Andrea and I spent the past few weeks leading a group through Greece, the Greek islands, and Ephesus. There is so much to say, but the pictures do a much better job. But our tour was about much more than the eye candy of Santorini, sunsets, and souvlaki. It was an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul through Thessaloniki, Berea, Philippi, Corinth, and Athens. Every traveler has a different experience.
Some travelers want confirmation. They want to see the bema (tribunal, judgment seat) in Corinth where Paul stood near (Acts 18:12) or the riot-packed theater in Ephesus that he was urged not to enter (19:31). They want to see an inscription at Corinth that mentions Erastus (Acts 19:22; Romans 16:23; 2 Timothy 4:19-21). They want to dip their toe in the river in Philippi where Lydia was baptized (Acts 16:14-15) and climb the hill in Athens where Paul spoke of resurrection (Acts 17:22).
Others want inspiration. We don’t know where John was in Patmos when he penned the Apocalypse (though we do know where the gift shop was). But that doesn’t mean we don’t get goosebumps reading John's Revelation on that remote island. We can also admire the architectural genius of the Parthenon and the opulence of the royal tomb of Phillip II of Macedon. And who can forget the enchanted narrow streets of Mykonos, the sun-kissed blue domes of Santorini, or the towering sandstone skyline of Meteora?
These places also invite interpretation. Paul’s teachings on gender in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy are directed at Corinth and Ephesus. Surely the backgrounds of covered Roman heads in Corinth and the Artemis cult at Ephesus had some influence in his guidance (we can admit there’s a lot to unpack in 1 Timothy when he moves quickly from “don’t teach” to “you’ll be saved through childbearing.”). The two primary texts for elder selection are directed to Titus in Crete (1:5-9) and Timothy in Ephesus (1 Timothy 3:1-7). But the lists don’t match. How willing are churches to make contextual judgments in the selection of leaders that differ from the church down the road? And the most-referenced texts on sexuality are in Romans and 1 Corinthians. The former was written from Corinth while the latter was written to Corinth. Surely a conversation about sexual practices at Corinth can inform how we imagine the world Paul addresses.
When we see some confirmation, feel some inspiration, and engage in some interpretation we can experience transformation. God speaks to all of our senses. We realize that our spirituality is reasonable enough to withstand challenges, but also mysterious enough to count as faith. We imagine what it’s like to be a religious minority, how to be an urban Christian in a world of idols, or how to be an early adopter of the Holy Spirit. We start believing that God is still making history right now. Who knows, maybe one day people will tour Memphis, Milwaukee, or Miami to see if we were faithful to God’s calling (Eph. 4:1).
When they do, I hope they will find that we were.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
