The Roman Origin of Christianity: The Story of Arrius Piso and Flavius Josephus
The Roman Origin of Christianity: The Story of Arrius Piso and Flavius Josephus
In the middle of the 1st century CE, the powerful Roman Piso family emerged victorious in the bloody “Judean Wars.” After defeating the Jews in a series of brutal battles, Rome’s legions destroyed the sacred Jewish temples, executed community leaders, and forced the remainder of the population into servitude under the Empire’s authority.
At that time, roughly 70% of the Roman Empire’s population were servants or slaves, hailing from a variety of conquered cultures and faiths. Though Jews made up only about 10% of that number, Rome noticed something that alarmed them: Judaism was quietly spreading. Other oppressed peoples, drawn to its moral laws and strong communal identity, were converting.
For the Romans, this was a dangerous development. Jewish religious law was not compatible with the institutionalized slavery that fueled the Empire. If enough of the enslaved converted to Judaism, Rome feared another mass uprising was inevitable.
A Political Solution Disguised as Religion
Enter Arrius Piso, a wealthy Roman aristocrat with a plan. Piso’s idea was to create a new faith—one rooted in Jewish tradition to appeal to existing converts, yet altered in such a way that it pacified rather than empowered.
This new doctrine would retain the moral and spiritual framework of Judaism but emphasize submission, forgiveness, and obedience to authority—traits Rome desired in its subjects. This creation is what we know today as Christianity.
Blending the Old with the New
Evidence of this synthesis can be seen in the seamless transition between the Old Testament and the New Testament. At the close of the Old Testament, God gives the Covenant to the prophet Joshua. In Hebrew, Joshua’s name is Yehoshua—the same root as Yehshua, or Jesus—both meaning “salvation.”
In the New Testament, Jesus is described as the “Word made flesh”, effectively becoming the living embodiment of the Covenant. To strengthen the illusion of authenticity, the narrative was tied to real historical figures such as Herod and Gamaliel, even though the central characters and events were carefully constructed.
The Role of Flavius Josephus
The Romans understood that the Jewish people would never accept a religious text from an outsider. So Piso turned to one of their most valuable captives—Flavius Josephus, a respected Jewish general and historian.
Josephus was compelled to craft the New Testament, weaving in elements of Jewish tradition, prophetic fulfillment, and Roman political messaging. After its creation, other rabbis and Jewish leaders—also under Roman influence—were forced to teach this doctrine. Over time, both Jews and the broader enslaved population became self-indoctrinated, carrying forward the Roman-approved interpretation of divine law.
The Lasting Legacy
What began as a political strategy to control a potentially rebellious population evolved into one of the most influential religions in history. The story of Christianity’s alleged Roman design—shaped by Piso, penned by Josephus, and spread through the Empire—remains a controversial but compelling lens through which to view early Church history.
