Auf Paulus Spuren in Griechenland
Study trip to significant places
Our journey took us along the route of the Apostle Paul’s second missionary journey, from Neapolis (present-day Kavala) in the north to Cenchreae in the south. We explored historically and religiously significant sites, including Philippi, where Paul and Silas were imprisoned. There, we strolled along the Via Egnatia, an important trade and military route. At the baptism site of Lydia, the purple merchant, we learned more about the beginnings of Christianity in this region. In Thessaloniki, where Paul founded a church in just three weeks, we enjoyed the view from the citadel over the entire city to the sea.
At the scene of the Areopagus speech
In addition to the Acropolis, we visited the site of the Areopagus Speech in Athens and explored the Agora, the ancient marketplace. We also visited the Agora in Corinth, where we discovered workshops where Paul may have worked with Aquila and Priscilla as tentmakers to finance his stay and onward journey. Finally, we said goodbye to Paul in Cenchreae, where his ship to Ephesus departed.
Better understanding of Paul's statements
During the study trip, our tour guidesDr. Daniel Gleich, who teaches New Testament at the tsc, and Christian Seitz, regional director of Viva Church Switzerland, imparted theological and church-building insights. At the same time, our local tour guides introduced us to Greek mythology and philosophical thought. By visiting sanctuaries and other important cultural sites of the Greeks of that time – such as the oracle at Delphi – we were able to immerse ourselves in the Greek culture of the time. In doing so, we drew comparisons to the Christian faith and recognized some radical differences that helped us better understand some of Paul’s statements and formulations. In the evening, we had the opportunity to share our impressions and discuss the day’s insights together.
«I incorporated the information from the Acts of the Apostles and the content of Paul’s letters into our church work and motivated us to be just as passionate, multiplying, and networked as local churches today. In addition to the historical and biblical news we discovered, we experienced the collaborative work of tsc and Viva Church Switzerland as valuable and enriching.»
Christian Seitz, Regional Director Viva Church Switzerland
Paul’s letters became more lively
The study trip was a fantastic opportunity to see biblical sites in Greece with our own eyes and gain a sense of the Greek landscape and culture. This made Paul’s letters come alive. It was a pleasant trip, and we found the exchange with the pastors particularly enriching, as they often had a different perspective than we theology students. We therefore look back on our time together in Greece with gratitude.
The tsc regularly organizes study trips to biblical sites as a complement to theological studies. In 2023, students and lecturers traveled to Israel.
The participants of the study trip are happy about the good cooperation and valuable insights into the biblical sites of Greece.