Sep 25, 2026 · 29 min · 10 segments
Roman culture had a practice of using adoption to ensure a desirable heir, sometimes even freeing a trusted slave for this purpose. Paul uses slavery as a metaphor to show what God has done for us…
Karen DandoGuestPress On Podcast HostHost
During this era, Roman society was fundamentally paternalistic, with a strong emphasis on men producing an appropriate heir.
However, quite often, this did not occur due to high child mortality, infertility, wrong gender, or the child not turning out quite as hoped.
Hence, adoption of a teenage or adult heir was common, involving an extensive legal process before a judge and witnesses.
The adoptee was carefully chosen and desired as a permanent family member, with several Roman emperors adopting an heir to ensure a smooth transition to the throne for their chosen successor.
The early Christians were acutely aware of slavery, as many new converts were slaves.
The imagery of slavery is repeatedly found in both the Old and New Testaments, with Jesus, Paul and Peter all speaking about slavery to audiences with whom slavery was a part of everyday life.
He heard them groaning in their slavery, remembered his promise, and stepped in.
The moment things got tough in a desert, they started looking back at their time as slaves through rose-coloured glasses, missing the predictable meals.
Moving from slavery to freedom meant that the Israelites had to change how they viewed themselves.
Slaves just follow orders, but free people have to take responsibility for their choices.
The wilderness was a messy middle ground where these former captives had to learn how to walk on their own two feet and live as accountable individuals under God's guidance.
During this era, Roman society was fundamentally paternalistic, with a strong emphasis on men producing an appropriate heir.
However, quite often, this did not occur due to high child mortality, infertility, wrong gender, or the child not turning out quite as hoped.
Hence, adoption of a teenage or adult heir was common, involving an extensive legal process before a judge and witnesses.
The adoptee was carefully chosen and desired as a permanent family member, with several Roman emperors adopting an heir to ensure a smooth transition to the throne for their chosen successor.
The early Christians were acutely aware of slavery, as many new converts were slaves.
The imagery of slavery is repeatedly found in both the Old and New Testaments, with Jesus, Paul and Peter all speaking about slavery to audiences with whom slavery was a part of everyday life.
He heard them groaning in their slavery, remembered his promise, and stepped in.
The moment things got tough in a desert, they started looking back at their time as slaves through rose-coloured glasses, missing the predictable meals.
Moving from slavery to freedom meant that the Israelites had to change how they viewed themselves.
Slaves just follow orders, but free people have to take responsibility for their choices.
The wilderness was a messy middle ground where these former captives had to learn how to walk on their own two feet and live as accountable individuals under God's guidance.
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