Before Jerusalem Fell
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Before Jerusalem Fell

by Kenneth L. Gentry by Kenneth L. Gentry

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T4.e Contempora~ Integrigv of the Temple 179 readily.GO Barnes added to these the reference to one Fortunatus (a friend of Paul in 54, cf. 1 Cor. 16:17), the selection of Claudis and Valerius (who were of the household of Claudius the Emperor, according to Lightioot) as messengers, and other such indications .61 Third, in 1 Clement 5:1 we read: “But to pass from the examples of ancient days, let us come to those champions who lived nearest our times. Let us set before us the noble examples which belong to our generation. By reason of jealously and envy the greatest and most righteous pillars of the church were persecuted, and contended even unto death. Let us set before our eyes the good Apostles.” Clement thereupon mentions the deaths of Peter and Paul, which indisputably indicates that he is referring to the Neronic persecution. The fact that he mentions the deaths of “the good Apostles” in “our generation” suggests a very recent occurrence that is quite compatible with a date around A.D. 69 or 70. And although possible, the “generation” would be on the outside reach of a date of A.D. 96 (which would be close to thirty years after the events). Furthermore, it is more than a little interesting that Clement names a few of those who died in the Neronian persecution. In 1 Clement 5 he names Peter and Paul, but also in 1 Clement 6 we read of the names of a couple of other martyrs now virtually unknown, Danaids and Dircae. It is quite remarkable that he cites names of those involved in the Neronian persecution that allegedly occurred about thirty years previous to his own day, but that he is strangely silent about the names of those who died in the Domitianic persecution – even though they are supposed to have been prominent members of his own congregation! In both sections five and six Clement devotes many sentences to explication of these Neronian woes. But it is quite curious, on the supposition of a Domitianic date, that in 1 Clement 1 he uses only ten words (in the Greek) to refer to the Domitianic persecution, the persecution through which he and many of his friends were allegedly going. That reference reads: “by reason of the sudden and successive troubles and calamities which have befidlen us.” If the letter were written sometime approaching or in early A.D. 70, however, then the first, fifth, and sixth sections would all speak of the Neronian persecu- 60. Ibid., pp. 194~ 61. Barnes, Chri.rtiani~ at Rome, pp. 213ff.

180 BEFORE JERUSALEM FELL tion. In the course of its long history the city of Rome had never witnessed so many “sudden and successive troubles and calamities” among its population generally and for the Christians particularly than in the later Neronian period, the era that eventually issued forth in the chaotic Year of the Four 13mperors. Tacitus introduces Rome’s history after the death of Nero thus: I proceed to a work rich in disasters, fill of atrocious battles, of discord and rebellion, yea, horrible even in peace. Four princes killed by the sword; three civil wars, several foreign wars; and mostly raging at the same time. Favorable events in the East [the Jewish War won], unfortunate ones in the West. Illyria disturbed, Gaul uneasy; Britain conquered and soon relinquished; the nations of Sarmatia and Suevia rising against us; the Parthians excited by the deception of a pseudo- Nero. Italy also weighed down by new or oft-repeated calamities; cities swallowed up or buried in ruins; Rome laid waste by conflagrations, the old temples burned up, even the capitol set on fire by citizens; sanctuaries desecrated; adultery rampant in high places. The seas filled with exiles; the rocky islands contaminated with murder. Still more horrible the fury in the city. Nobility, riches, places of honor, whether declined or occupied, counted as crimes, and virtue sure of destruction.62 Of this period it truly may be said that “there is scarcely another period in history so full of vice, corruption, and disaster as the six years between the Neronian persecution and the destruction ofJerusalem.”e3 Nothing approaching this chaos or even hinting at this level of upheaval was remotely associated with Domitian’s death. Combining the Neronian persecution begun in A.D. 64 or 65 with the Roman Civil War in A.D. 68-69, all becomes very clear. Finally, there is the very Temple reference in question in 1 Clement 41 (cited above). It may be that an “ideal present” is intended by Clement; but all things considered, the reference to the Temple services as if they were still being conducted is best construed as demanding a pre-August, A.D. 70 dating. Edmundson insists that “it is difficult to see how the evidential value of c. xii. can be explained away. “64 62. Histories 1:2 63. Philip Schaff, Histoy of tb Christian Church, 8 vols. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, [1910] 1950) 1:391. 64. Edmundson, Church in Row, p. 193.

180 BEFORE JERUSALEM FELL<br />

tion. In the course of its long history the city of Rome had never<br />

witnessed so many “sudden and successive troubles and calamities”<br />

among its population generally and for the Christians particularly<br />

than in the later Neronian period, the era that eventually issued forth<br />

in the chaotic Year of the Four 13mperors. Tacitus introduces Rome’s<br />

history after the death of Nero thus:<br />

I proceed to a work rich in disasters, fill of atrocious battles, of<br />

discord and rebellion, yea, horrible even in peace. Four princes killed<br />

by the sword; three civil wars, several foreign wars; and mostly raging<br />

at the same time. Favorable events in the East [the Jewish War won],<br />

unfortunate ones in the West. Illyria disturbed, Gaul uneasy; Britain<br />

conquered and soon relinquished; the nations of Sarmatia and Suevia<br />

rising against us; the Parthians excited by the deception of a pseudo-<br />

Nero. Italy also weighed down by new or oft-repeated calamities;<br />

cities swallowed up or buried in ruins; Rome laid waste by conflagrations,<br />

the old temples burned up, even the capitol set on fire by<br />

citizens; sanctuaries desecrated; adultery rampant in high places. The<br />

seas filled with exiles; the rocky islands contaminated with murder.<br />

Still more horrible the fury in the city. Nobility, riches, places of<br />

honor, whether declined or occupied, counted as crimes, and virtue<br />

sure of destruction.62<br />

Of this period it truly may be said that “there is scarcely another<br />

period in history so full of vice, corruption, and disaster as the six<br />

years between the Neronian persecution and the destruction of<strong>Jerusalem</strong>.”e3<br />

Nothing approaching this chaos or even hinting at this level<br />

of upheaval was remotely associated with Domitian’s death. Combining<br />

the Neronian persecution begun in A.D. 64 or 65 with the Roman<br />

Civil War in A.D. 68-69, all becomes very clear.<br />

Finally, there is the very Temple reference in question in 1<br />

Clement 41 (cited above). It may be that an “ideal present” is<br />

intended by Clement; but all things considered, the reference to the<br />

Temple services as if they were still being conducted is best construed<br />

as demanding a pre-August, A.D. 70 dating. Edmundson insists that<br />

“it is difficult to see how the evidential value of c. xii. can be explained<br />

away. “64<br />

62. Histories 1:2<br />

63. Philip Schaff, Histoy of tb Christian Church, 8 vols. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,<br />

[1910] 1950) 1:391.<br />

64. Edmundson, Church in Row, p. 193.

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