"Wait...Who went there?" - Evangelism in the first century - Joey Ferrell
I was recently tasked with preparing a lesson for the Middle Tennessee School of Preaching on the subject of the churches listed in 1 Peter 1:1. This is one of the very few times that several of these churches are even mentioned in the Bible. For context sake, here is the passage:
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.”
So, I break out my Bible to learn more about these churches. Galatia (and Phrygia in my assignment) were somewhat easy to find a little more about since we have the letter to the churches at Galatia written by the Apostle Paul. In that letter, Paul addresses some things that were happening inside and outside of that early church since his visit there had taken place. Okay. Enough information was there to start a good study, then move to the historical evidence for the churches of Galatia and on to some others.
Several of these churches are listed in that group of people in Acts 2:9 and would have probably been some of the ones who obeyed the gospel that very day. Again, easy enough to compile that information. Now, on to the others. Cappadocia…uh oh. I cannot find much in the Bible, nor in historical context about this church. Then to Pontus….oh, that one is easy, I remember seeing that Aquila was born there….well, that’s about all the Bible says about that. And now Bithynia. Hmm. Wait, I found a couple of verses! Let’s see what they say:
“Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.”
Well…now isn’t that just dandy! Now I have another question in my aching head…Why did the Spirit keep them from going into the area? I cannot answer that without an estimation of that is what God wanted in His providential will! Of course, I can speculate a little. If Paul had gone into Asia, specifically Bithynia, at this point, we might not be able to read about the Macedonian call, several converts in the area where he went, and of course the Philippian jailer and his family may have also not learned the gospel. Yes, that is how God’s providence appears to work at times. Maybe it isn’t my time or yours to go and do certain things in certain places; however, there is a time and a place for us where we are or where we may be going!'
So…that leads us to the next question.
What happened in Pontus and Bithynia and who went there? The church was established in one or more places. I know that to be true based on historical evidence we will look at in just a moment. The who? I don’t know. Someone certainly went. It may have been one of the converts of Paul. It could have been Peter later down the road and we don’t have it recorded. We just don’t know. One commentary I was reading called them “unnamed evangelists.” I like that phrase. It represents so many people that I know. They are doing their best to live for Christ and to teach the gospel to others…yet, their name is not shouted from the mountains or the hill tops. It may not be on a church sign or in a bulletin, and certainly may not be even one who preaches in a pulpit each week. To that, I say God bless you!
Now, back to the task at hand. How do I know that the church was established? Look at the excerpts from a book that I have called “Christianity through the Centuries,” referring to what happened after the end of the first century, some 50-60 years after Paul was forbidden to enter that area:
“Pliny, who was propraetor of Bithynia and Pontus in Asia Minor, wrote to Emperor Trajan about 112 for advice as to how he should deal with the Christians. His epistle gives valuable extra biblical information concerning Christ. Pliny paid high tribute to the moral integrity of the Christians by writing of their unwillingness to commit theft or adultery, to falsify their word, or to repudiate a trust given to them. He went on to say that they “sing a song to Christ as to a God.”
(Christianity Through the Centuries, pp. 49-50; Earl E Cairnes)
Cairnes went on to say about Pliny’s letters:
“Pliny’s letter proved that Christianity was strong in Asia Minor shortly after the beginning of the second century. During the first century it had been confined largely to the eastern section of the empire, with the Jews given first chance to accept Christianity as the gospel reached new cities.” (Cairnes, p. 93)
Those Christians in that area had to come from somewhere! Who went there? I just don’t know, and may never know this side of heaven. Well, is that any different than some of the areas in which you and I are trying to reach with the gospel? Not really. But, sometimes we may get discouraged not knowing the results (fruits) of our labors. Press on brothers and sisters! There is still work to be done, and we need to “raise up” more Christians to cause a ruckus in our day in time for the ungodly and the immoral. We can do it!
Let’s get to work…where we can…when we can…and how we can!