The Roman legions and the New Testament

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. - 1 Peter 5:8

Surprising as it may be, the Roman soldier and what he represented left an appreciable impact on the writers of the New Testament, who drew largely from the image of the soldier to explain what the Christian life is about.

Paul, writing to the Ephesians, talked of the armor of the Roman soldier, giving us a picture of how the believer is to equip himself for the battle. He’s to take the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the Spirit, and have his feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Writing to the Philippians he said that the “peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Life is a battle, and if you are God’s child, you become a target of dislike, cynicism, and prejudice equally as much as did the fishermen who walked away from their nets to follow Jesus.

Today, though, we are seldom reminded that we are in a battle against giants – enemies of our souls. The image of the Christian life we are confronted with more often is that of the shepherd gently leading his sheep beside the still waters to greener pastures, which is translated as health, wealth, and happiness.

Jesus came into a world filled with hostilities and battles and He triumphed over them. He understands the battles we fight. As the words of the old hymn go: “Sure I must fight if I would win. Increase my courage, Lord. I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain, supported by thy Word.”