Grainport of Rome found

Rome emerged as the prime power of the Mediterranean thanks in part to trade. It imported huge amounts of wheat, especially from Egypt. In the first century AD, the grain port at Ostia was superseded by a giant installation covering 200 hectares (500 acres) at Portus.

 

French and Italian archaeologists have found the remains of a grain port that played a critical role in the rise of ancient Rome, France's National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) said on Thursday. Cores drilled at a location at the mouth of the River Tiber have revealed the site of a port whose existence has been sought for centuries, it said in a press release. The port lies northwest of Ostia, which was established by Rome as a fortress gateway to enable trade to pass upriver towards the city and prevent pirates and marauders. The evidence points to a port established between the fourth and second century BC and had a depth of six metres (20 feet), making it accessible to sea-going vessels, the CNRS said.

Not able to ignore The New Testament

" ... whatever the ultimate truth may be,
Jewish history remains incomplete without including the full breadth of interpretive discussion and discord that arose out of First Century Israel. 

Even if we were to deny every word, indeed every possible interpretation of those words in its pages, we cannot ignore it.  If we cannot ignore it then we need to understand these perspectives apart from any faith-based decisions regarding its message.
  The fact of the matter is, in order to do this effectively
we must restore its original message."
Andrew Gabriel Roth
in his 'Open Letter to the Jewish People regarding the New Testament'

Compromise and accomodation

A summary of the Bible Hour presentation at the Christadelphian Hall, Blackpool Street, Burton-upon-Trent on Sunday 5th December 2010 on the compromise and accommodation between Christianity and the religions and philosophies of the world can be found in: The Trinity: paganism or Christianity?

What had once been a simple faith which could be understood by the man in the street, became a complex system of theology which was the preserve of an educated elite. The Christian church became an establishment with political influence and political power. It also became divided.

You also can find more about the historical developments how the Trinity came in to Christianity at the Belgian Biblestudents in the continuation from the articles:  The First Century of Christianity & Positioning of those in power, in Power and position and to be published later Early days of Christianity: Minimizing the power of God’s Force the Holy Spirit; Second Century; Hellenistic influences; Politics and power first priority; Blending of Jewish, Oriental, and Hellenic thought; a.o.