Page 145 - Advanced Biblical Backgrounds Revised

Chapter 16: 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 Roman empires. 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.

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.

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 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

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