Brief Overview of Ῥώμη (Strong’s G4516: Rhōmē)

Strong’s G4516: The proper noun referring to Rome, the capital city of the Roman Empire. In the New Testament, it represents not just a geographical location but the center of political power and cultural influence, playing a crucial role in the spread of early Christianity and Paul’s ministry.

U- Unveiling the Word

Ῥώμη represents far more than just a geographical location in the New Testament. First appearing in Acts 18:2, it symbolizes the center of worldly power and authority in the first century. As the capital of the Empire, Rome held both political and spiritual significance for early Christians. Paul’s desire to reach Rome (Romans 1:15) reflected the strategic importance of establishing the gospel in the heart of the empire. Early church fathers saw Rome as both a challenge and an opportunity for Christian witness. Today, Ῥώμη reminds us how God uses centers of worldly power to advance His kingdom purposes.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Ῥώμη, Rhōmē, /rho’-may/
• Pronunciation Guide: “rho” (like ‘row’), “may” (like ‘may’)
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun

Etymology:

• Root word: Possibly from Latin “Roma”
• Traditional etymology connects it to Romulus
• No Greek prefixes or suffixes as it’s a proper noun

D – Defining Meanings

• Rome (the city)
• The capital of the Roman Empire
• The seat of imperial power
• Center of Roman authority

For compound words:
Not a compound word – it’s a proper noun

Translation Options:

• “Rome” – standard geographical reference
• “the city of Rome” – more explicit
• “Imperial Rome” – emphasizing political significance

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Ἱεροσόλυμα (Hierosolyma) /hee-er-os-ol’-oo-mah/ – Jerusalem See G2414 – contrasting spiritual center
• Βαβυλών (Babylōn) /bab-oo-lone’/ – Babylon See G897 – symbolic parallel in Revelation
• Ἀθῆναι (Athēnai) /ath-ay’-nahee/ – Athens See G116 – cultural center comparison

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as a proper noun:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular only
• Gender: Feminine
• Declension: First declension

Example forms:

• Nominative: Ῥώμη
• Genitive: Ῥώμης
• Dative: Ῥώμῃ
• Accusative: Ῥώμην

Cross-references:

• Related adjective: Ῥωμαῖος (Roman)
• Related adverb: Ῥωμαϊστί (in Latin)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes Ῥώμη’s significance as both geographical location and symbol of imperial power. Thayer’s notes its importance in early Christian history. LSJ provides extensive documentation of its use in classical literature. Vine’s highlights its role in New Testament church development. Strong’s identifies it as the imperial capital. LEH notes its usage in Jewish literature as representing Gentile power. Moulton and Milligan demonstrate its frequent appearance in administrative documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:

And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Rome with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. (Acts 18:2)

Additional References:
Acts 19:21
Acts 23:11
Acts 28:14
Acts 28:16
Romans 1:7
Romans 1:15
2 Timothy 1:17

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The word Ῥώμη symbolizes how God uses worldly power centers for His divine purposes. What was seen as the seat of imperial might became a crucial platform for the gospel’s spread. This reminds us that King Jesus’s kingdom transcends and transforms earthly powers, using them to advance His purposes. Even the mightiest human city serves His plan for redemption.

D – Did You Know?

1. The Greek spelling of Ῥώμη influenced how the city’s name was written in many Eastern languages.
2. Early Christian documents often used Ῥώμη symbolically to represent worldly authority.
3. Paul’s letter to the Romans is the longest detailed theological exposition addressed to any church in Ῥώμη.

Strong’s G4516: The proper noun referring to Rome, the capital city of the Roman Empire. In the New Testament, it represents not just a geographical location but the center of political power and cultural influence, playing a crucial role in the spread of early Christianity and Paul’s ministry.

Part of speech: Proper Noun

Tags: Rome, capital city, Roman Empire, Paul’s ministry, Acts, Romans, imperial power, church history, missions, persecution​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​