Transcript PPTX - Old Granbury Road church of Christ

The Roman Soldier
• The Roman soldier dates back to circa 500 BC
and continued to 1450 AD. This dates the
influence of the Roman army on society to be
about 2000 years.
• This army was the reason that Roman became a
geo-political power, other than the appointment
of the empire by God.
The Roman Soldier
• The army was divided up into legions; and the
legions were divided up into maniples and later
cohorts, regiments, and centuries. The legion in
its earliest organization was about 3000 men and
later would be expanded up to 5200 men.
• In its beginning the Roman army had 4 legions
but under Augustus there were as many as 28
legions and 33 legions under Severus.
The Roman Soldier
• In its earliest form the makeup of the army
depended a great deal on the wealth of the
individual soldier. The wealthier the man the better
position he would occupy in the army; his wealth
would buy him weapons and a horse. In its latter
form the Roman army was a standing professional
army. The soldier would serve for perhaps 20 years
with an additional 5 as a reservist. Many times the
average length of service would be much more, as
much as 30-40 years.
The Roman Soldier
Maybe the earliest example we have from soldiers
can be found in Luke.
• Luke 3:7-14 – John was teaching in the
wilderness and multitudes came to him to be
baptized by him.
The Roman Soldier
Three lessons for us from this example:
1. The intimidation of others might have been a
type of shake down for money. This might have
been for the soldier to not report something or
maybe even a protection payment.
• Matt. 10:8 – when Jesus sends out the twelve He
tells them, freely give
The Roman Soldier
There is no charge for the teaching of the Gospel.
It is not a money making experience and the
church is not a money making institution.
• 2 Cor. 11:5-9 – Paul preached the Gospel without
charge to anyone. cf. 1 Cor. 9:18
The Roman Soldier
2. The soldiers were not to falsely accuse.
This is just a basic tenant of be righteous.
• Matt. 15:19-20 – the false witness has a heart that
defiles
• Prov. 21:28- one of the results of a false witness is
the gossip he inspires
• Eph. 4:25 – we should put away lying and speak the
truth
The Roman Soldier
The soldiers were also told to be content with their
wages.
Contentment is always a great problem.
• 1 Tim. 6:6-9 – it doesn’t matter who you are we
should all strive for contentment
The Roman Soldier
Paul was one who used the idea of a soldier
several times.
Christians were referred to as fellow soldiers.
• Phil. 2:25 – Epaphroditus
• Phile. 2 – Archipus
Can others say of you that you are a fellow soldier?
The Roman Soldier
We must the courage of a soldier.
• 2 Tim. 2:1-4 – we must be strong and endure as a
soldier
• 1 Tim. 1:18 – we are to wage the good warfare
The Roman Soldier
• Finally we must equip ourselves as a solider.
• When you think about the Roman soldier, in his
earliest forms he had to provide for himself his
weaponry.
• God has never required man to arm himself. God
has always given man what he needed to wage
the good warfare.
The Roman Soldier
• Gen. 2:16-17 – God gave commands for food in
the garden
• Gen. 39:7-12 – God gave Joseph want he needed
to resist temptation
• Josh. 6 – God gave the Israelites the means of
defeating Jericho
The Roman Soldier
• One of the reasons that the Roman army was so
successful was that in its latter stages they were
the best equipped. When the leaders of the
armies found a weapon that worked they made
mass quantities and distributed them so that
everyone had the weapons needed to be
successful.
The Roman Soldier
God has given us the same equipment.
• Eph. 6:10-18 – We are to put on the whole armor
of God
• Is. 55:11 – God’s word will do what He intends
• 2 Tim. 2:14-15 – use God’s word rightly
• 1 Cor. 9:26-27 – we are disciplined so we might
not use God’s word with uncertainty
The Roman Soldier
• When we look at the Roman army we should be
able to see the reason for their great success;
each soldier was equipped and trained in the
proper use of his weapons. He was given to
service in the army for his life.
• We should also be able to see the likeness in our
service to God as christian soldiers.
• Can you see the likeness in your life?