Antinoos Statue
Dedications
Freedom Declarations
Stadium

The content on this website is maintained by Robert Myallis, pastor at Zion's Lutheran Church, of Jonestown, PA. 

The photos were taken by Emily Myallis, a diaconal minister in the ELCA who also serves at Zion's Lutheran.

This website and travel to Greece was made possible by a grant from the Fund for Theological Education, which provides grants to assist the education and formation of Christian  leaders from numerous denominations.

Bible quotes are taken from the New Revised Standard Version, unless cites otherwise.

The above photo of Greece comes from NASA; The icon of Saint Paul comes from George Mitrevski's website. 

 

 

Freedom Declarations

This stone, found along the side of the wall to the main temple in Delphi, gives the names of slaves who have won their freedom through battle.

How is this significant for understanding the world of Paul?

Slavery was a very common institution throughout ancient Greece; see the Slave Relief in Thessaloniki. One way to be earn freedom was to purchase; another was to win freedom in battle.

How is Paul remixing his culture

Paul viewed humans as in bondage to sin:

But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. (Letter to the Romans, chapter 6:17)

Yet we have won our freedom, not through our own battle, but through the work of Christ.

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1st letter to the Corinthians, chapter 15:56-57)

sources:
info on manumission:  Tour, July 2006.