Essay # 3 Salvation Notions Within the Ancient Hebrews and Roman Empire
Essay # 3 Brief Comments: Salvation Notions Within the Ancient Hebrews and Roman Empire
Interim Pastor Jeff Swanson, New Hope Lutheran, El Paso, Texas
Salvation notions were varied and widespread when Jesus was born.
Certain kings, warlords, leaders were deemed saviors. Example: About 800 years before Jesus was born, many Hebrews were stuck in Babylon (modern Iraq) as slaves. The Babylonian king previously invaded the Hebrew lands and took many home as slaves. The neighboring Persian king, (modern Iran), invaded the Babylonians and sent the Hebrews home. Many Hebrews considered the Persian King, named “Cyrus”, a savior sent by God to preserve their nation, culture, and religion.
The Hebrews previously suffered climate imposed drought which resulted in weakness to defend and feed themselves. They became salves in Egypt. A man named Moses saved the people from slavery in Egypt. They were largely a nomadic mob in the desert until a man named Joshua, (“Joshua” means “savior”) and others organized tribes…..then by military action and assimilation, invade and settle the lands which are modern Israel. Joshua, Moses and many others remain of savior status.
Roman leaders often presented themselves as god status saviors. They improved infrastructure such as roads and water systems. They built huge cities with colosseums, presided over peace and security by commanding the Roman Army, imposed laws, and doled out punishment, including capital executions. Some minted coins with their likeness embossed, and on the other side, a Roman god. They collected taxes. Thus, they presented themselves as saviors from many sufferings.
Some Roman leaders wore robes with silver threads shining in the sun. Some citizens, who saw them from a distance, believed them glowing supernatural beings bringing salvation by power and control.
Within the vast Roman Empire, stretching from modern Germany to Turkey, Syria to North Africa, including the literate and philosophical Greeks, there were hundreds of mythologies about gods romping about the heavens and underworld. The stories presented the gods’ behaviors: They fought, bred, taught life wisdom, caused crops to grow, stood guard over gates and transitions, protected, and killed us. The result was temples galore to the myriad of mythologies and gods! Belonging to a temple brought pragmatic salvation resources such as fresh meat at community meals, job networking, bartering opportunities, and small communities where people knew and trusted each other. Common functions of the temples and mythologies were both temporal and afterlife salvation.
Many of the Roman and Greek notions are still with us. For example, our month of January comes from the Roman god “Janus”. Janus is statue presented with two faces. One looks forward; the other looks back. January remains a transition month at which we look back upon the previous year for learning. And to the future; thus enlightened. Janus was deemed salvation by wisdom and learning to assess the past and move forward to a better sustained future.
Like me, you are strong, smart, brave, resilient. We have survived some dangers. Lest we have more courage than sense, the Roman god Achilles story teaches us a personal lesson. The mythology teaches Achilles was divinely protected; invincible in battle because his mother dipped him in holy water as an infant. Alas, she forgot to dip his heel! Oh - oh! His vulnerable spot was his “Achilles Heel”. Hmmmm? Whereupon and what about us, is our “Achilles Heel”?
Between the Hebrews and the multiple cultures of the Roman Empire, complex and sophisticated notions about salvation took deep root in human civilization. The notions were about historic, heroic persons, and pragmatic ways to live and survive. These notions joined with other ancient religious notions about salvation concepts. Pondering, considering life beyond our mortal existence, ideas about transitions from death to existing in eternity were communicated between cultures and further energized. Jesus was born into this dynamic and interactive time.
Next, we shall grapple with salvation teachings and lessons, presented by Jesus.