All Thoughts Lead to Rome?

Culture News

on April 1, 2024

Featured in Answers Magazine

If you ask the men in your life how often they think about the Roman Empire, you might be surprised by their answer—or not, if you’re a man. According to a social media trend, most men think about Rome anywhere from a few times per month to several times each day.

Though Rome eventually fell, the once illustrious empire’s legacy lives on. Many parts of our lives today have Roman influence, including language, government, architecture, food, war, entertainment, and more.

For Christians, there are other reasons to consider Rome: its strong ties to Scripture, Christ’s life, and the beginning of the church. In fact, it is impossible to untangle ancient Rome from the biblical account. The Jews hoped that their promised Messiah, Jesus, would be a political savior who would overthrow the Romans and end their oppression. Matthew, one of Jesus’ disciples, was a tax collector working for the Roman government (Matthew 9:9). A Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, authorized Jesus’ crucifixion (John 19:16). The Apostle Paul was imprisoned by Romans.

Whether driving on a road or considering Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we can give thanks for the way God sovereignly used Rome to influence our world—and our faith.