Section: A61 Group Number: 1

Group Members’ Surnames: Aboy, Adap, Agustin, Arcos, Arrastia, Atinaja, Avila, Bautista

The Rise of Christianity and the Revolt against the Romans

1. What are the similarities between the Judaisms in first century CE and the Jesus followers considering the
following?

Judaism and Jesus followers in the first century CE had common practices such as the celebration of Sabbath,
worshipping the same and single God, and embracing an ethical and moral code, which was significantly contrasting to Roman
practice. According to Amy-Jill Levine, a Professor of New Testament Studies from Vanderbilt University Divinity School, both
talked about Jerusalem, David, and the Torah (which is known today as Christian discourse as Old Testament). The two have
their own unorthodox, in the views of Romans, meal tradition; whereas the Jews have strict dietary laws, whilst Christians had
the Body and Blood of their Lord. Under Roman law, they followed accordingly to laws and taxations, yet divided due to the
revolt. Both stopped using Roman plates called “red slip” as a sign of resistance; allowing them the ability to assume whether
one is affiliated with the Romans or not.

2. Who are the Essenes mentioned in the documentary? What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?

In caves overlooking the Dead Sea (the lowest spot on Earth), lies the ruins of Qumran. It is said that 2000 years ago,
the Essenes, a secret devout sect of Judaism lived here. Decades before the Romans occupied Israel, the group deliberately
isolated themselves from the “corruption of daily life”. Given this, they constructed a monastery on a cliff-top by the sea where
they practiced purity and simplicity. The sect became known for pacifism and were said to be eminent for fidelity and ministers
of peace. In 1947, segments of Holy Scriptures—miraculously preserved—were discovered in a cave near Qumran. As the
fragments were pieced together, it began to reveal texts, which came to be known as the Dead Sea Scrolls or War Scrolls.
Rooted from the name itself, “war” seemed to contradict the peaceful ideals of the Essenes.

3. What did you learn from this film about the “Messiah”, messianism and apocalypticism?

Herod created a kingdom filled with paranoia and established conflict between the ruler and the people; this became
the foundation of a revolution. On one hand, this was a sign for the Jews that the end of the world was nearing. On the other,
it was an apocalyptic hope for the end of the Roman rule and the beginning of the rebirth of Israel. After, came the Dead
Scrolls or the War Scrolls, that prophesied the battle between the Sons of Light and Sons of Darkness. According to Lawrence
Schiffman, there was an anti-Roman sentiment that continued to cultivate in the scrolls, and it continued to preach war and
revolution against Rome. Additionally, Allen Callahan showed that unemployment and crime meant the end of the world for
them. Furthermore, based on Amy-Jill Levine, apocalypticism was part of the process of the 1st century Judaism. It was the
message of hope and despair. The literature portrays the presence of evil then there is a side that is the new age, that those
who are loyal and those who suffer will be at the center of power and privilege at the new age to come.

Moreover, liberators were called Messiah, which means the anointed, who are chosen by God to be part of His
resolution to evil. According to Sean Freyne, we identify Jesus as the Messiah, but there are variations on those expectations
such as the ideal king that would liberate Israel and the rise in messianic expectations in the 1st century because of the
extremities of the Romans. In addition, there in Jesus’ mind was the desperate need for a Messiah and its inevitable death.

4. What were the challenges under the Roman empire oppression regarding the following?

Many challenges sprouted out of the Roman empire’s oppression, one of which was through Herod and his projects.
His projects have been described with such zeal, yet he keeps his grip on the throne through terror. He established a secret
police force for the many fortresses he had and he would command them to take military action on his own people. He himself
who constructed the most sacred jewish edifice denies the same people their freedom. The destruction of Herod’s temple later
on in the year 70 due to the assault of Titus and his army on Jerusalem marked the end to a thousand years of tradition, faith,
and the very soul of the jews identity, ultimately becoming the “sea of death”. Another form of oppression under the Roman
empire would be the Pax Romana or Roman Peace, having the “peace” enforced by brutal treatment that enforces the
continuous flow of tax money, and “Pax” means that one must pay the tax above all to pay tribute to Rome and Caesar. Even
farmers and peasants had to pay the one thing their survival depended on - their land. This caused them to shift to serving as
workers, which led to an uprise of unemployment and crime. As less jobs were unavailable, many of them depended on
banditry. Any form of propaganda or resistance was perceived as a crime by the Roman empire. The word called for these
leader liberators was “Messiah”, which meant the anointed, or a designated person by God to be a part of His solution to the
problem of evil; which would include the dissemination of Caesar’s unworthiness of worship and tribute. For crimes, the most
nefarious and brutal method the Romans utilized was crucifixion. These men are hung high and stretched wide so that
everyone is aware that if Roman rule is broken, this was the punishment.
 5. What are some of the ways in which the people resisted the Romans? What is the influence of Roman Empire and
Pax Romana in the early Jesus movement?

Firstly, priests stopped sacrificing animals which was supposedly a sign of respect for Rome. Whilst some would
physically fight Roman forces, one of which were the Sachari. Secondly, historians believe that the first revolution against the
Romans was first plotted in Qumran. This hypothesis assumes a way the Essenes resisted. Moreover, as it was aforementioned,
in the written War Scroll, the Sons of Light were the Jews, while the Sons of Darkness were the Romans—this, alone, shows the
Anti-Roman ideals present. Lastly, the Jews also expressed their resistance in not using the red slip, a Roman dinner-ware,
whereas it’s absence presence will serve as a symbol of whether or not one side’s with the Romans or not. Although the
Roman empire did not deliberately spread religion, it gave freedom, rights, and privileges to the church. With Pax Romana, the
people were given freedom to worship in their own way and administer their own laws as long as they don’t get in the way of
the Romans’ taxation and military occupation. The Romans also built roads for military-use to retain control over the whole
empire. These roads are also used to spread the gospel to the ends of the empire and to places that were impassable during
the rainy season.

6. What do you learn about Nero and the followers of Jesus? How did the followers of Jesus become targets of
persecution?

In Year 64, a fire started in Rome, the sacred capital of the empire. It burned for a week, leaving thousands homeless.
After the calamity, angry citizens accused the emperor, Nero, of merely watching the city burn down; this was a testimony of
how much people did not respect him. Nero was desperate for an escape and coincidentally, he encountered a new set of Jews
(now called Christians). The Christians had a bad reputation—cannibals (for eating the body and blood of their Lord) and
adultorous and incestuous (for claiming to be brothers and sisters with others); these practices, though seen as repulsive then,
are considered to be normal now. To add, unlike other residents, this group did not conform to the political royalty. With the
prejudice towards them, they became the perfect target for the blame to be put on. Due to this, many of them were sentenced
to horrible deaths: some crucified, some torn to pieces by wild animals, and others turned into human torches in Nero's
garden.

7. What do you learn about the Jewish revolt (from 66 CE/AD to 70 CE/AD) against the Romans and the destruction
of the Herodian/second Temple in Jerusalem? How did the people resist? What does Masada have to do with
resistance?

In 66 CE, a corrupt Roman governor named Florus tries to confiscate golden manora, chalices, and other sacred
treasures of the temple. When public rose against him, he took revenge by whipping the temple priests. Eliazar, son of one of
the priests, strikes back by persuaded those in the divine service to not sacrifice for “foreigners”. Priests stopped sacrificing
animals as an offering in the name of the emperor - causing the true start against Romans. In 70 CE, the destruction of
Herodian temple was very pivotal in the revolt and faith of Judaism and Christianity, becoming the sea of death. For the jews,
the loss of the temple marks an end to a thousand years of tradition, faith, and the very soul of their identity, on the other
hand, created the possibility for Christianity to emerge. The Sachari who were still in Masada was the last target for Titus and
his men. Masada was the first garrison to be captured by the jews and the last garrison to fall during the revolt, for everyone
inside committed suicide to show courage in the face of death and to deny the Romans their victory. The fall of Masada
marked the end of the Jewish revolt.

8. What is the effect of the Jewish revolt to Judaism and the followers of Jesus and the formation of the New
Testament?

The revolt in Palestine resulted in two religions: Christianity and contemporary Judaism. The destruction of the Jews’
city not only marked the end of their tradition and identity, but also made it possible for Christianity to emerge; Apostle James
established it in Jerusalem, and Paul, on the other hand, outside of Israel. Also, a new center called the Vatican was established
as well. Since the end of the revolt marked the emergence of Christianity from Judaism, they both renounced animal sacrifice
and discovered a new form of communion with God through prayer. For Jews, it signified a change in their worship. For
Christians, the fall of the temple shifted its followers’ attention more towards heaven, where God resigns, in comparison to
Earthly temples. Judaism was able to unite itself through the leadership of the rabbis, while Christianity took over the Israelite
tradition and called the scriptures the Old Testament.