IMAGE INSIGHTS (Arch of Titus and 2 Corinthians 2:14): The Arch of Titus with its depiction of the Jewish menorah and table of showbread reminds us of the fulfillment of a prophecy made by Jesus in Matthew 24. Longing to throw-off Roman hegemony which had been in place in Israel since 63 BC, the Jews revolted and fought bitterly against the armies who had occupied their land. Vespasian and Titus, of the Flavian dynasty that ruled the Roman empire from AD 69-96, reconquered much of the territory lost to the Jewish zealots and then laid siege to the holy city of Jerusalem. In AD 70, the beautiful Herodian temple complex in Jerusalem was destroyed and utterly decimated. After many days of brutal fighting the beloved city of the Jews fell and the temple was robbed of its costly furnishings and placed on display in a victory march through the Roman Forum and up to Capitoline Hill where sacrifices were made to Jupiter, the protector of the Roman armies. The victory parade was memorialized with an arched stone monument erected in AD 81 and placed along the Sacred Way in the Roman Forum. The arch of Titus, along with the findings of archaeology at the site of the temple in Jerusalem, testify to fulfillment of what Jesus had prophesied nearly 40 years earlier.
Could it be that we as Christians are the spoils of war captured by Jesus, and that are proudly placed on display as those who belong to Him?
The Arch of Titus likewise reminds us of some of the practices and culture encountered by Christians living in the first three centuries following Christ. Triumphal victory parades were not uncommon and had been done with previous wars won by the Romans. Thus, the practice of triumphal processions and the imagery used from these events by Paul in his letters to the church at Corinth and Colossae would have been familiar. It could be that Paul was referring to these types of parades when he penned 2 Corinthians 2:14 and Colossians 2:15. Could it be that we as Christians are the spoils of war captured by Jesus, and that are proudly placed on display as those who belong to Him?
In addition to the scene of soldiers carrying spoils from the temple in a victory celebration, there are other bible connections that can be deduced from the arch as well. Sculpted panels on the under belly of the arch and on the column opposite the menorah depict Titus being crowned with a victory wreath by the goddess Nike, his riding a four-horse chariot being led by the war god Roma, and his deification to god-like status symbolized by eagles carrying him into the heavens. Each of these scenes and their symbols have a bearing on interpreting the book of Revelation (see Revelation 2:10, 6:2-8), and likewise remind us of the challenges that the early Christians faced living in cities where the emperors of Rome were worshipped as gods.
By John W. Moore
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