Imaginatively Missional
What if the story of early Christian missions isn’t just preserved in texts but in stones, inscriptions, and cities waiting to be read? In Gods, Emperors, Philosophers, and a New Movement, Michael T. Cooper explores how archaeology reshapes our understanding of the early Christian movement—and what that means for missions today. In this interview, we asked …
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In his letter to the churches of Galatia, Paul makes a brief but tantalizing statement: “I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.” — Galatians 1:16–17 The remark is …
Continue reading "Rethinking Paul’s Arabian Sojourn Through the Archaeology of Northwest Arabia"
The intersection of archaeology and missiology offers a rich field for exploring how early Christians navigated complex sociocultural terrains in Asia Minor. In the forthcoming Gods, Emperors, Philosophers, and a New Movement, I argue that the material culture of the first three centuries presents more than historical data—it offers theological and missiological implications for practical lessons …
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In the rich tapestry of Asia Minor’s religious and cultural milieu, the early church faced a formidable challenge—how to faithfully embody the gospel in a context saturated with temples, gods, and ritualized expressions of devotion. From Ephesos to Sardis, from Pergamon to Philadelphia, every city was a stage for divine pageantry. The architecture, the numismatic …
Continue reading "The Philosophical School as Ecclesial Safeguard"
As Christianity spread across the Roman Empire, it did more than change hearts—it redefined space. The architectural legacy of Roman religion, once dedicated to a pantheon of gods, came under new ownership. The church, as it emerged from the margins, began to repurpose temple space—places previously reserved for empire and cult—and imbued them with new …
The Greek words oikos and oikia are often used interchangeably in modern discussions of the early church, yet they carried distinct meanings in the first-century context. Understanding their differences is crucial for accurately interpreting biblical texts and their implications for missions, community, and church structure for today. Oikia: The Physical House and Family The term …
Continue reading "Understanding the First-Century House Church in the Archaeological Record"
What if we’ve been overlooking a key component of how the early church grew? Church planting movements and disciple making movements often focus on people of peace—individuals receptive to the gospel who help spread it within their communities. But what if the early church also relied on places of peace—natural spaces where people gathered, shared ideas, and …
Terrace House 2 in Ephesos provides an extraordinary glimpse into the social and religious life of one of the most important cities in the Greco-Roman world. Nestled on the southern slopes of the city near the Triodos (the intersection of three main streets), these seven peristyle houses reflect the wealth, sophistication, and religious diversity of …
In the first century AD, the Roman Empire was not merely a political powerhouse; it was also a stage for a deeply intertwined system of civic loyalty and religious devotion. One striking example of this is what appears to be the pedestal of a statue in the upper gymnasium of Priene, an ancient Ionian city …
It's 53 or 54 AD. So, imagine standing in the grandeur of the Ephesian Prytaneion, surrounded by marble reminders of the goddess Artemis, the supposed protector of the city and light to the world. According to a prominent inscription inscribed on a marble lintel block, you, Theophilos—a "lover of god"—have served as a Kouretes, a guardian …
Who was Theophilos, the addressee of Luke’s Gospel and Acts? For decades, scholars have speculated about his identity. Some argue that Theophilos, whose name means “lover/friend of God,” was a symbolic placeholder for all believers. Others suggest he was a wealthy patron who funded Luke’s literary endeavors. But what if Theophilos was a real person …
The discovery of an ancient word square in the cryptoporticus at Smyrna has raised some fascinating questions about the subtle ways in which early Christians may have expressed their faith in a public yet potentially hostile environment. Dating to approximately AD 125, the word square consists of five words arranged in a 5x5 grid, with …
The synagogue of Sardis (ca 4th c.), located adjacent to the Roman bath-gymnasium, is a large basilica style hall of ostensible Jewish worship that could accomodate a thousand people. In fact, it is the largest so-called synagogue ever excavated in the Roman world. Considerations for its surroundings, inscriptions, mosaics, graffiti, and spolia have raised the …
Much of my academic work over the past three decades has focused on how the early Christian movement engaged the cultures of its time. Understanding the dynamics of these early communities not only informs our theological reflections but also offers invaluable lessons for contemporary church planting and missions. This is precisely the focus of my …
Archaeology has been an under-utilized tool in missiology. A few scholars studying the colonial era have suggested that the discipline is important in understanding the development of missions (Graham 1998; Ross 2018). As might be expected, archaeology of the colonial era reveals the impact of the missionary’s material culture on the material culture of indigenous …
What does this mean for the Christianity of the 21st century? For the house church movement, it means that we should not think of oikos as a monolithic and normative form for the ekklēsia. Instead, the house church served a purpose at a particular point in history. In the first century, the oikos provided a place of gathering that was relatively …
Excavation of Laodicea began in full force in 2002. This is not to suggest that there were not others who attempted an excavation prior. Indeed, a Canadian excavation began in 1961 while an Italian one conducted a topographical and archaeological survey in 1993. Today, a team from Pamukkale University and the Municipality of Denizli work …
Christianity arrives in Laodicea near the middle of the first century. The missionary endeavors of Paul and at least 20 of his associates began in Ephesus in the late 40s with Paul leaving the area known as Roman Asia (in Asia Minor) in the early 50s (Cooper 2020). Paul and Timothy testify to the Colossians …
Named after Laodike, the wife of the Seleucid ruler Antiochus II, Laodicea was constructed around 260 BC upon of an earlier settlement known as the city of Zeus, Diospolis (Pliny the Elder NH 5.105). Indeed, on the eastern city gate entrance leading to the colonnaded Syrian road (fig. 1), a Greek dedicatory inscription honors Zeus …
The intersection of missiology, ecclesiology, and archaeology holds the potential for a promising field of study in the areas of material culture, history, and faith. Such an intersection offers insights into the relationship between architecture, ritual development, missions, biblical studies, and indigenous civilizations. This intersection not only bridges disciplines, but also unveils a treasure trove …
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