citizenship Summary and Overview

the rights and privileges of a citizen in distinction from a foreigner (Luke 15:15; 19:14; Acts 21:39). Under the Mosaic law non-Israelites, with the exception of the Moabites and the Ammonites and others mentioned in Deut. 23:1-3, were admitted to the general privileges of citizenship among the Jews (Ex. 12:19; Lev. 24:22; Num. 15:15; 35:15; Deut. 10:18; 14:29; 16:10, 14). The right of citizenship under the Roman government was granted by the emperor to individuals, and sometimes to provinces, as a favour or as a recompense for services rendered to the state, or for a sum of money (Acts 22:28). This "freedom" secured privileges equal to those enjoyed by natives of Rome. Among the most notable of these was the provision that a man could not be bound or imprisoned without a formal trial (Acts 22:25, 26), or scourged (16:37). All Roman citizens had the right of appeal to Caesar (25:11).

The use of this term in Scripture has exclusive reference to the usages of the Roman empire. The privilege of Roman citizenship was originally acquired in various ways, as by purchase, #Ac 22:28| by military services, by favor or by manumission. The right once obtained descended to a man's children. #Ac 22:28| Among the privileges attached to citizenship we may note that a man could not be bound or imprisoned without a formal trial, #Ac 22:29| still less be scourged. #Ac 16:37| Cic. in Verr. v. 63,66. Another privilege attaching to citizenship was the appeal from a provincial tribunal to the emperor at Rome. #Ac 25:11|

CIT'IZENSHIP The Jew had no earthly citizenship in the Roman sense; his commonwealth was a congregation of believers, governed by the Lord himself. But Roman citizenship is referred to in the N.T. This was the term for the privileges enjoyed by certain subjects of the Roman empire. The right was obtained by inheritance or by purchase, Acts 22:28, or by military service, by favor, or by manumission. Among the privileges of this position was, the possessor could not be imprisoned without trial. Acts 22:29, still less be scourged, Acts 16:37, or crucified. Since to inflict either of these was a great indignity and severely punished, the assertion that one was a Roman citizen was a deterrent. But Jews who escaped on this account were still liable to their own law. 2 Cor 11:24. The right of appeal unto Caesar was one of the privileges of Roman citizenship. Acts 25:11. Paul was a Roman citizen, and repeatedly availed himself of his privileges against the violence of the mob. The words "I am a Roman citizen" had a magic power all over the civilized world, and even among barbarians.

Paul's Roman citizenship was of the lower kind, which though not entitling him to vote with the tribes and enjoy a magistracy, yet secured to him the protection of the laws of the empire, and the right of appeal from his own hostile countrymen to Caesar, as also exemption from scourging (Acts 16:37; Acts 22:25-28; Acts 25:11). He seems to have inherited it from his father. Hence, he naturally uses the image to express the believer's high privileges as a citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem. "Our citizenship (Greek, or rather our life as citizens; politeuma, not politeia) is in heaven," etc. (Philemon 3:20); an image especially appropriate at Philippi, it being a Roman colony and possessing Roman citizenship of which its people were proud. Moreover, it was there that Paul had compelled the magistrates publicly to recognize a Roman citizen's privileges. So believers, though absent from their heavenly city in body, still enjoy its civic privileges and protection; pilgrims on earth, citizens of heaven (Ephesians 2:6; Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 11:9-10; Hebrews 11:13-16; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 21:2; Revelation 21:10; Luke 10:20).