The persecution of Christians which began in Rome in the wake of the Great Fire of A.D. 64 has spread to other parts of the empire. Several of the apostles, including Peter and Paul in Rome, are now numbered among the martyrs. There is as yet no universal official imperial order to arrest all Christians or destroy the new Christian ‘sect’ outright though, following the example of Nero, a growing number of Roman magistrates throughout the empire have apparently found it politically advantageous to question the patriotism or loyalty of Christians in their locale. Fear grows and rumors fly. The immanent parousia of Jesus which some had anticipated has not occurred, and many Christians are at a loss as to how to respond to the prospect of possible arrest, torture, and execution.
“A passerby, one Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), is coming in from the country. They conscript him to carry His cross.” Mark 15:21
“Greet Rufus, summoned in the Lord; and his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.” Romans 16:13
Assignment
Pretend that you are Rufus, a Christian living in Rome. It has been nearly a year since the Great Fire of July 64. Recently, in a house church outside Rome, you heard Mark read his new ‘gospel’ during the Sunday Eucharist (Mass), before departing for Alexandria. You also heard a reading of the letter Peter sent to Christians in Asia Minor (‘1 Peter’). Since persecutions have spread to other parts of the Roman Empire, you have decided to write to Albus, a business acquaintance in Crete, offering him guidance based on what Mark and Peter wrote in their gospel and letter, respectively.
Write a letter to your Christian business acquaintance, Albus. In the letter, use the Gospel of Mark and 1 Peter to ● encourage Albus and the Christians in Crete to remain faithful followers of Jesus as clouds of harassment and perhaps even death loom large for them, and ● give them arguments which they can use when conversing with their non-Christian Roman friends and neighbors (including government officials) with respect to the relationship between themselves and the government of Rome. Show the Cretian Christians how the contents of the Gospel of Mark can assuage the fears of their Roman friends and neighbors with respect to Christianity, and help them face persecution, arrest, and execution if that be God’s will. Your arguments must build upon the messages, incidents, and themes which are treated in the Gospel of Mark and 1 Peter, ● using both positive and negative examples from the Gospel of Mark (especially the Passion material in chapters 14 and 15).
You are to use no sources for your letter other than your class notes, the class slides, and the Gospel of Mark. Your letter must have a clear THESIS in the first paragraph and must utilize numerous examples from the Gospel of Mark to back up your claims. Use direct quotes sparingly.
