Sacrificial Love in Greco-Roman Culture

In reading The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark

Sacrificial love is essential to the life of a Christian. 

In the first few centuries, within Greco-Roman culture, Christians would learn and exhibit sacrificial love for God and others through charity, conversion, and a Biblical view of eternity. Though Greco-Roman culture varies significantly from Western culture today, the premise remains that the love for God and others must replace our love for self to impact those around us with the Gospel (1 John 4:19-21).

Early Christians demonstrated charity in the first few centuries through the generosity of time and service to those who were ill and in need. During the epidemics, while pagans in the Greco-Roman culture would travel away from infected areas and from those who were suffering, Christians would remain to care for those who were ill at the cost of their own lives as they “gladly...learned not to fear death” (Stark, 81-82). Additionally, early Christians would express charity in the first few centuries through caring for the widows and those in distress (Stark, 104). Christians at the time were not afraid to counter social norms as they cared for and loved the neglected and unfavorable communities.

Interestingly, many women in the first few centuries converted to Christianity because of the higher social status obtained within the Church (Stark, 104). The values of these Christian women would be similar to pagans in the Greco-Roman culture in the desire for power or autonomy, which ultimately attracted unbelievers. 

Christians in the early Church lived with hope, a perspective of eternity, rather than the Greco-Roman culture who more readily fixated themselves on the satisfaction of the present moment. Committed Christians held steadfast to Christ, the Gospel, and hope of eternity when confronted by the threat of torture or martyrdom (Pliny, 1). Those who were quick to abandon the faith and those in Greco-Roman culture elevated this temporal life above any hope after death. Scripture calls us to lay down our lives for one another (1 John 3:16) and express love for God rather than material/worldly advancement.

In the first few centuries, Christians displayed an ability to be an “open network,” the engagement with the pagan world that led to the conversion of many (Stark, 115). In a similar way, Christians can share the Gospel with culture and unbelievers today by fearlessly and sacrificially placing others above themselves in sacrificial love and service.