Marcus Aurelius

 Marcus Aurelius

"From my grandfather Verus I learned good morals and the government of my temper."- The Meditations (page 1) 

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor that decided to allow Christianity in Rome without persecuting. Along with Nerva, Marcus Aurelius was one of the Roman emperors that decided to end the persecution of Christianity. We learn that this describes the manner that GOD Almighty uses all things for good. We learn that Marcus Aurelius was considered one of the noblest of the emperors because of the importance he gave to practicing serenity and calmness and who did not practice anger and envy.

"How much trouble he avoids who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks, but only to the things he does so that it may be just and pure."- The Meditations (page 22)

We learn that Marcus Aurelius described in the Meditations about the need to remove anger and hate from our lives. Marcus Aurelius described the need to practice serenity and have calmness. We learn that he described how individuals should not have strong emotions seen in the emotions that certain competitions tried to evoke describing chariot races that attempted to divide people based on their devotion for specific factions based on colors. Marcus Aurelius described that instead of devoting strong emotions, we are supposed to calm the emotions and have dominion over the emotions.

"To be neither of the green nor of the blue party at the games in the Circus, nor a partisan either of the Parmularius or the Scutarius at the gladiators' fights; from him too I learned endurance of labor, and to want little, and to work with my own hands, and not to meddle with other people's affairs, and not to be ready to listen to slander."- The Meditations (page 1)

We learn that Marcus Aurelius did not have an easy life seen in the manner that he persevered amidst different circumstances including treason from one of his military commanders, fighting against invaders, and also personal difficulties describing the death of his wife. Even amidst all of this, Marcus Aurelius described the need to have dominion over the emotions and persevere prioritizing truth and not practicing hate and envy. It is interesting to note if Christianity influenced Marcus Aurelius because of the importance that he placed on truth, serenity, and not hating for the sake of hating. 

We do not know specifically although being one of the benevolent emperors of Rome towards Christianity, we are able to see the power of preaching eternal truth that King Jesus Christ is Eternal LORD and Savior. We learn that Christianity kept increasing to Rome and the nations. We learn that Christianity was able to cause the Roman empire to convert and the manner that Eastern Rome persevered because of their obedience to the Scriptures and the worship of GOD Almighty. We learn that Western Rome had difficulties with insurrections, riots, and invaders because of their unrepentant sin seen in the practice of idol worship, adultery, and vices. 

"The best manner of avenging yourself is not to become like the wrongdoer." The Meditations (age 37)