Tetrarch - Tetrarchy

The term is used in two different senses.

1) Originally a Greek term meaning "ruler of a quarter," the title "tetrarch" was given by Augustus Caesar to three of Herod the Great's successors. Dividing Herod's territory into four parts, Galilee was ruled by his son Herod Antipas "the tetrarch," Iturea and Traconitis by another son Herod Philip "the tetrarch," and Abilene by Lysanias "the tetrarch." The fourth part, Judea, was ruled by yet another son, Archelaus, as "ethnarch," ('ruler of the people').

2) During his reign as Roman emperor, Diocletian (r. 284-305) reformed the administration of the empire by appointing his son-inlaw, Maximian, first as deputy emperor (Caesar) and later as Augustus, on the condition that major decisions would always be made in consultation with the elder Caesar. As the deteriorating conditions made administration even more demanding, Maximian appointed in 293 a deputy emperor of his own. He was followed by Diocletian a short while afterwards. This system of administration became known as the 'tetrarchy,' on the understanding that the two deputy emperors would one day succeed the reigning augusti. One of these deputies was a man named Constantius, whose son would make Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. Though intended to put an end to the endless cycles of dynastic building by the emperors before him, it unreveled soon after his retirement in 305. This concept of the tetrarchy, though having nothing to do with preaching the Bible, per se, is a fact of history important for understanding Church history.

CONCORDANCE (NIV)

Matt 14:1 — At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, [and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him."]

Lk 3:1 — In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—[during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.]

Lk 3:19 — But when John rebuked Herod [Antipas] the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done, [Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.]

Lk 9:7 — Now Herod [Antipas] the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed, because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, [others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life.]

Acts 13:1 — In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod `the tetrarch) and Saul.

©ALBERITH
160519lch