Cursus Honorum

2. THE PATHTHE PATH
TO HONOR?TO HONOR?
Sunday, 7.1.18Sunday, 7.1.18

3. ArchofTitus(AD82)
RememberstheDestruction
ofJerusalem(AD70)

4. ArchofTitus(AD82)
RememberstheDestruction
ofJerusalem(AD70)

5. ErastusInscription(Corinth)
MentionedinRomans16

6. ErastusInscription(Corinth)
MentionedinRomans16
E R A S T U SE R A S T U S

7. MarcusTulliusCicero
EpitomeofRomanOratory

8. TriumphalRomanProcession
Mentionedin2Corinthians2:14

9. THE PATHTHE PATH
TO HONOR?TO HONOR?
Sunday, 7.1.18Sunday, 7.1.18

12. THE PATH TO HONOR (TYPICALLY
FOR ELITE MEN ONLY) CAME BY:
1. Noble family birth
2. Wealth
3. Military triumph/heroism
4. Public persuasion/oratorical skills
5. Formed in virtue (benevolence)
NOTES: Status; physical labor shunned;
financial sponsorship brought dual honor
The Roman “Cursus Honorum”

13. THE PATH TO HONOR (FOR ALL)
WAS TO COME BY:
1. The nonviolent, self-giving love of Jesus
2. Relying on the power of the Spirit
3. The willingness to serve and die
4. Subverting the “cursus honorum” of
Rome, embracing a “cursus pudorum”
that reflected Jesus’ cruciform life
Paul’s “Cursus Pudorum”

14. 1 Corinthians 1:11-12
For it has been reported to me
by Chloe’s people that there are
quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.
What I mean is that each of you says,
“I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,”
or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
NOTE: These names don’t represent
theological schools of thought, but represent
efforts to be connected to people w/status

15. 1 Corinthians 1:26-28
…not many of you were wise by human
standards, not many were powerful,
not many were of noble birth. But God chose
what is foolish in the world to shame the wise;
God chose what is weak in the world to shame
the strong; God chose what is low and
despised in the world, things that are not,
to reduce to nothing things that are, so that
no one might boast in the presence of God.

16. 1 Corinthians 2:1-3
When I came to you, brothers and sisters,
I didn’t come preaching God’s secrets to you
like I was an expert in speech or wisdom.
I had made up my mind not to think about
anything while I was with you except
Jesus Christ, and to preach him as crucified.
I stood in front of you with weakness,
fear, and a lot of shaking.

17. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
My message and my preaching weren’t
presented with convincing wise words
but with a demonstration of the Spirit
and of power. I did this so that your faith
might not depend on the wisdom of people
but on the power of God.

18. 2 Corinthians 10:1-2
I, Paul, make a personal request to you
with the gentleness and kindness of Christ.
I’m shy when I’m with you, but I’m bossy
when I’m away from you! I beg you that
when I’m with you in person, I won’t have
to boss you around. I’m afraid that I may
have to use that kind of behavior with those
people who think we live by human standards.

19. 2 Corinthians 10:9-11
I don’t want it to seem like I’m trying
to intimidate you with my letters.
I know what some people are saying:
“His letters are severe and powerful, but in
person he is weak and his speech is worth
nothing.” These people need to think about
this—that when we are with you, our actions
will show that we are the same as the words
we wrote when we were away from you.

20. 1 Corinthians 4:10-13a
We are fools for Christ, but you are wise
through Christ! We are weak, but you are
strong! You are honored, but we are
dishonored! …we are hungry, thirsty, wearing
rags, abused, and homeless. We work hard with
our own hands. When we are insulted,
we respond with a blessing; when we are
harassed, we put up with it; when our
reputation is attacked, we are encouraging.
We have become the scum of the earth…

21. 2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God,
who in Christ always leads us
in triumphal procession,
and through us spreads in every place
the fragrance that comes
from knowing him.

22. Philippians 2:5-8
Let the same mind be in you that was in
Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form
of God, did not regard equality with God
(divine status) as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness. And being found
in human form, he humbled himself and
became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.

23. WHAT DOES THE AMERICAN
“CURSUS HONORUM” LOOK LIKE?
The American “Cursus Honorum”

24. WHAT DOES THE AMERICAN
“CURSUS HONORUM” LOOK LIKE?
1. Wealth and/or philanthropy
2. Business, legal, military, political power
3. Fame (usually via talent of some kind)
4. Proximity to wealth, power or fame
The American “Cursus Honorum”

25. WHAT DOES THE AMERICAN
“CURSUS HONORUM” LOOK LIKE?
1. Wealth and/or philanthropy
2. Business, legal, military, political power
3. Fame (usually via talent of some kind)
4. Proximity to wealth, power or fame
All of these lead to honored status. So:
What might Paul have to say to us?
The American “Cursus Honorum”

26. THE PATH TO HONOR (FOR ALL)
WAS TO COME BY:
1. The nonviolent, self-giving love of Jesus
2. Relying on the power of the Spirit
3. The willingness to serve and die
4. Subverting the “cursus honorum” of
Rome, embracing a “cursus pudorum”
that reflected Jesus’ cruciform life
Paul’s “Cursus Pudorum”

27. A Prayer For The People of God
Father, Son and Spirit,
Companion in life an death,
your love is steadfast and never ends;
our weeping may linger with night,
but you give joy in the morning.
Touch us with your healing grace that,
restored to wholeness, we may live out our calling
as your faithful, resurrection people.
Amen.

28. Mark 12
Hear, O Israel:
the Lord our God, the Lord is one;
you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind,
and with all your strength.’
And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no other commandment
greater than these.