A Change of Plans: From Asia to Europe
The apostle Paul made three recorded missionary journeys in his career as a called servant of the Almighty to take the Good News of Jesus Christ to other parts of the then-known world. In his initial journey, he took Barnabas with him as they were commissioned by the Antioch church. Due to a disagreement over taking John Mark on their second journey, Paul and Barnabas split up and Paul took Silas as his traveling companion as they embarked on this long journey that was to deliver a letter from the council at Jerusalem. But their plans would change as we will see.
In my Bible study, The Broadcast Word – The Seed Scattered: The Beginnings of the Christian Church (2001), I detailed Paul and Silas’ trip on Journey #2 which was just over 2,500 miles from/to Antioch of Syria.
The journey changed slightly in complexion as Paul and Silas picked up a young man named Timothy (esteemed of God) in Lystra. His mother was Jewish, and his father was Greek. History also suggests that the physician Luke also was a member of the missionary team perhaps joining the team in Troas. In Luke’s Book of the Acts, he outlines the team’s journey through various regions in Asia Minor, including Galatia and Phrygia. As they traveled on, the Holy Spirit stopped them from going beyond Mysia. Paul received a vision of a man from Macedonia begging them to come and help them. Paul never doubted as Acts reminds us that he and his team members “got ready at once” to go to Macedonia as they would enter the continent of Europe. A major change!
What was the world like then re: travel? The Roman empire constructed the Via Egnatia (Egnatian Trail or Way) in the 2nd century BC that connected Byzantium (later Constantinople) to the Appian Way and eventually to Rome. It covered a total of 1,120 kilometers (696 miles). This highway of sorts is not as we might imagine; rather, it was only six meters wide, and paved with large polygonal stone slabs or covered with a hard layer of sand. Today, there is a modern highway called Egnatia Odos that runs parallel to the Via Egnatia between Thessaloniki (modern name) and the Turkish border.
Paul and his companions traveled by sea from Troas across the Aegean Sea to Samothrace, Neopolis, and then by land to Philippi, a major city in the Roman Empire in the Macedonian district. Philippi was an important city in its day. The city received its name from Philip II in 356 BC when he conquered the city. Philip II and his armies took control of the gold mines and then established a garrison at Philippi. After the Roman control of the city, the Egnatian Trail would be routed through this vital city in the Macedonian region. As such, Paul and his companions would use this major route in their travels.
Paul’s stop in Philippi was perhaps one of his most successful churches, and the first on the continent of Europe. Acts sixteen tells us that on the Sabbath, Paul and his companions went down to the river expecting to find a place for prayer. Instead, they found a woman named Lydia, a “dealer of purple cloth,” from the city of Thyatira – in Asia Minor.
Let us take a look at this purple dye substance and its use. The official name is Tyrian Purple (a/k/a Phoenician purple, royal purple, imperial purple, or imperial dye). It is a natural reddish-purple dye that is secreted by several species of sea snails. Among other areas, the mollusks are found in the Mediterranean. Archaeological data from Tyre along with historians, credit the discovery of this purple dye by the philosopher Heracles of Tyre. It is suggested that it was first used by the Phoenicians as early as 1570 BC. The dye was greatly prized because the color did not easily fade but became brighter with weathering in the sunlight. Various shades were available, but the most highly prized was the “black-tinted clotted blood” color.
The value of this purple dye was as precious as silver (and perhaps gold), per historian Theopompus. Obtaining this dye from sea snails could be done by milking a gland that produced the dye; or by crushing the snails to harvest the dye. Accordingly, it took 12,000 snails to yield no more than 1.4 gram of pure dye.
Lydia was from Thyatira in Asia Minor, which is not on the Mediterranean or the Aegean Sea. But Thyatira was a leading city in purple cloth trade with dyeing facilities located in its city. So why did Lydia travel (move) to Philippi? First, history suggests she might have been a Greek Macedonian. Secondly, her new home in Philippi was on the major trade route, and also was a wealthy city (gold mines). Thus, the business was perhaps better suited in this area for the prized dyed cloth. The ultimate reason was not financial, or business related but God’s plan for her and her household.
If you read the entire account of Paul’s stay in Philippi, you will see how God works in mysterious ways to accomplish His goal. The church at Philippi was housed in Lydia’s house but also included a jailer and his family. To wit, God’s kingdom is for ALL regardless of their wealth, or status in life. This church was particularly important to Paul as we will see in his letter to the Philippians written some 10 years later after he established the church.
The Letter of Paul to the Philippians
This letter was probably written from Rome while Paul was imprisoned. Thus, it has been called one of Paul’s “Prison Letters.” Zondervan in its Thompson Chain Reference Bible suggests this letter was written between 60-64 AD (Analyses of the Books of the Bible, section 4272). Its surname is the “Book of Joy.” As you read this short letter, it is evident that Paul has reason to be joyous. His “chains” proved to give him the opportunity of preaching to Caesar’s household, and with some success. He is confident of the partnership of his young church at Philippi, and thankful for their remembrance of him in prison. Finally, he reminds them that in life or death, he is with the LORD; and encourages the Philippians to continue to hold fast in the face of persecution. The current Caesar was Nero who was ruthless. He served from 54 to 68 AD. Nero’s ruthless nature included not only to his own family (had his mother executed) but also to Christians. History tells us that Nero blamed the great fire in Rome (64 AD) on the Christians. He ordered the arrest of a few members of the sect, who under torture, accused others until the entire Christian populace was implicated, and became fair game for retribution. (www.eyewitnesshistory.com/christians.htm). In their very deaths they were made the subjects of sport; nailed to crosses or set afire.
Paul and Timothy open this Book of Joy with a section of “thanksgiving,” which is similar to the manner in which he opens other epistles (I Corinthians; Ephesians, Colossians; and I and II Thessalonians). Why? Because Paul is genuinely thankful for the grace that has been bestowed on these new Christians and their church. In this case, Paul says, “(He) prays with joy,” because of the partnership in the gospel, yes, even their generous cash gift that was delivered by Epaphroditus. Paul remembers this church with great “affection.” (v. 8). This word in Greek is translated: inward parts (heart etc.) and figuratively, the seat of feelings. Paul’s feelings for the Philippian church are connected by their joint belief in Jesus Christ.
Paul longs to be with his church again, but his chains and the ultimate outcome of his imprisonment is yet to be determined. But, he says, “Whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit.” Paul concludes chapter one with words of encouragement that just as Jesus endured the trials and tribulations, so too, Paul, and the church at Philippi, must also suffer for the sake of the gospel.
Paul begins chapter two with a plea for the church to make Paul’s joy complete by remaining “like-minded,” i.e., one in the spirit. This chapter’s main theme is Christian humility being fashioned after Christ himself. I have entitled (vs. 3-11) as “Paul’s Hymn of Humility & Joy.” Our LORD indeed was humbled as He gave up His glory and took on the humble nature of a servant (man) and began His walk to Calvary as God’s atonement for the sins of the world. And then, here it comes. Therefore . . . God exalted Him (Jesus) to the highest place where ALL people regardless of their location acknowledge the name of Jesus as LORD to the glory of God the Father. (emphasis added)
The missionary Paul acknowledges his co-workers both Timothy, who is like a son, and the mission church messenger, Epaphroditus, who delivered a mission offering to Paul for his defense and support. Paul’s praise for Timothy and his undying love and support of his teacher is to be admired. Timothy was certainly a student, and soon to be a leader in the church at Ephesus. Paul also lists his “son” as co-author (amanuensis) of several of Paul’s epistles (6 in total). Timothy was surely Paul’s messenger as he was sent to various church sites during Paul’s containment.
Paul’s tone changes in chapter three as we see evidence here of the work of Judaizers as they were apparently gaining a foothold in the church by requiring the gentiles to observe the Jewish laws and requirements. The lawyer-like Paul uses his personal example of someone who could put faith in the flesh. But, he says, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my LORD.” Righteousness does not come from the Law, rather it comes from the gospel through faith in Christ, who put man right with God based on His death and resurrection. This argument is punctuated with Paul’s urging for them to “press on toward the goal,” to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I am reminded of a note in my Bible’s margin that was the opening question of a visiting pastor in his sermon. He said, “How do you wear your faith?” Paul encourages his church to live according to the pattern that he gave them. And then he concludes chapter three with the greatest promise in the Bible. “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the LORD Jesus Christ, who by the power than enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” (3:20-21). Yes, we are not OF the world but IN the world. Our passport is issued in heaven as the Spirit of God gave us a new birth of faith and adoption into His (Jesus) death and resurrection.
Paul concludes his letter encouraging whatever internal strife may be present among its members, that they resolve their differences so that the gospel may be visible in unity of spirit. “Rejoice in the LORD always,” says Paul. “Let your gentleness be a witness to all who observe your actions,” he continues.
His thankfulness is complete now with a statement of rejoicing that his mission church at Philippi did not forget him in his bodily needs. Their gift was fragrant, acceptable, and pleasing to God as he returns their messenger Epaphroditus to them following his extreme illness.
In conclusion, I would like to share the final paragraph in Halley’s Bible Handbook. “Most of the early Christians were of the humbler classes. Many of them were slaves. Some of the converts belonged to the emperor’s household, whether as slaves or as freedmen, or even as persons of importance. They may have been members of the palace guard. Other people of high social standing include the treasurer of Ethiopia (Acts 8:27), Cornelius the centurion, a foster-brother of Herod (Acts 13:1), the proconsul of Cyprus (Acts 13:12), prominent women of Thessalonica, Greek women of honorable estate in Berea, the city treasurer in Corinth (Romans 16:23), and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward (Luke 8:3).” The Word of God is planted, watered, and yields its fruit in due season. May the Word of Christ dwell in you richly. Amen.
Peace
Connected in Him, I stand
GHR
P.S. The exact dates cannot be verified in many cases nor exact locations where certain letters were written.
