Encounter life as it was known to ancient believers of Asia Minor, and view the ruins and landscapes that played a role in their day-to-day lives.
Walk in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul in Greece and Turkey with both an expert guide and Robert Plummer, an active church member and a Christian scholar, as you explore the depths of Scripture in the places that the Scripture speaks about.
Robert Plummer is the Collin and Evelyn Aikman Professor of Biblical Studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He is an active member at Sojourn Community Church and is the director of SBTS's Faith & Work Project. Dr. Plummer is widely known as the host of the popular Daily Dose of Greek screencast and as the author of several books, including 40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible. He and his wife, Chandi, have three delightful daughters – Sarah Beth, Chloe, and Anabelle. Dr. Plummer's hobbies include long-distance running, enjoying international foods and cultures, and traveling.
Fly to Tarsus, Turkey (COV), where you'll be greeted by your guide.
Please note that at the conclusion of the tour guests will depart from a different city and airport than arrival.
Return flight should be arranged from Athens (ATH) and not Tarsus (COV).
Explore Antioch, the city where East meets West. Though Antioch is identified as the place where followers of Christ were first called Christians and from where the Apostle Paul and Barnabas were sent out to share the Christian gospel, the significance of Antioch in Christian history begins two centuries before with a pagan frenetic and impulsive Seleucid emperor, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who reigned 175-163 B.C.E.
Optional Greek Scripture Readings with Dr. Plummer begin. These will be offereed every evening.
Spend the morning in Tarsus, hometown of the Apostle Paul. Famed for its schools rhetoric, Paul once described Tarsus as "no insignificant city" (Acts 21:39).
Then, travel to Cappadocia, home of two church fathers and converts from the day of Pentecost. Experience your first views of this land of wonder seated above caves and underground cities which housed the Church during its early days of persecution.
Enjoy your morning walking through the famous landscapes of the Pigeon Valley. Next, explore the Uçhisar Castle, a centuries-old citadel with excellent views of Cappadocia. Continue surveying the beautiful landscape from the Göreme Panorama and the Göreme Open Air Museum. After lunch in a tasty local restaurant, dive underground to explore the Kaymaklı or Özkonak Underground City. Lastly explore the Paşabağ “Fairy Chimney” rock formations.
Continue West toward Pisidian Antioch, where Paul preached his first sermon in Acts. Stop along the way in Iconium & Lystra, which were frequently visited by Paul and his companions. In Pisidian Antioch, explore the important imperial cult temple built by Augustus as well as a historic church dedicated to Paul by the early saints of Asia Minor.
Spend the morning in Perga, where Paul landed after sailing from the island of Cyprus. This wealthy city is famous for its historic ruins and for the separation of Paul and Mark. That afternoon, fly to Thessaloniki, Greece (SKG).
Enjoy a scenic drive along the Aegean Sea to Kavala (ancient Neapolis), the port city of Philippi, where Paul landed by boat and first brought the gospel to Europe. We’ll travel inland to Philippi, following the Via Egnatia, the road the apostle took into the city. Here at Philippi Paul preached his first sermon in Europe (Acts 16:13-15) and baptized the first Christian convert in the continent, a “certain woman named Lydia.” Extensive Roman and Byzantine ruins have been uncovered including a crypt where it is believed Paul and Silas were imprisoned. Return to Thessaloniki.
Paul spent a number of weeks in Thessalonica during his second missionary journey establishing a church (Acts 17:1-9) to whom he would a short time later write two letters (1 & 2 Thessalonians). Visit the Roman marketplace where a mob formed against Paul and an ensuing riot started in the city (Acts 17:5). Other impressive sites include the remnants of two beautiful Byzantine churches (Hagia Sophia & Saint Dimitrius). We leave Thessaloniki for a brief visit to Berea (modern Veria), the place whose Jewish citizens “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). After viewing the Bema—the spot where tradition has Paul teaching the Bereans—and the beautiful monument dedicated to the apostle, we drive southwest to Preveza.
Take a day to get a better feel for the Roman world of the Apostles. At Actium in 31 BC Octavian (later Augustus) defeated Antony and Cleopatra in the famous battle that changed the course of Roman history. We will visit the monument celebrating Octavian’s victory that was constructed from the prows of the captured ships. Afterwards we will tour Nicopolis, “victory city,” founded in 29 BC by Augustus. Paul probably stopped here after sailing from Illyricum (Rom 15:19) and later spent the winter in Nicopolis (1 Tim 3:12). In the afternoon, we will enjoy the scenic drive to Delphi.
Located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, Delphi is the home of the Sanctuary of Apollo and the world-renowned “Delphic oracle.” Other impressive ruins found here include the Temple of Athena. It is with good reason that Delphi is widely acknowledged as the most spectacularly beautiful ancient site in Greece. We also will visit the Delphi Museum, whose impressive collection includes an inscription concerning the governor Gallio (Acts 18:12), which plays a crucial role in establishing the chronology of Paul’s life and ministry.
After a midday drive, enjoy Corinth, the place where Paul ministered for one and a half years (Acts 18:1-18) and would later write at least four letters, two of which have survived (1 & 2 Corinthians). Extensive ruins of Corinth are visible today, including temples, water fountains, shops, various public buildings, the largest Agora (“Marketplace”) in the ancient world and the Bema, where Paul likely met before the governor Gallio (Acts 18:12-17). The Corinthian Museum contains many significant artifacts, several of which have a direct link to events, items and people mentioned in the New Testament.
Overnight in Athens
Paul visited Athens during his second Missionary Journey (Acts 17:15- 34). We’ll see the Agora (“Marketplace”) of ancient Athens where the apostle dialogued with the Athenian citizens and philosophers (Acts 17:17) as well as the Areopagus (“Mars Hill”) where Paul addressed the city leaders (Acts 17:19-33). Before going up to see the Acropolis, we’ll stop at the New Acropolis Museum which helpfully explains the history of this world-famous place. Then we’ll go up to the Acropolis, which towers over the city of Athens and which houses the Parthenon, a building so masterfully created that it has been the subject of architectural study since its creation.
Overnight in Athens
Spend a leisurely morning in The National Archaeological Museum in Athens, which houses some of the most important artifacts from a variety of archaeological locations around Greece. It is considered one of the greatest museums in the world and contains the richest collection of Greek Antiquity artifacts worldwide.
Depart in the evening from Athens International Airport (ATH)
On Dr. Plummer's Book Greek for Life: Strategies for Learning, Retaining, and Reviving New Testament Greek
Merkle and Plummer have written a charming and immensely practical book on how to retain and even regain knowledge of Greek. I am thrilled to recommend this book, which so effectively instructs and motivates us to continue studying the Greek New Testament.
On Dr. Plummer's Book Beginning with New Testament Greek: An Introductory Study of the Grammar and Syntax of the New Testament
Merkle and Plummer have a strong reputation of being clear and effective teachers of New Testament Greek. In their grammar, they combine both their knowledge of Greek and their seasoned pedagogy to provide the beginning students of New Testament Greek with a valuable and clear resource that will help them develop the necessary skills to begin their journey to read and understand the Greek New Testament.
On Dr. Plummer's Book 40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible
Nuanced sufficiently for seminary courses and accessible enough for church groups, 40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible helpfully acquaints students and church leaders alike to central principles of biblical interpretation and related matters like inspiration, canon, translation, and current discussions. This warm and engaging work would make a superb textbook for university and seminary courses on biblical interpretation.
Cancellations
Cancellations made before 60 days of departure: Full refund
Cancellations made within 45 days of departure: 75% refund
Cancellations made within 30 days of departure: 50% refund
Cancellations made within 15 days of departure: 25% refund
Cancellations made within 14 days of departure: No refund
Force Majeure
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Administration Fee
In addition to the above cancellation policy, we charge a 5% processing fee for all refunds, no matter the date of cancellation. This fee is necessary to cover the costs associated with processing refunds, including bank fees and administrative expenses. We understand that sometimes travel plans change, and we appreciate your understanding of this policy.
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