Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 79:316 (Oct 1922)
Article: Key Cities In Paul’s Missionary Program
Author: James L. Kelso

BSac 79:316 (Oct 1922) p. 481

Key Cities In Paul’s Missionary Program

James L. Kelso

IN the days of the apostle Paul, Rome had divided her empire into something over thirty provinces in order that she might govern it most effectively. In each of these provinces there was a capital city in which was located the governor’s quarters, the central court of the province and the main tax office. Furthermore, these cities were usually strategic commercial centers, and at the same time often contained the chief religious sanctuary of the province. Thus the political, commercial and religious life of a whole province would be centered in its capital city.

This centralization of provincial life in the capital city of each province made such cities the ideal locations for planting the early churches throughout the empire. For a church planted in one of these cities would evangelize not only its local population, but also radiate its influence throughout the whole province, since every branch of political, economic and religious life in the whole province was centered in its capital city, and thus would sooner or later come in contact with any Christian church there.

The importance of these Roman provincial capitals in the spread of the gospel is well illustrated in the case of Antioch, the capital of the province of Syria. It was the second greatest city1 in the world and the key city of the eastern part of the empire. Here the emperor resided whenever he visited the East and here was the headquarters of the governor of Syria—the most important political office in any province of the empire, for his military power extended not only over his own province, but also over all the provinces of Asia Minor. Furthermore, as the capital of Syria, it was the meeting place of the “concilium” of the municipalities of the province, and

BSac 79:316 (Oct 1922) p. 482

hither all the important cities of Syria were continually sending their most influential delegates.

It was also one of the great importing centres of the empire and thus extended its influence eastward beyond the bounds of the empire into Arabia, Babylonia, Persia and India. Its commercial life was centered on the importation of luxuries from the Orient and this accounts for many peculiar features of the city’s life. Money came easy and went easy. The man from the far East who had finally gotten his goods safely to Antioch was sure of a handsome reward for his labor; and the Roman who bought the merchandise from him was certain of still greater returns as quickly as he could trans-ship the goods to Rome and the other western markets. Thus it is not surprising to find one of the most active mints of the empire here, and ...