the greatness of the work, for Asia was the richest, one of
18
274 The Church in Asia, Chap. XII.
the largest, and in many ways the leading province of the East.
Ephesus, as the seat of government, was the centre from which the whole province of Asia could best be affected (p. 104) ; and the effect of Paul's long work there extended far over that vast province, but chiefly, of course, along the great lines of communication. For example, Churches arose in three cities of the Lycos Valley, Laodiceia, Colossai, and Hierapolis, though Paul himself did not go there. All the seven Churches mentioned in the Revelation were probably founded during this period, for all were within easy reach of Ephesus, and all were great centres of trade. It is probable that they, being the first foundations in the province, retained a sort of representative character ; and thus they were addressed in the Revelation (perhaps as heads over districts), when there were certainly other Churches in the province.
In the ordinary communication between the capital and the other cities of the province, the influence from Ephesus would be carried to these cities ; but that was not the only way in which these other Churches grew. Paul had with him a number of subordinate helpers, such as Timothy, Erastus, Titus, etc. The analogy of many other cases in the early history of the Church would leave no room to doubt that helpers were often employed in missions to the new Churches ; and, as Timothy joined with Paul in the letter to the Colossians, it may be inferred that he had been working in that city.
The clear conception of a far-reaching plan revealed in v. 21 is confirmed by Rom. XV 24 (see p. 255).
It has been argued by some (and notably by Light-
Sec. 4- The Church in the Province of Asia. 275
foot) that Paul made a short visit to Corinth, during his Ephesian mission. But this conjectural visit (II Cor. XII 14, XIII 1) is more likely to have been made from Philippi (p. 283), for clearly (Acts XIX 9, 10) Paul re- sided in Ephesus throughout the period Oct 53 to Jan. 56. In the latter part of autumn 55 he sent to Corinth the First Epistle ; and at that time his intention was to remain in Ephesus till Pentecost 56 (XVI 8), and then to go through Macedonia to Corinth. But this was an alteration of a previous plan to sail direct from Ephesus to Corinth, thence going to Macedonia, and returning to Corinth, from whence he should sail for Jerusalem (II Cor. I 16). That intention was abandoned, and a letter, I Cor., was sent instead : the full knowledge of the state of things in Corinth, which is revealed in that letter, was gained by the report of some envoys (XVI 17, compare p. 284). The abandonment of the plan was doubtless due to the conviction that the success of the work in Asia demanded a longer residence. He, therefore, cut out of his programme the first of these two proposed visits to Corinth, and restricted himself to one, which he should pay after a progress through Macedonia (I Cor. XVI 5). He sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia, instructing the former to go on to Corinth, and he told the Corinthians, IV 17, that Timothy was coming, " who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which be in Christ". Finally, when his Asian work was cut short, he went from Philippi to Corinth, April 56 (see Preface).
The analogy of this case strengthens our interpreta- tion of the Galatian letter (p. 190). In each case
276 The Church in Asia. Chap. XII.
Paul had to encounter a serious and dangerous situation in a distant Church. In the case of Corinth, he could not go, but sent a substitute and a letter explaining that the substitute was on the way, and the bearer would give the reason why Paul could not go then ; but he adds in the letter a promise to go later, though " some of them fancied that he was not coming". In the case of Galatia he was able to go immediately, and sent off a hasty letter in front, the bearer of which would announce that he was following. But on the usual theory, Paul, in that serious emergency m Galatia, neither thought of going there, nor of explaining that he could not go.