This week, we’ll read an overview of some of Paul’s journeys through Macedonia and Greece, while also doing a deep dive into the issues faced by three of the churches that grew out of what is usually called Paul’s Second Missionary Journey.
As the journey began, Timothy, a young man of Greek and Jewish lineage (which would have placed him as an outsider for both groups), joined Paul. They travelled to Philippi where they met a prominent woman, Lydia, who was a dealer in purple cloth. The only effective purple dye that existed at this time was made from a marine snail that was difficult to harvest, and the process of producing the dye was time-intensive, so purple cloth was the most expensive clothing material of the day.
While in Philippi, Paul and his companions were arrested, flogged, and thrown into prison. While they were imprisoned, an earthquake occurred that could have freed all of the prisoners. Rather than fleeing, Paul and Silas took the opportunity to evangelize the jailer, who accepted Christ and was baptized.
From Philippi, they traveled to Thessalonica and Berea; disputes in those places led them to move on quickly to Athens. In Athens, Paul offered a wonderful testimony to the people by appealing to their deeply religious nature.
Paul soon went to Corinth, where he encountered strong resistance from the local synagogue, while also making significant headway with the people. He remained in Corinth for an extended time before returning to Antioch by way of Jerusalem. While Paul was traveling, a new character, Apollos, entered the scene in Greece; Apollos would go on to have a relationship with Paul that was both strained and respectful.
The first two chapters of Philippians detail Paul’s understanding of living out the Gospel message through his life. They contain the not-so-common sense understandings of the truth of the resurrection, the need to live a life free of grumbling, and the beauty of offering thanks in all situations. In the midst of these thoughts, Paul reminds us that we should emulate the humility of Christ; his words make up what is often considered the oldest declaration of Jesus as God.
In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul reminded that church of the work that he had done with them, while also expressing his strong desire to return to them.
Our readings from First Corinthians remind us of the need to focus on the work of the church rather than its leadership, a proper understanding of the ways to approach the Lord’s Supper, and an amazingly detailed look at the resurrection from the dead. (If you have questions about the first sixteen verses of the eleventh chapter, please email me, as this passage is one that would require me to go past my word limit).
Psalm 136, our Psalm of the week, points us towards the amazing works of God and the endurance of His love.