Roman Citizenship

Bro. Dallas, at that period the customary ways to receive Roman citizenship were by inheritance, being granted freedom by a Roman citizen, military service — or by providing special services to Roman. As the Republic decayed, consults began bestowing the latter citizens ship to influential members of strategic communities, and sometimes to entire communities themselves.

Thus, Josephus received Roman citizenship after he turned from the rebellion. Antipater similarly was granted Roman citizenship for services to Julius Caesar. Mark Antony had a special liking for Tarsus (where he met up with Cleopatra for his ill-fated liaison.)

Roman citizenship began to be extended after the Latin Wars (338 B.C.). Some areas were incorporated directly into Rome and received full citizenship. Others received Latin rights, with lower privileges. Toward the end of the Republic, the expansion of full rights toward Italians outside Latium would be a constant demand from the Italians (who resented the burden of taxation without having full rights) and often was championed by leaders who saw a ready source of support against their rivals.

The other Italians did not receive full citizenship until the lex Julia of 90 B.C., and then only to Italians who didn't take up arms against Rome.

How did Paul's family acquire the Roman citizenship? We have no way of knowing, though I lean toward an explanation that his family, at some point, rendered appreciated assistance to a powerful Roman who repaid the favor with citizenship. His family seems to have been of some substance to allow Paul to go to Jerusalem to be educated by Hillel.

Military service seems to me to be the most unlikely of the three; I am not aware of a multitude of Jews serving as a legionaries (or auxiliaries.)

There is an intriguing possibility that Paul's family might have obtained citizenship through slavery — and being manumitted by a Roman citizen. There is, of course, no evidence to prove this, but it might explain Paul's wide use of the language and imagery of slavery throughout his writings.

 

The future Augustus was born Gaius Octavius Thurinus. At adoption, he assumed the entire name of his great-uncle and changed Octavius to Octavianus (his clan name) to signify adoption.

 

I readily admit it is just speculation.