WHO BURNED ROME?

-Ralph Johnson

Last evening on the KCTS we were favored with a program “Secrets of the dead” about the great fire Rome in July 19, 64 A.D.. Nero blamed the Christians. The historian, Tacitus, writing 50 years afterwards blamed Nero. The program hosted an Italian archaeologist, Clementina Panella, who blames the Christians.

The substance of the claim rests primarily upon two things. 1. Nero’s charge, and 2. the fact that Revelation 17:16 predicted it.

Nero, is certainly an unreliable source of authority. He was a tyrannous dictator who all history reviles as a low-life and a liar. We have no records to support his claim and even the Roman officials rejected it.

The first problem with the citation of Revelation 17:16 is that it was written predicting it as a future event over 25 years after the fire. Even if one discounts it as inspired prophecy, the most one can glean from this is that its having burned became a basis for the Christian hope that it would again be destroyed.

Some will object that Revelation was written before July of 64 A.D. during the reign of Nero and thus became the inspiration for it’s burning. However, the consensus of scholars dismiss such an early date. The evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of it being written around 95 A.D. in the reign of Domitian. For a discussion of this see my article on the Book of Revelation.

Furthermore, it does not take into account the teachings and attitudes of the Christians. Jesus taught non-violence towards enemies (Matt 5:44; 26:52; Luke 6:27). Paul taught non-violence (Rom 12:19-21). Peter taught non-violence, writing the whole letter of 1Peter on the subject (Note especially 1Pet 2:19-23). Even the book of Revelation teaches non-violence (Rev. 13:21-22).

The prophecy of Rome’s destruction gives no encouragement for Christians to do it. It prophecies it being done by “ten Kings” which had not yet come to power (Rev 17:12, 16).

There are no early writings by Christians, either before or after the fire encouraging or approving any such thing, or indicating they did it.

Did the Christians have a reason to do it (from a worldly standpoint)? Yes indeed. However, it was entirely uncharacteristic of them.

The earliest writings of the Fathers, advocated non-violence. Many, such as Polycarp actually courted martyrdom.

Basing the conclusion merely on a possible motive is pretty shaky. Others had just as much reason and far more propensity to put the torch to Rome. While I do not believe they did it, the Jews hated Rome for its oppression. They were inflamed with a passion that was already on a collision path which scarcely 5 years later resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem.

It appears to me that this kind of “scholarship” has a very good reason to suspect its conclusion. Those who attack Christianity are often driven either by their own hostility or greed for notoriety and money.