Nero Caesar and the Christian Faith

One of the most despicable manifestations of human flesh ever to disgrace this planet was Nero Claudius Caesar.

Born in A.D. 37, Nero was educated at the feet of the philosopher Seneca (whom he eventually forced to commit suicide). Nero murdered his way to the imperial throne, which he occupied from A.D. 54-68. His life was characterized by debauchery, violence (he caused his own mother to be killed), and extravagance.

In A.D. 64, a terrible fire broke out in Rome. It was strongly believed that Nero deliberately torched the city in order to justify building a more splendid one. At any rate, the conflagration raged out of control for more than a week, substantially destroying about 70% of the area.

As a consequence of this tragedy, and the widespread belief in Nero’s complicity, the emperor became the brunt of intense criticism.

The ruler seized upon a plan. Due to the fact that Roman sentiment was hostile toward Christianity, the emperor would blame the followers of Jesus for this crime. Thus did he, and in A.D. 64, a fierce persecution was launched against the saints in Rome.

The Church in Rome

We do not know for certain how or when the cause of Christ was planted in Rome. Apparently it was not the result of apostolic mission efforts (cf. Rom. 1:11). It could be that some from Rome, converted on the day of Pentecost (cf. Acts 2:10), migrated back to their home city and established the church there.

Regardless, this was the first real test of faith for the saints in the “eternal city.”

The Neronian persecution was vicious indeed. Tacitus (c. A.D. 60-120), a Roman historian, has preserved a record of this situation. We quote the following from his Annals (XV.44).

“And so, to get rid of this rumor, Nero set up [i.e., falsely accused] as the culprits and punished with the utmost refinement of cruelty a class hated for their abominations, who are commonly called Christians. Christus, from whom their name is derived, was executed at the hands of the procurator Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius. Checked for a moment, this pernicious superstition again broke out, not only in Judea, the source of the evil, but even in Rome.... Accordingly, arrest was first made of those who confessed [to being Christians]; then, on their evidence, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much on the charge of arson as because of [their] hatred for the human race. Besides being put to death they were made to serve as objects of amusement; they were clothed in the hides of beasts and torn to death by dogs; others were crucified, others set on fire to serve to illuminate the night when daylight failed. Nero had thrown open his grounds for the display, and was putting on a show in the circus, where he mingled with the people in the dress of charioteer or drove about in his chariot. All this gave rise to a feeling of pity, even towards men whose guilt merited the most exemplary punishment; for it was felt that they were being destroyed not for the public good but to gratify the cruelty of an individual.”

There are several interesting things to consider about this topic.

Paul Before Nero

First, Nero was the Caesar to whom Paul appealed when he was unjustly accused by the Jews and falsely imprisoned (cf. Acts 25:11). The apostle was taken to Rome and kept under guard for two years (Acts 28:30), before Nero finally heard his case.

It is incorrect to say: “[I]t is unknown whether Nero took any personal part in the Apostle’s trial” (Cross, 945). We know this because an angel had explicitly informed Paul: “you must stand before Caesar” (Acts 27:24).

The great apostle won his appeal (as chronological data in First Timothy, Titus, and Second Timothy reveal), only to be later condemned by the malevolent ruler.

According to the historian Eusebius, Nero beheaded Paul and had Peter crucified (II.25).

Christians Subject To Nero?

When Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, he admonished:

“Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers” (13:1).

He points out that civil government, generally speaking, is for the ordering and protection of society. Laws directed to that end ought to be obeyed.

Similarly, Peter wrote:

“Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as sent by him” (1 Pet. 2:13,14).

These passages are subtle indicators of the inspired nature of the New Testament. Men who were writing under ordinary human impulses would hardly have encouraged brethren to honor and obey one as vile as Nero.

But Christians are to be good citizens regardless of the character of their leaders.

Historical Reference to Christ

Then consider this point. Tacitus mentions “Christus,” from whom the “Christians” derived their name. This is a clear reference to Christ.

In Greek “Christ” is Christos. The historian affirms that “Christus” was “executed at the hand of the procurator Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius.”

In view of this, how can certain atheists, with a vestige of remaining conscience, continue to claim that the ancient historians never mentioned Christ?

One such writer asserts that “there were no references to Jesus by contemporary historians.” He even includes Tacitus (Matthews, A10).

Another skeptic classifies Tacitus’ testimony as “doubtful,” and suggests that the historian was merely reporting what Christians believed, and not what he viewed as actual history (Hayes, 147).

Such writers have forfeited every ounce of literary credibility.

Christians Who Were Not Loyal

Tacitus says that Nero’s persecution resulted in the apprehension of some Christians who, in turn, testified against their brethren so that “an immense multitude was convicted” and put to death.

It is of some interest that there were church members in Rome who were willing to surrender their own brethren to the authorities for persecution.

This cannot but remind us of a situation Paul encountered while he was in the city. When the apostle wrote to the Philippians, he exposed the fact that some of the brethren in Rome were envious of his labor in the gospel.

Paul charged that they “preach Christ even of envy and strife” hoping to “raise up affliction” for him in his bonds (1:15-17). They would rub salt in the apostle’s wounds! (cf. Mt. 24:10).

It is not difficult to imagine that some of these were the very ones who “turned state’s evidence” under Nero’s brutal assaults.

The Persection of the Saints

Tacitus also describes the torture to which Christians were subjected — thrown to wild dogs to be torn apart, burned alive to serve as torches in the night.

What suffering! What faith!!

The crucial question is this: In spite of some defectors, why was that “immense multitude” of saints so willing to endure this horrible treatment?

It can only be that they had strong evidence that Christianity was genuine — that Jesus of Nazareth, the founder, had risen from the dead, and that he offered the hope of eternal life to those who endured in faith.

It is a tragic footnote to history that Rome eventually became the focal point of an egregious apostasy from the faith. Can we learn anything from this?