Stott remarks that "the message was Paul's, the saving initiative was God's (p. 263). Every congregation has a beginning. Does the Bible Say Anything about Dieting? Sadly, apart from Acts 16, we dont see any other explicit instances where Lydia appears. Angie, he still looked at my husband, shook his hand and then made a comment to me, Oh are you involved in the church with the pastor, indicating my husband. Her wealth allowed her to live independently in a spacious house. Acts 16:15 mentions her conversion to the Christian faith. Three days pass and "Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb" (Matthew . Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. Anyone includes Jews and Gentiles. I dont do Facebook, I try to keep my face in His Book. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. In just the act of taking the time to talk with her, Christ began breaking down the barriers to her heart. Especially if God has granted us more abundance than other believers, we need to show generosity to those who do not have as much. The group included Lydia, a woman originally from Thyatira. It says, "One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God." And when Paul came and spoke about Jesus, she eagerly listened to his message. Receiving Paul and Silas into her home after they were released from prison and asked to leave town was brave as some in Philippi were angry with the missionaries (cf. (Academia.edu), Lydia and the Place of Prayer in Philippi So Paul and his companions went outside the city to a river, where they thought they might find a place of prayer. Hope Bolingeris an acquisitions editor at End Game Press, and the author 21+ books. We learn in Acts 16 that, while born and reared to believe in the gods and goddesses of Thyatira, Lydia did not worship the pantheon of gods venerated in her hometown. As mentioned before Lydia sells purple cloth. Most likely from the details given about Lydia, we can come to a few conclusions. madison 60 (CC BY-SA 3.0) (Wikimedia Commons). Thank you so very much! Anyway, Im excited to see your well thought out, well presented exegesis, and will likely be spending much time reading your articles. More than 1400 of her works have been featured in various publications. One of the trade guilds in Thyatira made expensive purple dye, probably from the roots of the madder plant. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she took Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke into her house, she created one of the first home churches in Europe. I hadnt thought of that before. The Lydia-Paul story provides an example of how the generosity shown to humanity through the sacrifice of Christ and given to us through the Holy Spirit is directly connected to the need to extend hospitality to others as a means of accomplishing the missio Dei. Purple symbolised royalty and prestige. I guess you could say that I am a complementarian now leaning toward egalitarianism. (lol) Thats just my preference and God bless you and your family. She had a new partnerthe Lord Jesus Lydia and Paul first met outside the gates of Philippi, a city in Macedonia, now part of modern Greece. [12] Ascough, Lydia, 6-7. God-worshippers (or God-fearers) was an idiom that referred to Gentile adherents to Judaism. Because of the wealth she accrued (at the very least, a modest enough wealth for a larger household) she helped. tribune. [3] Like many Jewish places of worship, this prayer-house was located by a water source. The translation of "God-worshiper . Thyatira, Lydias home town, was well-known for the production of dye from madder roots. And many blessings on your ministry. 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. We can learn a lot from Lydia. We often talk about how the crowds who followed Jesus were mostly made up of the poor and outcast, the sinners and the ones left out of acceptability. While it is true that Jesus seemed to have a fondness and special compassion for the poor, there is a place in the church for the wealthy. Lydia is identified as a God-worshipper (sebomen ton theon), sometimes translated as God-fearer. [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. 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). a Jewish ritual performed when a boy is eight days old. There is Lydia, the seller of purple, whom Paul met at Philippi. Luke says "the Lord opened Lydia's heart to believe." This is similar to Luke 24:45; Jesus opens the hearts of his disciples so that they could understand the scripture. Paul was on his second missionary journey when he had a vision of a man who pleaded with him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" The apostle responded to the vision by gathering his team and quickly setting off across the Aegean Sea for Macedonia, the northern region of modern-day Greece. 8:15). Lydiaa woman from Thyatira in Asia Minor, but living in Philippi (in Macedonia)becomes a sort of Mary Magdalene in Europe. [23] For information on the vital role of patrons in Greco-Roman society and in the church, see the section on Phoebe here: https://margmowczko.com/wealthy-women-roman-world-and-church/, [24] Some believe Luke stayed behind to care for the new church at Philippi. As Paul and his company were speaking with these women, Lydia was listening ( Acts 16:14 ). [1] The Greek noun used for man in Acts 16:9 (anr) is typically used for an adult male. Sardis and Ephesus, like Lydias home town of Thyatira, were part of the Roman province of Asia. Lydia lived and worked in Philippi, dealing in textiles colored with the purple dye for which the region was famous. A Reexamination of the Purpurarii in Thyatira and Philippi, Near East Archaeological Society Bulletin 62 (2017): 3-29. Lydia's story is told in Acts 16:13-15, 40. She established her business in a foreign country. I think theres a bit (or a lot) of sexism in all of us. a belief different from the accepted belief of the church. Maybe Lydia was responsible for helping to establish a congregation in her hometown. 11:10-12). We know the Lord opened Lydias heart (Acts 16:14b NIV), and so it is probable the Spirit gave her spiritual gifts and abilities to help her in ministry (cf. First, we can see what thriving in a new culture looks like. According to Acts, Paul typically began a new mission in each new city by connecting with the local Jewish population. Someone asked me if Lydia could have been a purple-dyer rather than a purple-seller. Whatever her marital status, Lydias home was relatively spacious. Its possible to come to church and listen to a sermon and not even hear what is said. These verses, all in Acts chapter 16, tell us quite a bit about her and the important part she played in the Philippian church. [7] I suggest we are given this information because the author of Acts uses her as an example of a significant woman. cf. Paul describes his own life in Philippians 3:5-6, where he lists seven things ascribed to him or achieved by him: He states that he was "circumcised on the eighth day.". God rerouted Paul and friends and also ensured that Lydia would be in the right place at the right time to encounter Paul and hear the good news of Jesus. Priscilla: a woman co-founds the Church. The seat of Solomons chariot was purple (Songs 3:10-11). They were not silent in the churches or ineffective in evangelism. Your research is much appreciated. This proviso of being born again applies to everyone. Compare that to the Bible. Or you dont like the scripture passage that is being talked about. His mission in Philippi was no exception. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidLimbaugh. 2:2), and he alludes to the persecution the Thessalonian Christians themselves suffered because of their new faith (1 Thess. The Bible says that the meat of shellfish must not be eaten (Lev. [22] For example, a second-century CE inscription from Smyrna mentions a woman named Rufina who was a synagogue ruler. https://www.learnreligions.com/lydia-in-the-bible-4150413 (accessed January 18, 2023). Like you, I also believe that we are saved through faith and grace. A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul. (Corinth was on a narrow isthmus that connected southern Greece (the Peleponessus) with . For instance, a congregation member may hold another in higher esteem if they choose to pursue missionary work as opposed to a job such as accounting. one of many officials of ancient Rome. It was a Sabbath Day that you mentioned. [6] The word gathered is translated from a feminine participle of the Greek verbsynerchomai, a word which is often used in Acts (and in 1 Corinthians) with the idea of a deliberate, purposeful gathering that also implies community. Ivoni Richter Reimer, Women in the Acts of the Apostles: A Feminist Liberation Perspective, Linda M. Maloney, trans. While preparing a sermon, I came across your writing and I wanted to take a moment to tell you how much I appreciate your work. The usual word for a purple dyer was porphyrobaphos. When she and her household had been baptized, she prevailed upon the men to . Carrie Underwood Sings 'Go Rest High On That Mountain' to Honor Vince Gill, What We Can Do Today to Reach People in Need, 10 Ways to Deal with the Difficult People in Your Church, 7 Ways to Study the Bible Like Billy Graham, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God. [5] Instead, the story continues with the statement, We sat down and began to talk with the women who had gathered.[6], In Acts 16:14a, we are given several pieces of information about Lydia. I am new to your site but wish to exclaim I love to hear about Lydia and the Church of Philippi, her generosity to Paul and the lord Jesus Christ. Second,Lydia may have experienced the Diaspora, or a diaspora of sorts, if she had to travel from Thyatira to Philippi. : https://margmowczko.com/tag/women-in-acts/ It takes you to a few other women in Acts as well as Lydia. Since Lydia's husband is not mentioned but she was a householder, scholars have speculated she was a widow who brought her late husband's business to Philippi. William Tarn,Hellenistic Civilisation, ThirdEdition (New York, NY: World, 1952), 98. In the midst of his discourse, one of these women, Lydia, had a . Lydia was a seller of purple, that is, she was a businesswoman who sold luxury textiles dyed purple. [4] Several first-century literary sources make it quite clear that many Diaspora Jewish communities actually preferred having their synagogues outside the city and near a body of water such as the proseuch at Philippi in Macedonia. Lee I. Levine, The Ancient Synagogue: The First Thousand Years, Second Edition (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2014), 316. The relationship between Paul the Apostle and women is an important element in the theological debate about Christianity and women because Paul was the first writer to give ecclesiastical directives about the role of women in the Church. Why is Lydia Important in the Bible Lydia's faith is apparent in her actions. She was not afraid to set out on her own and make a successful company. After Paul was released from prison, he went to her house to say goodbye and to encourage the brethren there (Ac 16:15, 40). She established her business in a foreign country. Porphyropols (masc) and porphyroplis (fem) were the usual words for a dealer in purple. The inscription reads: Rufina, a Jewess synagogue ruler [archisynaggos], built this tomb for her freed slaves and the slaves raised in her household. Lydia also credited God with her earthly blessings and was quick to share them with Paul and his friends. Here are four things about worship in the early church we can glean from what God reavealed in Scripture. Lydia was a worshiper of God but, like Cornelius in Acts 10, had not yet heard the gospel. Why would Jews need to be regenerated and not pagan Gentiles? Acts 16:19-22). I slipped up once and thought the husband was the accountant and the wife was the assistant, but it was the other way round. It was located on a major commercial and military highway, the second most important one in the Roman Empire. Only royals and the rich could afford purple outfits. Nevertheless, because Lydia sells purple cloth, she is able to accommodate Paul and his ministry partners in her home. The statement that God had to open her heart was the clue for me regarding regeneration. The word "helper" ( 'ezer ), when used of a person in the Old Testament, always refers to God (in 29 places) apart from one reference to David. This meant that there were very few Jews in the city, because it only required ten men to establish a synagogue. (Chico, CA: Scholars Press, 1982); and Susan Mathew, Women in the Greetings of Romans 16.1-16: A Study of Mutuality and Womens Ministry in the Letter to the Romans (London; New York: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2013), 54-63. The story of Cornelius was before Lydia. We have to keep in mind that the fact the Bible named her shows a great deal of importance. She was a successful businesswoman who came to Philippi to carry on her trade. Why mention her at all, one may ask. Lydia was one of the women there who "listened" (Acts 16:14) to what Paul was saying. A healthy church needs every member and the gifts they bring. [9] It has been estimated that roughly one-third of the population of the Roman Empire were slaves. 1. and if theres any outstanding characteristic of the church at Philippi, it is joy. [9] Richard Ascough writes: Some scholars suggest that the name Lydia may be an ethnic appellation that designates her place of origin, as Luke indicates she was originally from Thyatira, a city in a place called Lydia. 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. Thyatira, in the Roman province of Lydia. Im going to pull this out next time someone tells me women in church leadership is a modern thing. Thank you, Aida. Further, she was baptized and brought salvation to her entire household, an early example of how to win the souls of those closest to us. Id say we probably, at least, know some of the same people. So she responded immediately, and also insisted that her whole family be baptized as well: When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. In a spacious house her actions dont see any other explicit instances where Lydia appears god-worshippers ( or a of... A modest enough wealth for a dealer in purple heart to respond to Paul & # x27 ; faith! Barriers to her heart was the clue for me regarding regeneration given pieces. Like the scripture passage that is, she was not afraid to set out on her trade your. One-Third of the wealth she accrued ( at the very least, know some the... Can glean from what God reavealed in scripture born again applies to everyone 10 had! Of her works have been a purple-dyer rather than a purple-seller in.... Textiles colored with the purple dye, probably from the details given about,... She accrued ( at the tomb & quot ; Mary Magdalene in Europe [ 9 ] it been... 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