CONTEXT FOR THE CHRIST EVENT:

Messianism I: Pagan Models

Egypt

As early as the fourth millennium before the common era (BCE), the Egyptians believed that the reigning Pharaoh was the fifth descendant by emanation from the sky god, Atum-Ra.¹ According to one account, Pharaoh’s bride was required to anoint him before their marriage with oil drawn from fat of the holy and deified crocodile (messeh).² In another version, crocodile oil was used to anoint Pharaoh for his coronation.³ Thus, the crocodile god gave up its life to foster the reign of the earthly god, Pharaoh.

The Egyptian term messeh was allegedly adopted by the Hebrews (ca. 1250 BCE) as their mashiach (anointed).⁴ The Hebrew word for “anointed” was then Hellenized by the Greeks to christos and, later, by the English to “messiah” and “Christ.” The association of messeh, mashiach and “messiah” may well have explicit relation to Moses’ lifting up the serpent (= crocodile, etc.) in the wilderness (Numbers 21:9) and to the words of Christ, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent [= crocodile] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up . . . ” (John 3:14).⁵

Persia

At the end of the second millennium BCE, the Persian prophet, Zarathustra, predicted that a Saoshyant (world savior/messiah = “one who will bring benefit”) would be born of a virgin within a thousand years. In order to achieve this, Zarathustra believed that he must leave his sperm in Lake Kasaoya. The sperm would then be miraculously preserved until a virgin would eventually bathe in the lake and become impregnated.⁶

It was in this context that the Persian magi anticipated the imminent coming of the Saoshyant, who they believed would “lead humanity in the last battle against evil.”⁷ The magi explored the relevant astronomical events, then followed the star and came to Bethlehem (ca. 7/6 BCE) in search of the Saoshyant, who proved to be baby Jesus — born of a virgin.⁸

Rome

Shortly after the assassination of Julius Caesar (44 BCE), the Roman Senate met and declared that Julius was god himself.⁹ When his nephew and adopted son, Octavius, succeeded him on the throne, “some men argued that in him [Octavius] the long-awaited Messiah had come, bringing peace and happiness to mankind.”¹⁰ This became widely known as the Pax Romana (Roman Peace). Later, the Roman Senate declared Augustus to be the son of god.¹¹ This was the beginning of the Roman imperial cult, which flourished during and after the time of Christ.

In recognition of the imperial cult, King Herod the Great built three temples or augusteums to Caesar Augustus (ca. 25 BCE) — Caesarea in Judaea, Sebaste in Samaria, and Omrit in Iturea (northern Galilee).¹² When Caesar Augustus accepted his role as the son of god, King Herod the Great of Judea claimed the messiahship and launched the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple (ca. 19 BCE).¹³

Conclusion

From these ancient pagan models, the concept of the messiah involved both divine and human personhood, temple worship, sacrificial death, imperial rulership, liberation of the oppressed, and transformation of Creation.

Endnotes