Page 122 - Biblical Backgrounds student textbook

Study Section 16: Greek Backgrounds in Acts and the Epistles.
(Acts; 1 and 2 Corinthians; 1-2 Thessalonians; Philippians)

16.1 Connect.

Paul did not walk into uneducated sections of the Roman empire and preach to those who had
never heard of a god before. Greek culture had made the spread of the Gospel possible in ways
it would not have been before. Jews had been dispersed throughout the Greek and then Roman
empire. As you will see in this chapter the influence of Greek thought and practice had woven
itself into the framework of the world Paul ministered in. This was especially true on Paul’s
second missionary journey through Greece. As you read this material ask yourself what aspects of your
culture allow you to minister that you need to take advantage of.

16.2 Objectives.

1. Students should be able to summarize the location and the government Paul ministered within.
Specifically, the Greek influences will be summarized in this section.

2. Students should be able to summarize the influence of Greek Hellenism on the culture in which
Paul ministered.

3. Students should be able to summarize the influence of Greek culture on the social and commercial
aspects of the culture.

4. Students should be able to explain points of intersection that Greek influence had on Paul’s ministry.

16.3 Greek Backgrounds in Acts and the Epistles

Alexander the Great had built an empire that changed the world. He had spread Greek thought
and practice as he conquered people after people. Eventually he would die in combat, of
sickness, and his generals would divide the empire. During the eventual fighting and the fall of
the empire to the Roman empire, Greek culture spread through the Mediterranean world.
Paul was the recipient of a world prepared by God beforehand. Greece had established a
common language that was spoken throughout even the Roman empire. The Old Testament had been
translated into Koine Greek by the Jews and was used widely by the dispersed Israelites. The Greeks had
established a culture that loved rhetorical debate. In short, God put
Paul in this Hellenistic world that was ideal for spreading the
message of Jesus far and wide. The term Hellenism refers to the
Greek cultural influence in the empire it developed. Once should
keep in mind that the Hellenistic world is different in many respects
form the Classical Greek world of Socrates and Plato.

Location:
Paul’s second missionary journey took him from Jerusalem, through
Syria, Cilicia, Galatia, Phrygia, Macedonia, and Achaia. He then
sailed back to Ephesus, from Ephesus to Caesarea, and then

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