Digital Continent Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul 2016 | Page 25

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Prior to the birth of
Christianity, ancient civilization,
particularly in the West, had
developed a system of political
thought as well as hierarchical
government based on nonChristian thought that pulled
from Jewish tradition, the early
democratic tendencies of the
Greek city-states, and the
Roman Republic. As Christianity spread and the Church grew, development of its own
governmental organization was necessary outside but tandem to the established secular
hierarchy. Throughout the history of Christianity there was always the potential for the two to
clash.36 “He said to them, ‘Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the
things that are God’s’” [Luke 20:25]. As simple as Christ’s directive sounds, history has proven
otherwise. The emperor Justinian, in his codification of Roman law, Novella VI, explained that
there were two great gifts from God given to men. These gifts included the priesthood which
served divine things and empire which ruled the affairs of men. Both have their source in God
and are a part of human life. As such, the emperor’s greatest concern should be the wellbeing of
the priests who pray for them. The emperor understood that an amicable relationship with the
priesthood was beneficial to all.37 The