We have been somewhat sidetracked by a focus on salvation as the means of getting into heaven. The NT Christians saw Jesus as the co-creator of the universe who in His resurrection had broken all the evil powers that were spoiling our world. The true King had come, returned to heaven for a period, and left His people, in union with Him, to begin the restoration, a kind of advance army preparing for His triumphant return to fully consummate His victory.
Yet, many were slaves, or lower class people well outside positions of power and influence. Here is what their daily life was like.
Housing
The poor (i.e. most of society) lived in very basic houses.There were 1-2 rooms and few windows. Windows were covered by whatever was available. In winter they were cold, in summer insufferably hot. Cooking was on a small stove, without any flue. Smoke, smells and fumes filled the rooms, especially in winter with the windows covered. There were no bathing or toiletry facilities, apart from a basin or bucket. A little cold water would be available for washing provided someone in the household had collected enough. Disposal was through the window and onto the street, hopefully missing any passers by. The open sewers stank, especially in summer. The wealthy would leave for the countryside until cooler weather ad rain made life more bearable in the city.
There was no privacy. Clothing was hard to come by (very expensive for the poor). What very basic clothing one had was to be looked after carefully. Consequently, many tasks were done partly or wholly naked.
Health
There were no doctors, hospitals or medicines available for the poor. Vermin and parasites abounded, and their bites often led to infection which had no treatment available. Hearing was often impaired, eye disease which could lead to blindness was very common, and teeth soon became stained and rotted. Adults seldom had a complete set of teeth. Female babies were seen as a drain and often were dumped into a sewer. Abortion, over which women had little choice, was common and often led to further disease and/or death.
Social Life
Society was highly stratified by status and then by rank. There was little chance of advancement, except by marriage, and that was not generally available to the poor. Education was available only for the sons of the privileged. Women were largely excluded, as both Jews and pagans regarded women as inferior and incapable of serious intellectual thought.Slaves and the poor generally had few rights. Life could be very hard and painful. A pretty female, mother or daughter, could expect her master to use her sexually, for himself and/or as ‘after dinners’ for his guests. Some regarded slaves as less than fully human, and therefore physical mistreatment was not an offence.
Marriage
Females were married between 10-14, males 14-18. Women were seen as property, and in higher levels marriage was regarded as an investment, with the bride as the tradeable property. Her role was to produce a male heir. Prostitutes and courtesans were for pleasure, not a wife.
Into that society came a small group of people who espoused different values.
They gathered together as equals, something never done in Roman society. Race, gender and social status were not reasons for social divisions. Gal 3:28-29 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Marriage was held as honourable, and both men and women had rights and responsibilities arising from that. Wives were to honour their husbands and, radically, men were to follow their leaders’ example and love their wives as themselves, even sacrificially. Children were to be respected.
Abortion was opposed and abandoned female babies were taken in and cared for by the families.
All were taught to read, so as to become proficient in the Scriptures. Women no longer were to approach God through their husbands.
They worshipped the One True God, not Caesar, a treasonable offence. And when faced with death, faced that in the belief that they would live again.
It was these very socially confined, basic people that were the NT church. James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. Daily life was a trial in itself.
1 Peter 4:12-16, 19 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
They found joy and purpose in their daily, often harsh routines. Bit by bit they changed history. And we are continuing in the same story.
John
NZ