Trump’s imperial golden age
Augustus and Nero also offered peace and security for those who fell in line. Paul critiques them in his epistle to the Romans.
Century illustration (Source images: Getty)
In his victory speech in November, Donald Trump made a promise:
And every citizen, I will fight for you, for your family and your future, every single day I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body. I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe, and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America.
Promises of an American golden age may appear innocent to some. But as a New Testament scholar, I find them unsettling. They remind me of the golden ages heralded by the Roman emperors Augustus and Nero and their supporters. Much like the golden age offered to the United States today, the Roman golden age promised plenty, peace, and security for those who fell in line with its prerogatives.
