• Romans 1

  • Video Introduction to the Book of Romans

  • The City of Rome

  • Apartment Buildings in Ancient Rome

  • Synagogue in the City of Ostia

  • Romans 2

  • Synagogue in the City of Ostia

  • Romans 11

  • Grafting an Olive Branch

  • Grafting a Wild Olive Shoot Into the Garden Olive Tree

  • Olive Tree

  • Romans 13

  • Taxation

  • Romans 15

  • Paul’s Journeys After c. 61 C.E.

  • Romans 16

  • Letter Writing

  • Erastus Inscription in Corinth

The items shown in the illustrations and 3-D video footage in the Media Gallery are based on extensive research. However, they are artists’ renditions and, at times, depict only one of several possibilities.

Olive Tree

Olive Tree

The olive tree (Olea europaea) was widely cultivated throughout the lands where first-century Christians lived. It can flourish even in poor or rocky soil. (De 8:8) It has an immense root system that gathers water in the dry climate. Olive trees grow slowly and can live for over one thousand years. The olives turn from green to purple or black as they ripen, and then harvesters beat the branches to shake off the mature olives. In Bible times, olive trees were highly valued as the main source of edible oil. Olive oil was also used for skin care, medicine, and fuel for lamps.​—Le 24:2; Lu 10:34.

Related Scripture(s)

Ro 11:24
Romans 1
Romans 2
Romans 11
Romans 13
Romans 15
Romans 16