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. |
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
accused addressees apostate Jews argue atheism Aune birkat ha-minim Book of Revelation Boyarin Cassius Dio chapter Christian communities circumcised Claudius coin conclusion confiscation context covenant crime daicus delatores drachmai Dunn early Christian edict Eisenbaum emperor Eusebius execution faith fiscus Judaicus fourth century Fredriksen Gamaliel II Gentile Christians God-fearers gods Goodman Gospel of John Hebrews heretics Hist important ish Christians Israel issue Jerusalem Jesus Jewish Christians Jewish life improfessi Josephus Judaicus under Domitian Judaism and Christianity Keresztes Kierspel letter living a Jewish mainstream Judaism mentioned Messiah monotheism Nero Nerva non-Jewish Christians non-Jews pagan passage Paul persecution of Christians Peter Pliny probably prosecuted proselytes punishment rabbinic referring regarded reign of Domitian religio licita religion religious Roman authorities Roman Empire Roman perspective Rome sacrifice test scholars second century seems Suetonius synagogue Tacitus Testament Thompson tians tion Titus traditional Trajan Vespasian victims writings τὸν