How the Roman System Worked
- A place to await trial or execution
- Prison is not a punishment, therefore
no sentence to carry out
Imprisonment and attitudes towards it in the Greco-Roman World
- The release of a prisoner was
subjective to the regional governor
Torture Equality
- Not all people were treated equally
- Honestiores- higher rank: faced less punishment
- Humiliors- lower rank: faced greater punishment
Works Cited
Cicero, Marcus Tullius, and D. H. Berry. Political Speeches. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 13 Apr. 2015.
DeSilva, David Arthur. Honor, Patronage, Kinship & Purity: Unlocking New Testament Culture. Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity, 2000. Print.
Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Hendrickson: Peabody, 1994. Print.
Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press, 1993. Print.
Reid, Daniel G. “Prison, Prisoner”. Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press, 1993. Print.
Wansink, Craig S. Chained In Christ: The Experience And Rhetoric Of Paul's Imprisonments. Sheffield, England: Sheffield Academic Press, 1996. eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 13 Apr. 2015.
Intro to the Roman Prison System
Torture Tactics
12 I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; 14 and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear.
15 Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. 16 These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice.
- Beheadings, fed to animals, crucifixion, strangulation, hanging, drug testing, chains, whippings
- Claws, whips, racks
Correlation
- New attitude toward imprisonment
- Early church's view of Paul
- Paul's offered perspective
By:
Nathan Giles
Jonathan Loska
Danielle Burns
Becca Sinai
Philippians 1:12-18
Conclusion
Roman Prisons
12 I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; 14 and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear.
15 Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. 16 These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice.
Two Most Common Themes on Imprisonment