The Unlikely Worship of Jesus: Insights from Roman Critiques and Jewish Doubts

The idea that Jesus of Nazareth was worshiped as divine within a few decades of His death challenges many assumptions about early Christianity. Non-Christian Roman and Jewish sources provide surprising evidence that early followers regarded Jesus not just as a teacher but as a god. This post explores how hostile witnesses—Roman officials, Jewish scholars, and critics—acknowledged this worship, revealing why it was so remarkable and controversial in the ancient world.

Early Roman Observations of Jesus Worship

One of the clearest non-Christian attestations comes from Pliny the Younger, a Roman governor writing around AD 112. In a letter to Emperor Trajan, Pliny described Christians meeting before dawn to sing hymns to Christ as if He were a god. This is significant for several reasons:

• Pliny was a Roman official, not a Christian. His account is an outsider’s observation, lending credibility to the claim.

• The worship of Jesus occurred only about 80 years after His death, showing rapid development of Christian belief.

• The early Christians risked persecution by openly worshiping Jesus, which was illegal and dangerous in the Roman Empire.

  
  

Pliny’s testimony confirms that Jesus was not merely a respected teacher but an object of divine worship very early on.

Why Would Monotheistic Jews Worship Jesus?

Jewish tradition strictly forbids worshiping anyone but God. So what could explain the willingness of early Jewish followers to worship Jesus?

• Jesus claimed divinity, which was blasphemous to Jewish leaders.

• The early Christians believed Jesus was the Messiah and God incarnate, a claim that broke Jewish monotheistic norms.

• Many Jews who accepted Jesus as divine faced social ostracism and persecution, yet they remained faithful.

  
  

This devotion suggests that early followers experienced something powerful enough to override deeply ingrained religious prohibitions.

Jewish Criticism and Accusations of Blasphemy

Jewish sources like the Talmud refer to Jesus as a sorcerer who misled people. This harsh judgment reflects the threat Jesus posed to established religious authority. The accusations of blasphemy centered on His claim to be God, which was unacceptable in Jewish law.

• The Talmud’s negative portrayal confirms that Jesus’ claims were well known and controversial.

• Jewish leaders saw the worship of Jesus as a dangerous deviation from true faith.

• The hostility towards Jesus and His followers highlights the radical nature of early Christian belief.

  
  

Roman Philosophers Mock the Idea of a Divine Crucified Man

Roman critics also ridiculed Christians for worshiping a crucified Jew. The philosopher Celsus, writing around AD 248, mocked the idea that a recently executed man could be God. His words reveal:

• The claim of Jesus’ divinity was widely known and debated.

• The ridicule shows that the belief was seen as absurd and threatening to Roman religious and political order.

• Celsus’ criticism indirectly confirms that Christians truly worshiped Jesus as divine.

  
  

This mockery underscores how revolutionary and difficult the early Christian claim was to accept in the Roman world.

Why Did So Many Die Rather Than Deny Jesus?

The willingness of early Christians to face persecution and death rather than renounce their faith is striking. If Jesus were only a good teacher, why risk everything?

• Martyrdom suggests a deep conviction in Jesus’ divine identity.

• The strength of early Christian witness supports the reality of their beliefs.

• Hostile sources acknowledging this devotion add weight to the historical reliability of early Christian claims.

  
  

What This Means for Understanding Early Christianity

The evidence from Roman and Jewish critics shows that early Christians worshiped Jesus as God despite great risks. This worship was not a later invention but a reality within a generation of Jesus’ life.

• Non-Christian sources provide independent confirmation of early Christian beliefs.

• The hostility and mockery from enemies highlight the disruptive impact of Jesus’ claims.

• Understanding this context helps explain the rapid growth and resilience of Christianity.

  
  

The early worship of Jesus was unlikely in the eyes of many contemporaries, but it was real and powerful enough to change history.