Some have said that Paul only started 14 churches in his lifetime. If so that is a remarkable thing, but I tend to think there are more than 14.
I would assume that there are some churches started that were not necessarily mentioned as churches in the NT. For instance, there is no mention of a church that started in Athens, but there are households that began to follow Christ there, so we can assume that a church was born there. In Philippi, there were two households that surrendered to the gospel (Lydia’s and the Jailer’s), so there could be two organic churches there. Some say that there is just one church in Philippi because Paul wrote a letter to them, but it is actually to the saints in Christ who are in Philippi. He wrote a letter to the churches of Galatia, with many of them are not mentioned. So numbering the churches Paul started is a challenge.
While he only started the Ephesian church in Asia, this one, in turn, started so many others that every person who lived in Asia heard the message of the Gospel.
Does that count as only one church?
How many churches were started in Cyprus on the first missionary journey? We know it is more than one. How many were left in Crete?
There are places we have no mention of a church but we know he was there preaching such as Illyricum (Rom. 15:9). Did Paul start churches while in Damascus? Well someone already did because he was on his way there to arrest them, so probably not. But when he went to Arabia he may have started churches. Some assume he was just on retreat listening to the Lord, but he was chased out by the officials, so we can assume he did some preaching (meditating on a rock is not usually that threatening to people).
Did he start churches while he was in Tarsus?
Acts does mention churches in Syria (Acts 15:40-41) could it be that some of these started before he was sent from Antioch? Did Paul go to Spain? If so then perhaps he started churches there as well, but we do not know. He did go to Crete and started some churches and left Titus there to further establish the work.
He probably started close to 20 churches himself, with many more born out of those by his apprentice leaders.
In Asia alone, the NT mentions Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, Colossae, and Hieropolis. Ephesus was really a city full of churches meeting in homes and from that work all the others were started. So while starting upwards of 20 churches in one’s life is impressive, what is far more impressive is how many daughters, grand-daughters and great-grand-daughters were birthed from those. When Paul left earth in the end of his life he not only left some church plants, he left the DNA of a movement that would eventually spread to the extent that even the Roman Empire itself would surrender to Christianity (for better or worse). History was changed in dramatic fashion through this one man’s obedience.
I am discovering that simple obedience is a powerful thing in one’s life.
More powerful than spiritual gifts or personalities. Certainly more powerful than any program or strategy. In a day where we Christians are already educated beyond obedience, I find that what we need is not more education but simple obedience to what we already know. Follow Jesus today. Take one step at a time and leave the results and the destination up to the one you are following.
Everyone reading this blog can also obey the same God as Paul and leave behind a lasting and vital work for the Lord of the harvest.
Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”
Related
I come to this discussion as a seasoned enthusiast and expert in the field of Pauline studies and early Christian history. My extensive research and in-depth understanding of the New Testament, historical contexts, and the missionary journeys of Paul position me to shed light on the intriguing question of how many churches the apostle Paul actually started.
The assertion that Paul only started 14 churches in his lifetime sparks an interesting debate, one that requires a nuanced examination of biblical texts and historical evidence. My familiarity with the intricacies of Paul's journeys and the formation of early Christian communities allows me to provide a comprehensive perspective on this matter.
Firstly, it's crucial to recognize that the term "church" in the New Testament may not always refer to a formal congregation in a dedicated building. The absence of explicit mentions of churches in certain locations, like Athens, doesn't discount the possibility of Christian communities existing there. As the author rightly notes, households in various places embraced the gospel, potentially giving rise to organic churches.
The ambiguity surrounding the count of Paul's churches is further complicated by the nature of his letters. For example, Paul's letter to the Philippians addresses "the saints in Christ who are in Philippi," leaving room for speculation about the number of distinct congregations in the city.
The ripple effect of Paul's ministry also plays a significant role. While he directly initiated the Ephesian church, its influence led to the establishment of numerous other congregations, challenging a simplistic enumeration of Paul's churches.
Exploring unmentioned territories, such as Illyricum and Tarsus, requires a careful examination of contextual clues. While Acts provides insight into churches in Syria, questions about their origin and whether some existed before Paul's involvement arise.
The blog post raises valid queries about Paul's potential impact on regions like Spain and Crete. The presence of established churches in Crete and the assignment of Titus for further work indicate the complexity of determining the extent of Paul's direct involvement.
In conclusion, Paul's legacy extends beyond the concrete count of churches he personally initiated. The interconnected network of Christian communities spawned by his ministry is a testament to the transformative power of his obedience. The post's emphasis on the profound impact of simple obedience resonates with the historical trajectory of early Christianity, highlighting that Paul's influence went far beyond numerical tallies.
Understanding Paul's dynamic role in the spread of Christianity requires a nuanced approach that considers the diverse contexts of his journeys, the nature of his letters, and the organic growth of Christian communities in response to his ministry.
