Fortunes of Death
Book club questions and resources
Book club questions and resources
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Obedient Unto Death
Book club questions and resources
Book club questions and resources
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A letter from Liisa Eyerly
Dear lovers of books,
I am ecstatic that you have chosen to spend your valuable time to read Obedient unto Death. I trust these questions will generate stimulating dialogue, exciting discoveries, thoughtful analysis, and most importantly, fun and enjoyment with your friends and fellow readers.
Obedient unto Death combines two passions, my love of mystery novels and my non-stop questioning in Bible study. Some of the characters and subplots were inspired while listening to sermons, digging up fascinating research facts, immersing myself in Turkey travel sites and videos, and crafting “What if…” scenarios.
I hope your venture into ancient Ephesus delights you with captivating characters who live, love, and die in that distant and exotic place and time.
I hope you enjoy this Obedient unto Death book club kit — Blessings, Liisa
Obedient Unto Death discussion questions and answers
Book question guide: Suggested answers are included.
Obedient unto Death takes place over 2,000 years ago, during the reign of Emperor Domitian. Imagine one kingdom, one empire, encompassing the countries we now know as Britain, Greece, France, Belgium, Romania, Austria, Germany, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, North Africa, Spain, and Asia Minor, which we now call Turkey. For hundreds of years, the Romans ruled this vast territory, and the decrees of one man reigned overall.
Stories can be an effective way to help modern readers understand, at some level, the differences and similarities between ancient times and our own. Explore the following topics.
A) The Romans, B) Women's lives, C) The mystery, D) Religious beliefs and practices,
A) The Romans
1. The Romans practiced a belief called "Paterfamilias," the father is the ruling authority of life and Death over each child, spouse, slave, relative, etc., living under his "roof." He was also the sole person responsible for his family's well-being and safety, financial dealings, education, marriage arrangements, social status, political appointments, etc. What was Sabina risking by disobeying her father's orders?
2. The free labor of captured foreign citizens was intricately woven into every facet of Roman society. Prisoners often came with valuable skill sets that the Romans put to good use. Slaves held positions in households, businesses, and government. What were some jobs that slaves performed in the story?
3. In the book, both Sabina's pagan household and Portia's Christian household owned slaves. Christians are admonished throughout the New Testament to treat their servants and enslaved people as Christian brothers and sisters. How does this jive with the culture of the time?
4. The economic and legal system used slavery to pay off debts by selling yourself or family members and as punishment for crime. Did anything surprise you about how slavery was portrayed and functioned in the story?
Homelessness, he could have retaliated and given her no money or taken away her freedoms, her father could refuse any future marriage offers or he could force her into a marriage she didn’t want. He could have forbade her practicing her religion.
Childhood nurse, cook, private secretary, body guard, jail guards, gardener, cook and server, home door attendant/guard.
It was unheard of because slaves were considered non-people. They were property only and could be beaten, raped, tortured, or killed on a whim, although clemency was advised.
In Philemon 1:15-16, a run-away slave Onesimus is being returned by Paul to his Christian masters.
For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good— no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.
B) Women's lives
5. Sabina's widowhood is a significant theme throughout the novel. Men married between the ages of 18 yrs to early 30's, ideally women married from 14 yrs. to 19 yrs., although younger marriages were not uncommon. Sabina is a 20 years old woman with little autonomy when she accepts a marriage offer from Xeno, a non-Christian man much older than herself. Portia had advised Sabina against it. Why did Sabina agree to the marriage?
6. Were her reasons based on logic or emotion? Can you relate to times when you made decisions based on emotion?
7. How would marriage have changed Sabina's life?
8. How did widowhood affect Sabina?
9. What other two marriages in the story didn't end happily?
10. How have cultural norms for marriage changed or not changed over time?
11. Throughout history, women have had few opportunities for independence and personal wealth. Businessmen and women (working for a living) were subject to prejudice and ostracism from the higher social circles. Portia, Sabina's friend and mentor, is a wealthy businesswoman. How was this possible?
Sabina felt her marriage prospects were dwindling. She was desperate to get out from under her father’s uncaring control. She had liked Xeno, he was kind. She felt life had little purpose if she wasn’t a wife and mother. Her father was hands-off and she didn’t have a mother to help arrange and shepherd the marriage process.
The decision was based on both, logical reasons and emotional worry that she wouldn’t find another spouse, desire for her own home, and wanting to get out from under her father’s control.
It would have given her a respectable status as a matron. It gave her the potential for children, also a status symbol. She’d be working and building a future for own family. She might have more control and money to spend – or not. Xeno may have been against Christianity and forbid her practice of it – or not. Her freedom stemmed from her father’s indifference; her husband could have a different opinion.
It placed her back in the perceived dead-end world she was trying to escape. Xeno’s death and the belief that Sabina was cursed, made her marriage prospects even worse. She is not getting any younger.
The silversmith Davos and Marcella, ended in arrest for counterfeiting and the young widow Livia who ended up dependent on her abusive mother-in-law.
Manual labor and craftsmanship, were common for lower-class women needing to support families. If a woman was on her own, or if their husband or head of the family allowed it she could work in commercial trade. Because Portia’s husband did not belong to the nobility, his family structure allowed Portia a management role few patrician women had.
C) The mystery
12. Sabina does not solve the mystery alone. The reluctant partnership with Yechiel provides some benefits and some disadvantages. What did Yechiel bring to the investigation that helped solve his brother's murder?
13. What complicated this tense partnership?
14. Many clues led to uncovering the murderer and the motive. How did Livia's unbelief in Christ and her questioning guide Sabina to the evidence against Valerius?
15. At the end of the book, what happened to Rufus, Benjamin's fellow scribe and devotee of Valerius? Was this a realistic ending?
Yechiel steadfast belief in his brother’s character provided the impetus to pursue inquiries beyond the obvious affair with Marcella or Livia. Benjamin’s dedication to his God, eliminated him worshipping the Gnostic deity. Benjamin’s disregard for personal glory. Yechiel provided access to the scriptorium and a protector for a single female. Another point of view and someone with whom to discuss the clues and possible suspects.
He refused to consider options that didn’t align with his perception of his brother, such as the rumors of the affair. Yechiel was married, which made this partnership a stretch. He was stubborn and egotistical. He kept secrets and wouldn’t share his involvement with the coin. His prejudice and cultural suspicion of women and gentiles (people not of the Jewish faith). His total distrust of Christians and he blamed the church for his brother’s murder.
It was Livia’s doubting about the resurrection of Christ that prompted Benjamin to bring her to the Apostle John. Her continued questioning led to her memorizing the quote from John’s original letter.
He took over Valerius’s religion/cult and continued to preach Valerius’s new gospel.
D) Religious beliefs and practices
16. To help assimilate conquered lands, the Romans adopted many foreign beliefs and practices and tolerated many more (See my blog Christian Martyrs.) The religions of the day were polytheistic – and people worshipped multiple gods. If adding a few more gods to the pantheon was not a problem, why did many Romans consider Christianity a threat?
17. What Christian beliefs controversial today? Are they considered a threat to society?
18. Did Sabina had good reasons to hide her faith? What were Sabina's reservations in helping to save her bishop, Apollos?
19. Did solving the murder and saving Apollos change her dreams for her future? What were your hopes for her future?
20. If Sabina had remained on the sidelines, how would the story have changed?
a. Worshipping Jesus wasn’t the crime. The issue was not worshipping the emperor and other local gods. You were considered an atheist if you did not worship the Roman gods who protected the empire. These peculiar Christians and Jews didn’t believe in the pantheon of gods, and they forbade their members from worshipping any god but the “One True God.” Christians didn’t join in the pagan festivals and sacrifices, thereby neglecting the worship of the Roman gods who would then vent their outrage and anger on the locals with famines, plagues, floods, etc.
b. The Christian prohibition of longstanding Roman conduct such as infanticide, suicide, and child and temple prostitutes, would have baffled and perhaps enraged a traditional Roman.
c. The civic offence was nighttime meetings, which Rome outlawed to limit rebellion and secret plots. Because the Christians had weekly meetings that needed to be kept out of public view, their night gatherings were breaking the law.
According to David B. Barrett and Todd M. Johnson, two of the world’s leading religious demographers. “More Christians were martyred in the 20th century than in all previous centuries combined, The trend has not abated in this century. Though the statistics are uncertain and highly dependent on counting methodologies, the number of Christians killed for their faith every year almost certainly lies in the thousands and possibly tens of thousands. According to the International Society for Human Rights, Christians are estimated to make up 80 percent of those who are persecuted for their religion.”
She was risking her faith being discovered. Her father’s political nemesis would have destroyed her family, financially, socially, and physically. The wealth of any enemy of Rome was subject to confiscation and whoever was responsible for the arrest was awarded a share of the seized wealth.
At this point in her life solving a murder is a one-time event. She is lamenting Marcus sailing away. When Sabina is drawn into the next murder mystery. She will have to look more seriously at God’s plans for her future.
As Portia pointed out Sabina was the only person in a position to help. The challenge of being a pagan magistrate’s daughter was also the key to accessing the magisterial “ear.” Apollos would surely have died. Valerius would have distributed the counterfeit letter causing potential chaos within the nascent church. For believing Christians, God’s will supersedes man’s schemes, and Sabina answering God’s call was the story.
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