and Silius Italicus portray him in a more positive light.24 However, this evidence can cut both ways, and it should be questioned how “objective” the latter authors would have been, especially if any were attempting to flatter the emperor.25 First-century Roman persecution of Christians, in any case, does not seem to arise from a direct command by Nero or Domitian to be worshipped as “lord and god.”26 In Rev 2–3 the conflict is viewed by some scholars as internal. It involves factions related to