In our last visit I concluded that Paul’s strategy of focusing on major cities worked well so long as the churches stayed healthy. That’s why he worked so hard trying to restore the church in Corinth to its healthy potential. It’s also why he wanted to visit the church in Rome.
He heard how their faith was being reported all over the world. “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” In Romans 15:14, 23-24 he continues, “I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. I have written you quite boldly on some points…I have been longing for many years to see you. I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there.”
The churches in prominent cities during New Testament times were in Jerusalem, Ephesus, Corinth and Rome. This is not to consider churches in smaller cities unimportant. Remember, the Church in Antioch was where God first started the major thrust of outreach to the world. Paul commended the church at Philippi for being a major contributor to his ongoing work. Key workers came from other church centers.
But the strategy of reaching whole regions through churches in major cities was key in Paul’s mind to reaching the world for Christ. This strategy is still considered by some to be key to reaching the world for Christ.
