Day 04 - Aphrodisias & Philadelphia

(Meander – mē-ˈan-dur: to travel continuously). This morning we departed our pretty little hotel in Pamukkale to head west. For many of us, a good night’s rest was needed after several days' trying to adjust to the time zone and 10,000-plus-steps-a-day. For those of us that left the window open, an overnight rainstorm blew right inside. For others, all the hiking, the hot springs pool, and the Baklava meant sweet dreams – finally.

We headed to the winding Meander River valley – yes that’s where the term “meander” derives – to Aphrodisias. As we approached this ancient site, we traveled beneath towering cliffs and alongside acres of olive trees. The Meander River valley supports an abundance of agriculture and has done so for thousands of years.

Aphrodisias is a 4000-year-old city named in honor of the ancient Greek goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Although this site is not mentioned in the Bible, it provides plenty of context about Hellenized culture under Roman rule in the 1st century. The archeological park that reveals the ancient city features the best-preserved stadium in the ancient world (30,000 marble bench seats!), an enormous Roman pool, a Hellenistic-era theater added onto by the Romans, a smaller parliamentary theater, and a museum that included hundreds of statues, figurines, and friezes. They really loved their arts and entertainment!

We’ve learned quite a lot about ancient architecture on this trip. Ozan, our excellent guide, has shown us the difference between Corinthian, Ionic, and Doric design. We also have learned all about marble the construction material of choice for many of these sites: specifically, how it was hung on the walls, and how it was fashioned into so many shapes. Did you know that on the hardness scale diamonds are a 10 and marble is between 2.7 and 3.6 – thus making it easy to cut and carve?

Much more significant was Dr. Craig Hill’s teaching today on the preeminence of Jesus. In Colossians the Apostle Paul writes to a church in a setting like Aphrodisias where all kinds of Greek and Roman gods were called upon for all kinds of favors from fertility to healing and harvest. But Paul writes of Jesus, “And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17)

Jesus is not one of many gods. Jesus is not the god over the other gods. Jesus is preeminent. Jesus is over ALL THINGS. We are to see to it that no other god takes us captive “by philosophy and empty deceit.” (Colossians 2:8)

Aphrodisias shows the challenge of introducing Christ to a pantheistic culture and how the bold, life-changing truth of the gospel of Jesus conquers hearts and minds today just like it eventually conquered the awesome Roman empire that built all those theaters, stadiums, cities, roads, and statues.

For lunch, we had an amazing meal of lentil soup, salad, and lamb served on an outdoor patio complete with live saz (Turkish guitar). Our meals are wonderful times for us to get to know each other, to share our lives back home, and to support each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Back on the bus and off we went to the colorful, mountain city Babadag and arrived in the home of Mehmet a craftsman who makes fine blankets and linens with a foot-powered loom. Venturing into a real Turkish home was a special surprise and much enjoyed by our group. We may have some extra blankets when we get home!

After Babadag we drove to Sardis and passed by the another of the seven churches of Revelation: the city of Philadelphia, named after the love of brothers. Jesus encouraged the church at Philadephia by saying, “I know that you have but little power and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” (Revelation 3:8b)

As we passed by the site of Philadelphia, Dr. Hill contrasted the love of brothers (Greek: philadelphia) with the love of strangers (Greek: philoxenia). Today at Babadag we experienced the incredible love of strangers in the home of Mehmet and his loom. And on this trip, as we continue meandering through Turkey and Greece we experience the love of brothers and sisters in Christ at every meal, on the bus, while we tour, and from our loved ones back home.

Troy Thomas