Principles Of Hospitality In Second And Third John -- By: Larry R. Thornton

Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 15:3 (Fall 1972)
Article: Principles Of Hospitality In Second And Third John
Author: Larry R. Thornton


Principles Of Hospitality In Second And Third John

Larry R. Thornton

Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis

Hospitality is the subject of two short epistles of “the one whom Jesus loved,” II and III John. This theme flows throughout the New Testament writings as a melody of love in an age darkened by pagan philosophies and practices. To comprehend the great significance of hospitality in the infant life of Christianity, one must have cognizance of communication and travel in the Roman empire.

The Need Of Hospitality

“All roads lead to Rome” was the saying. After studying the road-system, one will readily agree. Road-making, along with military discipline and civil law, was one of the three things in which the Romans excelled all other peoples. Findlay writes: “The whole south and west of Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor, and the south-west of Continental Asia were linked by a network of highways, skillfully engineered, solidly built, and carefully guarded, which converged to the golden milestone in the Forum of Rome.”

The common breadth of these roads which connected distant lands with the seat of power was ten feet. While the maintenance of the great roads of Italy was entrusted to special officials of praetorian or consular rank, most of the roads were left to the care of the provincial governors. At important points in the road-system were permanent military guards who resided in special guardhouses. Their responsibilities consisted of caring for the roads and of keeping them safe from robbers.

It seems that duties and customs duties were collected from travelers for the maintenance of the roads though there is not enough evidence to be certain. Also along these roads were milestones indicating to the traveler the distance covered. An average day’s travel by foot was 17 miles. There was little travel during the winter months. Ramsay writes, “Vegetius (iv. 39) mentions that land travel was stopped as completely as sea travel between 10 Nov. and 10 March.”

This Roman road-system enabled the program of the New Testament, which is based on the principles of local spiritual fellowship and world-evangelism, to be established, Paul established local churches as stations in the forward march of the gospel of Christ. Findlay writes: At Ephesus, so soon as Macedonia and Greece, along with Asia Minor, had been evangelized, St. Paul’s cry was, “I must see Rome also!” Announcing his visit to the Roman Christians, he writes, “I hope to see you by the way, and by you to be sent forward to Spain.” His churches were ranged along the great roads, like so many Roman colonies of military occupation, “from Jerusalem...

You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
Click here to subscribe
visitor : : uid: ()