Claudius or Nero

Claudius was the fourth Roman emperor, ruling between AD 41 to 54 when the gospel spread to Asia Minor and Rome. He wrote a treaty on religious reform that forbade the Greeks in Alexandria from dedicating a temple to him and cut short religious holidays that his predecessor, Caligula, instituted. He expelled everyone who practiced “Eastern Religions” from Rome, including the Hebrews. Instead, he honored Roman soothsayers and astrologists. Nero succeeded Claudius. He blamed the fire that destroyed Rome on Christians, Hebrews and Greeks, and set many of them on fire to light his garden. Neither of these emperors was good to the Hebrews.

Yet, Peter wanted his congregation to honor the emperors, Claudius or Nero. He wrote,

“Submit to all human authorities for the sake of the Lord, whether emperor, the overseer, or leaders whom he sends to punish the evildoers and praise those who do good because this is the will of God – by doing good you silence the foolish ignorance of people. Since you are free people, don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil, but live as slaves of God. Honor all people, love your families, fear God, and honor the emperor.” (1 Pet 2:13–17)

It would have been difficult for the Hebrews to contemplate that they should honor Claudius, who expelled them from Rome and made them homeless and refugees. Similarly, thinking any good thought of Nero, who killed their relatives, wouldn’t have been easy. Further, the centurions and soldiers those emperors sent to punish the Hebrews would not have drawn their admiration. Those feelings, however, did not excuse them from honoring the emperors and submitting to them. Those were mandatory because God willed it, and the Lord Jesus required it.

These Hebrews, although homeless, were still free people. They had rights and privileges, unlike slaves. As such, they might have been tempted to start an uprise or rebel against the emperor. Peter cautioned them not to use their freedom as an excuse to do evil; instead, they should think of themselves as slaves who had no choice. They were slaves not of people but of God, and God’s will was that they obey the emperor and his minions. By doing good to those who did evil, they could silence their foolish ignorance.

Bottom line: they were to honor all people, love their physical and spiritual families, fear God, and honor the emperor. The phrase “love your families” is “love your brotherhood” (athelfotis from athelfos “a brother”). Since Christians called each other brothers and sisters, Peter would have meant for them to love one another in their Christian congregation. But Peter would have expected them to extend it to their families and fellow Hebrews.

Many of us live under governments and rulers who are mostly benevolent to Christians. But what about Christians living under oppressive and anti-Christian governments? Are they to endure all insults silently? God’s will is that we don’t resort to doing evil to bring justice. Instead, they do good and honor the oppressors to silence their foolish ignorance.

Naaman was an army commander to Aram’s king, who opposed the Hebrews and captured them as his slaves. Naaman was a valiant ruler, but unfortunately, he contracted leprosy. That’s when a young Hebrew slave girl, who served Naaman’s wife, told him about a prophet in Israel, Elisha, who could heal him. She showed kindness to her slave master (2 Kings 5). That’s what the Lord expects of us – love and honor even those who oppress us. Do good, not evil, to bring justice.