What was life like for early Christians under the Roman Empire?
Early Christians under the Roman Empire faced immediate persecution, constant surveillance, and could not openly discuss their faith. Becoming a believer through Paul’s preaching was itself an invitation to persecution, as Rome at one point tried to stamp out Christianity. They endured sufferings but received Christ’s consolation.
Les explains that these early believers under the Roman yoke were immediately under persecution. They could not walk up and down the street and glibly talk about their Christian faith; they were under constant surveillance, and the Roman Empire at one time actually tried to stamp out Christianity. So to become a believer under Paul’s preaching and teaching was an invitation to persecution. Yet Paul speaks of the sufferings of Christ abounding in him and consolation also abounding by Christ. The same Lord who permits persecutions and testings is the same Lord who provides strength to go through them. Les also compares the Christian life to paddling a canoe upstream: it is a constant battle against Satan and the world, not a rose-petaled pathway, but God encourages His people in times of testing and discouragement.