In the ancient Roman-ruled world, there was a short two-word “confession of faith” that was required to be said by those living under Roman rule…if they wanted to stay in the good graces of Rome.

That short “confession of faith” was: Καῖσαρ κύριος (Kaisar kyrios)—Caesar is Lord.

By saying Καῖσαρ κύριος, a person was doing at least two things: 1) they were doing what needed to be done to say in line with what Rome (Caesar) demanded from its people, and 2) they were making it clear to whom their allegiance belonged.

To be a good Roman citizen was to be a person who submitted to the authority of the state above all else. Rome was the one in charge. Sure, you could believe what you wanted and do what you wanted (on the side, and within limit), but there was no mistaking who made the rules. And there was certainly no mistaking who held those accountable for breaking those rules.

There was a type person (better, a whole group of people), though, for whom declaring Καῖσαρ κύριος would not do.

Those were the ancient Christians.

For them, there was someone they worshipped as Lord, but Caesar (and, thus, Rome) was not it. The ancient Christians had already settled on their “confession of faith” and it was: Ἰησοῦς κύριος (Iēsous kyrious)—Jesus is Lord.

This might not be clearer anywhere else in the New Testament than Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome where he writes: “…if you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ (κύριον Ἰησοῦν) and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9, LEB).

What hope was there for a Roman Christian in ancient early church?

It could be Rome, but Rome wasn’t going to truly save them. No, for the early church, Jesus was the only one who defeated death and, thus, could pass on that victory to those who testified to his death and resurrection.

And, so, they worshipped. And they testified. And they believed.

The ancient Christians did that then, and we can do that now—through communion.

Therefore, let us take of the cup and the bread together, and declare in the Lord’s Supper that, above all else: Ἰησοῦς κύριος—Jesus is Lord.