Conversations at Midnight #11: Who Read Paul's Letters?

Are you ready to return to our exploration of women's issues concerning the Bible? As we dip into the writings of Paul, let's start with the letters of Ephesians and Colossians, which, unsurprisingly, read a lot like 1 Peter. Written by authors who knew one another, had probably consulted on matters of faith and the congregations they pastored, were both imprisoned for their faith, and most likely writing from jail cells, here are some themes they share:

Identity in Christ

What Makes Us Different

How to Live in an Increasingly Hostile World

Humility, Love and Moral Integrity

Household Orders of Conduct

Supremacy of Jesus

Following the Jesus Way

Paul gently takes readers by the shoulders and says, Hey…this is important. He raises our eyes heavenward to gaze at the wonder of God. Meanwhile, without the protections afforded Roman citizens, Peter seems to write from the storm; his words functioning like a blanket of grace to comfort, shelter, sustain, and support us.

Those days may not have been so different from ours. When we observe nations like Nigeria and Iran, we recognize that for some, being a Christian means martyrdom or physical suffering. For others, persecution may look like misunderstanding, misrepresentation, loss of a job, or being cancelled by friends and acquaintances.

Peter wrote from the seat of imperial Rome, while Paul wrote to the bustling centres of trade, art, and religious plurality in Asia Minor, known as modern-day Turkey. He constantly confronted cultures steeped emperor worship, politics, and economic tensions; his successes were often followed by physical persecution.

Paul wanted his congregations to walk wisely, stay awake, and not drift under pressure.

In Ephesians 5:18 he exhorts them: Be filled with the Spirit.

Not numbed out or checked out, but filled out, and up to the brim with a joy that doesn’t leave regret, clarity that doesn’t blur your choices, and a Presence that steadies you instead of tripping you.

His faithful companion, Tychicus, would carry his writings like contraband hidden in a saddlebag. With the message in his heart weightier than the scrolls it was written on, he would need an impressive pair of sandals to traverse the 200 + kilometers in the Lycus Valley of Asia Minor, today's western Turkey. From the coastal Mediterranean to higher inlands and foothills, he would have benefitted from layered clothing, not needing his cloak until, well, until he needed a coat!

Let's summarize the four cities we know he would have hit on his famous mail route, remembering there was a possibility that he hit all seven of the cities John wrote about in Revelation 2 and 3, possibly even more!

Ephesus was the city where small talk could secure you a spot on stage in a 25,000-seat theatre. A great coastal port city, a trade center, a religious hotspot, and home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world where pilgrims arrived, merchants sold, priests performed, and philosophers formed opinions on all of it. Taking a tour of the city, you could expect to find:

Marble streets, public bathhouses, impressive theatres, temple processions, and souvenir kiosks selling miniature shrines. The city's civic pride was so immense that it would have been visible from the International Space Station (had it been invented back then).

City Vibes:

Worship: Loyal energy for the virgin goddess, Artemis, a powerful fertility goddess and protector of her city and bringer of prosperity.

Fashion: With men wearing togas to court and women sporting the elaborate styles of Rome, Ephesus dressed as if it might run into Caesar, 800-900 miles away though they were.

Possible city motto: Don't mess with our goddess or gift shops!

A banker's smile, the tailor's wardrobe, unpleasant piped-in mineral water, and the doctor's waiting room were all things Laodicea was noted for. It was rich, polished, and proud. Banking, black wool, medicine, theaters, public baths—if prosperity had an address, it forwarded its mail here. A walk about in this city would introduce you to:

More marble avenues; stadiums; people pontificating on property values; financial markets for medicines, grain,dyes, spices,and luxury goods; textile merchants of black wool; medical schools including a famous one with the famous Rod of Asclepius (staff with a single serpent coiled around it); special eye salves from Phrygian powder; healing temples where patients bathed, offered sacrifices, slept in sacred chambers, and hoped for healing dreams; snakes wandering temple sanctuaries, shedding their skins and symbolizing prophecies of renewal.

The cult of Asclepius acted as a bridge between temple mystery and emerging science in the ancient world, blending religion, ritual, herbal remedies, mystery, and early medical practices.

City vibes:

Worship: Mystery, religion, finance, and civic prestige share wine over dinner.

Fashion: Business casual…if your business owns three vineyards, that is.

Possible city motto: We don’t brag... our accountants do.

A trip to Hierapolis could either find you in a spa or entering the Gate of Ploutonion to the Underworld.

Healing waters, temple rituals, spiritual experiences, vapours rising from the ground, and the occasional earthquake encouraged pilgrims to seek:

Hot mineral springs; priests performing rituals; sacred caves; discussions on mortality;

all the while pretending not to be nervous.

City Vibes:

Worship: Spa days with rooms adjacent for the spirit realm of the dead, judgement, memory, and mystery.

Fashion: Hierapolis dressed like someone might go to the temple… or to a massage.

Possible city motto: Come enjoy the hot springs. Don't leave without the blessing of the oracle.

Colossae was like the elder brother, not needing to impress anybody. Older than its neighboring cities, Colossae had history, trade roots, dyed wool production, and enough old roads to know that trends come and go. You’d find:

Wool traders

Older shrines

Rural traditions

Philosophical conversations

City Vibes:

Worship: Part Bible study, part philosophy club, part my cousin sees visions and my aunt talks to angels.

Fashion: Fashion by purple sheep, approved by grandmothers.

Possible city motto: I was on the map before you polished your marbles.

Into these great cities emerged a movement of something unexpected: house churches along The Way. After you wandered the marble temples, smelt the incense, chatted with the priests, shopped the markets and explored the sacred caves, you might turn down a side street to hear:

Songs spilling out, gratitude rising, hearts softening, and the line that still grants us pause:

Submit to one another.

If you’ve ever flinched at that word, you’re not alone. Stay tuned for more on our Friday's at 5 pm.