Tag: martyrdom

Ultimate Fighting on the Emperor’s Birthday

With Rome having just come through a polarizing civil war, Emperor Vespasian (AD 69–79) set out to distract the populace with ultimate fighting spectacles. He began building the Coliseum at Rome for gladiator “games” in AD 70. His son (Emperor Titus) completed the project in AD 80. Step inside the Coliseum even today and it…

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For what would I give my life?

Polycarp of ancient Smyrna faced death rather than worship the gods or make sacrifice to the Roman emperor. How should allegiance to Jesus Christ shape our response to idolatrous political movements today?