A city in the story of God
Rome
Rome was the capital of the empire that ruled the biblical world, the seat of Caesar and the crossroads of the nations. Paul longed to preach the gospel there, and in God's providence he reached it, so that the good news arrived at the very center of earthly power.
“To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”Romans 1:7
The city in Scripture
The city in Scripture. Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire, whose roads, law, and peace shaped the world of the New Testament. Jews from Rome were present at Pentecost (Acts 2:10), and a church took root there early, though Scripture does not record who first founded it. Paul wrote his letter to the Romans to a congregation he had not yet visited, longing to see them and expressing his desire, so, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also (Rom 1:15). He declared, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation (Rom 1:16). Paul finally came to Rome not as a free traveler but as a prisoner, appealing to Caesar (Acts 25:11), and after shipwreck he arrived and was allowed to dwell under guard. There he received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him (Acts 28:30-31), the words that end the book of Acts. From Roman imprisonment came letters such as Philippians and Ephesians. Tradition holds that both Paul and Peter died in Rome, though details are held with care.
What it came to mean
What it came to mean. Rome came to mean the reach of the gospel to the very heart of worldly power, and its quiet triumph over it. The empire meant Caesar, legions, and the pride of a city that thought itself eternal, yet into this center came a message about a crucified and risen Jewish carpenter, and it could not be stopped. Rome teaches that no throne is too high for the gospel to address and no power too great for Christ to outlast. It also means the confidence of the message, for Paul was not ashamed of it even before the capital of the world, knowing it to be the power of God unto salvation. And it means the sovereignty of God over circumstances, for Paul reached the city he had prayed to see, but as a prisoner, and even his chains served to advance the gospel (Phil 1:12-13). Rome stands for the truth that earthly empires rise and fall while the kingdom of Christ advances, often through weakness, all the way to the center of the world.
How it points to Christ
How it points to Christ. Rome points to Christ by showing His kingdom advancing past the throne of Caesar. The gospel that reached Rome proclaims that Jesus, not Caesar, is Lord, for God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name (Phil 2:9). Paul preached the kingdom of God openly in the imperial capital (Acts 28:31), a kingdom that no empire could rival or resist. The letter to the Romans sets out the heart of the gospel, that the just shall live by faith (Rom 1:17), and that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1). Rome, which crucified Jesus under Pilate's authority, became a place where His name was honored and His kingdom preached. The empire that seemed eternal has passed, but Christ reigns. Rome shows that the true King is not on any earthly throne but at the right hand of God, and that His gospel goes to the ends of the earth, unhindered and unashamed.
Questions people ask
Why did Paul want to go to Rome?
Paul longed to preach the gospel at the empire's center and to strengthen the church there (Rom 1:15). He saw Rome as a strategic gateway for the good news to reach further, even toward Spain (Rom 15:24).
How did Paul finally reach Rome?
Paul reached Rome as a prisoner after appealing to Caesar (Acts 25:11). Following shipwreck and a long journey, he arrived and preached the kingdom of God under guard, no man forbidding him (Acts 28:30-31).
Did Paul found the church in Rome?
No. A church already existed in Rome before Paul wrote to it or visited; Scripture does not name its founder. Visitors from Rome were present at Pentecost (Acts 2:10), which may have helped plant the faith there.