In 41 CE, Claudius succeeded Caligula as emperor of the Roman Empire. He remained in power until 54 CE—thus making him emperor through at least four books of the New Testament: James, Galatians, First and Second Thessalonians—with 1 Corinthians perhaps being a fifth.

 

Claudius was a bit of an awkward man before his ascension, and it seems was never even considered to be in line for the throne. But when the Praetorian murdered Caligula, it was to him that they turned as a replacement. 

 

He didn’t appear to be concerned with religion but wasn’t above getting involved in it when Roman stability was concerned. He put down anti-Roman movements in Britian and the Druids who had encouraged them—doing similarly in Gaul. Interestingly, Claudius expanded Roman protection of Jewish religious rights in Egypt yet decides to do something that has a great impact on Christianity: He expels the Jews from Rome. (Spoiler alert: This decision undergirds Paul’s letter to the Romans.) 

 

It is another of his decisions—although an indirect one—that has a much greater impact on the Church and on the faith: He appoints Herod the Great’s grandson, Agrippa, King of Judea.

 

Herod Agrippa I was King of Judea from 41-44 CE. He was the nephew of Herod Antipas of Galilee—the Herod that killed John the Baptist and had a part to play in Jesus’ execution.  He befriended Caligula while Tiberius was emperor—and upon Caligula’s rise to power, received his uncle Philip’s holdings in northeastern Judea. Antipas, his other uncle, protested this decision to Caligula—and was banished for it, and then Galilee was given to Agrippa as well. 

 

Caligula decided to restore Herod the Great’s throne to him but was assassinated before this could take place. But since Agrippa supported Claudius to become emperor he was named king of Judea with Samaria added to his kingdom. 

 

As king, Agrippa viciously oppressed Jewish Christians; in fact, the whole of Acts chapter twelve: the execution of James Son of Zebedee and the arrest of Peter is about him. Herod Agrippa I died while hosting a series of games in Caesarea, held to honor Claudius: most likely a victim of assassination. And we see how this impacts the first Christians in the opening chapters of James.

 

James is writing to Jewish Christians in the Diaspora—in the Roman empire outside of Jerusalem. Christians that are facing much persecution. Jewish Christians were exiled from Rome by Claudius just like all the other Jews. 

 

So these Christians would be most concerned with a practical theology. How do we live out our new faith in a world that seems against us anywhere we turn? How do I remain faithful?