I compiled
this list of readings for the academic course that goes along with the
“Following Paul” study tour. Since I know from past experience that advance
preparation pays off in a richer experience on the trip itself and more
enduring memories afterward, I am sending it along to all of you. Don’t feel
bad if you are not able to do all the readings; I encourage you to do as much
as you can.
An
Introduction to the History and Culture of Turkey and Greece
For most of
us, the trip’s main attraction is its potential to help us understand the New
Testament world better. Yet we cannot really return to the past. Our only
access to ancient Greece and “Asia Minor” is through the twenty-first-century
countries of Greece and Turkey. Focusing on only one small slice of the
region’s history will actually distort our perspective on the period in which
we are most interested. And, of course, there is a great deal that we can learn
from the fascinating contemporary world that we will experience together. For
these reasons, I encourage everyone to read about contemporary Turkey and
Greece before we leave.
Students who
take the study tour as a credit course will be required to read the “Understand
Turkey” and “Understand Greece” chapters from the latest edition of the Lonely
Planet Guides to Turkey and Greece. There may be better options, but these are
short, engaging, and available on-line. The section on Greece is
currently available from the Lonely Planet website as a free download. The
section on Turkey will put you out $3.46 for the 90 page pdf. Here are the
details:
(You can
purchase the entire guide books in print form if you like. Note, however, that
the Lonely Planet series is geared primarily toward do-it-yourself travelers.)
The
World of the New Testament
Students who
take the study tour as a credit course will be required to read James S.
Jeffers, The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era: Exploring the
Background of Early Christianity (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press,
1999) before the tour begins. Based on my initial sampling, the book appears to
be an excellent, well-written introduction to the social world of the earliest
Christians. I think you will find that it brings to life the bare ruins we will
visit. Recommended for everyone! The book will soon be available at the
Briercrest Bookstore (http://www.briercrest.ca/bookstore);
you can also order it through your favourite online retailer.
We are
looking forward to the expert teaching of Dr. Mark Wilson during most of our
time in Turkey. Students who take the study tour as a credit course will be
required to read three of Dr. Wilson’s essays that deal with aspects of Paul’s
missionary journeys and/or cultural life in Asia Minor:
Wilson, Mark.
“The Rise of Christian Oracles in the Shadow of the Apollo Cults.” Ekklesiastikos
Pharos 90 (2008): 162–175.
________. “The
Role of the Holy Spirit in Paul’s Ministry Journeys.” Ekklesiastikos Pharos 87
(2005): 76–95.
________.
“The Route of Paul’s First Journey to Pisidian Antioch.” New Testament
Studies 55 (2009): 471–483.
Please email
me if you would like a copy.
Ancient
Sites
Student who
take the study tour as a credit course will be required to read the relevant
sections of Clyde E. Fant and Mitchell G. Reddish, A Guide to Biblical Sites
in Greece and Turkey (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003). The book
will soon be available at the Briercrest Bookstore (http://www.briercrest.ca/bookstore);
you can also order it through your favourite online retailer.
If you have
room in your luggage, you may want to purchase and bring along one or more of
the following specialized guide books, which complement the general treatment
in Fant and Reddish:
Ancient
Sites in Turkey
·
Hemer, Colin J. The Letters to the Seven Churches of
Asia in Their Local Setting. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001. (It reads like
the dry doctoral dissertation it is, but the content—essentially a geographical
commentary on Revelation 2-3—is fascinating and illuminating.)
·
McDonagh, Bernard. Blue Guide Turkey. 3rd
ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2001. (I found McDonagh’s Blue Guide to be an
invaluable resource on a previous trip to Turkey, and also, remarkably, a lot
of fun to read.)
·
Wilson, Mark. Biblical Turkey: A Guide to Jewish and
Christian Sites of Asia Minor. Istanbul: Ege Yayinlari, 2010. (Lavishly
illustrated in full colour, Mark Wilson’s guide is an excellent introduction to
biblical sites in Turkey. As it is rather heavy, you may want to read it before
you leave to whet your appetite for the trip itself.)
Ancient
Sites in Greece –
Both of the following books come highly recommended on Amazon. Take your pick:
·
Marker, Sherry, and James Pettifer. Blue Guide Greece:
The Mainland. 7th ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006.
·
Mee, Christopher, and Tony Spawforth. Greece: An
Oxford Archaeological Guide. Oxford University Press, 2001.
The
Bible
Last, but not
least, you will want to read Paul’s epistles, Revelation 1-3 and the relevant
sections of Acts as you prepare for and participate on the tour. Here is a
reading schedule for the tour itself, along with our final itinerary:
April 29,
Monday Arrive Istanbul
·
Meet our Tutku Tour guide and transfer to the Grand Hotel
Halic (www.grandhalic.com) in
Istanbul. The rest of the day is free. Overnight in Istanbul.
April 30,
Tuesday Istanbul
·
On our first full day in Turkey we will sample some of
the stunning sites in Istanbul, including the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque,
Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Archaeological Museum, the Underground
Cistern and the Grand Bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul at the Grand Hotel Halic.
May 1,
Wednesday Morning Flight to Antalya; Perga - Attalia
·
After our arrival in Antalya, we will visit the
Greco-Roman city of Perga (Acts 13:13-14; 14:25) and the Antalya Museum before
taking a walking tour of Attalia that concludes at the Asia Minor Research
Center. Overnight in Antalya at the Dedeman Antalya Hotel (http://www.dedeman.com/hotel-antalya/dedeman-antalya.aspx).
Bible Reading: Acts 13-14; Galatians
May 2,
Thursday Pisidian Antioch - Colossae
·
This morning we will drive to Yalvaç to visit Pisidian
Antioch (Acts 13:14) and Yalvaç Museum. We will then drive west past ancient
Apollonia and Apamea, with a brief stop at the unexcavated site of Colossae.
Overnight in Pamukkale at the Lycus River Thermal Hotel (http://www.lycusriver.com/).
·
Bible Reading: Colossians
May 3,
Friday Hierapolis - Laodicea - Aphrodisias - Kuşadasi
·
Today we will visit the biblical cities of Hierapolis
(Col 4:13) and Laodicea, and stop in Aphrodisias. Overnight Kuşadasi at the
Grand Onder Hotel (http://www.onderotel.com/index.php).
·
Bible Reading: Revelation 1-3
May 4,
Saturday Ephesus
·
We will spend the day touring the ancient site of
Ephesus, including terrace houses and the temple of Artemis, as well as St.
John's Basilica and the museum in Selçuk. Overnight Kuşadasi at the Grand Onder
Hotel.
·
Bible Reading: Acts 18:18-20:1; Ephesians; 1 Timothy
May 5,
Sunday Miletus - Didyma - Priene - Izmir
·
Today we will visit Miletus (Acts 20:15, 17), the Temple
of Apollo at Didyma, and the Hellenistic city of Priene. Overnight Izmir at the
Karaca Hotel (http://www.otelkaraca.com.tr/eng/).
·
Bible Reading: Acts 20
May 6,
Monday Smyrna, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Thyatira - Bergama
·
Today we will concentrate on the cities mentioned in
Revelation 2-3, with visits to Smyrna, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Thyatira.
Overnight Bergama at the Berksoy Hotel (http://www.berksoyhotel.com/indexeng.htm).
·
Bible Reading: Revelation 2-3
May 7,
Tuesday Pergamum - Assos
·
We will spend most of the day visiting the extensive cite
of Pergamum (Rev 2:12-17), including the acropolis, the Red Basilica, and the
Asclepium. We will then drive past the port city of Adramyttium mentioned in
Acts 27:2. Overnight Assos at the Grand Assos Hotel (http://www.grandassoshotel.com/).
·
Bible Reading: Revelation 2:12-17; 27:2
May 8,
Wednesday Assos - Troas - Troy - Transfer to Greece
·
After an early breakfast, we will tour the site of Assos
(Acts 20:13-14), and then travel to Greece with stops along the way in Troas
and Troy. Overnight Kavala at the Esperia Hotel (http://www.esperiakavala.gr/).
·
Bible Reading: Acts 20:1-18
May 9,
Friday. Neapolis - Philippi - Amphipolis
·
We will begin our day in Neapolis and then follow the
route of Paul's second missionary journey with visits to Neapolis, Philippi and
Amphipolis, and a final drive to Thessalonica. Overnight Thessaloniki at the
Metropolitan Hotel (http://www.metropolitan.gr/en/).
·
Bible Reading: Acts 16; Philippians
May 10,
Saturday Thessalonica - Berea - Vergina
·
After visiting ancient Thessalonica, we will drive to
Berea (Acts 17), and then visit the royal tombs of Macedonia at Vergina.
Overnight Delphi at the Pythia Art Hotel (http://delphi-hotels.com/en/).
·
Bible Reading: Acts 17:1-15; 1-2 Thessalonians
May 11,
Sunday Delphi
·
We will spend the day at the beautiful ancient Greek city
of Delphi. Overnight Corinth at the Kalamaki Beach Hotel (http://www.kalamakibeach.gr/).
May 12,
Monday Corinth - Cenchrae
·
Bible Reading: Acts 18:1-17; 1-2 Corinthians
May 13,
Tuesday Athens the acropolis and agora; Mars hill.
·
On our final day, we will visit the acropolis of Athens,
the extensive agora, and Mars hill. We will also tour the Parthenon museum.
Overnight Athens.
·
Bible Reading: Acts 17:16-18:1
May 14,
Wednesday Transfer to Athens Airport
Happy
Reading!
