Religion and Culture in the First-Century Roman World

Chapter Four
A COCK FOR ASCLEPIUS: ‘RELIGION’ AND ‘CULTURE’ IN PAUL’S WORLD
2. Religion and Culture in the Eastern Mediterranean World of Paul’s Day
(IV) Religion and Culture in the First-Century Roman World

Since Paul only arrived in Rome itself towards the end of his public career, one might be tempted to suppose that the specifics of Roman religion, oriented as it was to the city itself, would be less relevant to his earlier travels. This would be a mistake. Not only did Rome welcome into its own ‘family’ the gods of other cities, particularly those that had been ‘persuaded’ to leave their native cities so that Rome could then defeat the cities in battle.86 That centripetal movement was matched by two centrifugal movements: colonies and armies. Both extended Roman culture and religion right across the entire area of Paul’s life and work...