Page 152 - Advanced Biblical Backgrounds Student Textbook

cities with local government systems and customs. The Romans often used them to rule locally and
exercised supreme authority over those local counterparts.

A good example of this dual government is found in Acts 18:12-17 which says:
“While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and
brought him to the place of judgment. “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to

worship God in ways contrary to the law.”Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them,
“If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor
or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to
you. But since it involves questions about words and names and
your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge

of such things.” So he drove them off. Then the crowd there
turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of
the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever. (NIV)”

The stones above are archeological evidence of Gallio as proconsul. If the texts are correctly, he was
only Proconsul for approximately 2-3 months. 188 The texts on the stones include the statement “my
friend and proconsul L. Iunius Gallio.”

189 The Corinthian court Paul was brought to was called the Bema seat. This was the less
formal law court in which the public could bring cases before public officials. There was
a more formal one as well. The Bema seat was a judgment seat where discipline and
rewards would be given out. Paul was brought before it and tells us that Jesus will
evaluate believers before His Bema seat as well. This judgement is not a formal trial in
which we may be sent to Hell for failure (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Rather it is an
evaluation of our faithfulness where we will be disciplined or rewarded. Had Gallio
listened, Paul would have given an account and then Gallio would have made a ruling.
We are told we will give an account and Jesus will make a ruling. Our goal is to hear
“Well done my good and faithful servant, enter into your reward.”

Religion:

The concept of religion in the Hellenistic world differed in multiple respects from what we have today.
NT Wright explains four differences. First, the Hellenists were primarily concerned with the God’s to
receive blessings in this life rather than the next. This is different from Christianity but is similar in
motivations to why many seek God’s favor now (or the witch doctor in Africa). They want God to bless
them now and keep them from harm. Second, the focus of Hellenist “religion” was on ritual practice
rather than carefully delineated doctrine. Wright explains that the goal of prayers, sacrifices, and other
rituals was to endear the worshipper to the deity in order to gain favor. Third, Wright reminds us that
the concept of secularism, the separation of political and religion, that the West holds today is a new
view. In the Hellenist world the state and the religion were often one. The imperial cult for instance was
a method of political powers to ascertain who was a loyal subject and who was not. Fourth, we do
notice many deities were present in the Hellenistic world Paul visits. This does not mean that these cults
were tolerant of one another. As we have seen in other sections the Jews wanted to kill Paul for

188 Todd Bolen, BiblePlaces.com. https://www.bibleplaces.com/acts18/.
189 The Bema Seat at Corinth. http://www.corinth-museum.gr/en/archaeological-site/bema-of-saint-paul/.

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