The Fiscus Judaicus and the Parting of the WaysIn this thesis, it is argued that the administration of the fiscus Judaicus under the Roman emperor Domitian (81-96) and the reform of this fiscus under the emperor Nerva (96-98), accelerated the parting of the ways between Judaism and Christianity, resulting in two separate religions. In the first part it is concluded that under Domitian, among others, also members of Christian communities became the victims of the fiscus Judaicus (the Roman financial institution that was designated to levy the Jewish tax from all Jews within the empire after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in the year 70). In court a legal distinction was made between Jewish and non-Jewish Christians. The second part of the thesis looks at three New Testament books in particular: the Book of Revelation, the Letter to the Hebrews and the Gospel of John. Both the Jewish and Roman contexts of these books are studied, paying attention to tensions and controversies in both contexts. The conclusion is drawn, that the year 96, after the reform of the fiscus Judaicus by Nerva, should be regarded as an important milestone in the process of the parting of the ways. From that moment on Roman authorities used a more pointed definition of 'Jew', which made it easier for them to distinguish between Judaism (an accepted religion within the empire) and Christianity (an illegal religious movement). It is also argued that this parting should be interpreted as a break between Jewish Christians and mainstream Judaism. Both parties claimed to be the true representatives of the continuing history of Israel. |
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Contents
Fiscus Judaicus | 7 |
Domitians Harsh Administration of the Fiscus Judaicus | 24 |
Nervas Reform of the Fiscus Judaicus | 67 |
Their Crimes and Punishments from Nero | 85 |
Peter | 93 |
Revelation | 103 |
Jewish Christians and the Fiscus | 134 |
B Date of Hebrews | 144 |
Purpose | 153 |
Fiscus Judaicus Birkat | 159 |
Parting of the Ways | 190 |
| 213 | |
| 227 | |
| 237 | |
Common terms and phrases
according accused Acts already apostate apparently argue atheism authorities become believe Book of Revelation Cassius century chapter charge Chris Christian communities circumcised claim clear coin concern conclusion considered context crime discussion distinction Domitian early emperor Empire evidence execution fact faith fiscus Judaicus Gentile Christians give given gods Goodman Gospel of John Hebrews historical important issue Italy Jesus Jewish Christians Jewish tax Jews John Josephus Judaism later lead letter living longer look mainstream mentioned Nero Nerva non-Jewish Christians non-Jews observation origin pagan passage Paul period persecution position possible probably prosecuted proselytes punishment question reason referring regarded reign relation religion religious respect Revelation Roman Rome scholars seems seen separate situation sources Suetonius synagogue temple term tians tion traditional Trajan turn Vespasian writings
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Fiscus Judaicus and the Parting of the Ways Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament, ISSN 0340-9570 |
| Author | Marius Heemstra |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Mohr Siebeck, 2010 |
| ISBN | 316150383X, 9783161503832 |
| Length | 241 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |