Stott remarks that "the message was Paul's, the saving initiative was God's (p. 263). Lydias wealth is also indicated by the fact that she seems to have been the owner and mistress of her own home. Perhaps the most striking example of women in leadership in the Bible is that of the two Marys who discover the empty tomb of Christ. Lydia's life proves that one can work a "worldly" job and use it as a ministry. Tyrian purple, a dye derived from marine molluscs, was especially costly. This may be an indication that whoever recorded her story was with Paul in Philippi, was an eyewitness, and met Lydia personally. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Would you like to support my ministry of encouraging mutuality and equality between men and women in the church and in marriage? God didnt put the Gentiles in a spirit of slumber. If Luke was present at the beginning of the mission at Philippi, he appears to be absent when Paul and Silas meet in Lydias home in Acts 16:40 as third-person plural (they) language is used in this verse: After leaving the jail, they came to Lydias house, where they encouraged the brothers and sisters There is no we in this last important meeting that was held immediately before Paul and Silas left Philippi. She was originally from the city of Thyatira, in the Roman province of Asia, across the Aegean Sea from Philippi. The Craft of Church Planting Discovering Joy in Philippians Pam Farrel 2019-05-14 Share the Joy If difficult days have ever left you discouraged, this interactive 11-week journey will help you engage creatively with God's Word and establish habits that lead to greater joy and peace. Paul had made the decision to go west to Europe, and he arrived there in about the year 50, accompanied by Silas, Timothy, and Luke. Used with permission of the artist. Finally, the Bible doesnt look down upon her trade. Although the information on her is sketchy, Bible scholars have concluded she was an exceptional person in the ancient world. Thyatira, Lydias home town, was well-known for the production of dye from madder roots. I appreciate your writing. She was prepared to hear what Paul had to say. Paul was a devout follower of Jesus, whose dealings with women indicated that they could teach and lead in whatever way God led them. St Paul was travelling around ancient Asia Minor, teaching about Jesus and converting Jews and Gentiles. This was likely one of the primary reasons why this particular church had a unique, strong bond with the apostle. He. You can support my work for as little as $3 USD a month. Whatever her marital status, Lydias home was relatively spacious. Elsewhere Paul applies the word to himself and to others who engage in the preaching and teaching ministry of the early church (see 1 Cor 3:5; 2 Cor 3:6, 6:4, 11:23; and Phil 1:1 for other examples). No doubt, that man was well-known in his region for his wealth. In those days when a wife lost her husband there was hardly anything she could do to support herself. Her wealth allowed her to live independently in a spacious house. It was only the wealthy elite who wore garments dyed purple or trimmed with purple, or had soft furnishings in their homes, such as couch covers, that were purple. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Thank you so much for the information about Lydia. More than 1400 of her works have been featured in various publications. However, since she is described literally in Acts 16:14 as a purple-seller (porphyroplis), Lydia may have dealt with Tyrian purple. How Should Christians Respond to Feeling Stuck in Life? Yes, we are all new creatures ONCE we believe. A comprehensive review of the birth of the the Christian Church and its spread through the known world through the tireless work of the disciples, in particular Paul inspired by The Holy Spirit. She and her household were baptized, and she asked us to be her guests. She would have been a good person to help organize a church because she knew how to manage people, how to get them to work toward a common goal. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the . The account is enriched by historical details of the social and cultural realities of those times. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 1 John 5:1 When Paul spoke, her heart was opened. 12:4ff). Thyatira was the capitol of the industry and renowned for its purple dyes. When she took Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke into her house, she created one of the first home churches in Europe. The early Christian church there, supported by Lydia, may have influenced thousands of travelers over the years. These verses, all in Acts chapter 16, tell us quite a bit about her and the important part she played in the Philippian church. But there were exceptions. Why would Jews need to be regenerated and not pagan Gentiles? But its also possible to come and get a lot out of the sermon because you listen eagerly, expecting to hear something that is meaningful or new or challenging. (lol) Thats just my preference and God bless you and your family. She was a successful businesswoman who came to Philippi to carry on her trade. All rights reserved. That Lydia is names suggests she was a woman who became prominent in the church at Philippi. They first traveled to the Roman colony of Philippi, one of the most important cities in Macedonia. The story of Cornelius was before Lydia. First, Lydia most likely accrued a great deal of wealth from selling purple cloth. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 References to Lydia in the Bible The narrator begins using first-person plural (we) language in Acts 16:10, at the beginning of the mission at Philippi, but stops using this language after Acts 16:17. ~ The women became believers in Jesus as Messiah and then told others about their experience. Purple is also used a few times in the Bible in non-Israelite and non-Jewish contexts. Even after Paul and Silas were arrested, Lydia did not become too afraid to have the Christians meet in her home. living. He calls himself "of the people of Israel.". Anyone includes Jews and Gentiles. Hesiod believed if a woman flirted with you, she was simply a gold digger. [15] A relatively less expensive and more reddish dye, known today as Turkey red, was extracted from the root of the madder plant (Rubia tinctorum). Luke 10:5-7). See note 19. Your research is much appreciated. Acts 16:19-22). And, as Lydia heard the gospel, God opened her heart so that she received the life-giving message. The inscription reads: Rufina, a Jewess synagogue ruler [archisynaggos], built this tomb for her freed slaves and the slaves raised in her household. 3.3 Paul and Friends Meet Lydia of the Bible, a Dealer of Purple Cloth. The story of Pauls meeting with Lydia near a river reminds me of the story of Jesus taking the unusual journey through Samaria and his meeting with a woman at Jacobs well in Sychar. It was in Lydias home that the church at Philippi first gathered (cf. Very few businesswomen are mentioned in the New Testament. Brown Judaic Studies, 36. In the midst of his discourse, one of these women, Lydia, had a . Almost every article Ive ever written, about 400, is posted somewhere on this website. There are several things I would like to point out about Lydia. And, the way I see it, there are lots of terms that describe salvation. [22] Other women were patrons of synagogues and were prominent and influential in their Jewish communities. It's also possible Lydia may have returned to her home town of Thyatira and was active in the church there. When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay." The women were equipped and empowered with faith, knowledge, and personal experience to tell others. ch. And purple is used in a metaphor for the beloveds beautiful hair (Songs 7:5). Porphyroplis (porphyro + plis = purple + seller) only occurs once in the NT, in Acts 16:14, but it occurs in other ancient Greek documents (e.g., inscriptions and papyri). Although composed primarily of those who were poor, the church sent supplies to Paul several times. Lydias name was not an uncommon one, and it may not provide any real insight into her status or identity. This is that they devoted themselves to the teaching that they received. Ya, I dont think she was a Gentile at all, as your article suggests, however, your article certainly confirmed much of what I was thinking, tho. She would have been a good person to help organize a church because she knew how to manage people, how to get them to work toward a common goal. Acts 9:36-43 introduces us to Tabitha. She and her entire household were baptized, as was the custom in those days. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. And they did come across a group of women there, including some Gentiles known as worshipers of God, people who were attracted to the Jewish faith and who attended services but were not yet converts. They cared for local congregations and were vital and strategic players at the forefront of the expanding Christian mission. The seat of Solomons chariot was purple (Songs 3:10-11). It was not unusual for some slaves to be freed and even prosper. During that time, she would have received (directly and indirectly) a theological and pastoral education from the apostle so that she was equipped to care for the church when Paul moved on to bring the gospel to other Macedonian cities. [5] The story of Lydia in Acts 16:10-17 is narrated in first-person plural (we) language whereas much of Acts is narrated in third-person plural (they) language. Today, many more bishops and scholars, etc, are also acknowledging this. "If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my home." Thyatira was addressed by Jesus Christ in the Seven Churches of Revelation. Lydia lived and worked in Philippi, dealing in textiles colored with the purple dye for which the region was famous. [19] The Greek word sebomai is used several times in Acts to refer to Gentile adherents to Judaism in Acts 13:43, 50, 16:14, 17:4, 17, and 18:7. earlier, the apostle John lived to a very old age, possibly over 100 years. The fellowship in Philippi was the first European church founded by Paul. Hosting meetings where they worshipped a new Jewish messiah, and not an emperor or any of the ancient and socially respectable pagan gods, could have ruined her reputation and her business. Paul will encounter, and convince, other women of relatively high social status later in Thessalonika (17:4) and Beroea (17:12). Lydia does sound like the Proverbs 31 woman. But I noticed something different between the two. [10] In pre-Hellenistic times, the city of Thyatira was located on the border of Lydia and Mysia (in the far west of modern-day Turkey.). [3] Like many Jewish places of worship, this prayer-house was located by a water source. In verse 14, we are introduced to Lydia from the Bible. Matthew the tax collector was probably well-to-do. (Academia.edu), Lydia and the Place of Prayer in Philippi #1 . I appreciate that you were the very first person to subscribe to my new blog. Freedwomen in the East also frequently sold luxury items such as purple dye. Keener, Acts, (Google Books). She was not afraid to take chances. Women were not seen as equal to men in the society of the New Testament. [18] Other New Testament women, who seem to be homeowners and independent of husbands or fathers, were Martha of Bethany (Luke 10:38), Mary of Jerusalem (Acts 12:12ff), Chloe of Corinth (1 Cor. [1] Contents The hymn that Jesus and the disciples . However, the young trainee may have been with Paul and Silas, the older missionaries, all along. Jesus and Paul did not hesitate to minister to people of both sexes, from all stations of life. We are told her name, that she was a dealer in purple cloth, that she was originally from the city of Thyatira, and that she was a God-worshipper. Considering the descriptions in Acts of other people who Paul meets on his missions, an appreciable amount of information is given about Lydia. Luke, the author of Acts, called Lydia a seller of purple goods. On the practical side, Lydias experience of running a largish household and of running a business would have been useful in managing and caring for a congregation. I think theres a bit (or a lot) of sexism in all of us. I am preaching a lecture on Women in Acts in the fall and so appreciated this well written, well researched, and passionate look at a women in scripture who I consider so influential, yet one so easily glanced over. The narrator may be Luke himself, or Luke using a first-person source. [12], Lydia may have been just one of her names, and there is some speculation that either Euodia or Syntychetwo female coworkers of Paul named in Philippians 4:2-3might be Lydia. Only members of the royalty and other wealthy people could afford this cloth, because the dye was so expensive to make, and so it was a prosperous trade. Through her life, we also see the importance of women in the Bible, a radical idea in the first century AD. Naturally, when members of these families tied the knot, major $$$ was spent and, of course, the gowns were to . First, she shows that honest jobs are not lesser jobs. While Paul might have preached a little bit, it seems to imply that this was a conversation. Luke 10:5-7). Lydia was originally from Thyatira, a city famous for making purple dye. For example, Jesus ministry was sponsored by Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many other Galilean women who accompanied Jesus and ministered to him out of their own, personal resources (Luke 8:2-3). Phoebe (the name means "bright" or "radiant": Apollo and Diana, the god and goddess of the sun and moon respectively, were often referred to as "Phoebos" and "Phoebe"), was a Diakonos of the Church at Chenchreae, the eastern seaport of the city of Corinth. I dont identify as a Calvinist, but I believe the new birth or regeneration (renewal) that Jesus made possible is essential for salvation. Again, the Jews are worshipers of God, too. As she heard the word of God she was moved to act upon the things Paul was saying. abominable. It was large enough to accommodate Paul and his fellow missionaries (who included Silas, probably Timothy, and perhaps Luke and others) as well as her own household. Does the Bible Say Anything about Dieting? One of the trade guilds in Thyatira made expensive purple dye, probably from the roots of the madder plant. While its sometimes frustrating to feel like I have the same conversations again and again about women in church leadership, it is certainly encouraging to see change! Keywords hospitality, spiritual generosity, missio Dei, Lydia, Acts 16, Holy Spirit The parable of the Good Samaritan presents the Samaritan in a favourable light, but we must be mindful that Jesus chose the figure of the Samaritan for a provocative effect in his story (Luke 10:25ff). I believe that grace is the gift THRU your faith, not a God given faith. In case youre interested I have articles on King Lemuels mother here, and Euodia and Syntyche here. Refresh your delight in the Lord through: And Roman soldiers dressed Jesus in a purple robe in order to mock and humiliate him (Mark 15:16-20). key biscayne triathlon 2022 Covering or Testicle in 1 Corinthians 11:15? 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Account is enriched by historical details of the trade guilds in Thyatira made expensive purple dye, from!
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