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THESSALONICA IN PAUL’S DAY

THESSALONICA IN PAUL’S DAY. Lesson 3 for July 21, 2012.

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THESSALONICA IN PAUL’S DAY

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  1. THESSALONICA IN PAUL’S DAY Lesson 3 for July 21, 2012

  2. Thessalonica (now Salonica) was founded in 315 BC by King Cassander of Macedon who named it after her wife Thessalonikē (half-sister of Alexander the Great and daughter of Philip II). Philip named his daughter Thessalonikē (Thessalian Victory) because he received the news of her birth the day of the victory over the Thessalians. When we study the history and customs of the Thessalonians, it's easier to understand Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians. THESSALONICA

  3. ROMANS Romans were invited to enter Thessalonica by the Thessalonians, just like happened in many other cities. They asked the Romans for protection against their enemies in 168 BC. Since then it became part of the Empire although it was given good government autonomy. It grew to be an important trade-hub located on the “Via Egnatia” which facilitated trade between Thessalonica and great centers of commerce. Remains of the Via Egnatia The triumphal arch marks the place where the Via Egnatia crossed Thessalonica There are many remains of the old Roman city in Thessalonica.

  4. ROMANS Although Thessalonica was more free than another Roman cities, it was still subjugated to a foreign domination. After 200 years of occupation, Paul found a resentful community. Taxes and the frustrating feeling of dependence affected all the less privileged classes; they yearned for change and liberation.

  5. THE CABIRUS CULT There was an interesting figure in Thessalonica’s pantheon called Cabirus. The Cabirus cult grew mainly in Macedonia and Thrace. Cabirus was a legendary young man who was murdered by his two brothers. It was told that Cabirus would come back to help the disenfranchised in town. His symbol was the hammer and it was worshipped by the working class in Thessalonica. When August began to be worshipped as a god, Romans introduced him as the fulfillment of Cabirus’ prophesies before the Thessalonians. That’s how the oppressed in Thessalonica felt like they had lost all hope. Understanding the Cabirus cult it’s easy to see how Paul’s preaching about Jesus was so easily accepted in Thessalonica. Jesus was very similar to Cabirus; he was a young man who was mistakenly murdered and who resurrected from the dead, bringing good news to the poor and the oppressed. Coin of Cabirus

  6. STREET PREACHERS In Paul’s day there were many philosophers who preached at the streets of Thessalonica and taught their disciples personally. Paul took advantage of that custom and preached at the streets and among the workers all week long. Although he looked like another street preacher, the Thessalonians noticed important differences between him and the other philosophers.

  7. ACCEPTING THE GOSPEL The dissatisfaction with the Roman occupation, the hope of the coming of a god who took care of the helpless, the sincerity of Paul’s preaching and other factors made a lot of people –especially among the working people– open to the Gospel. As we can read in the epistles to the Thessalonians, those factors also caused some bad effects in the new believers. Paul had to eradicate the attitude of some people who “walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies” (2Ts. 3: 11); he ordered that “if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2Ts. 3: 10)

  8. CHURCHES IN THESSALONICA The primitive Church did not meet in temples. All the believers in one city seldom gathered together in a single place. The brothers gathered in private homes in Thessalonica, just like happened in other cities. Every home where they gathered became a “Home church”. There were two kinds of “churches”, according to the social status of the home owner:

  9. DOMUS A large, single-family home built around a courtyard, typical of the wealthy. Such a home could provide a meeting place for 30–100 people.

  10. INSULA A residence with shops and workplaces on the ground floor facing the street and apartments (flats) on the floors above. This was the primary urban housing of the working classes. One of these apartments or workplaces could normally accommodate only smaller churches. The domus, and many of the insula, would house an extended family—including two or three generations, employees of the family business, visitors, and even slaves. If the head of household could be converted, it could have a great impact on everyone else living there.

  11. “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more” (1 Corinthians 9:19)

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