Roman Imperial Texts: A Sourcebook

8. Year of the Four Emperors

8 Year of the Four Emperors Year of the Four Emperors 68–69 ce Nero took his own life, at age thirty-one, in 68 ce. There followed a year of civil war, when four different men vied in turn for the position of emperor: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. 22. OTHO BRINGS SECURITY TO ROMAN PEOPLE 1 The gospels (messages of good news) that the Roman government spread often included the ideas that peace and security had been achieved. We have already begun to consider the Roman peace in this chapter. But here we may pause to view a coin issued shortly after Paul’s death, during the three months in which Otho was emperor. The obverse reads IMP[ERATOR] M[ARCVS] OTHO CAESAR AVG[VSTVS] TR[IBVNICIA] P[OTESTAS], or “Emperor Marcus Otho, Caesar Augustus, [holds] tribunician power.” The curls in Otho’s hair are to remind people of Nero’s hairstyle. On the reverse side, around the deified virtue Security, who is holding a wreath and a scepter to show her absolute rule, we can read SECVRI-TAS P[OPULI] R[OMANI], or “the security of the Roman people.” Otho’s imperial rule is thus equated with the Roman people’s security. 1. Permission to use photographs of this coin from Pecunem (https://www.pecunem.com/) is gratefully acknowledged. 77 If in your economic and civic worlds you were reminded of how the imperial government provides “security” to you, how would Paul’s caution in 1 Thess. 5:1-8 sound? Into what contexts does Paul place the Roman government’s assurances of peace and security? 78 | Roman Imperial Texts ...