Biblical Cities

I would’ve never visited Thessaloniki, had it not been for a friend who gave the recommendation, and connected me with some believers to provide hospitality. I’m so glad I was able to experience a city that Paul wrote two letters to 2,000 years ago. Sure, the city is much more developed now… but I still appreciated the Roman ruins and other historical places. I also enjoyed walking the city and mingling with local Greeks.

Next, I flew to Izmir to stay with a friend I met in Amsterdam. He showed me the Turkish way by “properly” crossing the street, eating local food, and just hanging out. Izmir is the location of ancient Smyrna mentioned in Revelation chapter 2. Izmir is a port city with two sides of the city split by the Aegean sea. I took a day trip to the ancient city Ephesus next to Selcuk. Ephesus is the most impressive archaeological site I’ve ever seen, even more so than Rome and Athens (in my opinion). I felt like an Ephesian 2,000 years ago walking along the ancient street. I enjoyed finding Biblical references to Ephesus from Paul as I explored the city.

Duration

6 days

Accommodation

Believer’s house (2 nights) and Couchsurfing (4 nights)

Favorite Food

Turkish mix pizza

Favorite Site

Celsus Library

Cool Person I Met

Gary. ​Gary is a serial entrepreneur and church planter, if I must label him using titles. Alternatively, he is a very godly man who has had some success in business and leading church plant movements through God’s strength. We had coffee and conversation that lasted 3 hours…which was unexpected since I thought he would need to leave after 1 hour. I was VERY touched after meeting with him and I am very inspired. We mostly spoke about startups, church planting, and marriage (our main topic actually).

Highlight

Sitting in the Ephesian theatre where Paul’s companions were seized into (found in Acts 19)

Big Takeaway

Many of us have heard the stories of Adam and Eve, Jesus, and the apostles growing up, but is it real? History cannot deny the existence of Jesus and the journeys of Paul. Accordingly, the Bible is one among a few historical texts that details events of the early church (historians like Josephus and archaeological findings are other sources of evidence supporting Biblical accounts). More than a historical, poetic, or wisdom text, the Bible is a book of life. Seekers of truth must read this book in a way to touch God by using their spirit, and not by only using the faculties of your mind to reason through the text. Faith isn’t an ignorant belief, nor is it an extremely calculated reasoning through facts using the scientific approach to each verse. There is a balance between faith and historical evidence.

Furthermore, experiencing and understanding the history can boost your faith. This is my experience in visiting these cities mentioned in the Bible. I stood on the rock that Paul reasoned with Greek philosophers, in the theatre where Paul’s companions were thrown, and in the marketplace where Paul was seized. It’s amazing! I highly recommend any Christian to experience Biblical cities with their five senses. I slightly understand now why nearly everyone I know that has visited Israel cannot stop raving about the spiritual impact that they have received. Merely reading a text is difficult to receive all that God wants us to receive. It’s important to understand the context and see beyond the words. Visiting historical sites can contribute to learning. Even still, I believe the highest goal when reading the Bible is to encounter and experience God. We need to remember that Jesus is the word of life and everything points to Him.

Your Turn

Which biblical cities have you visited?

How do you feel about the balance between faith and historical evidence?