Rome: the Imperial Church

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Rome: the Imperial Church

David Lipscomb, in his commentary on the book of Romans, wrote that, “Nothing whatever is said in the Scripture concerning the origin of the church at Rome, and we have no means of knowing at what precise time the gospel first gained a footing there.” He, like many other commentators on the subject, theorized that the church in Rome had its origins in the “strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes” who were in attendance at Jerusalem on that famous Pentecost chronicled in the second chapter of the book of Acts. It is logical to assume that those who obeyed the gospel in Jerusalem on that day took it back home with them, when they returned to Rome some time later. A quote from the Roman historian Tacitus (page two) seems to support this theory. Also, evidence from within the book of Romans suggests that the church there had been established for quite a while before Paul wrote his epistle to them in A.D. 58 (Romans 1:13; 15:23).

When Paul did write his epistle “to all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints,” He indicated that the church there was of substantial size and vigorous industry (Romans 1:7). He commended them for their faith, which was “spoken of throughout the whole world” (Romans 1:8) and for their obedience, which was “come abroad unto all men” (Romans 16:19). He expressed a keen desire to come and visit his brethren in Rome, but he had been hindered from doing so on more than one occasion (Romans 1:13; 15:23). He would, however, have a chance to visit Rome, when he was arrested at Jerusalem and jailed in Caesarea, from whence he invoked his right to appeal his case directly before Caesar, in Rome. His journey to the imperial capital was a perilous one, but he successfully arrived there in the early A.D. 60s, according to the account in the latter chapters of the book of Acts.

The church in Rome was an important and influential congregation, in its time. It bore the brunt of every persecution imposed upon the churches of Christ by Roman authorities. There were numerous times when it had to operate in secret, for fear of annihilation. The book of Romans is a masterpiece of inspired literature. It deals with such important themes as grace, law, faith, works, sanctification and justification, just to name a few. Paul is the only apostle who is known to have visited Rome. Uninspired sources report that he was beheaded there in the late A.D. 60s. Rome was a focal point of world history and the history of the Lord’s church.

“The churches of Christ salute you.” – Romans 16:16