Lance Carson
In the days of the Roman Empire, Roman citizens were required to burn incense to Caesar as a sign of political loyalty and as a way for the Emperor to maintain control over his people. This was known as Caesar worship and was often accompanied by the declaration Caesar is Lord. While the Roman Empire was generally tolerant of other religions, they did not tolerate the exclusivity of Christianity and persecuted Christians who refused to worship Caesar, resulting in the deaths of notable Christians such as Polycarp, Pope Fabian, Babylas of Antioch, and Alexander of Jerusalem.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Roman citizens required to burn incense to Caesar | Yes |
| Exception | Jews |
| Reason | To acknowledge the emperor as a god and the legal authority of the government |
| Refusal by Christians | Led to the deaths of notable Christians including Pope Fabian, Babylas of Antioch, and Alexander of Jerusalem |
| Refusal by Christians | Considered seditious |
| Roman view of Christians' refusal | Intolerant |
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What You'll Learn
- Roman citizens were required to burn incense to Caesar
- This was a test of political loyalty to the Roman Empire
- Christians refused to burn incense, seeing it as spiritual adultery
- Refusal to burn incense resulted in persecution and death for some Christians
- Jews were exempt from burning incense to Caesar
Roman citizens were required to burn incense to Caesar
The requirement to burn incense to Caesar was part of a larger edict issued by the Roman Emperor Decius in 250 AD. This edict ordered everyone in the Empire, with the exception of Jews, to sacrifice to the Roman gods and to the well-being of the Emperor. The sacrifices had to be performed in the presence of a Roman magistrate and confirmed by a signed and witnessed certificate. This edict was intended to act as a loyalty oath to the Emperor and was sanctified through the Roman religion.
The refusal of Christians to participate in this edict resulted in persecution and even death for some notable Christians. They were seen as seditious and socially disruptive, as they had abandoned the religion of their forefathers and were seeking to convert others. Many Christians went into hiding, while others performed the sacrifices as required. The effects of this edict on Christian communities were traumatic, and many lapsed in their faith.
The conflict between the Worship of Christ and Caesar was not a new one. It had been building gradually as the practice of emperor worship became more central to the life of the Empire. Romans viewed Christians with suspicion due to their withdrawal from society and their seemingly odd practices, such as advocating for the equal dignity of slaves and women.
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This was a test of political loyalty to the Roman Empire
During the Roman Empire, Roman citizens were required to burn a pinch of incense as an offering to the deity of the Roman emperor. This was a test of political loyalty to the Roman Empire. The Roman government required this offering as a way for citizens to acknowledge the emperor as a god and to recognise the legal authority of the government.
This practice was a test of loyalty to the empire, as it forced citizens to make a choice between their religious beliefs and their loyalty to the emperor. For Christians, in particular, this was a difficult decision, as their monotheistic beliefs did not allow them to worship any other gods. They were forced to choose between their faith and following the decree. Refusal to perform the sacrifice was seen as seditious and resulted in the deaths of notable Christians, including Pope Fabian, Babylas of Antioch, and Alexander of Jerusalem.
The requirement to burn incense to the emperor was part of a larger tradition of emperor worship in the Roman Empire. This tradition was a way for emperors to maintain control over their citizens and ensure their loyalty. It is important to note that Jews were generally exempt from this requirement, as the Roman authorities respected their traditional religious practices and understood that they would not perform sacrifices to the Roman gods or burn incense before an image of the emperor.
The conflict between Christians and the Roman Empire over this issue demonstrates the exclusivity of Christianity and its refusal to compromise with other religions. While some Romans may have viewed Christians as intolerant, Christians saw emperor worship as spiritual adultery, akin to cheating on their spouse. This clash of beliefs led to the persecution of Christians, with large numbers being arrested and crucified during Nero's reign in AD 64.
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Christians refused to burn incense, seeing it as spiritual adultery
During the reign of the Roman Emperor Decius in 250 AD, an edict was issued that required all citizens of the empire to perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods and the emperor's well-being. This involved burning incense before an image of the emperor, acknowledging him as a deity, and obtaining a signed and witnessed certificate, known as a libellus, to confirm their compliance.
The edict was intended to serve as an empire-wide loyalty oath to the new emperor, who had ascended to power through military victories in 249 AD. However, this posed a significant dilemma for Christians, who were prohibited by their monotheistic faith from worshipping any other gods or paying divine homage to the emperor. For them, burning incense to Caesar constituted spiritual adultery.
Christians viewed their faith as exclusive to Jesus Christ and refused to integrate Roman deities into their religious practices. They considered burning incense to the emperor as an act of worship, which conflicted with their belief in the one true God. This refusal to compromise their religious beliefs was seen as seditious and socially disruptive by the Roman authorities, who did not recognize Christianity as a legitimate religion.
The consequences of non-compliance with the edict were severe. Notable Christians, such as Pope Fabian, Babylas of Antioch, and Alexander of Jerusalem, were put to death for their refusal to burn incense to the emperor. Many other Christians went into hiding or complied with the edict, causing trauma within their communities and leading some to lapse in their faith.
While the Romans viewed incense burning as a symbolic acknowledgment of the emperor's divinity and legal authority, Christians saw it as an act of spiritual infidelity, choosing to remain steadfast in their devotion to Christ alone. This steadfastness, even in the face of persecution and death, became a defining characteristic of the Christian faith during this period.
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Refusal to burn incense resulted in persecution and death for some Christians
The Roman Empire was relatively tolerant of the many religions of its provinces, and Jews, for instance, were allowed to follow their traditional practices. However, the Romans did not extend this tolerance to Christians, who were a new phenomenon and did not seem like a religion to Roman authorities. Refusing to worship the emperor appeared seditious, and Christians were forced to choose between their religious beliefs and following the emperor's decrees.
In 250 AD, the Roman emperor Decius issued an edict ordering everyone in the empire to perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods and the well-being of the emperor. The sacrifices had to be performed in the presence of a Roman magistrate, and be confirmed by a signed and witnessed certificate from the magistrate. Although the text of the edict has been lost, many examples of the certificates, called libelli, have survived. Decius' edict was intended to act as an empire-wide loyalty oath to the new emperor, sanctified through the Roman religion.
Christians were prohibited by their faith from worshipping the Roman gods or burning incense before an image of the Emperor. Refusal resulted in the deaths of some notable Christians, including Pope Fabian, Babylas of Antioch, and Alexander of Jerusalem. The number of people put to death for refusing to obtain a certificate is unknown. Many other Christians also went into hiding, especially in Egypt, Africa, and Anatolia, including Dionisius of Alexandria and Cyprianus of Carthage. The effects of the edict on Christian communities, many of which had until then lived peacefully and undisturbed, was traumatic.
The persecution of Christians resumed in 257 AD under Emperor Valerian, followed by a period of relative tolerance under Gallienus, before intensifying again in 303 AD during the Diocletianic Persecution.
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Jews were exempt from burning incense to Caesar
During the years when the New Testament was being written, Roman citizens were required to offer a pinch of incense on an altar dedicated to the deity of the Roman emperor. This was a way to acknowledge the emperor as a god and to show loyalty to the Roman government. However, Jews were specifically exempted from this requirement.
The Roman Empire respected the religious traditions of its citizens, and the Jews were known to follow the beliefs and practices of their ancestors. It was well understood that Jews would not perform sacrifices to the Roman gods or burn incense before an image of the Emperor. Julius Caesar formulated a policy that allowed Jews to continue practicing their traditional religious customs. This gave Judaism the status of a permitted religion throughout the Empire.
In contrast, Christians were viewed with suspicion by the Romans. They were considered a new and unfamiliar religion, and their refusal to worship the Emperor appeared seditious. The Romans saw Christianity as a disruptive and excessive form of religiosity, and early Roman references to Christianity refer to it as "superstitio". Christians were faced with a difficult choice between compromising their faith or facing persecution. Some notable Christians, such as Pope Fabian, Babylas of Antioch, and Alexander of Jerusalem, were put to death for refusing to comply with the edict.
While Jews were exempt from burning incense to the Emperor, the use of incense was still an important part of their religious practices. Incense was burned in synagogues and was associated with the fundamental role of the institution as a "gate to heaven". It was used to honour the sacred expanse and induce a pleasant atmosphere during prayers. The burning of incense also communicated meaningful Jewish ideas and concepts, such as the sacrifices offered by the leaders of the 12 tribes.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Roman citizens were required to burn incense to the Emperor as a sign of political loyalty. This was known as Caesar worship.
Citizens who refused to worship Caesar were accused of jeopardizing national security and hating their neighbours. Christians, in particular, were persecuted for their refusal to worship the Emperor, and some were even put to death.
Burning incense to Caesar was more of a political act than a religious one. Roman citizens were free to worship whatever gods they chose. However, refusing to worship Caesar was seen as a sign of disloyalty and could result in persecution.
The practice of burning incense to Caesar began in 250 AD under the Roman Emperor Decius. He issued an edict ordering everyone in the empire to sacrifice to the Roman gods and the Emperor's well-being.
Yes, Jews were specifically exempted from the requirement to burn incense to Caesar. Roman authorities respected the tradition and practices of Judaism, which did not include sacrifices to the Emperor.
