THESSALONICA IN PAUL’S DAY

Lesson 3 for July 21, 2012

THESSALONICA

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.

ROMANSRomans 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.

The triumphal arch marks the place where the Via Egnatia crossed ThessalonicaThere are many remains of the old

Roman city in Thessalonica.

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

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.

ROMANS

THE CABIRUS CULTThere 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.

Coin of Cabirus

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.

STREET PREACHERS

In Paul’s day there were many philosophers who preached at the streets of Thessalonica and taught their disciples personally.

Although he looked like another street preacher, the

Thessalonians noticed important differences between him and the other philosophers.

Paul took advantage of that custom and

preached at the streets and among the workers

all week long.

PHILOSOPHERS PAUL

RESEMBLANCE

S

Philosophers must put the moral purity they preached into practice

They adapted their message to the audience, but keeping the integrity of their teachingsThey traveled around and preached in public places

DIFFERENCE

S

They taught human philosophies to strength self-confidence and moral grow

He proclaimed the truth by revealing God’s powerful work of salvation of humankind

They taught a change that began inside the people

He taught the conversion by the work of the Holy Spirit

They sought single disciples He wanted to plant lasting communities that were united by the bond of faith and love, creating personal ties and a group engagement

They made a living thank to their audience

He worked with his own hands to make a living

Some philosophers were mere chatterboxes that took advantage of their audience’s confidence

He showed true love and caring about his audience. The marks of the sufferings because of the Gospel were a proof that he really believed what he preached and that he was willing to give his life for it

ACCEPTING THE GOSPELThe 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)

CHURCHES IN THESSALONICAThe 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:

Those who gathered at “domus”

Those who gathered at “insula”

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.

DOMUS

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.

INSULA

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.

“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)