Marcus Aurelius Bronze Equestrian Statue

Marcus Aurelius - Gilded Bronze Equestrian Statue. Capitoline Hill. circa A.D. 161-180. Statue was placed in the Campidoglio by Michelangelo in the 16th century (ca. 1537)

Marcus Aurelius was very hostile to Christianity and persecuted the Christians heavily, considering them a threat to the established order of the empire.

Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus became the Emperor of Rome in 161 A.D. He was a man who truly wanted peace within the Roman Empire, but in order to accomplish this he had to spend most of his entire reign protecting the borders of the Empire. He was forced to wage war with the Parthians from 161 A.D. until 165 A.D., and his campaign was very successful. The downside was that his soldiers brought back with them a killer plague which swept through the entire Empire and killed thousands of Romans. This was not the only disaster during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, there were earthquakes, floods, and much famine. From 167 A.D. to 180 A.D. there was continual fighting in the north along the Danube River border. So much money had been spent on these wars that Marcus Aurelius had to hold a personal auction for his own possessions in the Forum, which he later bought back. There is much revealed about his character in his work called "Meditations" in literary history, but called by him "To Himself". During childhood he studied literature, drama, philosophy, music, science, mathematics, and oratory from the greatest teachers throughout the empire. By the time he was 12 years old he favored Stoicism. He considers himself sincere, honest, and a "citizen of the world" struggling with problems like life-and-death.

Marcus Aurelius was very hostile to Christianity and persecuted the Christians heavily, considering them a threat to the established order of the empire. He was a very devoted Emperor paying careful attention to internal administration, taxation, and the legal system. He was the last of the "five good emperors" although he was blinded to the failures of his son, Commodus, who he made co-Emperor in 177 A.D. In 180 A.D. Marcus Aurelius died of the plague and the throne went to his unworthy son Commodus.

A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field." Isa. 40:6

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The Bible mentions a lot regarding Rome:

Acts 23:11 - And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

2 Timothy 4:22 - The Lord Jesus Christ [be] with thy spirit. Grace [be] with you. Amen. <[The second [epistle] unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.]>

Acts 18:2 - And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

Colossians 4:18 - The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace [be] with you. Amen. <[Written from Rome to Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.]>

Ephesians 6:24 - Grace [be] with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. <[To [the] Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.]>

Philemon 1:25 - The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit. Amen. <[Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.]>

Acts 2:10 - Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

Acts 19:21 - After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

Acts 28:16 - And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

Romans 1:7 - To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called [to be] saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 6:18 - Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit. Amen. <[To [the] Galatians written from Rome.]>

Philippians 4:23 - The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen. <[To [the] Philippians written from Rome, by Epaphroditus.]>

Acts 28:14 - Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

Romans 1:15 - So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

2 Timothy 1:17 - But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found [me].