The Cursus Honorum

Roman citizens lived and died by what they called The Cursus Honorum, or The Path of Honor. It represented the hopes and dreams of Romans in the same way that the American Dream represents many of the hopes of the average American. The higher your status in the Empire, the higher the honor you received, the more you mattered, and the less you were subjected to the brutality and violence of those above you.

There were four ways to raise your status:

1) Connections to those of high status.

Being born in a great city like Alexandria, Pompeii, or Rome was always helpful, as was being born to a great family of high pedigree. Many would openly trace their lineage to great people as a claim of great importance (one reason there are genealogies throughout the scriptures).
But table fellowship would suffice for those not privileged by birth circumstances. Regularly sharing a meal at the table of higher-status Romans was an effective way to climb the ladder.

2) Great Rhetorical Skills

Many climbed the ladder by displaying impressive skills at rhetoric; delivering a brilliant and moving speech on the virtues of friendship or love, impressing the elites with a rousing speech about the greatness of the empire could earn you an audience at the dinner part of great people.

3) Avoiding Manual Labor

High-status Romans did not work with their hands but with their minds (see point two above). To do the work of a carpenter, a tent-maker, or a servant was certain to earn you the disdain of the powerful.

4) Military Success

Wielding a sword in a victory for the Empire against Rome’s enemy’s was one of the quickest steps to receiving honor, and few carried a higher status than a centurion.

The Cursus Crusis

The Christians rejected the “pattern of this world,” as Paul puts it (Romans 12:1), in exchange for The Cursus Crucis, or The Path of the Cross. It worked exactly opposite to what we see in Rome, and The Path of the Cross included but was not limited to, engaging in acts that embodied the exact opposite of the powers in Rome.

1) Sharing the table with the poor, sinners, and low-status people.

“When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors… 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14, and you will be blessed.” (Lk 14:12–14).

“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Mt 9:11)

2) Teaching and preaching that inspires and encourages the poor and lowly.

Jesus is regularly depicted throughout the Gospels as gathering the poor and treating them like others treat the rich, blessing and affirming them.

Matthew 5:1-8
‘Wonderful news for the poor! The kingdom of heaven is yours.
‘Wonderful news for the mourners! You’re going to be comforted.
‘Wonderful news for the meek! You’re going to inherit the earth
‘Wonderful news for people who hunger and thirst for God’s justice!
You’re going to be satisfied.
‘Wonderful news for the merciful! You’ll receive mercy yourselves.
‘Wonderful news for the pure in heart! You will see God.

3) Serving those Lower than Yourself.

John 13:4–5
he got up from the meal, removed his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel wrapped around him.

4) Loving Your Enemies, Rejecting Violence

The symbol of the Christians was the cross, the most shameful thing one could endure in the Roman empire. They made it their own and claimed its status as their goal. As violent as Rome is, that is how peaceful the Christians strove to be, rejecting the drive to conquer their enemies and loving them instead.

Matthew 26:52
Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place! For all who take hold of the sword will die by the sword.

Matthew 5:38
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

The Christians' upside-down quest was inspired by Jesus' resurrection. They believed that the only way to release God's power for reconciliation and healing was through acts inspired by or shaped like the cross when the body of Christ (the church) is broken and poured out for the world. They believed that the cross was the world's hope and that God revealed this when he raised Jesus from the dead.

Discussion Questions:

1) Which New Testament passages come to life or find new meaning in light of the Path of the Cross?
Think of Paul’s tentmaking trade / “let the children come to me” / Mary & Martha / Zacchaeus / the Ethiopian Eunuch / Etc.

2) If you grew up in the church, is there one path you were encouraged to walk over another?

3) What is the modern-day equivalent of Table Fellowship?

4) What might the Path of the Cross look like today?