scored or was introduced. Wide-eyed old men compared his exploits to Beowulf or Naismith or Bird. The Methodists, Catholics, and Bap-tists in my home town did not agree on much of anything except they all thought Damon was at least the second coming of Oscar Robertson.3 I always wondered what it would be like to be Damon with all the pressure, privi-leges, power, and potential. Still, being a star basketball player in a basketball crazed state like Indiana is a far cry from the power, perks, and privileges that once came with the office of emperor in the city of Rome. Star ath-letes might get special treatment. Roman Emperor’s were once worshipped as if they were gods walking the earth.

The Fall of the Republic What would it be like to be a god? What would peo-ple do for you? How would they react to your words? Few get to experience the feeling of divinity, but Augustus felt the weight of divinity. At the outset we must admit that there were some things about Augustus that made him a long shot for di-vinity. He was no Hercules! By all accounts he was, in fact,


The Cost of Divinity

While Augustus was a successful ruler in many ways, he personally paid a great price for his commitment to the Roman state, and his accumulation of power even-tually was the undoing of the empire that he sought to protect. All of these shortcomings display that Augustus was, of course, no god, and that the rule of Rome was, like all other rules except that of Christ, to crumble. Augustus paid a terrible price as a father. His great-est failure was with his daughter, Julia. He, like most fa-thers, had a soft spot for his intelligent and outspoken girl. In Julia, however, we see Augustus’s greatest blind spot. While Augustus was leading a life to inspire virtue (although behind the scenes he was no saint), while he is

condemning and punishing vice, his daughter was leading a life of debauchery and sexual im-

morality. Sadly, everyone around Augustus knew this before him. He eventually was

forced to take action, exiling her from Rome. It is said that he avoided saying

her name if at all possible. Supposing to be a god, he failed as a father. Augustus also faced the frustra-

tion of being a fallen man rather than a god. He continued to battle illness during

his years as emperor. Death surrounded him. The deepest wound he bore on this score

was near the end of his life, suffering the deaths of his beloved grandsons Gai-

us and Lucius within 18 months of each other. So much of

Augustus’s hopes had been pinned to these boys who were to bear his power af-ter he died. Before death,

Augustus is shown to be a man, not a god.

Augustus’s claims of di-vinity eventually bring judg-

ment on the Roman Empire. The Caesars after Augustus

continue to claim divinity. The em-pire sets up its rulers as divine—and eventually seeks to force all its inhab-itants to worship the emperor. While Augustus often modeled Stoic virtues, future emperors would, bolstered by the claims of divinity, turn into mon-strous beings who devoured everyone and everything around them. History lists them as tyrants and maniacs—

wool of the republic. They had become addicted to games and welfare represented by the gladiatorial games and free corn meant to keep the mob happy. The struggle for ultimate power in Rome seemed to be over as Julius Caesar defeated Pompey and entered Rome. He was made dictator for life and was ready to rule the Ro-man world as his own possession. His murder by the Senate on the Ides of March, however, was the last gasp of repub-lican Rome. Men who harkened back to the virtues of the republic hoped that with the death of Julius Caesar the Sen-ate could be restored to power. This, however, was a baseless hope. Rival forces struggled for absolute power and eventu-ally Octavian took the title of emperor and became the de facto ruler of the Roman world. To this world, he brought peace. With peace came pros-perity. With peace and prosperity came the adoration of the Roman people, who eventually hailed him as a god—and the adopted son of an-other god, Julius Caesar. This peace and prosperity came at a great price. From the Roman people, Augustus took freedom. Shrewdly, he maintained the forms of government that the Romans were accustomed to, but institutions like the Senate existed for show. The will of Augustus was the rule of the empire. A large portion of the future success of the Roman Empire must be given to Augustus. He, like George Wash-ington, entered into a posi-tion that had no history. He carefully lived in a manner that protect-ed the empire. He lived in a manner that portrayed a re-newal of Roman vir-tues. He commissioned poetry—particularly that of Virgil—that bolstered his rule and also sought to inspire Roman virtue. He set a pattern of leadership that—though rejected and abused by future emper-ors—led to peace and stability. Unlike Washington, however, Augustus did this by diminishing instead of protect-ing the freedoms of Roman citizens. Gone were the days when Romans needed virtue to govern themselves. Now, the emperor would rule all. There was no balance to his power.

When reminded of his ex-wife and their wayward daughter

Julia, Augustus was wont to say, “Would I were wifeless, or had

childless died.” Julia was described by contemporaries as

“tainted by luxury or lust.”

o m n i b u s i V8

male child was born. He was born in Bethlehem because His family was there paying a tax to the emperor. In this young carpenter’s son, however, Augustus’s empire had met its match. The boy, of course, was Jesus of Nazareth. The kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of Augus-tus eventually come to blows. As Christianity spreads throughout the empire, so spreads the worship of the em-peror. Eventually, all inhabitants of the Roman Empire are required to burn a pinch of incense before an image of the emperor and recite the words “καισερ κυριος”—or “Caesar is Lord.” One did not have to give up one’s gods; one did not have to prove that they believed what they said. They simply had to make the sacrifice and say the words. Followers of Jesus, however, refused to make the sacrifice. In 1 Corinthians 12 and Philippians 2 we see the confession that early Christians made as they re-

Caligula and Nero (who were in the line of Augustus), but later men like Domitian and Diocletian—men who would send legions to attack the sea and ride in triumph before heaps of sea shells; men who would light their evening parties with the bodies of burning, crucified Christians; men who would slaughter thousands who would not burn incense to the image of an emperor and proclaim that he was a god.

The Battle of the Gods Augustus’s claim of divinity eventually sets up a sort of theomachy—or battle of the gods (in this case it is really a battle of God vs. the gods). For in the time of Augustus in a little known village in a corner of the empire that was only a periodic nuisance to the divine Augustus, a

Augustus’s claims of divinity eventually brought judgment on the Roman Empire. Although Augustus often modeled Stoic virtues, later emperors turned into monstrous beings, devouring everyone around them.


session i: Prelude

A Question to Consider Does power corrupt? Does it always corrupt?Unfallen man is not corrupted by power. If we were sinless, then we would not be corrupted by bearing or having great power or authority. Jesus Christ is and forever will be both God and man. All power and authority has been given to Him. It will not corrupt Him. In our fallen state, however, we tend to fall into pride when we acquire power. It must be admitted that power does not corrupt all men equally. Some men and women, by the grace of God, can bear great power and author-ity well while remaining humble and avoiding all of the corruption that power tends to bring. Examples of this sort of person would be George Washington, Elizabeth I, and the apostle James (Jesus’ brother, who led the church in Jerusalem but was so humble that he spent countless hours in prayer and was for this reason called “camel knees”—his knees became hardened like those of a camel because he was on them all the time).

From the General Information above answer the following questions:1. What is “horizontal history”?Horizontal history is writing the history of a period of time and trying to include the story of what is happening all over the world at that time. Genevieve Foster wrote history this way. Writing “horizontally” helps readers to see the connec-tions between different movements in different places during one period of time. 2. Why did the Jewish people hate Herod the Great?They hated him because he gained power by catering to their Roman oppressors and continued to hold and augment his power by faithfully serv-ing the Romans. 3. What is the Pax Romana?The Pax Romana is the time of peace and pros-perity that began during the reign of Caesar Augustus. During this time, the Roman Empire was at peace—business and commerce thrived. 4. What tragedies did Augustus face late in life?He lost two of his grandsons, Gaius and Lucius, whom he was grooming for power. He was also forced to exile his own daughter, Julia, because of her continual immoral behavior.

fused to recognize the divinity of the emperor—“Ιησους Κυριος” “Jesus is Lord.” For this confession and this re-fusal, multitudes of believers went to their death. In their deaths, however, these martyrs proved the great difference between the state religion of Rome and the Christian faith. The more the emperors persecuted and killed the Christians, the more believers there were. Augustus would fall in death. Jesus rose from the grave. He disciples and followers did not fear death. This battle would eventually end with the conversion of Rome’s Emperor Constantine, and Christianity be-came the official religion of the empire. Soon the Roman Empire would be gone, but the Empire of Christ contin-ues and will never fail.

The False Peace of Pluralism Today, thankfully, we are not pressed to offer sac-rifice to the President of the United States and confess that he is a god. We are, however, tempted in more subtle ways to deny the uniqueness of Christ. Roman pluralism let you keep any god you wanted so long as you bowed to the emperor and obeyed Roman law. Modern pluralism demands that we accept all religions as basically valid searches for truth that show us some aspect of the truth. Jesus Christ, however, will have none of this, saying, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me” (John 14:6). The apostles will have none of this either, saying, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Like the believers of Augustus’s day, we must stand firm in the faith, refusing to shave any edge off of the confession that Christ requires of us. “Ιησους Κυριος!”

—G. Tyler Fischer

For Further ReadingFoster, Genevieve. George Washington’s World. San Luis Obispo, Calif.: Beautiful Feet Books, 1997.

Veritas Press History Cards: New Testament, Greece, and Rome. Lancaster, Pa.: Veritas Press. 20–25.

Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization. Seventh Edition. Belmont, Calif.: Thomson Wadsworth, 2009. 134–153.

Suetonius. The Twelve Caesars. New York: Penguin, 2007.

o m n i b u s i V1 0

and legislating in the best interest of the com-munity or state. Republics fail when people are willing for others—remote powers like kings and emperors—to take care of them and to provide for their needs. When people start to desire security more than liberty, they are on the way to losing their liberty and the right to govern themselves.

Discuss or list short answers to the follow-ing questions:

Text Analysis1. What does the astrologer

do when Augustus tells him his dates?The astrologer falls down at Augustus’s feet and worships him, claiming that Augustus will rule the world (Under a Lucky Star).2. Why does the Senate

murder Julius Caesar?The Senate murders

Julius Caesar because he is, by his accumula-

tion of power, destroying the Republic and the power

of the Senate (The Ides of March, Conspirators Without a

Plan). 3. Why does Cleopatra return to Egypt after

Julius Caesar is murdered?She returns to Egypt because her plans have been foiled. She wanted to rule the world at Caesar’s side and pass their rule onto their son Ptolemy Caesar (Cleopatra and Her Son).4. How does Cleopatra portray herself and her son?She portrays herself as a goddess and her son as the son of Amen. She wants people to believe that she is descended from the gods and should have the rights and privileges of the gods (Cleopatra and Her Son). 5. What does Cicero find when he goes to visit Brutus

and Cassius?He finds that they have no plan for preserving the Republic. Brutus does not want to take action because he does not want to be seen as grasp-ing for power. Cicero is dismayed because he knows that the power of Mark Antony is growing and that Antony will soon pose a threat to the

5. How did Augustus set a good pattern for Roman emperors?

Augustus lived a life that tried to emulate the Roman virtues. He ate austere meals and sought to practice and legislate “family values.” He even commissioned poetry, like Virgil’s Aeneid, that sought to inspire Roman virtues. 6. How did Augustus fail in his own fam-

ily to uphold family values?Augustus’s daughter lived a life of debauchery and sex-ual immorality. Eventually, Augustus had to exile Julia from Rome. 7. How did Augustus’s

claim of divinity eventually lead to the death of thousands of Christians?

Eventually, emperors forced the inhabit-ants of the Roman Empire to sacrifice incense to an image of the emperor and confess that “Caesar is Lord.” Christians refused to make this sacrifice or to confess Caesar’s divinity. For this, they were crucified, burned, and sent to die in the Coliseum.

reAding Assignment: “Under a Lucky Star” to “Why is July?”

session ii: disCussion “Under a Lucky Star” to “Why is July?”

A Question to Consider Why do republics fall?Republics fall because the people no longer have the virtues necessary to sustain a republic. To have a republic you must have a class of men who are committed to doing the work that it takes to run a government where authority will be vested in a number of people rather than a few. Successful republics must have leaders who can run their own household and can devote time to understanding

Alexis de Tocqueville

Augustus Caesar’s World 1 1

exaggeration, but the saying is coming true that Americans play at their work and work at their play. Thankfully, Christ’s gospel has transformed culture so that we do not have gladiators killing each other on TV—yet.

Biblical Analysis 1. What is the danger of having all your needs met

(Deut. 8:11–13)?When people have their needs met, they tend to become fat and happy and to forget God. They trust in their bank accounts rather than in God. 2. If having a republic is so good, why does God allow

His people to have a monarchy (Deut. 17:14ff)?God is not calling them to a monarchy like the monarchies of the ancient world around them. The people eventually demand to have a king like the nations around them (1 Sam. 8). Saul certainly fulfills this desire. He is not like the king with lim-ited authority mentioned in Deuteronomy 17. The king in God’s economy is not an absolute ruler using the wealth and resources (and children) of the people for his own purposes. The king is a servant and the people are to be free to serve the Lord.

summA Write an essay or discuss this question, integrating

what you have learned from the material above. How can we help save the American republic

and keep it from falling into tyranny?The first and best thing that you can do is to devote yourself to Jesus Christ. A return to Christ is the only thing that will save any vestige of lib-erty that we presently maintain. We must also be ready to serve Christ faithfully if He takes all lib-erty from us. So, returning to lives of liberty and virtue is Step One. This can only happen through the gospel of grace. Step Two consists in building communities of faith and justice that can serve as places of shelter and wisdom as our culture crumbles. This means devoting yourself to serving others in your church. It means that the officers of the church must become good and just judges and that we as believers should take our problems and concerns to them—instead of to the courts. Finally, we should, as we are able, serve our local communities as government officials. Most people would like to serve in office, but they would like to start at President or Vice-President. Start by serving in the lowest, most menial office—sometimes you can get these because no one else

Republic (Conspirators without a Plan). 6. What does Octavian do to gain favor with the people

of Rome? What does this tell you about the Roman populace?

Octavian pays each citizen $15 and holds games in honor of Julius Caesar. This should tell us that the favor of the people of Rome can be purchased and that they are more concerned with games and distractions than with virtuous leadership (Why is July?).

Cultural Analysis 1. Where do you see signs that America is falling into

the same sorts of VDD (Virtue Deficit Disorder) as they had in ancient Rome?

We are suffering from exactly the same problems. We would rather have others work hard while we spend our time in games and distractions. We have become a people willing to give up any amount of freedom simply to have ease and security. 2. In Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville said

that “America is great because she is good. If Ameri-ca ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” Do you believe that this could be happening today? Where do you see it?

We have become a nation that claims that abortion is a civil right. We have become a nation flirting with the idea that there is no difference between homosexual and heterosexual marriage (I guess we keep forgetting procreation). We have stopped being good, and we are increasingly not great. 3. De Tocqueville also said, “The American Republic

will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money.” Is this happening today?

This quote is shocking. Our government has basi-cally become a vehicle whereby money is taken from some people and given to others. Our gov-ernment has also become a counterfeiting press. Now, even when the government (or corporations that it chooses to support) runs out of money it simply prints up more. Even economic reality can-not stop the government from handing out more money. Sadly, this happens all through society. Few people refuse the money of the government even though they should recognize that this money had to come from other people. 4. Where do you see people being distracted by games

rather than paying attention to serious issues in our culture today?

Every other cable channel is full of games; the rest are mindless reality shows. Ok, this is an


He has Cicero killed. He has Cicero’s hand and head delivered to him in Rome and hangs them on the rostrum of the Senate (Bloody Fingerprints). 9. What is Saturnalia?4

Saturnalia was a Roman holiday remembering the mythical, kind, and generous rule of Saturn over a provident age of plenty among men. On Saturnalia, December 25th, the people feasted, lit candles, trimmed evergreen trees, and had a car-nival. The author insinuates that Christians were using a pagan feast date for Christmas that was already popular. Recently, however, some schol-ars are questioning whether this was the case (Candles and Holly Berries). 10. What is Herod the Great’s ethnic background, and

how does he become the ruler of Galilee?Herod is an Edomite, and he gains his authority by winning over the favor of the Romans (Herod the Future King of the Jews). 11. How do Antony and Octavian divide the Empire?Antony takes the East with its riches—and with Cleopatra. He gives Octavian Rome and the West where there are more problems (Antony and Octavian Divide the World). 12. Why does the poet Horace lose his farm?He loses it because he was on the losing side of the war between Brutus and the Triumvirate. His farm is taken from him and given to one of Antony’s soldiers (Horace and the Country Mouse).

Instead of a reading assignment you have a research assignment. Tomorrow’s session will be a Current Events session. Your assignment will be to find a story online, in a magazine, or in the newspaper that relates to the issue that you discussed today. Your task is to locate the article, give a copy of the article to your teacher or parent and provide some of your own worldview analysis to the ar-ticle. Your analysis should demonstrate that you under-stand the issue, that you can clearly connect the story you found to the issue that you discussed today, and that you can provide a biblical critique of this issue in today’s con-text. Look at the next session to see the three-part format that you should follow.

IssueHow do the marriage commitments of leaders affect poli-tics and government?

reAding Assignment: “Antony and Cleopatra” to “Triumph

and Peace”

wants them. As you serve faithfully you will be ready to bear more authority wisely.

reAding Assignment: “Gauls, Geese and Black Vultures” to

“Horace and the Country Mouse”

session iii: reCitAtion “Under a Lucky Star” to “Horace and the Country Mouse”

Comprehension QuestionsAnswer the following questions for factual recall:1. What was Octavian’s appearance as a youth?He was described as thin and pale (Under a Lucky Star).2. In what Triumph did Augustus ride with Julius Caesar?Octavian rode in Julius Caesar’s African Triumph (Ides of March).3. What was Octavian determined to do after the death

of Julius Caesar?He was determined to go to Rome, execute Caesar’s will, claim his inheritance, and change his name to Julius Caesar Octavian (Caesar’s Adopted Son). 4. What was the Cataline conspiracy, and why does Ci-

cero remember it with joy?The Cataline conspiracy was a plot by a very wealthy Roman, Cataline, to overthrow the Republic. Cicero remembers it fondly because he was able to unmask the conspiracy and stop it (Cicero).5. From what god does Mark Antony claim descent?Mark Antony’s family claimed descent from Hercules (Mark Antony). 6. What does a comet cause the Roman Senate to do

with the calendar?The comet was taken as a divine sign that the month of Quinctilis was to be renamed July (after Julius Caesar) (Why is July?). 7. How do Cicero and Octavian have a falling out? Initially, Cicero believes that Octavian will be a protector of the Republic against Antony. Cicero, however, does not thank Octavian when Antony is initially defeated but not destroyed. Also, he and the Senate refuse Octavian’s request to be Consul. Octavian turns on the Senate, takes power, and joins forces with Antony (Octavian Plays the Game). 8. What does Antony do to Cicero when the Second Tri-

umvirate (Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus) take power?


Argentina on Father’s Day weekend to spend time with the woman with whom he was having an affair. When he finally arrived back in the United States, he tearfully admitted his affair and asked for privacy so that he could seek to rebuild his relationship with his wife. He still claimed, how-ever, that he was in love with the other woman and that she was his “soul mate.” He also said that he intended to serve the rest of his term as governor. Many, however, in both parties and across the state called for his resignation.

C o n n e C t i o n P a r a g r a P h In this paragraph you must demonstrate how your article is connected to the issue that you are studying. This paragraph should be short, and it should focus on clearly showing the connection between the book that you are reading and the current events article that you have found. This paragraph should begin with a sen-tence like

I knew that my article was linked to our issue be-cause . . .

I knew that my article was linked to our issue because it was about a politician—the governor for the state of South Carolina—who had been

session iV: Current eVents

IssueHow do the marriage commitments of leaders affect poli-tics and government?

Current events sessions are meant to challenge you to connect what you are learning in Omnibus class to what is happening in the world around you today. After the last session, your assignment was to find a story online or in a magazine or newspaper relating to the issue above. Today you will share your article and your analysis with your teacher and classmates or parents and family. Your analysis should follow the format below:

B r i e f i n t r o d u C t o r y P a r a g r a P h In this paragraph you will tell your classmates about the article that you found. Be sure to include where you found your article, who the author of your article is, and what your article is about. This brief paragraph of your presentation should begin like this:

Hello, I am (name), and my current events article is (name of the article) which I found in (name of the web or published source) . . .

Hello, I am Ty Fischer, and my current events article is “South Carolina Governor Sanford Admits Extramarital Affair” which I found at the Reuters News Service website. It was written by Matthew Bigg. It is about Governor Mark Sanford’s admission of an extramari-tal affair with a woman in Argentina. Until this confession, Governor Sanford had been one of the leading candidates for the Republican nomination for president in 2012. He also was the chairman of the governor’s association but has resigned that chairmanship. The gover-nor’s admission of unfaithful-ness garnered a lot of attention because, initially, he could not be located. His family and staff did not know where he was. Some staff members claimed that he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail. He, however, had flown to

In a Persian version of the emperor cult, the faravahar symbolized the winged sun in Zoroastrianism and also the divine authority of the king.


this terrible event has occurred, Christ’s gospel has changed the world so much that Governor Sanford immediately confessed his sin with great sorrow (even though his confession was confus-ing based on the fact that he still claims to be in love with his Argentinean mistress). Third, we should take note of the great shame and destruc-tion that both Antony and Sanford brought upon their wives, family members, friends, and political allies. Sanford was a man of many good principles—even trying to send the federal gov-ernment’s stimulus plan money back without tak-ing it. He was principled in the fiscal realm, but was not in his marriage. Finally, we should hope for the best. We hope and pray that Governor Sanford becomes a faithful husband and, by the grace of God, that his marriage might be restored, and that he might find forgiveness and peace. We also hope and pray that he would reconsider his decision to remain as governor and work to get his household in order before he attempts to bear the responsibility of running the household of the state.

unfaithful to his marriage vows by having an affair with an Argentinean woman. It was also about the political consequences for the state, for the Republican Party, and for the nation.

C h r i s t i a n W o r l d v i e W a n a l y s i s In this section, you need to tell us how we should respond as believers to this issue today. This response should focus both on our thinking and on practical ac-tions that we should take in light of this issue. As you list these steps, you should also tell us why we should think and act in the ways you recommend. This paragraph should begin with a sentence like

As believers, we should think and act in the fol-lowing ways in light of this issue and this article.

As believers, we should think and act in the fol-lowing ways in light of this issue and this article. First, we should see in this article and in the story of Mark Antony how marital unfaithful-ness can destroy political aspiration and lead to the destruction of states, nations, and empires. Second, we should be thankful that even though

Therefore [Jereboam] asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!” —1 Kings 12:28


Text Analysis Example: How does Augustus use poetry to establish a new Roman religion with the Emperor at the center?

Answer: Augustus is the patron of Virgil. Virgil writes the Aeneid to inspire and renew Roman virtue by telling the story of Aeneas who escapes Troy and fights his way to rule in Italy. In Book 6 of the Aeneid, Aeneas ventures into the underworld and sees a vision of the future of the kingdom that he is founding—Rome. As Roman history passes before the face of Aeneas, it reaches its height when Augustus enters the vision. Thus, Virgil’s poetry es-tablishes and supports the rule of Augustus.

Cultural AnalysisExample: Roman religion under Augustus was a civil reli-gion—a religion focused on serving the state. What is the religion of the government of the United States (or what is our civil religion)?

Answer: Our civil religion was once laced with Christian language—although it was never explicitly Christian. Today, however, it is pluralistic. This can be seen by the holidays that our leaders celebrate and the gods that our leaders call on during a time of national tragedy. At the service at the National Cathedral after the 9/11 attacks, our leaders called out to many different gods. Christ was included, but His claims of exclusivity were ignored. To-day, the American president celebrates many different holidays of many different religions. Other cultural issues to consider: pluralism, religious relativism, celebrating Eid at the White House, National Service of Mourning after 9/11.

Biblical AnalysisExample: What was the civil religion of Israel in biblical times? Was it any different than their religion at the fam-ily, Temple, or synagogue?

Answer: The civil religion of Israel was focused on ador-ing and worshipping the one true God. It was not differ-ent in its focus than any other religion. The religion of Israel commemorated the great acts of redemption—the Exodus and Passover, the Feast of Booths—celebrating God’s salvation of Israel. The king, like the other men of Israel, had duties and responsibilities during these feasts and celebrations, but he did not lead the people. The High Priest did the work in the Temple, making sacrifice to set aside the sins of the people. Other Scriptures to consider: Leviticus 10, Judges 17–18, Isaiah 40, Romans 13.

The next session will be a student-led discussion. Students will be creating their own questions concerning the issue of the session. Students should create three Text Analysis Questions, two Cultural Analysis questions, and two Biblical Analysis questions. For more detailed instructions, please see the chapter on Death on the Nile, Session V.

Issue What would be needed to create a new civil religion that controlled people and encouraged them to be com-mitted to the state?

reAding Assignment: “Augustus Caesar” to “Golden Eagles

Come Home”

session V: student-led disCussion

A Question to Consider What would be needed to create a new civil religion that controlled people and encouraged them to be com-mitted to the state?To start a new religion you might need a new god or a new idea about an old god, but that is not all you would need. You would need some theology and some rituals. You would need to throw in some holidays and a good feast or two. This sort of religion, however, would not last unless you met some deeply felt human need. Religions with staying power answer some meaningful ques-tions of mankind. It tells mankind about God, the nature of reality, the problems of sin, and how the world and mankind can have communion with God and each other. Finally, the religion would need to write things down. This would at least make it easier for the ideals of the new reli-gion to be passed on to the next generation.

Students should read and consider the example ques-tions below that are connected to the Question to Consid-er above. Last session’s assignment was to prepare three questions and answers for the Text Analysis section and two additional questions and answers for both the Cul-tural and Biblical Analysis sections below.


have discovered some part of what is Good and True in the world. Christians, however, have to be very wary of seemingly innocuous, seemingly kind statements like this because affirmations like this can and do compromise our faith, denying what Christ made crystal clear—that He is the only mediator between God and man and that no one can find peace, forgiveness, and right relationship with God without being united to Him. By denying this sort of soft relativism (where all religions are portrayed as true paths to good-ness, truth, and happiness) we must make clear what we as Christians do not believe. We do not believe that Christians always have the best of everything. Non-Christian cultures might develop excellent technology, better tasting food, and interesting ideas. These things, at some points, might be better than what is going on in Christian culture. This insight into truth, goodness, and beauty, however, is given to people not by their false gods, but by the grace of the truth God gives, who distributes gifts even to those who do not know or love Him. Theologians call this common grace—it does not save people, but we should not diminish its importance. Pagans dis-cover many glorious things because of common grace. We must, however, make clear that in Christ, the God-Man, dwells all wisdom, all truth, all goodness. He rules over heaven and earth, and He is the only way to true peace with the true God. In Him, we see and know humanity full-grown. In Him, we will be raised up from the dead.

Discuss or list short answers to the following questions:

Text Analysis1. What aspects of the Zoroastrian religion are similar to

Christianity? Why does the author pick these details?Zoroastrians celebrated December 25th, and they celebrated Sunday. It calls for some speculation concerning why the author picked these details, but it seems as if the author is trying to make the point that there are some similarities between the two religions and that Zoroastrianism has some aspect of the truth (Out of Persia). 2. How was the teaching of the great Rabbi Hillel some-

thing that should have prepared people for the com-ing of Christ? Why does the author point this out?

Hillel pointed his students (one of whom was Gamaliel who in turn was the teacher of the


what you have learned from the material above. Do you see any signs that America might be in

the process of creating a new religion—one like the religion of Rome?

America’s civil religion is headed in an unbibli-cal direction. Increasingly, American civil religion is pluralistic—it maintains that there are many gods and many truths. It, like the religion found in C.S. Lewis’s The Last Battle, seeks to blend all the gods into one, and it claims that all of those religions have some part of the truth. The God of the Bible, however, will not have rivals. He will have no gods worshipped in His presence or among His people. Today, when America calls out for help, it calls out to many gods, thinking that all religious people should be happy if their god is represented in the worship and pleas of the nation’s leaders. This sort of worship, however, is offensive to Jesus Christ, who claims Himself as the only mediator between God and man. The truth claims of religions are ignored by pluralistic leaders in America. Still, Christ will not be one of many gods—He is the way and the truth and the life.

reAding Assignment: “Out of Persia” to “Questions and Answers”

session Vi: disCussion

A Question to Consider In the chapter “Questions and Answers,” Genevieve Foster states the following: “No one person or race or na-tion has ever been or will ever be able to know all Truth or express all the Good to be found in the world.” Is this statement true or false? How do you know?First, we need, of course, to understand what she means by terms like “Truth” and “Good.” The context of this part of the book provides us with an answer. This section of Augustus Caesar’s World contains what scholars would call Comparative Religion. It gives short synopses of many different religions and philosophies prac-ticed all over the world. Mrs. Foster handles each of these religions with respect, trying to set them in the best light and to demonstrate that they too


outside of Christ?He would probably be in a tremendous amount of political trouble. He might be shouted down by his opponents or even his own party. The cable news networks would run the story 24 hours a day until he either came forward to apologize for being so unfeeling toward all of the other religions or until he came forward to resign. Christ’s exclusive claims are a deep contradiction to the present commitments of our country. They strike at the root of our particular sin—spiritual adultery—and we, as a people, do not want to hear how unfaithful we have been. If this would happen, we would see the intolerance of those who claim to be pushing for tolerance. 2. In the movie The Incredibles little superhero boy Dash

and the villain Syndrome keep reminding us that “if everyone is super, then no one really is.” In light of this insight what would you say is true if all religions are true?

If all religions are true, then none of them are. Religions make truth claims that contradict one another. Christianity claims that Jesus is God incarnate and the only mediator between God and man. The other religions deny this. It is hopeless to try to make Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam say the same thing. They do not. If they are all true, then none of them are really true. 3. Why does our culture want to avoid having one true

religion (at all costs)?We want to avoid this because, if we would dis-cover the one true God and one true religion, then we would have to acknowledge that we are responsible to live according to His will. Our culture would rather live according to its own desires.

Biblical Analysis 1. In Exodus 32, while Moses was on Mt. Sinai, Aaron

led the people in a blended worship service. He creat-ed golden calves to represent God and had the people worship them in a manner common to the worship of idols in the ancient world (they had a big party). What did God think of this? Why did Moses throw down the tablets when he saw that the people had run amok?

God hates this sort of religious mixing—called syncretism—so much that He told Moses He was going to blot out the entire Hebrew nation and start over again with Moses. When Moses threw down the tablets, he was showing the people

apostle Paul) toward the weightier matters of the law, claiming that the entire law was summed up in the precept of loving your neighbor as your-self. One reason Foster might point this out is to make it appear that Jesus was not being original when He taught the same thing. Of course, He was not being original. He was teaching what the Scriptures said—as was Hillel (Hillel the Great Pharisee). 3. Who do the people in the Roman province of Gaul

begin to worship as a god?They begin to worship Augustus as a god (Augustus the God). 4. How does Augustus begin to portray himself as divine? Augustus begins to portray himself as Horus the son of Osiris and Isis. He is blending religions and making a case for his authority in a manner that is typical of the ancient world in which leaders tried to connect themselves to the gods (A Roman Pharaoh). 5. What truth is adopted by Pharaoh Akhenaton?

(In a world where all religions are true, is this really an insight?)

Akhenaton is a monotheist—he believes that there is only one god. Because of this great depar-ture from the polytheism of his day, his oppo-nents have all traces of his rule removed when he dies. They return Egypt to polytheism. His rule was rediscovered by archaeologists in 1907. While the author insinuates that Akhenaton’s monothe-ism was a step forward, if all religions are true, it is hard to say why monotheism is any better than polytheism (Remember Akhenaton). 6. What philosophies were most popular among the

Romans?Stoicism and Epicureanism were most popular among the Romans. These philosophies aimed more at instructing people in how they should live. Stoicism taught that everyone should obey the divine law and that whatever happened is divine law. Stoics were driven by duty and ratio-nality. Epicureans sought to live a life of pleasure without excess or lacking. Initially, the Epicureans lived austere lives, but eventually they were attracted to fine food and drink (Questions and Answers).

Cultural Analysis 1. What would happen today if an American president

during the State of the Union address announced that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life and that no one can have a relationship with the true God


reAding Assignment: “Stepson and Stars” to “Buddha and the

Kingdom of Truth”

session Vii: reCitAtion“Out of Persia” to “Buddha and the Kingdom of Truth”

Comprehension QuestionsAnswer the following questions for factual recall:1. Who brings Zoroastrianism to Rome, and what do

Zoroastrians worship?Roman soldiers who had been held as captives by Parthia bring Zoroastrianism to Rome. The sun is the object of Zoroastrian worship—that is why they worship on the day of the Sun—or Sunday (Out of Persia). 2. When Agrippa and Julia visit Herod in Jerusalem

why does Herod complain about the Galileans?He complains that the Galileans are always caus-ing trouble because they hope that the Messiah will come and throw off Roman Rule (Herod and the Temple). 3. What is the Septuagint, and why is it also called the

LXX? The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Old Testament authorized by Ptolemy Philadelphus, the ruler of Alexandria. This translation is called the LXX because, as the story goes, seventy (LXX) different translators produced identical version of the Old Testament when they translated it from Hebrew into Greek (Philo and the Lighthouse). 4. Why does Pythagoras claim that we can not hear the

music of the spheres?He claims that, because it is a constant sound, like anything that occurs all of the time, we think of it as background sound (Questions and Answers). 5. Who is Strabo?He is a mapmaker from Armenia. He is educated in Rome with Cicero’s sons and wants to add to the geographic knowledge of the world. He trav-els broadly and believes that the world is round (Strabo and the World). 6. What do the Mayan’s do well?They have a very accurate calendar because they carefully watched the stars, sun, planets, and moon (Of Calendars and the Mayans).

what had already happened. Before the cov-enant tablets had even been brought down the mountain, the people had already shattered the covenant by embracing pluralism. 2. In 1 Kings 12:25ff, Jeroboam the Son of Nebat be-

came the first king of the Northern Kingdom. To maintain the political unity of the Northern King-dom, he set up golden calves for the people to wor-ship. What does God think of such religious plural-ism (consider 1 Kings 13:34, 14:16, 15:30, 15:34, 16:2, 16:19, 16:26)?

God hates all golden calves. Jeroboam’s calves were set up to secure the political independence of the Northern Kingdom. The king feared that if the people continued to worship in Jerusalem as they ought, they would eventually return to serve the Davidic kings of the south. These calves and this religious pluralism was a stumbling block for all of the Northern Kingdom, which was eventu-ally trapped in idolatry and finally destroyed by Assyria.


what you have learned from the material above. How can you be faithful to Christ during periods

of intolerant pluralism?To stand during times like this, we must have a firm conviction of the truth. Christ did not claim to be a way to God. He claimed to be the only way! We must recognize that being true to Him will often cost us friends, position, and popular-ity. (We cost Jesus all of these things and more, of course.) We must recognize also that Christ has not given us any wiggle room in these affirma-tions. Finally, we must take comfort in the fact that by remembering and proclaiming Christ’s uniqueness we are really presenting the only true way of salvation. We must also consider how we present this truth. When we are standing in the presence of others who are either truly committed believers in false gods or are confused people, we should remember to tell the truth in love. When we find leaders in the church, however, leading others astray and shaving the edges off of Christ’s claims, we need to oppose them vigorously and strongly, call them to stand for Christ, and demand they stop diminishing His claims.


session Viii: student-led disCussion

A Question to Consider What will your legacy be?All of us should recognize that we inevitably will have a legacy. There is no avoiding it. We should also desire to have a good legacy even though it is quite possible to live a good life and to quickly be forgotten by men. Our final legacy will not be written in history books, but by the judgment of God. Finally, we should recognize what makes a good legacy—faithfulness. We should aim at being faithful in all that we do, so that our descendants can look back on our lives and recount our pattern of faithful living as an example that was worth following.

Students should read and consider the example ques-tions below that are connected to the Question to Consid-er above. Last session’s assignment was to prepare three questions and answers for the Text Analysis section and two additional questions and answers for both the Cul-tural and Biblical Analysis sections below.

Text Analysis Example: How does Augustus both demonstrate his weakness and his excellence in the banishment of Julia?

Answer: First, Julia’s waywardness paints a less than ideal picture of Augustus as a father. He was blind to her indis-cretions and only later in life did he recognize the kind of woman that she had become. We see, however, that as the leader, and father, of the Roman Empire he is willing to apply justice to his own family. This example was in-spiring to the people of Rome, knowing that the Emperor would not exempt his own family from justice.

Cultural AnalysisExample: How has America profited from the pattern of lead-ership demonstrated by President George Washington?

Answer: Every time governing power changes hands peacefully in America we should remember and thank God for General Washington. He could have refused to relinquish power. Most people at the time would have ap-plauded his remaining in office. He could have had the titles and privileges of a king, but instead, he served his country, laid his power aside, and returned to his farm. He was called a modern-day Cincinnatus and was, of

7. What do the Pharisees do as soon as Herod the Great dies?

They hack down the Roman eagle that he had placed on the Temple (Herod is Dead). 8. What sort of philosophy does Confucius teach?Confucius teaches political philosophy, giving rules that he believes will produce good govern-ment, because he believes that good government and moral living are the key to peace (Land of the Dragon). 9. What are “castes” in Hinduism, and what do Hindus

believe about other religions?Castes are groups of people. Some castes are higher than others. The Brahman priestly caste is the highest. Higher castes were not to marry or mix with lower castes. While believing in radical inequality between people of different castes, Hindus believe that all religions are ways to find truth (Of India and the Hindus).10. What leads Buddha to renounce the world and begin

a life of meditation? When Buddha was born, he was a prince in a royal family named Gautama. He was kept from all pain and suffering, but one day he sees an old man suf-fering. He renounces his wealth, his office, and his family and becomes a wandering hermit seeking enlightenment through meditation (Buddha and the Kingdom of Truth).

The next session will be a student-led discussion. Stu-dents will be creating their own questions concerning the issue of the session. Students should create three Text Anal-ysis Questions, two Cultural Analysis questions, and two Biblical Analysis questions. For more detailed instructions, please see the chapter on Death on the Nile, Session V.

IssueWhat will your legacy be?

reAding Assignment: “December 25th, Year 1” to “My

Dear Tiberius”


session iX: disCussion “The German Border” to “A New Religion for Rome”

A Question to Consider What causes are on the horizon that will cause the Roman Empire to fail?Edward Gibbon wrote in his famous The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire about what caused Rome to fail. He blames, among others, Christians for focusing Romans on the afterlife, promising them a better life after death. We see at the end of Augustus Caesar’s World a number of forces that will begin to transform and erode the empire. With Augustus’s reign the doors of the Temple of Janus are closed because peace had come to the Roman world, but the Roman clashes with Germanic barbarian tribes previews one force that will erode Roman rule. The religion of Rome was also deteriorating. Faith in the Roman gods had declined as men like Cicero had set aside the contradictory and confusing histories of the gods. Emperor worship would furnish the empire some unity, but this was gained at a terrible price as Christians were slaughtered wholesale for refusing to proclaim the emperor a god. Finally, Christian martyrs, missionaries, and apologists would spread the faith throughout the empire.

Discuss or list short answers to the following questions:

Text Analysis1. What do the Romans stop doing at the border of Ger-

many? Why? At the borders of Germany the Romans stop their conquests. There the border of the Roman Empire will be settled. The job of the Roman armies is transformed. Formerly, they were constantly on the attack. Now, they will attempt to hold ground against invasion. They stopped conquering at the Danube because they did not believe that the land in Germany was worth conquering (The German Border). 2. What does Augustus consider doing to raise more

troops to fill the needs of the army during the rebel-lion in Pannonia?

Augustus considers whether he will have to call for slaves to fill spots in the legion and thereby be freed (My Dear Tiberius).3. Just as Augustus considers the peace and prosperity

of his empire what “gift” arrives from Germany?Augustus is sent the head of Varus, the former

course, inspired by the example of that great Roman. We benefit from Washington’s example in many ways. Other cultural issues to consider: Term limits (what are the pros and cons); founders of companies, like Bill Gates, John Rockefeller, Steve Jobs, and Andrew Carne-gie; for positive examples of leaders who had a great leg-acy see Elizabeth I, Augustine of Hippo, and Augustine of Canterbury; for negative examples of founding fathers try Robespierre and Vladimir Lenin.

Biblical AnalysisExample: What was David’s legacy for Israel?

Answer: While David had some egregiously bad short-comings (e.g., the census and his sin with Bathsheba), his legacy was overwhelmingly positive. He is the example of a king with his heart in the right place—he was a man after God’s own heart. When he failed and sinned, he confessed (without political spin) and repented. He faced trials with courage and faith. He poured out his heart to the Lord in poetry. He faced down a giant who would stand against God’s people. He set a standard for king-ship and painted a picture of what his descendant, Jesus Christ, would be as a ruler. Other Scriptures to consider: Consider how Christ’s example affected the lives of his disciples in Acts 2:14ff and 4:1–21; consider how the life and example of the fa-ther affected the lives of the prodigal son and his older brother in Luke 15:11–32.


what you have learned from the material above. Where do you or will you have the opportunity

to serve as a “father or founder”?Most of you will, by the grace of God, be the founders of new families. You will have the joy, the challenge, and the responsibility of founding a new family, setting patterns and rules for that family, and leading a life consistent with those principles. When you fail, will you repent? If you do not, do not expect your children to. Will you live within your means? If so, your children are a lot more likely to live within theirs. Some of you will found new businesses or new local churches. If so, know that you will leave your mark on those institutions.

reAding Assignment: “Hermann, the German Hero” to “A New

Religion for Rome”


in money instead of any god?American foreign policy tends to overestimate economic motivations in the lives of our enemies. We tend to try to buy off our enemies, even at some points giving aid to rulers who oppress their people. We think that other people are just like us. We fail to remember that our own forefathers were willing to risk, as they said, “our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” Also, recent presidents have begun to celebrate Islamic holi-days at the White House to prove that we are not against Islam.

Biblical Analysis1. Why did the Babylonian Empire fall (Daniel 5)?It fell because of arrogance after serving God’s purposes, and He was now going to use the Persian Empire to restore His people to the land. This arrogance was demonstrated by Belshazzar’s willingness to celebrate at his drunken feast using the golden utensils from God’s Temple. 2. Why was the wicked empire of the Assyrians spared

from God’s judgment at least temporarily (Jonah 3)?They were spared because they repented. Later they would bring judgment on the Northern Kingdom of Israel but would be brought down by God as they surged toward Jerusalem (2 Kings 19). 3. What did God forecast concerning the empires of

this world (Daniel 2)? Nebuchadnezzar saw a dream which showed all of the coming empires. During the time of the Roman Empire “a stone not cut by human hands” (i.e., an altar stone) would strike the statue repre-senting the empires of the world, crush them, and then this rock would fill the world. This rock is Christ, who came during the rule of Augustus. His kingdom today continues to grow and expand. The stone of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream continues to fill the world.


what you have learned from the material above. What can you do to preserve America’s strength

and place of leadership in the world?First, you need to recognize that if America has served its purpose, there is nothing that anyone can do to change it. We, as faithful citizens, however, need to faithfully serve our country and call her to repentance. Repentance and faith are the only paths toward peace with God. This repentance would need to happen in the lives of

governor of Syria who was leading Rome’s forces in Germany. Augustus is overwhelmed with grief (Hermann the German Hero). 4. How does Hermann the German learn to fight so well?Like many Germans, Hermann had been trained by the Romans. He served Varus, but eventu-ally he secretly turned against the Romans, set an ambush for the legion, and almost completely destroyed it (Hermann the German Hero). 5. Who might have been visiting the Temple in Jerusalem

during the census of A.D. 6, and what did he do there?Jesus might have been visiting the Temple during the census. This might have been the time when he questioned the religious leaders (The Kingdom of Heaven). 6. The Empire crucifies Jesus and, eventually, perse-

cutes His followers. What does this cause?Christianity grows and continues to grow as Rome persecutes it (A New Religion for Rome).

Cultural Analysis1. The Roman Empire failed both internally and exter-

nally. Its virtues turned to vices. Its armies began to falter (as conquests gave way to holding ground). Its people were left without any religion except pleasure seeking. Today, many would say that America has be-come an empire of sorts. What signs do you see that America is facing the same sorts of internal and ex-ternal failures that felled Rome?

America is faltering at home and abroad. We have lived beyond our means and continue to run up huge debts as a nation collectively and as families. We are also suffering from a crisis of religion. We have rejected Christ in favor of embracing all religions (which really means embracing no religion). Increasingly, other nations oppose us, and we have trouble stopping people and forces that seem to continually rise up against us. Finally, there is a crisis of virtue. We have become a people addicted to prosperity and ease who will not do the kind of hard work that it takes to lead the world. 2. The Roman Empire was pragmatic when it came to

philosophy and religion (whatever gets you through the night) so long as people recognized the authority of the empire and did not cause trouble. Theirs was an economic empire built on power and the creation of wealth. Most of the conquered countries did not rebel because of fear but also because Roman rule generally brought prosperity. Do you see any sign that America’s position in the world is one that down-plays the importance of religion and is built on faith


erty, and use it to finance their war (Bloody Fingerprints). 5. What does Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights, com-

memorate?The Feast commemorates the cleansing of the Temple when Judas Maccabeus threw the Greek forces out of the Temple. On Hanukkah, Jews exchange gifts for eight nights because the oil in the lamp at the Temple burned for eight days miraculously (Festival of Lights).6. How does Herod the Great become King of Judea?The Roman Senate names him king. After receiv-ing the Senate’s blessing, he raises an army and drives out the forces of the Parthians and besieges the Maccabean rulers in Jerusalem (Herod King of the Jews). 7. How does Octavian become Tiberius’s adopted fa-

ther?Octavian falls in love with Livia. He arranges for her to be divorced from her husband so that he can marry her. He adopts her children and Tiberius is one of them (Livia, the Future Empress).8. How does Herod’s wife Mariamne die?When Herod goes to meet Octavian, he fears for his life and leaves an order that his wife Mariamne is to be killed if he dies—so that she will not love another. She learns of his plan and her love for her husband goes cold (go figure!). Eventually, Herod has her killed and then almost goes mad from the guilt (Herod and Mariamne). 9. How is Caesar Augustus’s trip to Gaul different from

Julius Caesar’s visit?When Augustus visits, he comes as an administra-tor. When Julius Caesar came to Gaul, he came as a warrior and conqueror (Tales of the Wild Northwest). 10. What happens to Augustus around the time Agrippa

takes him to see the Pantheon?Augustus gets so ill that he believes he is going to die. He even gives his signet ring to Agrippa, but he recovers (The Pantheon).

oPtionAl session b: ACtiVity

Augustus for a Day Pick a day for one member of your class or family to serve as Augustus for the day. During their Day as Cae-

individuals, in our families, and in our churches. We would also need to repent of some things on a national level. We would need to put away the foolish practice of treating all religions as equally true and admit that our greatness as a nation is a result of the blessing of God and has resulted because many men and women in the past served Christ faithfully. Also, we should engage ourselves politically. This engagement should not be done in an immature manner. (We should not expect to be elected president if we have not faithfully served in lesser offices.) Perhaps running for low-level offices locally when you are ready would be a great first step to becoming faithfully engaged in political life, or you could work to support an officer or leader in your church who would run for public office. Finally, we need to cry out to God. Repentance will only come as He, and if He, sends His Spirit to bring conviction. Without His blessing, we can do nothing.

oPtionAl session A: reCitAtion “Under a Lucky Star” to “A New Religion for Rome”

Comprehension QuestionsAnswer the following questions for factual recall:1. What is the Act of Oblivion? Brutus convinces the Senate to pass the Act of Oblivion, which states that the Senate will not hold any of the conspirators who killed Caesar responsible for their actions. Thus, the Senate will remember these facts no more (sweep them into oblivion) (Conspirators Without a Plan). 2. Who crossed the Rubicon? Why did he do it?Roman generals were forbidden to cross the Rubicon River because the Senate feared they would bring their armies and attack Rome. Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, saying, “The die is cast.” He subsequently defeats Pompey and becomes the ruler of Rome before he is assassi-nated (Gaul, Geese, and Black Vultures). 3. How old is Octavian when he takes office for the first

time as Consul?He is 19 years old (Octavian Plays the Game).4. How do Antony and Octavian pay to raise their army

to attack Brutus and Cassius?They murder their enemies, take their prop-


7. If more than two-thirds of the class or family rebels, then Augustus retains his crown only if the sum is 6, 7, or 8. On all other sums, Augustus is replaced. (See step #6 for how to choose a new Augustus.)

8. For every 5 minutes that Augustus rules wisely (i.e., is not removed), all players receive 5 additional M&Ms and Augustus receives an additional 15 M&Ms. When a new Augustus is crowned the clock restarts and a new 5 minutes begins.

9. At the end of the time allotted for this activity, you may eat, trade, or share you M&Ms.

e n d n o t e s1 The article is available through Link 1 for this chapter at www.

VeritasPress.com/OmniLinks. 2 Back in those days Indiana had classless basketball. All 386

teams played in one tournament to decide a state champion. Theoretically, the smallest school in the state could win the whole thing—thus, the movie Hoosiers when the 1954 Milan team basically did run the table.

3 After high school, he continued to do well but was never quite as dominating. He was All-Big Ten Conference at Indiana Uni-versity. He was chosen in the second round of the NBA draft, but after some injuries never really found a place in the league. He has done well, but I have always wondered what it was like to bear the weight of so many hopes and dreams.

4 Some recent scholarship, however, contradicts Foster’s views of Saturnalia. She implies that Christians were trying to use a pagan feast that was already popular. Now there are some who think that it was actually desperate pagans who were trying to “piggy back” onto the increasingly popular Christian holiday of Christmas. More information on this is available through Link 2 for this chapter at www.VeritasPress.com/OmniLinks.

sar, they can make any rule that they want. You will need a large bag of M&Ms (or other treat), a stopwatch or clock, and a pair of dice for this activity. Others must follow the rules, but only under the following conditions:1. The person in your family or class whose birthday is

closest to Augustus’s, September 23rd, gets to be Au-gustus for the day.

2. A teacher or parent needs to serve as the judge. 3. Everyone gets 20 M&Ms at the beginning of class.

They can do whatever they want with these, but sav-ing them is a good idea. Augustus, however, receives 100 M&Ms. Everyone’s M&Ms must be kept in a bag at all times unless they are being eaten.

4. Augustus may not ask anyone to do anything that is malum in se (evil in and of itself) or anything that is malum prohibitum (evil by prohibition) if the parent or teacher forbids it. He may use his candy to bribe others.

5. Anytime a third- to two-thirds of the empire (i.e., the class or family) rebels against Augustus, he must en-ter into the Forum to see if it is the Ides of March. To see if it is the Ides, dice must be rolled. If the sum of the two dice is even, then Augustus is removed from office and has to give up three-quarters of his M&Ms. If the sum of the dice is 3, 5, 9, or 11, then Augus-tus retains his crown, and he confiscates half of the M&Ms of all who were part of the conspiracy. If the sum of the dice is seven, Augustus retains his crown but no M&Ms change hands.

6. If Augustus is removed from office, then each con-spirator chooses a number between two and twelve. The closest wins and becomes the new Augustus. If there is a tie, roll the dice again until one is closer.

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