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A Week in the Life
A Week in the Life of Rome
In first-century Rome, following Jesus comes at a tremendous social cost.
An urbane Roman landowner and merchant is intrigued by the Christian faith—but is he willing to give up his status and lifestyle to join the church? Meanwhile his young client, a catechumen in the church at Rome, is beginning to see just how much his newfound faith will require of him.
A Week in the Life of Rome is a cross section of ancient Roman society, from the overcrowded apartment buildings of the poor to the halls of the emperors. Against this rich backdrop, illuminated with images and explanatory sidebars, we are invited into the daily struggles of the church at Rome just a few years before Paul wrote his famous epistle to them. A gripping tale of ambition, intrigue, and sacrifice, James Papandrea's novel is a compelling work of historical fiction that shows us the first-century Roman church as we've never seen it before.
An urbane Roman landowner and merchant is intrigued by the Christian faith—but is he willing to give up his status and lifestyle to join the church? Meanwhile his young client, a catechumen in the church at Rome, is beginning to see just how much his newfound faith will require of him.
A Week in the Life of Rome is a cross section of ancient Roman society, from the overcrowded apartment buildings of the poor to the halls of the emperors. Against this rich backdrop, illuminated with images and explanatory sidebars, we are invited into the daily struggles of the church at Rome just a few years before Paul wrote his famous epistle to them. A gripping tale of ambition, intrigue, and sacrifice, James Papandrea's novel is a compelling work of historical fiction that shows us the first-century Roman church as we've never seen it before.
217 pages, Paperback
First published February 19, 2019
26 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
James L. Papandrea
29 books39 followersDr. James L. Papandrea is an award-winning author, Professor of Church History and Historical Theology, and the host of the Catholic Culture podcast, The Way of the Fathers. His many books have been translated into multiple languages, and he has an online presence via his YouTube channel called, The Original Church. A former Protestant deacon, now a Catholic layperson and catechist, Jim has an M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University in the history and theology of the early Christian Church, with secondary concentrations in New Testament interpretation and the history of the Roman Empire. He has also studied Roman history at the American Academy in Rome, Italy. He is currently on the faculty at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. He is a senior fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, and is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the Academy of Catholic Theology, the North American Patristics Society, and the Society of Biblical Literature. More information can be found via Jim’s website: www.JimPapandrea.com, and his Amazon Author Page: www.DoctorJimsBooks.com. Dr. Papandrea is not on social media, but interacts directly with anyone interested in the New Testament and the early Church in The Original Church Community on Locals.com – you can find them at TheOriginalChurch.Locals.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 14, 2018
"A Week in the Life of Rome" is partly fiction and partly nonfiction. The novel is set in 50 A.D. in Rome. It followed characters in the various churches in Rome and included people from different backgrounds and economic levels. The main characters were a freedman and his family. His wife and his stepson are Christians, and he's interested. However, his patron asks him to do things that would be against the Christian faith. He must choose between advancement in Roman society or his family and new faith. Cultural and historical details were woven into the story which show what it would've been like for a Roman mindset confronted with Christian values.
There were nonfiction sidebars that discussed certain topics from the story, like the Vestal Virgins. This helped to further explain things happening in the story and help readers understand some of the issues talked about in the New Testament. The book contained some interesting photographs of Roman ruins and archaeological artifacts which illustrated information from the nonfiction sidebars and events in the story. I found both the story and the nonfiction interesting and informative. Overall, I'd recommend this book to people who aren't very familiar with this type of Bible background information.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
There were nonfiction sidebars that discussed certain topics from the story, like the Vestal Virgins. This helped to further explain things happening in the story and help readers understand some of the issues talked about in the New Testament. The book contained some interesting photographs of Roman ruins and archaeological artifacts which illustrated information from the nonfiction sidebars and events in the story. I found both the story and the nonfiction interesting and informative. Overall, I'd recommend this book to people who aren't very familiar with this type of Bible background information.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
February 20, 2019
As the title says, this book tells the story of a week in the lives of several members of the early church in Rome. While the account itself is (presumably) completely fictional, the main characters themselves were real people, and the setting seems to have been well researched to be as accurate as possible. Extensive footnotes provide lots of interesting and helpful background information, and a list of characters at the start helps set the scene. The story itself is necessarily limited, in that it is following several people over the course of a week, but does give some idea of the sorts of situations and problems the believers might have faced, as well as the fellowship they enjoyed. Note that the book is set prior to Nero's persecution at a time when there did not seem to be a particular need for secrecy in meetings or anything like that.
Pros: The following of various characters was interleaved quite neatly and as unconfusingly as possible. The information provided in the footnotes was interesting, generally relevant and mostly helpful. The book's way of presenting the issues faced by individuals in the society was not something I've really come across before (there is generally more of a full storyline, which possibly distracts somewhat from the issues?), but was thought-provoking.
Cons: The notes (at least in the copy I received) were just dropped into the middle of the text with no real formatting clues, often starting in the middle of a sentence. Once I worked out what was happening, it wasn't a big issue, but it was confusing at first, and not ideal ever. Having said that, if they turned into clickable footnotes, I suspect fewer people would read them, which would be their loss (though mostly not essential to an understanding of the book, they are helpful and do often clarify things that are quite different from now). I'd also love some indication of how much is known fact, how much generally accepted church tradition, how much rather dubious tradition, and how much completely made up for the purpose of the story.
Overall comments: I'm not really sure what sort of audience this is intended for, because it's neither your usual historical fiction nor a history book, but somewhere between the two. It's not the sort of thing I'd want to read all the time, but I enjoyed it and found it interesting and helpful. 4.5 stars.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.
Pros: The following of various characters was interleaved quite neatly and as unconfusingly as possible. The information provided in the footnotes was interesting, generally relevant and mostly helpful. The book's way of presenting the issues faced by individuals in the society was not something I've really come across before (there is generally more of a full storyline, which possibly distracts somewhat from the issues?), but was thought-provoking.
Cons: The notes (at least in the copy I received) were just dropped into the middle of the text with no real formatting clues, often starting in the middle of a sentence. Once I worked out what was happening, it wasn't a big issue, but it was confusing at first, and not ideal ever. Having said that, if they turned into clickable footnotes, I suspect fewer people would read them, which would be their loss (though mostly not essential to an understanding of the book, they are helpful and do often clarify things that are quite different from now). I'd also love some indication of how much is known fact, how much generally accepted church tradition, how much rather dubious tradition, and how much completely made up for the purpose of the story.
Overall comments: I'm not really sure what sort of audience this is intended for, because it's neither your usual historical fiction nor a history book, but somewhere between the two. It's not the sort of thing I'd want to read all the time, but I enjoyed it and found it interesting and helpful. 4.5 stars.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.
January 6, 2020
A helpful and fun way (maybe the best way?) to learn about a culture in biblical times.
"Friends, we know that the Romans do not believe that all people are created in the image of God. They believe that some were created to rule, and the rest were created to be ruled and to be expendable, for the profit and entertainment of the nobility. They do not believe that all people are created equal, but we do believe that. Whether a person is rich or poor, free, freed, or slave, or man or woman--Iesua loves us all" (p. 139).
"The classic Roman virtues, which come from Stoic philosophy, were wisdom, courage, self-control, and justice. These may sound like they could be compatible with Christian morals, but the Roman virtues were conceived only with the upper classes in mind and were understood in such a way that they served the needs of the powerful. In other words, Roman virtues had no thought about helping those less fortunate" (p. 147).
"[Stachys] remembered once hearing Marcus say that when you can't find the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit prays for you. At the time, Stachys had thought that was very strange, since Roman prayer depended on saying exactly the right words. How could the Way-followers pray without knowing the proper words? He didn't know how it could be true, but now he found he was counting on it" (p. 170).
"Friends, we know that the Romans do not believe that all people are created in the image of God. They believe that some were created to rule, and the rest were created to be ruled and to be expendable, for the profit and entertainment of the nobility. They do not believe that all people are created equal, but we do believe that. Whether a person is rich or poor, free, freed, or slave, or man or woman--Iesua loves us all" (p. 139).
"The classic Roman virtues, which come from Stoic philosophy, were wisdom, courage, self-control, and justice. These may sound like they could be compatible with Christian morals, but the Roman virtues were conceived only with the upper classes in mind and were understood in such a way that they served the needs of the powerful. In other words, Roman virtues had no thought about helping those less fortunate" (p. 147).
"[Stachys] remembered once hearing Marcus say that when you can't find the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit prays for you. At the time, Stachys had thought that was very strange, since Roman prayer depended on saying exactly the right words. How could the Way-followers pray without knowing the proper words? He didn't know how it could be true, but now he found he was counting on it" (p. 170).
May 18, 2024
The book fulfilled what it promised. It showed what a week living in Rome might look like, through the lens of a story.
There were many useful historical notes all throughout, separate from the story as well.
Even though the story isn't a 'great work', and I didn't agree with everything in it, it was a very useful and interesting book.
I'm glad I read it!
CWs: Mentions of sex
There were many useful historical notes all throughout, separate from the story as well.
Even though the story isn't a 'great work', and I didn't agree with everything in it, it was a very useful and interesting book.
I'm glad I read it!
CWs: Mentions of sex
March 13, 2019
What was life like for Christians living in the first century? The New Testament provides some hints, and we can do historical and archaeological reconstructions, but how do we get our minds this reality? In other words, is there a way of using the imagination? The editors at IVP Academic have been attempting to do such a thing in the "A Week in the Life Series," which offers an imaginative/fictionalized look at life in the first century. This book, which takes to Rome during the reign of Claudius at the time of the Jerusalem Council. This is the fifth book in the series. I read and reviewed Ben Witherington's A Week in the Fall of Jerusalem, which I enjoyed even if I didn't agree with all of his interpretations of those events. The same is true here with regard to James Papandrea's reconstruction of life in Rome over the course of one week.
Most of the characters in this story are named by Paul in chapter 16 of his letter to the Romans. The primary character is Stachys, who in this story is a freedman and client of Urbanas, another believer named in Romans 16, as well as husband of Maria the mother of Marcus (John Mark). Marcus is serving as a primary leader in the Roman church, as well as writing a memoir. Of course, Peter factors into the story, though Paul has yet to visit.
All we have in the biblical record for most of the characters in this story are names recorded in Romans 16. Panpandrea, who is professor of church history and historical theology at Garrett Evangelical Seminary, and a Roman Catholic priest (who once was a United Methodist pastor), takes these names and builds characters. Because we don't know much about them, they lend themselves to reconstruction.
As the story begins, it is the year 50 CE. The Jerusalem Council has concluded and Peter is on his way back to Rome. The story begins with Stachys visiting his patron, Urbanas, a man of importance of the Equestrian class. Stachys is a catachemen of the Way-followers. He's not yet baptized or admitted to the Table. He wants to be freed from the requirement to address his patron as Dominus, a title that only can be given to Jesus. Thus, we are introduced to the theme of this book -- the journey to faith of Stachys.
Along the way we will watch as these early Christians seek to make their way in a city and culture that is not conducive to following Jesus. There are many challenges and temptations. For one thing, Claudius had banned Jews from the city, which made Peter's presence difficult, as well as others such as Marcus and Maria (except that Maria is married to a Roman citizen).
Throughout the book Papandrea provides boxed insets, which provide background information about patron-client relations, Roman currency, marriage and family customs, and more. These are set off so as to not interfere with the narrative. Along the way we learn much about Roman life, including the prevalence of prostitution, corruption, the degeneracy of the theater and the games. We watch as the early church came to terms with a community that included senators and slaves.
It's tempting to go into the details of the book, but that would take away the fun of reading the book. I will say this, Papandrea's Roman Catholicism shines through at points. It's not overwhelming or distracting, but the choice of texts and words for elements of the story, such as Table fellowship are clearly pointing to Catholic sensibilities. The same is true with who is authorized to officiate at the breaking of the bread. The reader will want to decide if this is faithful to what we know from Scripture.
The role that Marcus plays in the story is interesting. He's not mentioned in Romans 16, but he is connected to Peter, who is connected to Rome. What I found interesting is that while Marcus is the one who does much of the teaching, he often quotes from the Gospel of John, especially when speaking of the Table, rather than from the Gospel of Mark. This Marcus, though does have a certain distaste for Paul, which I suppose stems from their earlier work together. He's definitely more attuned to Peter, who is the lead figure in Rome.
Because this is a narrative account, it is very accessible. Again, while I might not embrace every interpretive move, it is enlightening, and will prove valuable in understanding the challenges faced by early Christians, as well as some of the important elements of their lives together.
Most of the characters in this story are named by Paul in chapter 16 of his letter to the Romans. The primary character is Stachys, who in this story is a freedman and client of Urbanas, another believer named in Romans 16, as well as husband of Maria the mother of Marcus (John Mark). Marcus is serving as a primary leader in the Roman church, as well as writing a memoir. Of course, Peter factors into the story, though Paul has yet to visit.
All we have in the biblical record for most of the characters in this story are names recorded in Romans 16. Panpandrea, who is professor of church history and historical theology at Garrett Evangelical Seminary, and a Roman Catholic priest (who once was a United Methodist pastor), takes these names and builds characters. Because we don't know much about them, they lend themselves to reconstruction.
As the story begins, it is the year 50 CE. The Jerusalem Council has concluded and Peter is on his way back to Rome. The story begins with Stachys visiting his patron, Urbanas, a man of importance of the Equestrian class. Stachys is a catachemen of the Way-followers. He's not yet baptized or admitted to the Table. He wants to be freed from the requirement to address his patron as Dominus, a title that only can be given to Jesus. Thus, we are introduced to the theme of this book -- the journey to faith of Stachys.
Along the way we will watch as these early Christians seek to make their way in a city and culture that is not conducive to following Jesus. There are many challenges and temptations. For one thing, Claudius had banned Jews from the city, which made Peter's presence difficult, as well as others such as Marcus and Maria (except that Maria is married to a Roman citizen).
Throughout the book Papandrea provides boxed insets, which provide background information about patron-client relations, Roman currency, marriage and family customs, and more. These are set off so as to not interfere with the narrative. Along the way we learn much about Roman life, including the prevalence of prostitution, corruption, the degeneracy of the theater and the games. We watch as the early church came to terms with a community that included senators and slaves.
It's tempting to go into the details of the book, but that would take away the fun of reading the book. I will say this, Papandrea's Roman Catholicism shines through at points. It's not overwhelming or distracting, but the choice of texts and words for elements of the story, such as Table fellowship are clearly pointing to Catholic sensibilities. The same is true with who is authorized to officiate at the breaking of the bread. The reader will want to decide if this is faithful to what we know from Scripture.
The role that Marcus plays in the story is interesting. He's not mentioned in Romans 16, but he is connected to Peter, who is connected to Rome. What I found interesting is that while Marcus is the one who does much of the teaching, he often quotes from the Gospel of John, especially when speaking of the Table, rather than from the Gospel of Mark. This Marcus, though does have a certain distaste for Paul, which I suppose stems from their earlier work together. He's definitely more attuned to Peter, who is the lead figure in Rome.
Because this is a narrative account, it is very accessible. Again, while I might not embrace every interpretive move, it is enlightening, and will prove valuable in understanding the challenges faced by early Christians, as well as some of the important elements of their lives together.
November 8, 2018
This is like reading two different books in one. The first a story set in ancient Rome, the other a history book about ancient Rome. The two tie in and enhance each other flawlessly. The cast of characters list at the beginning that explained who each of them were was very helpful in keeping track of who's who. The attention to detail and the descriptions brought the ancient city to life in a interesting and entertaining way. A must read for anyone who wants to learn more about what life was like in ancient Rome.
I received a complimentary ARC copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a complimentary ARC copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2018
A Week in the Life of Rome was yet another engaging story in the series. The characters were well developed, and the plot had a level of tension and twists to keep things interesting. The book was well written and thoroughly researched, making for a simple way to learn the basic historical background in a pain free fashion. The author captured the frailty of life at this time in all its gruesomeness. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the background of the New Testament.
January 1, 2019
A very enjoyable book that combines historical facts with a fictional story about what life might have been like for a few days in first century Rome. I appreciated the pictures and the sidebars which helped place the story in context.
July 9, 2020
The historical background is fascinating, which added interest to a good story.
September 15, 2021
Excellent overview of life in Rome in the 50's AD and the likely place of the Christian community during that time. I think Papandrea does a little bit of fanciful imagining about the structural consistency of certain aspects of the early Church, but nothing you can't imagine taking place at some point.
September 5, 2022
An easy, imaginative, and enjoyable read. "A Week in the Life of Rome" is a fictional account with real historical figures that helps the reader to better understand the empirical milieu in which the earliest Christians lived and which influenced their ways. A little heavy handed in places with respect to doctrine and theology, there were moments when the dialogue was more didactic than conversational...but overall, the book was very accessible to this avowed heretic. 😉
March 14, 2019
IVP has a new addition to their “A Week in the Life of” series with this new work from James L. Papandrea. A Week in the Life of Rome combines a fictional story with non-fictional aspects taken from both scholarship and biblical texts. To be perfectly honest, I am not usually a fan of historical fictions and was surprised with how much I enjoyed this book (it was quick read for me as I found it to be quite the page-turner).
The story largely centers on the many tensions that were part of everyday life for a Christian (or soon to be convert) in the Roman Empire. The patron-client system is well illustrated, along with pretty accessible details of what life in ancient Rome was often like. Apart from the educational aspect of this book (and there is a good amount to learn for those unfamiliar with historical and archaeological research), the story shines brightest in its ability to highlight the incredibly emotional and almost impossible situations one faced while trying to remain a Roman citizen and also be a faithful follower of the Way. In particular, the difficult struggle one of the main characters has over whether to give his son over to a “tutor” (which often involved sexual relations between men and young boys) was powerful. It really captures, in a situation that most can deeply empathize with, the real problems the early Christians faced when choosing faithfulness to Jesus over the Empire and its culture. The dangers were real and life-threatening, unlike many of our contexts today.
I think many will enjoy the book who are interested in learning more about what Rome was like in the first century and what it would have been like to live a Christian life in such a world. Pick up a copy, especially if you enjoy these types of books.
Note: I received this book from IVP Academic in exchange for an unbiased review.
The story largely centers on the many tensions that were part of everyday life for a Christian (or soon to be convert) in the Roman Empire. The patron-client system is well illustrated, along with pretty accessible details of what life in ancient Rome was often like. Apart from the educational aspect of this book (and there is a good amount to learn for those unfamiliar with historical and archaeological research), the story shines brightest in its ability to highlight the incredibly emotional and almost impossible situations one faced while trying to remain a Roman citizen and also be a faithful follower of the Way. In particular, the difficult struggle one of the main characters has over whether to give his son over to a “tutor” (which often involved sexual relations between men and young boys) was powerful. It really captures, in a situation that most can deeply empathize with, the real problems the early Christians faced when choosing faithfulness to Jesus over the Empire and its culture. The dangers were real and life-threatening, unlike many of our contexts today.
I think many will enjoy the book who are interested in learning more about what Rome was like in the first century and what it would have been like to live a Christian life in such a world. Pick up a copy, especially if you enjoy these types of books.
Note: I received this book from IVP Academic in exchange for an unbiased review.
August 24, 2021
Disclaimer - Review written for study.
A Week in the Life of Rome by James L. Papandrea, is a book that transports the reader into Rome in AD 50 and follows a group of ‘Way-followers’. Although packed with historically accurate and contextual information, the book’s storyline is fictional and takes its fair share of creative freedom.
Right upon finishing the book, I was filled with mixed feelings toward it. The historical content for me, was a huge positive. The plot itself was enjoyable. But then the artistic license that was often used had me questioning. In light of these points, let me expand on them in greater detail.
Historical Content
Before I started the book, I was looking forward to building some basic knowledge on which to understand the early Roman context, as it's something I knew nearly nothing about. And naturally, I assumed the book would be entirely non-fictional and more textbook-like. Upon reading, I realised it was a fictional storyline and I was slightly taken back, but I gleaned what factual information I could regardless - and there was still plenty of it.
In fact, it was hard not to be immersed in this foreign culture upon reading, as the storyline traveled through all sorts of new places, customs and people, seemingly with the intention of presenting these things to the reader.
Not surprisingly, the way Papandrea handled the religious context was of most interest to me and the insight I gained was highly valuable. The Roman understanding of gods was fascinating, and the ‘Way-followers’ themselves and their understanding of Jesus and early Christian practices was even more fascinating. Something like what the rich Sabina said gave me great insight into Roman religion - “‘Can one god really watch over everything? Can one god be the god of the hearth and the god of the pantry? God of the doorway, and god of the city gates? How can one god be responsible for all of that?’” (p93).
The cultural customs in general were also a huge area of learning for me. And the way different things surfaced throughout the storyline was great. Of course, all the culture surrounding marriage was presented, which was a whole new world to me - a fairly evil and new world to me, through my 21st century western eyes. A line like this displaying my point - “‘... save their energy for the marriage bed.” Sabina laughed. “If only that could be true. But I think a man like that is as common in Rome as a phoenix.’” (p133). It was all very eye-opening, especially in light of modern evangelicals claiming that the morals of our generation are as bad as they have ever been.
But then there was the fun and entertaining insight into Roman culture that the book displayed - “Stachys thoroughly enjoyed himself, burping appropriately to show his appreciation.” (p103). Need I say anything more?
On the topic of historical content, I must point out that often the historical facts were in these blurbs throughout the book that were separate from the storyline. And although these provided plenty of factual information, often they hindered the flow quite a bit, so I found the best information was that which was intertwined within the plot itself.
The Plot
The storyline itself was surprisingly captivating. But not captivating because anything dramatic and ridiculous was happening, but captivating mainly because I felt interested in the characters. I must say, I didn’t feel this way instantly (and got confused by the names here and there), but once I had invested some time, I was intrigued.
Stachys, being the main character, was definitely one of the more appealing of the group. Getting inside his head and seeing him struggle with the reality and meaning of being a new ‘Way-follower’ was fantastic. And the progression of his doubts and decisions culminating in the reassurance of Peter in the end felt like a good conclusion (regardless of the liberty taken when it came to the use of the Apostle Peter). Likewise, his near death experience was equally compelling - “Either [Iesua] will save me or I will die. But I’m certain that without him on my side, I will die.” (p191).
I feel Papandrea did a good job with the breadth of the characters that made an appearance in the story. As an outsider, it was good to gain some insight into people of different social standings in the Roman context. Perhaps this is what made the progression of Urbanus and Sabina another highlight of Papandrea’s story telling. From staunch and uninterested pagans, to increasingly interested seekers, the arch of these characters was what also drew me into the plot. The ending was surprisingly heartwarming - “‘Stachys, my friend. We’ve told your man Peter that we want to join the school of the Christians…’” (p216).
Artistic License
Being a fictional book set within the bounds of biblical history resulted in Papandrea using a fair bit of artistic creativity. And this ultimately, left me hesitant to enjoy the book in its fullness. With the book being set “seventeen years” (p74) after Christ’s ascension, there were quite a few gaps in the apostle’s ministry untouched by scripture that Papandrea felt at liberty to fill in. Now, I know that Papandrea is not for a moment claiming that his interpretation of the Apostle Peter is an objective fact, however I still think artistic license as such poses some dangers.
Whether we realise it or not, reading an extensive interpretation of Peter (p207-216) changes how we view the literal historical person, especially as we come to him when reading scripture. Not to say that Papandrea’s interpretation seemed far-fetched, but regardless it will still have an influence on the reader's perception of the historical figure. I feel as though the book could have thrived just as much without intertwining hypothetical words and actions from Peter into the story. It's not a reason to throw away the book by any means, but I still think it's an area that needs to be held with caution.
Overall, I enjoyed A Week in the Life of Rome far more than I thought I would. I got a fictional story that I was not expecting, but I got plenty of the historical context that I was after. In fact, I thought Papandrea did a good job of combining both of these elements, even though much of the artistic freedom regarding Peter could have been done away with. Yet, I must say, the most eye-opening thought of this whole read was realising this same ancient religion that I was reading about is the very same thing I am participating in today. That’s a pretty fantastic thought.
A Week in the Life of Rome by James L. Papandrea, is a book that transports the reader into Rome in AD 50 and follows a group of ‘Way-followers’. Although packed with historically accurate and contextual information, the book’s storyline is fictional and takes its fair share of creative freedom.
Right upon finishing the book, I was filled with mixed feelings toward it. The historical content for me, was a huge positive. The plot itself was enjoyable. But then the artistic license that was often used had me questioning. In light of these points, let me expand on them in greater detail.
Historical Content
Before I started the book, I was looking forward to building some basic knowledge on which to understand the early Roman context, as it's something I knew nearly nothing about. And naturally, I assumed the book would be entirely non-fictional and more textbook-like. Upon reading, I realised it was a fictional storyline and I was slightly taken back, but I gleaned what factual information I could regardless - and there was still plenty of it.
In fact, it was hard not to be immersed in this foreign culture upon reading, as the storyline traveled through all sorts of new places, customs and people, seemingly with the intention of presenting these things to the reader.
Not surprisingly, the way Papandrea handled the religious context was of most interest to me and the insight I gained was highly valuable. The Roman understanding of gods was fascinating, and the ‘Way-followers’ themselves and their understanding of Jesus and early Christian practices was even more fascinating. Something like what the rich Sabina said gave me great insight into Roman religion - “‘Can one god really watch over everything? Can one god be the god of the hearth and the god of the pantry? God of the doorway, and god of the city gates? How can one god be responsible for all of that?’” (p93).
The cultural customs in general were also a huge area of learning for me. And the way different things surfaced throughout the storyline was great. Of course, all the culture surrounding marriage was presented, which was a whole new world to me - a fairly evil and new world to me, through my 21st century western eyes. A line like this displaying my point - “‘... save their energy for the marriage bed.” Sabina laughed. “If only that could be true. But I think a man like that is as common in Rome as a phoenix.’” (p133). It was all very eye-opening, especially in light of modern evangelicals claiming that the morals of our generation are as bad as they have ever been.
But then there was the fun and entertaining insight into Roman culture that the book displayed - “Stachys thoroughly enjoyed himself, burping appropriately to show his appreciation.” (p103). Need I say anything more?
On the topic of historical content, I must point out that often the historical facts were in these blurbs throughout the book that were separate from the storyline. And although these provided plenty of factual information, often they hindered the flow quite a bit, so I found the best information was that which was intertwined within the plot itself.
The Plot
The storyline itself was surprisingly captivating. But not captivating because anything dramatic and ridiculous was happening, but captivating mainly because I felt interested in the characters. I must say, I didn’t feel this way instantly (and got confused by the names here and there), but once I had invested some time, I was intrigued.
Stachys, being the main character, was definitely one of the more appealing of the group. Getting inside his head and seeing him struggle with the reality and meaning of being a new ‘Way-follower’ was fantastic. And the progression of his doubts and decisions culminating in the reassurance of Peter in the end felt like a good conclusion (regardless of the liberty taken when it came to the use of the Apostle Peter). Likewise, his near death experience was equally compelling - “Either [Iesua] will save me or I will die. But I’m certain that without him on my side, I will die.” (p191).
I feel Papandrea did a good job with the breadth of the characters that made an appearance in the story. As an outsider, it was good to gain some insight into people of different social standings in the Roman context. Perhaps this is what made the progression of Urbanus and Sabina another highlight of Papandrea’s story telling. From staunch and uninterested pagans, to increasingly interested seekers, the arch of these characters was what also drew me into the plot. The ending was surprisingly heartwarming - “‘Stachys, my friend. We’ve told your man Peter that we want to join the school of the Christians…’” (p216).
Artistic License
Being a fictional book set within the bounds of biblical history resulted in Papandrea using a fair bit of artistic creativity. And this ultimately, left me hesitant to enjoy the book in its fullness. With the book being set “seventeen years” (p74) after Christ’s ascension, there were quite a few gaps in the apostle’s ministry untouched by scripture that Papandrea felt at liberty to fill in. Now, I know that Papandrea is not for a moment claiming that his interpretation of the Apostle Peter is an objective fact, however I still think artistic license as such poses some dangers.
Whether we realise it or not, reading an extensive interpretation of Peter (p207-216) changes how we view the literal historical person, especially as we come to him when reading scripture. Not to say that Papandrea’s interpretation seemed far-fetched, but regardless it will still have an influence on the reader's perception of the historical figure. I feel as though the book could have thrived just as much without intertwining hypothetical words and actions from Peter into the story. It's not a reason to throw away the book by any means, but I still think it's an area that needs to be held with caution.
Overall, I enjoyed A Week in the Life of Rome far more than I thought I would. I got a fictional story that I was not expecting, but I got plenty of the historical context that I was after. In fact, I thought Papandrea did a good job of combining both of these elements, even though much of the artistic freedom regarding Peter could have been done away with. Yet, I must say, the most eye-opening thought of this whole read was realising this same ancient religion that I was reading about is the very same thing I am participating in today. That’s a pretty fantastic thought.
March 20, 2019
In this recent new release, James Papandrea gives the reader of what life was like in Roman for both fledgling Christians and Roman citizens. It’s AD50, and the Jews have been banished from the city, but the community awaits one very important person who’s traveling from Jerusalem to see them. Stachys, a Greek who also happens to be a Roman citizen, is married to a Way-Follower but his patron is a worshipper of Pagan gods and is looking for increased status. Will either of them live long enough to see Peter arrive?
A Week in the Life of Rome should be a great book. It’s got a good storyline to it, with interesting characters. Most of the characters are all mentioned in the New Testament; while the Pauline letters mention them in passing, Papandrea fleshes them out and gives them identity. It’s also a combination of a novel and an encyclopedia. If it was on television, the best comparison would be a docudrama.
That’s where I had a problem with this read. I read it in electronic form - where formatting is never the greatest - and I think this does need to be read in print format. There are plenty of factual blocks to explain aspects of Roman life, such as the Patron-Client system, and the types of homes that Romans lived in. These don’t come at the end of a chapter but, instead, break up the narrative. The breaks weren’t clear in the e-book but I presume they would be in a paper book. This meant that passages that should’ve been tense weren’t.
It’s a shame that the flow of the book was broken up in such a way. Each explanatory section lessened the tension. I’ve no doubt that, written as a straight piece of fiction, A Week in the Life of Rome, could’ve been a fantastic novel.
Disclaimer: I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a review, and the words above are my own.
A Week in the Life of Rome should be a great book. It’s got a good storyline to it, with interesting characters. Most of the characters are all mentioned in the New Testament; while the Pauline letters mention them in passing, Papandrea fleshes them out and gives them identity. It’s also a combination of a novel and an encyclopedia. If it was on television, the best comparison would be a docudrama.
That’s where I had a problem with this read. I read it in electronic form - where formatting is never the greatest - and I think this does need to be read in print format. There are plenty of factual blocks to explain aspects of Roman life, such as the Patron-Client system, and the types of homes that Romans lived in. These don’t come at the end of a chapter but, instead, break up the narrative. The breaks weren’t clear in the e-book but I presume they would be in a paper book. This meant that passages that should’ve been tense weren’t.
It’s a shame that the flow of the book was broken up in such a way. Each explanatory section lessened the tension. I’ve no doubt that, written as a straight piece of fiction, A Week in the Life of Rome, could’ve been a fantastic novel.
Disclaimer: I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a review, and the words above are my own.
April 30, 2019
This book was fantastic! I was introduced to this 'series' about 7 years ago or so when I saw Ben Witherington's "A Week in the Life of Corinth" and got it as a gift (not surprisingly... I haven't read it yet, haha). I saw that this one was releasing this year, and since I like to study and research everything to do with the book of Romans, this quickly became a book on my to read this. I found out that I could get a digital copy to read for an honest review and gladly jumped on the opportunity.
What Papandrea does with this book, is take real historical practices, conditions, and other elements and creates a fictional story of what a week in Rome might have looked like (his specific time period for this book was around 50 A.D.). The whole book takes place over the length of a week, with each chapter telling the events of a day. The story is certainly attention grabbing and will help you learn/remember historical insights from the Roman Empire, circa 50 A.D. As you encounter references to specific historical facts/elements, there are 'breaks' in the story where you can read a quick blurb about the actual history from Rome. All in all, this is a fantastic book and it has certainly motivated me to pick up my copy of "A Week in the Life of Corinth" sooner than later to read it as well! I highly recommend this book as a great way to learn some history that will help you understand a little more background for our New Testament texts, AND as an entertaining story that will leave you wishing it were longer! You won't be disappointed!
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review via netgalley.
What Papandrea does with this book, is take real historical practices, conditions, and other elements and creates a fictional story of what a week in Rome might have looked like (his specific time period for this book was around 50 A.D.). The whole book takes place over the length of a week, with each chapter telling the events of a day. The story is certainly attention grabbing and will help you learn/remember historical insights from the Roman Empire, circa 50 A.D. As you encounter references to specific historical facts/elements, there are 'breaks' in the story where you can read a quick blurb about the actual history from Rome. All in all, this is a fantastic book and it has certainly motivated me to pick up my copy of "A Week in the Life of Corinth" sooner than later to read it as well! I highly recommend this book as a great way to learn some history that will help you understand a little more background for our New Testament texts, AND as an entertaining story that will leave you wishing it were longer! You won't be disappointed!
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review via netgalley.
January 8, 2021
I'd recommend this book to Christians who want to learn more about the Roman world in the first century but don't like reading dry history books. As a novel it is workmanlike, the story exists to keep you engaged as you learn about Roman culture and early church history and it does that effectively. However, the dialog and overall writing isn't amazing so it looses stars for that. For example, while Star Wars fans might get a chuckle when a character says, "These aren’t the ones you’re looking for. Now move along, barleymen." the whole scene around it seems constructed just to include one last Biblical character in the story before the end of the novel.
I read an ebook copy that didn't have footnotes or a bibliography (although a few reference works are occasionally mentioned in the sidebars) and that kind of bugged me because my main reason for reading this was wanting something as historically accurate as possible. I had a fair bit of knowledge about the book's subject matter before hand and saw nothing that raised any red flags. The author is a Biblical scholar so I trust that it's gives a better picture of the times than a novelist who just studied the era in order to write a book. Overall I think the books works very well as a teaching tool. Learning through storytelling is very memorable and I'm sure this book will stick with me for a long time.
Also, content advisory: Sex, pedastry, and violence were very visceral parts of Roman society and this book does not shy away from it
I read an ebook copy that didn't have footnotes or a bibliography (although a few reference works are occasionally mentioned in the sidebars) and that kind of bugged me because my main reason for reading this was wanting something as historically accurate as possible. I had a fair bit of knowledge about the book's subject matter before hand and saw nothing that raised any red flags. The author is a Biblical scholar so I trust that it's gives a better picture of the times than a novelist who just studied the era in order to write a book. Overall I think the books works very well as a teaching tool. Learning through storytelling is very memorable and I'm sure this book will stick with me for a long time.
Also, content advisory: Sex, pedastry, and violence were very visceral parts of Roman society and this book does not shy away from it
May 20, 2019
I found this book surprisingly enjoyable to read. I say that because I'm not into religion or religious history and thought this book would be on the dry, boring side. But the author used a clever technique interspersed the historical facts and photos in between a fictionalized account of a week in Rome shortly after Jesus's death that featured some "typical" people living in Rome at the time and awaiting the arrival of the Apostle Peter.
The fiction had nice tension throughout that grew steadily toward the end when Peter finally showed up. Characters were by necessity (length of the book) not fully sketched out but were drawn well enough that we could readily understand their hopes, fears, aspirations, and strengths and weaknesses.
For a hybrid book that blended fiction and non-fiction on a rather dry topic for many, this is worth a read if you're at all curious about early Christianity in first-century Rome.
The fiction had nice tension throughout that grew steadily toward the end when Peter finally showed up. Characters were by necessity (length of the book) not fully sketched out but were drawn well enough that we could readily understand their hopes, fears, aspirations, and strengths and weaknesses.
For a hybrid book that blended fiction and non-fiction on a rather dry topic for many, this is worth a read if you're at all curious about early Christianity in first-century Rome.
December 17, 2020
As the fledgling Christian community in Rome seeks to smuggle in the apostle Peter, Stachys is caught between the pressures of the patron-client system and the Christian convictions of his wife. This piece of historical fiction, like other books in the series, open a window to help us imagine what went on in the spaces the New Testament often leaves blank. We feel the tensions and gain a sense of daily life for these early “Way Followers.” Through the narrative and informative sidebars and historical images, we learn about aspects of the culture they lived in—such as Roman homes, food, entertainment, citizenship, worship, commerce, marriage, and more. Likewise we find an enlightening portrayal of the challenges they met in family and faith.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions are my own.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions are my own.
July 3, 2019
This is brief but enlightening story of members of The Way, the earliest Christian believers, as they lived in Rome in 50 AD. Biblical figures such as Mark and Peter appear and all is in harmony with what we know of the early church from the scriptures. Many illustrations and explanatory asides are strategically played in the text, explaining such things as Rome's patron-client system, the theater and other entertainments, and the public baths. These sections are simple but extremely informative. I've purchased the other 4 books in the series since they are not available at any public libraries in my area.
July 20, 2019
A fine combination of fact and fiction incorporating first century biblical figures into a fictional, yet realistic setting in the Roman Empire. Pandrea goes a good job of showing his readers the challenges the early church faced navigating faithfulness to Christ while living in an increasingly hostile city.
December 1, 2019
I learned a lot about the life and culture of Rome and the dynamics among the early church. The story is suspenseful, although it took some time to get familiar with all the characters. A more accessible means to learn about the culture context than reading new nonfiction reference books. Will read more in the series.
February 17, 2020
Well explored and written, with a bit of a too happy ending for my taste. Great historical insight and background into slave life and society norms. Some parts felt a bit too Roman Catholic regarding the first church service traditions. Not sure that my understanding is more on the spot, i was just surprised to find the liturgy language preserved to this day.
July 27, 2021
Great book that teaches lots of historical facts about Claudian era Imperial Rome and the cancer of the Christian religion that started spreading at that time and that we haven't unfortunately yet eradicated 2000 years later.
January 9, 2022
At first wasn’t impressed but the story was really good and Papandrea admits that some of his claims are disputed. Main issue remaining was the role of Peter as the founder of the Roman church, and, secondly, the really early hierarchical and sacramental view of the offices.
August 9, 2019
Overall, this book was really good. Only disappointment is that the end is tied up in a bow, which seems very unrealistic for the pressures the church was enduring. Definitely recommend it.
June 3, 2020
Ok story...a great summary of life in Rome in AD 50
February 11, 2022
A fun take on the life of your average first century Roman Christian
January 10, 2025
Required seminary reading provided a fictional account on what a family may have been dealing with during a time of Roman rule. A fun read (for seminary assigned readings).
February 28, 2025
Corny and helpful.
June 5, 2025
Wow. What a page turner. I have been to the city of Rome 6+ times in my lifetime but this is the first book to bring it all together. It felt like I was back there in the year 50 AD.
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