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We’ve all heard the axiom, “Timing is everything.” In so many aspects of life, the idiom rings true; there are certain times at which certain things are best done. Looking back on some of God’s movements, it’s clear that He is conscious of “good timing,” as well.
Perhaps the best example of God’s timing was the birth of the church.
The church at Jerusalem was founded in a fascinating environment. Several key occurrences of the previous centuries offered the young church a platform for sharing its message of faith. Looking back on it through history’s lenses, it’s easy to see the hand of God setting certain elements in place, “preparing the soil” where His church would be planted.
Here are just a few examples:
The Development of Palestine
The birth of Christ, and consequently His church, took place in Palestine, a narrow strip of land that sat at the “crossroads of the great trade routes that joined Egypt with Mesopotamia, and Asia Minor with Arabia.” By this time in human history, this geographic position had become a major intersection for culture, technology, commerce, religion, and government. A developed “crossroads” would provide the church with a powerful beginning point they would need to propagate the Gospel.
With Palestine playing such a key role for three different continents, the church now had a tremendous “launching pad,” so to speak.
The Effects of Hellenism
Four centuries earlier, the Macedonian leader Alexander the Great had also understood the influence of this land, and included it in his conquest of the Mediterranean world. The spread of Greek culture, or Hellenism, also put in place some structure for the early church to build upon, namely, the universal language, Koine Greek (or common Greek). The significance of the apostles’ use of Koine Greek cannot be understated; almost the entire New Testament is written in it. Much like today’s English, Koine Greek could be found in many different lands and kingdoms 2,000 years ago.
Now, the early church had a conduit by which to share their message.
The Presence of the Roman Empire
By the time Jesus was born, and the church was birthed, Palestine had already changed hands again; now, it was mighty Caesar’s land, just another part of his ever-growing Roman Empire. Even though Palestine was a conquered land, Rome offered native “religions” like Christianity certain “tolerances.” For a while, the church operated under the umbrella of Judaism, a protected (if scorned) sect of the Jews.
Further, Roman accomplishments offered the church various technologies to use, namely their roads. The expression, “All roads lead to Rome,” was literally true. In one direction, a road would take an apostle (like Paul) to the capital, and in another direction, a different apostle (like Mark) to Egypt.
But perhaps the most important offer Rome made to the early church, and Christianity, was the Pax Romana, Roman Peace. True, the early church had to pay taxes to Caesar, but they didn’t have to worry about wars in the homeland, barbarian invaders on the outskirts of their civilization, or bandits and pirates plaguing daily life.
Now, the young, fragile church had the necessary atmosphere.
Just like a seed germinating – which requires very specific needs at very specific times – the church’s development and growth also demanded the proper requirements and timing. And thanks to God, the early church had everything it needed.
Yep, looks like God knew what He was doing (again).
Resource’s Origins:
The Story of Christianity Volume 1 by Justo L. Gonzalez. HarperCollins, 1984, Pages 7-9.
Topics Illustrated Include:
Church
God’s Plan
God’s Protection
God’s Provision
God’s Will
History
Military
Time
(Resource cataloged by David R Smith)
