The Gospel of Jesus Christ was a Direct Challenge to the Gospel of Rome
The gospel of Caesar Augustus refers to the message of the Roman Emperor Augustus, which emphasized his role as a savior and benefactor of the people.
The gospel of The Kingdom of God is a message of TRUE salvation through faith in Jesus Christ,
An ancient inscription which bears the phrase "Gospel of Caesar Augustus" gives us understanding into what exactly the Gospel of the Kingdom of God" is, and sheds light on the structure and content of the biblical “Gospels”, i.e. the books which tell the story of the life of Jesus of Nazareth.
What is a “gospel”?
“Gospel” is the English translation of the Greek word “euangelion” which means “news that brings great joy.”
When we hear this word today, our minds immediately tend to associate it with Christianity, but originally, this word was political in nature.
In the time of Greek philosophers there was The Gospel of Plato and Aristotle and Socrates. Each had a "gospel" according to their new philosophy.
In the Greco-Roman world, from the time of Alexander the Great and on into the Roman Empire, this word was used to refer to history-making, world-shaping reports of political, military, or societal victories and how that affected the people at large.
The Battle of Marathon is an ancient example…
The person who ran the first marathon ran 42.2 kilometers (26.2 miles) to deliver a message, and upon completing this run, he DIED!
The setting of that first marathon was a battle in 490 B.C. when Greece was invaded by Persia. Despite all odds, Greece managed to defeat Persia, and after the battle, Greece sent heralds (preachers) to take the euangelion (gospel - proclamation of good news) out into every town and village in the country, to tell the people what had happened, and declare to them that they were free! Those heralds were “evangelists” or “preachers”.
The Emancipation Proclamation is a modern American example…
In the United States, when Abraham Lincoln signed The Emancipation Proclamation, the document which set the slaves in the southern states free, that news had to be taken and proclaimed in every farm, town, county and state in the south. Heralds were sent out who proclaimed to those slaves that something had happened, which would change their lives forever. They declared to them that they were set free!
The Gospel of Caesar Augustus
An inscription found in Priene, in modern-day Turkey, on a government building dating from 6 B.C. referring to Caesar Augustus says:
“The birthday of [Augustus] has been for the whole world the beginning of the euangelion (gospel) concerning him. The most divine Caesar we should consider equal to the Beginning of all things for when everything was falling into chaos and tending toward dissolution, he restored it once more and gave the whole world a new age; Caesar . . . the common good Fortune of all . . . The beginning of life and vitality . . . All the cities unanimously adopt the birthday of the divine Caesar as the new beginning of the year . . . Whereas the Providence which has regulated our whole existence has brought our life to the climax of perfection in giving to us Augustus who being sent to us and our descendants as Savior of Rome, has put an end to war and has set all things in order; and having become god manifest, Caesar has fulfilled all the hopes of earlier times."
The “gospel” of Caesar Augustus was what we call today the Pax Romana, the age of peace in the Roman Empire which came about just before Jesus was born.
Caesar Augustus in this inscription is declared to be: divine, savior, and the beginning of the good news for all people on Earth [the Roman empire].
The Gospel of Jesus Christ was a Direct Challenge to the Gospel of Rome
When we understand this term “gospel” (euangelion), and how it was used in the ancient Greco-Roman world, we can begin to better understand the specific way in which the Christian gospels of Jesus Christ were written.
The gospels were written in such a way as to present Jesus as the true divine King, who had come to bring true salvation to His people and they were written as a direct challenge to the so-called “gospel” of Rome and its peace which was enforced through brutality.
What "salvation" did the Gospel of Caesar Augustus bring?
The welfare of Rome…. free food, unemployment, social security, etc...
http://www.preparingyou.com/wiki/Alimenta
http://www.preparingyou.com/wiki/Free_bread
http://www.preparingyou.com/wiki/Corban
http://www.preparingyou.com/wiki/New_Deal
http://www.preparingyou.com/wiki/Welfare_state
http://www.preparingyou.com/wiki/Herod
Mark 1:1
“The beginning of the gospel (euangelion) about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God”
Mark 1:14-15
“Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel (euangelion) of the Kingdom of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the gospel! (euangelion)”
Matthew 24:14
“And this gospel (euangelion) of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations...
Romans 1:16
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel (euangelion), for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
The gospel is a message of a victory which has taken place, from which we benefit. We receive salvation, freedom and peace as a result of it.
The gospel, therefore, is good news, not good advice! It’s not about what you have to do for God, but it’s the news of what God has done for you in Christ to set you free.
Free from what??
1. We are set free from the SLAVERY of sin...
Romans 3
9 Well then, are we [Jews] better off than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) are slaves of sin and subject to its power. 10 As it is written and forever remains written,
“There is none righteous [none that meets God’s standard], not even one.
11 “There is none who understands,
There is none who seeks for God.
Romans 6
6 We know that our old self [our human nature without the Holy Spirit] was nailed to the cross with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin. 7 For the person who has died [with Christ] has been freed from [the power of] sin.
Galatians 4
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave (bond-servant), but a son; and if a son, then also an heir through [the gracious act of] God [through Christ].
2. Salvation from the wrath of God, which we deserve because of our not loving God with all our heart, mind and strength and not loving our neighbor.
Romans 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
Romans 5:9
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
3. Salvation from DEATH to ETERNAL LIFE!
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 2
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[b] 4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
4. We are set free from the “domains of darkness” aka "kingdoms of satan" aka "governments of men" and saved into the Kingdom of Christ!
Colossians 1
13 For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
And..... if we seek FIRST his kingdom.... ALL of our needs will be met...
Matthew 6
33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and ALL THESE THINGS will be given to you also.
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
How does The Kingdom provide ALL THESE THINGS...??
Acts 2
41 So then, those who accepted his message were baptized; and on that day about [h]3,000 souls were added [to the body of believers]. 42 They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to [i]eating meals together and to prayers.
43 A sense of awe was felt by everyone, and many wonders and signs (attesting miracles) were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed [in Jesus as Savior] [k]were together and had all things in common [considering their possessions to belong to the group as a whole]. 45 And they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing the proceeds with all [the other believers], as anyone had need. 46 Day after day they met in the temple [area] continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes. They were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts, 47 praising God continually, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 4
32 Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one [of them] claimed that anything belonging to him was [exclusively] his own, but everything was common property and for the use of all. 33 And with great ability and power the apostles were continuously testifying to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace [God’s remarkable lovingkindness and favor and goodwill] rested richly upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them, and bringing the proceeds of the sales 35 and placing the money down at the apostles’ feet. Then it was distributed to each as anyone had need.
Acts 5
12 ...And by common consent they all met together [at the temple] in [the covered porch called] Solomon’s portico. 13 But none of the rest [of the people, the non-believers] dared to associate with them; however, the people were holding them in high esteem and were speaking highly of them. 14 More and more believers in the Lord, crowds of men and women, were constantly being added to their number,...