Ep 3. Humans as Gods in the Greco-Roman World

In episode 3 of How Jesus Became God season 1, titled "Humans as Gods in the Greco-Roman World," we are taken on a journey to explore the cultural and religious context in which the idea of Jesus as a divine being emerged. The episode focuses on the Greco-Roman world, which was characterized by a plethora of gods and goddesses, many of whom were believed to have been born to mortal mothers, just like Jesus.

The show examines the concept of apotheosis, which was the process by which humans were elevated to the status of the gods in the Greco-Roman world. Many emperors, for example, were deified after their deaths, and their images and idols were worshipped in the same way as the gods. This practice had a profound influence on the early Christian church and its beliefs about Jesus.

The episode takes us back to the third century BCE, when Alexander the Great conquered much of the known world, and Greek culture spread far and wide. The Greeks brought with them their pantheon of gods and goddesses, many of whom were human-like in their form and behavior. The show explores the ways in which the Greeks and Romans conceptualized their gods and how these ideas were later adopted and adapted by Christian theologians.

We are introduced to the concept of the divine hero, a figure who had both human and divine qualities. Examples of divine heroes include Hercules, who was the son of Zeus and a mortal woman, and Achilles, who was the son of a mortal king and a sea-nymph. These figures were revered for their strength, bravery, and otherworldly qualities, and they were believed to have the power to bridge the gap between mortal and divine realms.

The episode also examines the ways in which Greco-Roman beliefs about the afterlife influenced Christian ideas about heaven and the resurrection. In ancient Greece, for example, the realm of the dead was ruled by Hades, the brother of Zeus, and those who had lived virtuous lives were rewarded with eternal life in the Elysian Fields. Similarly, Christians believed that Jesus had conquered death and promised eternal life to those who followed his teachings.

The show also explores the artistic representations of gods and heroes in the Greco-Roman world, such as the famous statue of Apollo in the Vatican Museum. These artworks served as powerful symbols of the divine and were often used in religious rituals and ceremonies.

Overall, Humans as Gods in the Greco-Roman World offers a fascinating look at the cultural context in which the idea of Jesus as a divine being emerged. Through its exploration of the complex and multifaceted beliefs of the ancient Greeks and Romans, the episode sheds light on the ways in which these ideas influenced the development of Christianity and the veneration of Jesus as a God.