The Early Church’s Encounter with the Roman Imperial Cult

The Early Church’s Encounter with the Roman Imperial Cult in the First Century A.D.” This presentation will explore how the earliest followers of Jesus lived and worshiped within the powerful shadow of Rome’s empire, where loyalty to Caesar was not only political but also religious. The lecture will highlight the challenges faced by the first Christians as they confronted the imperial cult—a system that encouraged public displays of honor and sacrifice to the emperor. To bring this history to life, we will draw upon archaeological remains still visible in modern-day Turkey and Greece, from theaters and temples to inscriptions and altars. The lecture will illustrate the environment in which the early church proclaimed that “Jesus is Lord,” a declaration that stood in bold contrast to “Caesar is Lord.” You are invited to join us for this journey into the faith and courage of the early believers.

Dr. Carl Rasmussen

Dr. Carl Rasmussen is Professor Emeritus at Bethel University (St. Paul, MN). He received his Ph.D. in Ancient Near Eastern Studies from The Dropsie University (1981) and ThM and BD degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He was Dean and Instructor at the Institute of Holy Land Studies (1973-1980; now the Jerusalem University College), and Professor of Biblical Studies at Bethel University (1980-2008). He has guided numerous academic and lay groups to the lands of the Bible including: Israel, Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Malta, Italy, and Egypt—spending about 16 years of his adult life in these areas of the world. He is the author of The Zondervan Atlas of the Bible and the Essential Bible Atlas. He is the featured lecturer in the video series Encountering the Holy Land. He was editor of the archaeology, geography, and history content for the modern edition of Halley’s Bible Handbook, and has written articles related to geography and biblical history. He is the founder and provider of images and commentary for his website www.HolyLandPhotos.org.