Illyricum
Illyricum is a region mentioned in the New Testament, located in the region of Italy in modern-day Italy. Known today as Salona. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Illyricum is mentioned once in Scripture, in Paul's letter to the Romans, where the apostle describes the vast scope of his missionary work: "From Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ" (Romans 15:19). This statement reveals that Paul's evangelistic reach extended far beyond the cities explicitly narrated in Acts, stretching to the western frontier of the Greek-speaking world. Illyricum was a Roman province on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, encompassing parts of modern Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia, and Croatia. Paul's mention of Illyricum as the western boundary of his ministry is significant because it demonstrates his strategic ambition to preach where Christ had not yet been named (Romans 15:20). Whether Paul actually entered Illyricum or merely reached its borders is debated, but the reference underscores the geographic breadth of the early church's expansion. Paul's next stated goal was to carry the gospel to Spain (Romans 15:24), pressing ever westward in fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Illyricum was a Roman province along the eastern Adriatic coast, later divided into Dalmatia (south) and Pannonia (north). The provincial capital of Salona (near modern Split, Croatia) became one of the largest Roman cities in the region. Extensive archaeological remains at Salona include a forum, amphitheater, aqueducts, and early Christian basilicas dating from the second century onward. Inscriptions and artifacts document the spread of Christianity throughout the region in the early centuries. The city of Dyrrachium (modern Durres, Albania) served as a major port connecting Illyricum to Rome via the Via Egnatia. Archaeological evidence of early Christian communities has been found at multiple Illyrian sites, though direct evidence linking these to Pauline mission is lacking. Paul's companion Titus later went to Dalmatia (2 Timothy 4:10).
Verse Appearances (1)
Rom
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →