From the Apostles to the End Times – Chapter 4: Longinus – The Centurion’s Conversion
By VCG on 6/14/2025
The scant scriptural references to Longinus, the Roman centurion who pierced Jesus’ side, present a fascinating challenge for historical inquiry.
Longinus (Greek: Λογγίνος) is the name of the Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus with a lance, who in apostolic and some modern Christian traditions is described as a convert to Christianity. His name first appeared in the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus. The lance is called in Catholic Christianity the “Holy Lance” (lancea) and the story is related in the Gospel of John during the Crucifixion. This act is said to have created the last of the Five Holy Wounds of Christ. This person, unnamed in the Gospels, is further identified in some versions of the story as the centurion present at the Crucifixion, who said that Jesus was the son of God, so he is considered as one of the first Christians and Roman converts. Longinus’s legend grew over the years to the point that he was said to have converted to Christianity after the Crucifixion, and he is traditionally venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and several other Christian communions.
The Gospels offer only fleeting glimpses, leaving much to interpretation and fueling scholarly debate about the historical Longinus and the reliability of the accounts themselves.
The narrative’s brevity compels us to delve into the broader historical context of Roman centurions in Judea during the first century CE, examining their social standing, religious beliefs, and potential for conversion to Christianity.
This contextual approach allows for a more nuanced understanding of Longinus’s story, moving beyond the limited textual evidence and venturing into the realm of plausible conjecture based on sound historical principles.
The most explicit mention of Longinus comes in the Gospel of John (19:34-37), where he is described as witnessing Jesus’ death and subsequently declaring,
“Truly this was the Son of God!”
This account is remarkable for several reasons.
First, it highlights the eyewitness testimony of a Roman soldier, a figure whose perspective would have been significantly different from that of the Jewish disciples.
Second, the statement attributed to Longinus is a powerful affirmation of Jesus’ divinity, coming from an unlikely source.
Third, the inclusion of this account in John’s Gospel suggests the significance attributed to Longinus’s conversion, even if the narrative itself remains brief.
The historical reliability of John’s account, however, remains a subject of debate.
Some scholars question the accuracy of the details, particularly the phrase
“Truly this was the Son of God!”
which could have been added later to emphasize the significance of Longinus’s conversion narrative.
Others point to the potential for embellishment and theological interpretation in the Gospel accounts, acknowledging the possibility of legendary elements woven into the historical narrative.
Nevertheless, the core event – the piercing of Jesus’ side by a Roman centurion – seems to be consistent across different Gospel accounts, although varying slightly in detail.
This consistency suggests a degree of historical accuracy, even if the specific words attributed to Longinus might be open to scholarly interpretation.
The absence of Longinus in the Synoptic Gospels:
- Matthew
- Mark
- Luke
further complicates the matter.
The lack of reference in these Gospels doesn’t necessarily negate John’s account, but it does underscore the diversity of perspectives and the potential selection biases in the early Gospel traditions.
Each Gospel writer likely chose to emphasize certain aspects of the narrative that served their particular theological agenda, resulting in the omission of certain details or characters in some accounts.
Considering the social and religious landscape of first-century Judea, we can draw some inferences about Longinus’s background and potential for conversion.
Roman centurions held a position of authority and prestige within the Roman army.
They were typically recruited from among the lower classes, but their military success and loyalty to Rome elevated their social status.
Their religious beliefs were diverse; while some might have adhered to traditional Roman paganism, others might have been open to other faiths or philosophies, a testament to the religious pluralism of the Roman Empire.
The exposure of a Roman centurion to Jewish culture and religious practices in Judea would have inevitably presented a variety of opportunities for encountering different belief systems.
Contact with Jewish people and their faith, possibly through interactions with local religious leaders or ordinary citizens, could have created an environment conducive to religious curiosity and potential conversion.
The events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion, witnessed firsthand by Longinus, could have served as a powerful catalyst for his conversion.
The miraculous events attributed to Jesus, as well as his teachings and the profound impact he had on his followers, might have resonated deeply with Longinus.
The unusual nature of Jesus’ death, followed by the events surrounding the resurrection, could have been enough to shatter any preconceived notions Longinus held and lead him toward a profound personal transformation.
Furthermore, the impact of Jesus’s teachings on the Roman centurion deserves closer examination.
Jesus’s message of:
- love
- forgiveness
- compassion
stood in stark contrast to the prevailing Roman ethos of:
- power
- conquest
- dominance
For a Roman soldier accustomed to violence and authority, embracing Jesus’s teachings would have involved a radical shift in perspective and worldview.
This transformation would not have been easy, and it requires us to acknowledge that the process of conversion would have entailed a significant inner struggle, a profound examination of one’s own values and beliefs.
This inner struggle likely contributed to the powerful statement attributed to Longinus in John’s Gospel, which reflects the depth of his faith and the profound impact of Jesus’s life and death.
The subsequent Christian work attributed to Longinus remains largely shrouded in mystery.
There is no direct evidence to corroborate these post-conversion accounts, which mainly rely on later Christian traditions and legends.
These traditions often portray Longinus as an influential figure in the early Church, emphasizing his missionary work and eventual martyrdom.
While these accounts provide tantalizing glimpses into a potential life lived in service to Christianity, their reliability should be viewed with a degree of caution.
The later traditions might be influenced by the desire to enhance the narrative of a well-known conversion, adding to the appeal and influence of the story.
The study of Longinus requires that we critically examine the limitations of the available historical sources.
The dearth of primary sources prevents a definitive reconstruction of his life, leading us to depend on the Gospel accounts and later traditions.
Therefore, historical investigation necessitates a cautious and nuanced approach, balancing the limited textual evidence with the broader historical context of Roman centurions in Judea, the socio-religious conditions, and the potential for conversion within the Roman Empire.
The study of early Christianity, particularly the narratives surrounding key figures, often requires that scholars reconcile fragmented evidence, conflicting accounts, and the possibility of legendary elements.
Longinus’s story, though brief in the Gospels, encapsulates this challenge.
By examining the historical context, critically analyzing the available sources, and acknowledging the limitations of our knowledge, we can move beyond a simplistic interpretation of the narrative and explore the complexities of Longinus’s potential conversion and subsequent life.
The interpretation of Longinus’s conversion also raises questions regarding the nature of faith and the process of religious transformation.
The acceptance of Jesus’s message by a Roman soldier speaks to the universality of the Christian message and the potential for religious conversion across social and cultural boundaries.
The transformation of a man steeped in the Roman military culture to a follower of Jesus demonstrates the power of faith to transcend political and social realities.
This transformation highlights the transformative power of religious conviction and its ability to reshape individuals’ lives and worldviews.
Further, studying Longinus and his conversion helps us understand the early spread of Christianity, its expansion beyond the Jewish community, and its appeal to diverse populations.
In conclusion, the story of Longinus, while lacking in detailed historical evidence, provides a valuable lens through which to examine the early spread of Christianity and the impact of Jesus’s life and death on individuals from vastly different backgrounds.
His brief mention in the Gospels, coupled with later traditions, presents us with a tantalizing glimpse into a potential conversion and subsequent life of faith.
Careful study of the available sources, combined with an understanding of the historical context, allows us to construct a more complete—though still tentative—picture of Longinus and the role he might have played in the early development of Christianity.
The continued study and re-evaluation of Longinus’s story serves not only as a compelling exploration of a figure from early Christianity but also as a reminder of the transformative power of faith and its enduring impact across time.
His brief but potent narrative reminds us that even a fleeting encounter with faith can have a lasting impact, prompting profound changes in belief and action.
His story remains a testament to the power of belief to cross cultural and societal divides, shaping lives in ways that resonate throughout history.
THE DARK FATE of the SOLDIER Who CRUCIFIED JESUS on the CROSS – Library of Rickandria
CONTINUE
From the Apostles to the End Times: A Deep Dive into Christianity – Library of Rickandria
From the Apostles to the End Times – Chapter 4: Longinus – The Centurion’s Conversion