Episode 194 – Life in the Roman Empire Pt 4: Roman Baths

Key Passage(s): Ephesians 4:17-24

Roman bathhouses were a central feature of daily life across the Roman Empire. Ironically, their primary purpose wasn’t hygiene, but for serving as social hubs where people from all walks of life could relax, socialize, conduct business, and engage in various activities like eating, drinking, exercising, playing games, attending lectures, or having sensual interactions. Due to their popularity, the Apostle Paul drew from bathhouse imagery to urge Christians to “rid themselves” of old, sinful habits, much like shedding old clothes. By the end of this teaching, you’ll be challenged to align your habits with the new heart and status Jesus gave you!

Discussion Questions

  • What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? 
  • We’ve all heard the saying, “Old habits die hard.” What are some of the old habits you’ve struggled to bring into alignment with the new heart Jesus gave you? 
  • Based on what you’ve struggled to “take off,” what new habits might be especially important for you to “put on?” (For example, workaholics might need to “take off” finding their identity in achievement and “put on” the habit of rest or Sabbath). 
  • Ephesians 4:17-24 was written to church people. So were Romans 13:11-14 and Colossians 3:8-14 – two other sections where Paul uses bathhouse language to address Christian behavior. If Paul wrote these passages to Christians today, what are some issues he’d have in mind that Christians need to “rid themselves of?” 
  • What are some key ways Christians can distinguish their lives from those of the surrounding society? 
  • How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? 

For Further Study

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2 Comments

  1. Susan stacey September 10, 2024 at 5:19 am - Reply

    Wow! 1. Did husbands and wives go to the baths together?
    2. What happened to the babies conceived did the men help raise them?
    3. What age could you go to the bathhouses? 4. How much was spent per day; in relation to their income.

    • Brad Nelson October 4, 2024 at 11:29 am - Reply

      Hi Susan,

      It’s hard to say for certain whether husband and wives went to the baths together. Many Roman men didn’t associate much with their wives, but there’s also inscriptional evidence of happy Roman marriages. If you’re interested in reading up on it, you can find some fascinating information in Rodney Stark’s books The Rise of Christianity and the Triumph of Christianity, not to mention the Great Courses Lecture series at the bottom of the Teaching Series episodes.

      As for child rearing, most Roman parents entrusted the raising of their children to others, whether slaves or, in well-to-do Roman families, a pedagogue. Girls didn’t have much of a childhood and were typically married between the ages of 14-17. For most, formal education ended around age 12. A pedagogue escorted kids to and fro to ensure they weren’t harmed, kept watch to ensure they didn’t experience moral harm, and taught them good manners. Paul makes references to the idea of pedgagogue in 1 Cor. 4:15 and Gal. 3:24-25.

      Typically, the bathhouse fee (unless it was a private bathhouse) was inexpensive enough that most everyone in the ancient Roman world could attend.

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