AMICUS POPULI ROMANI

AMICUS  POPULI  ROMANI

Press release № 102 E

1. Prophaners teach, that the Romans came to Jerusalem as aggressors, invaders and conquerors. The Divine Revelation shows that such position is the lie.

2. The Maccabees books say, that Judas Maccabaeus sent the ambassadors (“apostles”) to Rome to ask about signing of a treaty between the Roman Republic and Judaea (watch 1 Maccabees, 8). This treaty was, as Vulgata says, to “constituere … amicitiam et societatem” (1 Mac. 8:17).

3. Juridically (in the Roman Law) it meant to establish the so called “union of friendship” – “foedus amicitae”. The union was signed and, as a result, Judaea received the status of “the Friend of the Roman People” – “Amicus Populi Romani”.

The text of the treaty was written on the copper tables to be established in Jerusalem (1 Mac. 8:22); it was also sent to the leaders of the foreign states (1 Mac. 8:31); full text of the treaty was incorporated into the Bible (1 Mac. 8).

4. “The union of friendship” in the Roman Law was not a mere expression of emotion. The people or the state to receive the status of “Amicus Populi Romani” was becoming the protectorate of Rome. The famous Roman jurist Ulpian wrote (D. 3, 1, 1, 2), that “the friend” (amicus) had the right of “postulare”, i. e. the right to express the demands of his “friend” or to contradict the demands of the other persons, concerning his “friend”. In modern language it means, that Rome received the right to represent the Judaea’s interests in the sphere of international relations and in the military one.

Such a situation was necessary to Judas Maccabaeus, to his brethren, to all Hasmonean and Herodian rulers for defending of the Judaea religious freedom, for rededicating of the Jerusalem Temple, for liquidating of the “abomination that maketh desolate” (Dan. 11:31), i. e. of the Seleucid idolatry of the Syro-Macedonian kingdom.

5. The “Union of Friendship”, signed with Rome by Judas Maccabaeus apostles, was a success: it let demolish the Seleucid kingdom and keep the religious and civil peace in Judaea (and all Syria and Palestine) for about 200 years. Namely on the basis of this treaty the Temple rulers brought Christ to Pontius Pilate.

6. Pilate did “find in him no fault at all” (John, 18:38). But the high priest and his ministers made at this moment a very peculiar step, saying: “If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend” (John, 19:12).

The prophaners teach, it was a mere emotional expression. But it was not so. It was a very important juridical declaration – the attempt to use the special act of the Roman Law, called “renuntiatio amicitiae” (i. e. the “breaking of a friendship”). It meant the following: the high officials of the Roman state received the title of “Amici Augusti” (i. e. the “Friends of the August”). The public declaration about breaking of this “friendship” – “renuntiatio amicitiae” – meant the Caesar’s order to the official to commit a suicide! Thus, Pilate was black-mailed by the Temple congregation rulers, using the Roman laws about “friendship”, to crucify Christ. And Pilate replied to the Temple congregation with the recognition of Jesus to be “The King of the Jews” (John, 19:19). It was a great revelation. And when the Temple rulers tried to make Pilate reject this recognition and change the inscription on the cross, Pilate expelled them with the reply: “What I have written I have written” (John, 19:22) – in Latin: “Quod scripsi scripsi”.

7. Therefore, comparing the Maccabees and the Gospels one can clearly see, that the Evangelical events were going on not in the situation of the Roman conquest – aggression – invasion at all. No, they were going on in the situation of the Judaea to be “Amicus Populi Romani” and of the Rome to protect the Temple congregation religious freedoms and rights.

8. One accent else must be put on. Prophaners teach, that Maccabees, not being “the first canon books”, produce the doubt, if they are the God-inspired ones at all. I must say, that every Christian is to believe, that the God Almighty has created all out of nothing, i. e. to believe in exnihilation. And only Maccabees give the Biblical foundation for such a belief. In 2 Mac. 7:28 it is written (V): “ex nihilo fecit illo Deus” (i. e. “out of nothing created all the God”). Thus, those not to work with the Maccabees give the ground to the demiurgic idolatry!

9. Peace unto you! (John, 20:19).

ARM (www.ARM.org)             Nicholas E. Alyoshin

Russia mission

chaplain-director,

Dr. Sc.

(e-mail: isaurian@gmail.com

blog: isaurian.blogspot.com)