Page 139 - Biblical Backgrounds

Greek Backgrounds in Acts and the Epistles.

(Acts; 1 and 2 Corinthians; 1-2 Thessalonians; Philippians)

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 the 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.

The Lesson ...

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 or 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. One should
keep in mind that the Hellenistic world is different in many respects
from 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
traveled on foot to Jerusalem. In Acts 15:41, we are told that Paul
traveled through Syria and Cilicia doing ministry. This means they traveled through the Cilician Gates.
Many might picture the gates of a city, but this would be incorrect. These gates were a gorge through a
mountainous area that allowed travelers to reach Galatia by land. More recently, it looks like the picture
on the right.

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