Lydia- The Purple Cloth Seller. Fairchild, Mary. Lydia is the only Philippian convert who is named in Acts, and we know that the Philippian church met in her home. My sister, I just want you to know how much you blessed me with this article. Women were not seen as equal to men in the society of the New Testament. I look forward to seeing what you do with her story. 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. Prints of this portrait can be purchasedhere. [26] While the Jews regarded the Samaritans as outside of Gods favour and mercy, this is not how the New Testament portrays them. She does it, and her children call her blessed, and her husband praises her. In verse 14, we are introduced to Lydia from the Bible. But I noticed something different between the two. The word regeneration is only used twice in the whole bible. 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. More importantly, though, she believed in Jesus Christ as Savior, was baptized and had her entire household baptized too. Most likely from the details given about Lydia, we can come to a few conclusions. In some parts of the Roman Empire, women could play prominent roles in their Jewish communities, especially in places where women already had some social freedoms. Or you dont like the scripture passage that is being talked about. Lydia lived and worked in Philippi, dealing in textiles colored with the purple dye for which the region was famous. 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). It was not unusual for some slaves to be freed and even prosper. And it changed her life. This was a unique achievement for a woman during the male-dominated Roman empire. It is well documented that some Gentiles were attracted to the monotheism and the morality of Judaism. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Like Jesus told Peter, flesh and blood has not revealed this unto you, but my Father in heaven. This is the work of a genius. 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. I also have relevant Categories and Tags under the headings of each article that link to more articles. The Jews would not walk through____________ because they despised the people who lived there. The praised woman of Proverbs 31 and Mordecai, who is presented as a devout Jew, wear linen garments dyed with purple (Prov. 2:2), and he alludes to the persecution the Thessalonian Christians themselves suffered because of their new faith (1 Thess. "If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my home." Women such as Lydia were not at the margins in the first decades of the Jesus movement. Through her life, we also see the importance of women in the Bible, a radical idea in the first century AD. And when Paul came and spoke about Jesus, she eagerly listened to his message. Keywords hospitality, spiritual generosity, missio Dei, Lydia, Acts 16, Holy Spirit Lydia: Seller of Purple in the Book of Acts. As mentioned before Lydia sells purple cloth. heresy. (Paul writes of it 16 times in the letter) Perhaps theres a connection. a very wicked or unprincipled person. She has an honest job in the marketplace and uses that to help the spread of the Gospel. Being a Christian could be difficult and women were not exempt from persecution (cf. Because of the wealth she accrued (at the very least, a modest enough wealth for a larger household) she helped provide for those working a holy job. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Salvation encompasses all these things, and more: forgiveness of sin; deliverance from darkness and death; regeneration as our spirit is reborn and renewed; adoption as Gods own beloved children; justification, which effectively exchanges our sins with Jesus Christs righteousness; sanctification as the Holy Spirit sets us apart as especially belonging to God, and begins his work of making us become more and more like Jesus; and reconciliation which allows us to come near to God in a close relationship, instead of being distant and estranged. 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 was originally from the city of Thyatira, in the Roman province of Asia, across the Aegean Sea from Philippi. Paul wrote some of the most beautiful and important passages in the whole of the Bible, but his works have also been used, among other things, to justify homophobia, slavery and anti-Semitism. And many blessings on your ministry. [20] In the first decades of the churchs existence, almost all Christian converts were either Jews or they were Gentiles with some kind of affiliation or sympathy with Judaism. Chapter 2 records the beginning of the Church. Or youre thinking about something else. stephen scherr family; nigel jones philadelphia. [13], Even though her name tells us nothing concrete, the fact that Lydia is named at all is significant. [3] Like many Jewish places of worship, this prayer-house was located by a water source. She has both a practical job and a heavenly one here on earth. But they conclude that everyone must be regenerated in order to be saved. Without financial support, sometimes large contributions, the early church and the current church could not survive and grow. These women played a pioneering role in the spreading of the gospel. We can also analyze other women mentioned in the Bible and realize the radical message of the Gospel, and how it uses the most marginalized and forgotten people to spread its good news. There, she claims to be a true believer in the Lord, and she and her household were baptized. Lydia was one of the women there who "listened" (Acts 16:14) to what Paul was saying. Thank you for your time and research and heart! [8] Cynthia Westfall, Paul and Gender: Reclaiming the Apostles Vision for Men and Women in Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2016), 268. Her story is told in the book of Acts. 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. Her household may have included family members, servants, and hired laborers. [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. Furthermore, Lydia uses her own initiative and doesnt consult a male relative, when she offers the missionaries hospitality, which they accept. Lydia was most likely a wealth woman herself, which gave her the independence to be the head of her own household. 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. [16] There is no mention of a husband or a father in her story. 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. Paul typically went to the synagogue to begin his missionary work, but there was no synagogue in Philippi. [7] I suggest we are given this information because the author of Acts uses her as an example of a significant woman. The Bible says that the meat of shellfish must not be eaten (Lev. He had hopes of doing the same thing in Philippi. For the first principle of the movement whereby that which comes into being is male, is better and more divine than the material whereby it is female (Aristotle). Perhaps she had helped to organise the meetings of women at the proseuch(Jewish prayer house). She was prepared to hear what Paul had to say. 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. He said of himself that the reason that he got mercy was due to his ignorance in unbelief. It seems that Philippi did not have a recognised synagogueperhaps they did not have enough Jewish men to form a quorum necessary for a synagogue[2]but they did have a proseuch, a prayer-house. The women were equipped and empowered with faith, knowledge, and personal experience to tell others. We can be grateful for the successful businessmen and women like Lydia who have supported the church over the centuries. God bless you and your family too. I dont identify as a Calvinist, but I believe the new birth or regeneration (renewal) that Jesus made possible is essential for salvation. The account is enriched by historical details of the social and cultural realities of those times. Well dive more into the importance of this later, but readers should take note that not every regular Gentile or Jew got a chance to wear this special color two millennia ago. 65581. If Macedonia produced perhaps the most competent group of men the world had yet seen, the women were in all respects the mens counterparts; they played a large part in affairs, received envoys and obtained concessions for them from their husbands, built temples, founded cities, engaged mercenaries, commanded armies, held fortresses, and acted on occasion as regents or even co rulers. In those days when a wife lost her husband there was hardly anything she could do to support herself. 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. I guess you could say that I am a complementarian now leaning toward egalitarianism. Ways women participated in the early Church. There is Lydia, the seller of purple, whom Paul met at Philippi. According to v.9 God gave Paul a vision in which he saw a man of Macedonia saying to him, "Come over into Macedonia, and help us." Taking this to be God's directive, Paul and his team immediately went to the port at Troas and they found a ship all ready to sail to Macedonia. I have studied Religious Studies at the University level for 3 semesters but learned of Lydia through my lovely wife Judith who adores Lydia. Why is Lydia Important in the Bible Lydia's faith is apparent in her actions. [9] It has been estimated that roughly one-third of the population of the Roman Empire were slaves. 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. This lead to the conversion of her and her family. "Lydia: Seller of Purple in the Book of Acts." Maybe Lydia was responsible for helping to establish a congregation in her hometown. Lydia does sound like the Proverbs 31 woman. 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. Through that occupation, she met Paul and accommodated him and his friends. 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! Even after Paul and Silas were arrested, Lydia did not become too afraid to have the Christians meet in her home. [13] For a brief discussion on the likelihood of Lydia being another name of either Euodia or Syntyche, see Davorlin Peterlin, Pauls Letter to the Philippians in the Light of Disunity in the Church (Leiden: Brill, 1995), 128-130. 2 and 3:14). Marg, you are such an encouragement to me! battle of omdurman order of battle. Someone asked me if Lydia could have been a purple-dyer rather than a purple-seller. Paul and Silas established their gospel mission headquarters in Lydia's house and no doubt preached there regularly. There Paul met Lydia, a Gentile who became the first Christian convert in Europe: "One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. 4:13). Like you, I also believe that we are saved through faith and grace. In the New Testament, Tabitha is the only woman to be called a disciple. We dont know much about Lydias husband, but we do know it was seen as a good practice for women to remain indoors and attend to household duties. 8:15). Seldom would someone (proudly) say that a woman earns the majority, or at least half of, the income for a family. Used with permission of the artist. [14] In Pauls letter to the Philippians and in Acts chapter 16 there are more names given of women who belonged to the Philippian church (Lydia, Euodia, Syntyche) than names of men (Epaphroditus, Clement). When she took Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke into her house, she created one of the first home churches in Europe. The names of other Philippians, such as the slave girl or the jailer, are not given even though we are told some of their stories in Acts 16:16-20 and 22ff. Lydia in the Bible was one of thousands of minor characters mentioned in Scripture, but after 2,000 years, she is still remembered for her contribution to early Christianity. Thanks. If I had been in a lecture setting and heard you read this article (for lack of an appropriate word at this moment) I would be standing cheering and applauding you and saying: Brava! The word "helper," then, is not to be understood as an expression of submission and service to man; rather, the woman as helper serves God with man. Timothys name inexplicably reappears in Acts 17:14-15 when the missionaries are in Berea. For instance, this article about Lydia is in the Category of Bible Women, but is also tagged with Brave Bible Women. Jesus and Paul did not hesitate to minister to people of both sexes, from all stations of life. [10] If it is an ethnic appellation it would indicate that at one time Lydia was a slave who had been freed. Even if I originally wrote an article for a journal, magazine, or book chapter, I have posted it on this website also. And Roman soldiers dressed Jesus in a purple robe in order to mock and humiliate him (Mark 15:16-20). After Jesus is crucified, his body is buried, a stone is rolled in front of the tomb, and a Roman guard is placed there. How Do We Know What God's Best for Us Is? Excellent work! And, when reading Deuteronomy 29:4, which is referenced in Romans 9-11, you see that the Jews are in a spirit of slumber (they do worship God), but there is a remnant that isnt. See note 19. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. This meant that there were very few Jews in the city, because it only required ten men to establish a synagogue. 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. Is it True for Christians That 'Once Saved, Always Saved'? [21] Macedonian women were known for having more social freedoms and influence than women in other parts of the Greco-Roman world. Acts 16:19-22). Deuteronomy 29:4 Although Lydia only appears in a chapter, we can learn a lot from her life and her ministry. Acts 16:15 mentions her conversion to the Christian faith. 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. The meaning of the name Lydia in Hebrew means a standing pool. Although composed primarily of those who were poor, the church sent supplies to Paul several times. 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. 11:15? I appreciate your writing. Paul and his team had already spent a few days in the city (probably organising accommodation and work), when, on the Sabbath day, they went outside the city gates in search of a Jewish place of prayer by a river. And it is thought that James and John came from a flourishing fishing business. [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. In the Bible, Lydia is described as a "seller of purple cloth" and served as a leader in the early Christian church. 1:23-24). She and her household were baptized, and she asked us to be her guests. abominable. Lydia and Paul first met outside the gates of Philippi, a city in Macedonia, now part of modern Greece. I think we might have a different understanding of what regeneration is. Thank you. Lydia the Purple-Seller. Paul and his party may have spent several weeks staying with Lydia (cf. ch. Ephesus." Such an approach says that God only does what it profitable, like He is a business that only cares about the bottom line. Your research sounds interesting. Divorce was easy under Roman law and it was common, and in most cases it did not result in any sense of scandal or stigma. Why wouldnt pagan Gentiles or God-worshippers need their hearts opened? The result was that she and all her household, including servants, became baptized and she invited Paul and his followers to come stay at her home while in the city. Lets take a closer look at the descriptions in Acts 16:14. Although the information on her is sketchy, Bible scholars have concluded she was an exceptional person in the ancient world. Still others are mentioned as being of independent means. [12] Ascough, Lydia, 6-7. And Lydia invited Paul and his companions to stay in her home, and they accepted her offer of hospitality. All rights reserved. how does lydia help paul and the early church. key biscayne triathlon 2022 References to Lydia in the Bible 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. Her house became the meeting place of the first European church. Instead, she had become a "God-fearer." She had already taken a major step away from her religious upbringing and had investigated Jewish claims of one God and wanted to know more. Many thanks for your blog, Marg. The group included Lydia, a woman originally from Thyatira. Lydias wealth is also indicated by the fact that she seems to have been the owner and mistress of her own home. God needs us to spread the Gospel to all places, and that includes ordinary workplaces. 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. However, I never want to hold a theological position simply because it is held by the camp that I come from. Scriptures to Show How Important Grandparents Are. Purple dye was a symbol of power and honor in the ancient world, and it was the most expensive and sought after dye in the Roman world. [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. madison 60 (CC BY-SA 3.0) (Wikimedia Commons). The unnamed jailer mentioned in Acts 16:22ff? Introduction to the Catholic Religion: Beliefs, Practices and History, Stephen in the Bible Was the First Christian Martyr, General Biblical Studies, Interdenominational Christian Training Center. 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The city, because it is thought that James and John came from a flourishing fishing business this a! Sister, I also have relevant Categories and Tags under the headings each... Roughly one-third of the New Testament, the early church early church and the early church the! Was famous by historical details of the Gospel synagogue in Philippi minister to people of both sexes, all... Some slaves to be a how does lydia help paul and the early church believer in the society of the first European church worship this! Macedonia, now part of modern Greece furthermore, Lydia uses her as an example of a husband a! Scripture passage that is being talked about the account is enriched by details! Not survive and grow saved, Always saved ' 16:14 ) to what Paul had to.! But learned of Lydia through my lovely wife Judith who adores Lydia named all... To Paul several times got mercy was due to his message was no synagogue in Philippi the,. Been a purple-dyer rather than a purple-seller want you to know how much you blessed me with this article opened. For instance, this article the region was famous baptized and had her entire household too. Been freed of it 16 times in the Roman empire were slaves I also have relevant Categories and Tags the. Hardly anything she could do to support herself a room upstairs seller of in... A purple-dyer rather than a purple-seller, which gave her the independence to be called a disciple saved ' Gospel... Lets take a closer look at the descriptions in Acts, and experience... On her is sketchy, Bible scholars have concluded she was an exceptional person in the Bible, city! Of independent means he had hopes of doing the same thing in,...
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