DID YOU KNOW That Nero was the final Roman emperor of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty, reigning from 54 AD until his death in 68 AD Tradition holds that the Apostle Paul was beheaded in Rome around 65 AD, his death was part of the executions of Christians ordered by Nero following the great fire of Rome, who he blamed the Christians for starting. Critical to understanding Roman Christianity should be that the Dynasty of the Julio-Claudians will end, and the following year Vespasian will become Roman Emperor, establishing the new Flavian Dynasty, then in 325 AD, Constantine, a Neo-Flavian will declare "IN HOC SIGNO VINCES," connive the Council of Nicea and make Christianity the religion of the land. Were Jewish-Christian elements co-conspirators with the Flavian's to take over the Roman Empire? Do you mind if I ask you to subscribe, that will help a lot with this channel. thanks 374
Tell me, does the New Testament suggest the existence of two gods? In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Corinthians 4:4 The 'god of this world'? You may ask what god would blind people, prevent them from knowing, or is jealous? Gnostic's believed the god of this world was the evil Demiurge and many early Christians believed that the Old Testament God was Satan. Belief rules how we behave, so be careful in choosing what you believe. 353
In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Corinthians 4:4 The 'god of this world'? Does the New Testament suggest the existence of two gods? What kind of God would blind people? This seems to imply that Satan, the ruler of this world, is the creator god of the Old Testament. It confronts us with a stark duality between good and evil, framing Christian ideology for the meek, who are taught to turn the other cheek, while those in power are depicted as agents of deception, blinding people to the light of Christ and perpetuating oppression. For a historical perspective of our western faith visit my channel, or website at historyreligionandtruth.com and see the playlist and series called "Bible Story." Please help the channel by subscribing, thanks for watching. 353-B1-2-a
Did you know that there had been a World War just before the time of Jesus Christ. That two Gods, Julius Caesar and Cleopatra had been killed, and that their 13 year old son would have been the "Son of God", and been in his fifties at the time John the Baptist and Jesus Christ were preaching. The Great Greek Empire had been conquered by Rome, The Pharaohs would be no more and the Jewish temple will be destroyed. Israel and Egypt had become the personal property of the new Caesar Augustus, "Divi filius" is a Latin phrase meaning "son of a god," and was the title given to Augustus, the grand-nephew and adopted son of Julius Caesar. 446
the New Testament barely touches upon the many violent Jewish rebellions of the first century or the political struggles between the Jews, Egyptians, and the Roman Empire. There is significant uncertainty regarding the true intent behind the Apostle Paul’s vision of Christianity. Was it a revolutionary doctrine meant to liberate the world from Roman oppression, or was it, in fact, a construct of the Roman Empire itself? Consider how Paul's teachings cleverly merge Zoroastrian apocalyptic beliefs, Greek platonic-philosophical ideas, within a Jewish scriptural context, creating an ideal new faith for the Empire, designed to pacify not only the Jewish people, but also all the Greek territories Rome now held. A religion urging them to "turn the other cheek" and "love their enemies." 446
According to the Gospel of Luke, around 28 AD, John the Baptist began his ministry of preaching and baptizing by the Jordan River, which marked the western edge of Herod Antipas’ territory of Perea. John condemned Herod’s marriage to Herodias as incestuous and contrary to Jewish law, since Herodias was both Herod’s niece and his brother’s former wife. John’s growing influence among the people made Herod fearful of potential rebellion. Consequently, John was imprisoned and later executed. However, before his imprisonment, John baptized Jesus Christ, marking the beginning of the ministry of Jesus Christ. 446 Jesus continued to preach a message of repentance and the coming Kingdom of God, which further threatened Herod’s rule. 446
John Calvin, influenced by Martin Luther, became a significant figure in the Protestant Reformation. He and Ignatius of Loyola, who later founded the Jesuit order, were classmates at the University of Paris. In 1554, John Knox traveled to Geneva to study under Calvin and later founded the Presbyterian Church, referring to Calvin as “his most worshipful master” and signing himself as “Your most devoted.” Calvin is renowned for his doctrine of predestination, which asserts that God predetermined who would be eternally saved and who would be condemned to hell. John Calvin believed that human free will is bound by sin, making people unable to choose good without divine intervention 443
On January 1, 1519, Ulrich Zwingli delivered his first sermon in Zürich. He spoke out against moral corruption, accused monks of laziness and indulgence, rejected the veneration of saints, asserted that unbaptized children were not damned, and questioned the power of excommunication. His most controversial belief was that tithing was not an obligation. Zwingli believed that the Reformation should be directed by the churches rather than the government, as the goals of the Reformation aimed to end the alliance between the Catholic Church and the state. (THIS VIDEO IS INCORREDT Anabaptism in Switzerland began as an offshoot of the church reforms instigated by Ulrich Zwingli.) Today, his descendants are spread across 57 countries, within 21 distinct groups, including Mennonites, Amish, and Hutterites.
After making three short videos about the Protestant Reformation, I was astonished by how different the mindset of that period was. Considering the comparison with how we think today, I also noticed that the 1950s are very different from today, and that we may be changing at an even faster rate. it made me realize that religion needs to evolve just as we do. The only permanent truth is that God is unknowable, as Christianity claims. Religion should not be static dogma but a movable feast, a never-ending quest for truth and goodness.” It is best to be agnostic and cynical, yet deeply religious, always doubting and demanding a better condition for us all. 443
John Knox was a Scottish minister and writer, who played a central role in Scotland's Reformation and is credited with founding the Presbyterian Church. Knox became closely associated with George Wishart during the latter’s travels through Scotland, where he preached for the Reformation of the Church. Acting as Wishart's bodyguard, Knox famously carried a two-handed sword to protect him. However, Wishart was eventually captured by Cardinal David Beaton and was burned at the stake on 1 March 1546. This execution fueled outrage among Protestants, leading to Beaton's assassination just a few months later. These events were pivotal in the Scottish Reformation, and by 1560 Presbyterianism had become the dominant religion in Scotland. 443
