I. Name

A technical phrase for the phenomenon of the ruler cult does not appear in biblical literature. Nevertheless, ruler cult understood as specific institutions devoted to sacrificial or related activities for the worship of a ruler (Hellenistic rulers as well as Roman emperors) may form part of the background of some passages in the Bible and related literature (Dan. 3 Gk., Rev and Martyria). Several terms which have been associated with the ruler cult appear in the NT (e.g. euergetēs, sōtēr, kyrios, …