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==121:3. AMONG THE GENTILES==

==121:3. AMONG THE GENTILES==

121:3.1 Although the social and economic condition of the Roman state was not of the highest order, the widespread domestic peace and prosperity was propitious for the bestowal of Michael. In the first century after Christ the society of the Mediterranean world consisted of five well-defined strata:

121:3.1 Although the [[social]] and [[economic]] condition of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome#Republic Roman state] was not of the highest order, the widespread [[domestic]] [[peace]] and [[prosperity]] was propitious for the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_120 bestowal of Michael]. In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_century first century] after Christ the [[society]] of the [[Mediterranean]] world consisted of five well-defined strata:

*1. 121:3.2 The aristocracy. The upper classes with money and official power, the privileged and ruling groups.

*1. 121:3.2 ''The [[aristocracy]]''. The upper classes with [[money]] and official [[power]], the [[privileged]] and ruling groups.

*2. 121:3.3 The business groups. The merchant princes and the bankers, the traders—the big importers and exporters—the international merchants.

*2. 121:3.3 ''The [[business]] groups''. The merchant princes and the [[bankers]], the traders—the big importers and exporters—the [[international]] merchants.

*3. 121:3.4 The small middle class. Although this group was indeed small, it was very influential and provided the moral backbone of the early Christian church, which encouraged these groups to continue in their various crafts and trades. Among the Jews many of the Pharisees belonged to this class of tradesmen.

*3. 121:3.4 ''The small [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_class middle class]''. Although this [[group]] was indeed small, it was very [[influential]] and provided the [[moral]] backbone of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Christian_Church early Christian church], which encouraged these groups to continue in their various [[crafts]] and trades. Among the [[Jews]] many of the [[Pharisees]] belonged to this class of tradesmen.

*4. 121:3.5 The free proletariat. This group had little or no social standing. Though proud of their freedom, they were placed at great disadvantage because they were forced to compete with slave labor. The upper classes regarded them disdainfully, allowing that they were useless except for " breeding purposes. "

*4. 121:3.5 ''The free proletariat''. This [[group]] had little or no [[social]] standing. Though proud of their [[freedom]], they were placed at great disadvantage because they were forced to compete with [[slave]] [[labor]]. The upper classes regarded them disdainfully, allowing that they were useless except for "breeding [[purposes]]."

*5. 121:3.6 The slaves. Half the population of the Roman state were slaves; many were superior individuals and quickly made their way up among the free proletariat and even among the tradesmen. The majority were either mediocre or very inferior.

*5. 121:3.6 ''The slaves''. Half the [[population]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome#Republic Roman state] were [[slaves]]; many were superior [[individuals]] and quickly made their way up among the free [[proletariat]] and even among the tradesmen. The [[majority]] were either [[mediocre]] or very inferior.

121:3.7 Slavery, even of superior peoples, was a feature of Roman military conquest. The power of the master over his slave was unqualified. The early Christian church was largely composed of the lower classes and these slaves.

121:3.7 [[Slavery]], even of superior peoples, was a feature of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome Roman] [[military]] [[conquest]]. The [[power]] of the master over his [[slave]] was unqualified. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Christian_Church early Christian church] was largely [[composed]] of the lower classes and these [[slaves]].

121:3.8 Superior slaves often received wages and by saving their earnings were able to purchase their freedom. Many such emancipated slaves rose to high positions in state, church, and the business world. And it was just such possibilities that made the early Christian church so tolerant of this modified form of slavery.

121:3.8 Superior [[slaves]] often received wages and by saving their earnings were able to purchase their [[freedom]]. Many such emancipated [[slaves]] rose to high positions in [[state]], church, and the [[business]] world. And it was just such [[possibilities]] that made the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Christian_Church early Christian church] so [[tolerant]] of this modified form of [[slavery]].

121:3.9 There was no widespread social problem in the Roman Empire in the first century after Christ. The major portion of the populace regarded themselves as belonging in that group into which they chanced to be born. There was always the open door through which talented and able individuals could ascend from the lower to the higher strata of Roman society, but the people were generally content with their social rank. They were not class conscious, neither did they look upon these class distinctions as being unjust or wrong. Christianity was in no sense an economic movement having for its purpose the amelioration of the miseries of the depressed classes.

121:3.9 There was no widespread [[social]] problem in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome#Empire Roman Empire] in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_centur first century] after Christ. The major portion of the [[populace]] regarded themselves as belonging in that [[group]] into which they [[chanced]] to be [[born]]. There was always the open door through which [[talented]] and able [[individuals]] could [[ascend]] from the [[Social status|lower to the higher]] strata of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome Roman society], but the people were generally content with their [[Social status|social rank]]. They were not [[class]] [[conscious]], neither did they look upon these class distinctions as being unjust or wrong. [[Christianity]] was in no sense an [[economic]] movement having for its [[purpose]] the amelioration of the miseries of the depressed classes.

121:3.10 Although woman enjoyed more freedom throughout the Roman Empire than in her restricted position in Palestine, the family devotion and natural affection of the Jews far transcended that of the gentile world.

121:3.10 Although [[woman]] enjoyed more [[freedom]] throughout the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome#Empire Roman Empire] than in her restricted position in [[Palestine]], the [[family]] [[devotion]] and [[natural]] [[affection]] of the [[Jews]] far [[transcended]] that of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentile gentile] world.

==121:4. GENTILE PHILOSOPHY==

==121:4. GENTILE PHILOSOPHY==