The Pax Romana Podcast · Professor Colin Elliott

Ancient Cultural Christianity (Christianity in the Roman Empire 2/5) - The Pax Romana Podcast 062

·15 min·1 clip

How did early Christians secretly merge sun god worship with Jesus in ancient Rome?

This episode examines the phenomenon of "cultural Christians" in the Roman Empire during the 2nd to 4th centuries AD. Host Professor Colin Elliott draws heavily on the book *Cultural Christians in the Early Church* by Nadia Williams. He explores individuals who affiliated with Christianity while continuing traditional Roman religious practices and lifestyles. The analysis begins with physical artifacts that merge Christian and pagan iconography, such as grave markers featuring the Christian fish symbol alongside the pagan dedication "D.M." for *Dis Manibus*. Elliott cites the mid-3rd century Tomb of the Julii in Rome, which depicts a figure resembling Jesus yet shown with sun-god imagery like a chariot and rays. A 4th-century mosaic from Dorset, Britain, ambiguously displays the Chi-Rho symbol, associated with Emperor Constantine, on a figure that could represent either Christ or Apollo. The episode details how sexual ethics created friction, referencing Paul's first letter to the Corinthians which confronted men who continued using prostitutes, a common and accepted practice in Greco-Roman culture. Elliott notes graffiti from Pompeii suggesting a prostitute's fee equaled the price of lunch. Another major tension was military service, as soldiers swore oaths to Roman gods and the emperor, directly conflicting with Christian exclusivity. The host references a story from Cassius Dio's history about the "Rain Miracle" during the Marcomannic Wars under Marcus Aurelius, where a legion containing Christians prayed for deliverance when surrounded. A key insight is that early Christianity's exclusive claim to be the only path to God was its most difficult doctrine for Romans accustomed to syncretism. The ambiguous iconography suggests some people may have viewed Christ as merely another version of a popular deity like Sol Invictus. Elliott points out that the logic of the Rain Miracle story—prayer in crisis leading to divine intervention—would have been perfectly understandable within standard Roman religious frameworks. The episode argues that practices like visiting prostitutes were seen not as immoral but as healthy and normal for men in the broader culture, making Christian sexual ethics radically different. The military oath is presented as a severe, personal vow to multiple deities, with curses for violation, unlike modern secular oaths. The presence of Christians in the legions, as suggested by the Rain Miracle account, indicates that official church prohibitions against soldiering were not always followed. The tone is educational and analytical, walking listeners through archaeological and textual evidence to build a historical narrative. The style is conversational lecture, with the host clearly citing his sources and connecting topics to previous podcast episodes. Listeners interested in the social history of early Christianity and its daily conflicts with Roman culture will find this episode compelling. Those seeking a purely theological or doctrinal discussion might find the focus on material culture and social practice less engaging.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The Pax Romana Podcast