Rome persecuted Christianity because it was new, while it tolerated Judaism because Judaism was an ancient religion Rome respected.
Les Feldick teaches that the Romans had respect for any religion that went back into antiquity, and Judaism qualified. Christianity, by contrast, appeared under the Roman Empire as something relatively new, so Rome had no compunctions about trying to stamp it out. Rome also let the Jews handle their own religious system, even allowing them to carry out capital punishment, but it treated Christianity as a threat that had to be destroyed.
Acts 26:9-10 — Paul's testimony before Agrippa demonstrates that Rome allowed Jewish religious authorities to act against Jewish believers, illustrating Rome's tolerance of Judaism.
Scripture does not give a direct political explanation for Rome's treatment of Judaism versus Christianity. What it does record is Paul's testimony before King Agrippa about his own persecution of Jewish believers. In Acts 26:9-10 Paul says: "I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests." Paul makes clear that the authority he acted under came from the chief priests, not from Caesar or from Rome. This shows that Rome allowed the Jewish religious system to operate and exercise jurisdiction over Jewish believers, even to the point of imprisonment.
Les Feldick explains the difference by pointing to Rome's respect for ancient religions. The Romans, steeped in paganism and mythology, had a high regard for any religion that went back into antiquity, and Judaism was an ancient religion. Rome therefore tolerated Jewish religious practice, protected the temple offerings sent from across the empire, and for the most part gave Jewish religious people their freedom. Rome even allowed the Jews to carry out capital punishment in the name of their religion, something it would never have permitted when a Gentile was involved. Christianity, however, was a new religion in Roman eyes. It appeared under the Roman Empire as something relatively new, more or less coming from the upstart of one man, and it was claiming a king with power above Rome. Because it did not have the standing of an ancient faith, Rome had no compunctions about trying to stamp it out, and Christians came under massive persecution. In Les's words, the Romans had due respect for any ancient religion, but Christianity was something new, so Rome tried every which way to destroy it.
Les Feldick explains that the Romans, steeped in paganism and mythology, had respect for any religion that was ancient, going back into antiquity. Judaism qualified as an ancient religion, so Rome tolerated it, protected it, and even allowed Jewish authorities to handle their own religious affairs. Rome's tolerance of Judaism was consistent with its respect for old religions.
Christianity, according to Les, was not an ancient religion in Roman eyes. It appeared under the Roman Empire as something relatively new, more or less coming from the upstart of one man. Because it lacked the standing of antiquity, Rome had no compunctions about trying to stamp it out and martyring those who adhered to it.
Paul's testimony in Acts 26:9-10 confirms that he shut up Jewish saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests. Les Feldick points out that Rome let the Jewish people carry out capital punishment in the name of their religion and would never have allowed that treatment for a Gentile. This shows how far Roman tolerance of the Jewish religious system went.
According to Les, during the years between the crucifixion and the destruction of the temple, huge sums of money came from far ends of the Roman Empire for the temple, and Rome never intercepted a dime. Rome guaranteed safe arrival of the offerings and, for the most part, gave Jewish religious people their freedom.
In Paul's defense before King Agrippa, he said he thought he ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, and he did so in Jerusalem, imprisoning Jewish believers with authority received from the chief priests. This scriptural record shows that in the early years, Jewish religious leaders, not Roman authorities, were the ones acting against the church, and Rome allowed that Jewish jurisdiction to operate.
Paul's Authority from the Chief Priests
Les shows that Paul's persecution of Jewish believers was done with authority from the chief priests, not Rome, demonstrating that Rome tolerated Jewish religious jurisdiction.
Rome's Respect for Ancient Religions
Les explains that Romans respected ancient religions and therefore put up with Judaism, but Christianity was new, so Rome tried to stamp it out and persecuted Christians while leaving Jews alone.
Rome Protected Judaism but Persecuted Christianity
Les says Rome protected the temple offerings and Jewish religion, but Christianity was seen as relatively new and claimed a King above Rome, which infuriated Rome.
Rome's Due Respect for Ancient Religion
Les says the Roman authorities guaranteed safe arrival of temple offerings and had due respect for any ancient religion, but Christianity was new and they tried to stamp it out.
Rome's General Tolerance of Jewish Religious Freedom
Les notes that for the most part the Roman Empire gave Jewish religious people their freedom, even while it was beginning to turn on Christianity.
Jews Could Execute Their Own Under Rome
Les points out that a Jew would never have gotten away with stoning a Gentile, but Jews were permitted to kill their own in the name of their religion because Rome let them handle their religious system.
What Does "Only Begotten Son of God" Really Mean?
All right, now again let's go back to Romans 11, where we were in our last program for just a second. Unfortunately, it didn't always remain that way. Unfortunately, it wasn't long after Christianity began to permeate the Roman Empire, that instead of causing the Jew to envy, it caused the Jew to hate him.
Christianity Seen as an Upstart
Les says since Judaism went back into antiquity, Rome regarded it highly, but Christianity was something new from the upstart of one man, so Rome martyred its adherents without compunction.
Acts 26:9-10: I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
Paul is explaining that his persecution of Jewish believers was carried out under the authority of the chief priests, showing that Rome tolerated Jewish religious jurisdiction over their own people.
According to Les Feldick, yes. Rome let the Jewish people carry out capital punishment in the name of their religion. Paul said he received authority from the chief priests to imprison Jewish believers, and Les notes Rome would never have allowed that kind of thing to happen to a Gentile.
Les explains that the Romans had respect for ancient religions, including their own mythologies, and Judaism was ancient. But Christianity made its appearance under the Roman Empire as something new, not an ancient religion, so Rome tried every which way to stamp it out.
Yes, Les teaches that during the years between the crucifixion and the destruction of the temple, Rome never intercepted the tithes and offerings sent to the temple, and even guaranteed their safe arrival. For the most part, the Roman Empire gave Jewish religious people their freedom.
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