Was the biblical Paul a Roman citizen or not?

[Estro Felino]

Yes...he was.
And modern historians agree on the fact that Roman citizenship could be gained by "Asiatici" (name given to those of the provinces of Asia) either by bribing a local administrator or by showing blind loyalty to the Empire.
Evidently Saul's family was a prestigious family that served the Roman authorities of Syria, where Tartos was.

 

[Estro Felino]

Maybe Pauls's grandfather or someone like that served in the Roman army. Julius caesar was known to have granted citizenship of such.

Not in the legions. Those were for Romans only.

 

[columbus]

How was Paul anti-imperialist?

He obviously wasn't at first.

But if you have any idea what a Messiah is, you'd easily see why Paul is an anti-Pagan, anti-Roman operative when he's a Christian proselytizer.
Tom

 

[Ebionite]

But if you have any idea what a Messiah is, you'd easily see why Paul is an anti-Pagan, anti-Roman operative when he's a Christian proselytizer.

Christianity and Messianism are different things. Paul's appeal to Caesar was implicit endorsement of the authority of Rome.

 

[sooda]

Not in the legions. Those were for Romans only.

When Jerusalem was sacked and the Templed destroyed Syrians, Egyptians and Arabs fought under the command of Titus. They were part of the Roman Empire.

 

[columbus]

Christianity and Messianism are different things. Paul's appeal to Caesar was implicit endorsement of the authority of Rome.

Could you explain these opinions more thoroughly?

It's extremely different from what I was taught by Christians.

Are you a Christian, by your own lights?
Tom

 

[sooda]

Christianity and Messianism are different things. Paul's appeal to Caesar was implicit endorsement of the authority of Rome.

Paul tried to persuade Nero not to kill him.

Paul Before Nero. First, Nero was the Caesar to whom Paul appealed when he was unjustly accused by the Jews and falsely imprisoned (cf. Acts 25:11). The apostle was taken to Rome and kept under guard for two years (Acts 28:30), before Nero finally heard his case.

 

[columbus]

The apostle was taken to Rome and kept under guard for two years (Acts 28:30), before Nero finally heard his case.

Do you believe everything you read in the New Testament?
I don't.
Tom

 

[Ebionite]

Could you explain these opinions more thoroughly?

It's not really an opinion, the Jewish idea of a messiah is incompatible with the Christian idea of Christ. Shedding innocent blood is incompatible with justice and is repudiated by the Jewish prophets.

Are you a Christian, by your own lights?

No.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Josephus was.
Josephus - Wikipedia

After he defected. His case seems to be the exception rather than the norm. At least in terms of acquiring full citizenship.

 

[Estro Felino]

When Jerusalem was sacked and the Templed destroyed Syrians, Egyptians and Arabs fought under the command of Titus. They were part of the Roman Empire.

Auxialiary troops

 

[columbus]

It's not really an opinion, the Jewish idea of a messiah is incompatible with the Christian idea of Christ.

Well, it is an opinion.

Jesus was no messiah. Not by Jewish standards.
But Christians changed the meaning of the word.

And created a religion!
Tom

 

[Ebionite]

Well, it is an opinion.

Wrong, I wasn't talking about Jesus.

Jesus was no messiah.

According to Daniel he was. Nobody else confirmed the covenant.

 

[columbus]

According to Daniel he was. Nobody else confirmed the covenant.

I don't think that this is even close to true.

But, whatever. You seem to have your own religion, which is fine with me.
I think all religionists do.

Oh well.
Just don't tell me how to live my life based on your unsupported opinions and we'll get along fine.

Tom

 

[Ebionite]

I don't think that this is even close to true.

Facts are facts.

And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself ...
Daniel 9:26

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week ...
Daniel 9:27

For this is my blood of the new testament[diatheke=covenant], which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Matthew 26:28

 

[firedragon]

Not in the legions. Those were for Romans only.

Roman citizens you mean.

Anyway thats not relevant.

 

[sooda]

Auxialiary troops

The four auxiliary units that reinforced Titus’ army during the siege of Jerusalem were donated by four Roman client kings Antiochus, Agrippa II, Sohemus and Malchus.

 

[blü 2]

Scholars would agree that while not impossible , it would have been unlikely.

Paul and Roman Citizenship

Could a Jew even be a Roman citizen?

Thanks for the link.

Yes, I think the conclusion is fair, Paul was probably not a Roman citizen, but it can't be ruled out so we can't know for sure.

Nor, as your link points out, is the author of Luke an accurate historian, rather a spin merchant. We get a hint of this when he opens by asserting the contrary.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

Some of the garrisons who served under Titus were Syrian, Egypt and Arabs of the Roman Empire. It was a path to Roman citizenship.

If you enlisted in the auxilia you got citizenship on your discharge. But a Jew would hardly enlist, because of the religious ceremonies involved.

 

[RabbiO]

If you enlisted in the auxilia you got citizenship on your discharge. But a Jew would hardly enlist, because of the religious ceremonies involved.

It is not usually wise to make a blanket assumption about what any individual Jew would or would not do.