If there is an Asia Minor, what happened to Asia Major? Nothing! It's just one of those terms from high school geography we forgot a long time ago. Actually, the place called Asia Minor is mentioned relatively often in the New Testament. Hastings Dictionary of the Bible says, "Asia was one of the most wealthy and populous and intellectually active of the Roman provinces; hence the natural sequence of the work done by Paul and Barnabas on their first journey was to preach in the great cities of Asia. . . "So, just where and what is this place where lots of wealthy smart people lived? It's Turkey! The modern day nation known as Turkey is the "Asia" that is referred to 21 times in the New Testament. The main references to Turkey are in The Acts and The Revelation.
Turkey is also know as Asia Minor because of its location. The area that we know today as Asia stretches all the way from Eastern Europe to China. However, as you can see on the map, there is a piece of Asia that looks like it broke loose during some ancient earthquake. This separated piece of Asia is called Asia Minor. In Bible times this was very important real estate. As you can see from the map, Istanbul (formerly known as Constantinople and Byzantium) was the only one easy place to cross the water that divided Europe from Asia. This narrow stretch of water, know as the Bosphorus Straits is also the natural connector between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Its position as a bridge between Europe and Asia and it's wealth and beauty made Asia Minor (Turkey) the most populated, wealthy and intellectually active of the provinces outside of Rome.
Cities such as Ephesus, Pergamos and Smyrna were wealthy worldclass cities. Seven of the cities of Turkey are named in Revelation 1:11," . . . What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea." These cities might be considered the modern day equivalent of Paris, Sydney, London, Manilla, Ottawa, Berlin, or Miami. However, today, all that is left of these cities is ruins. For instance, Laodicea was once a very important and wealthy city in western Turkey. It is thought to be founded by a large group of Syrians and Jews who were forced to move there from Babylonia. In New Testament times it was a famous trade center for its glossy black wool and locally manufactured black woolen garments. Laodicea was also well known for selling "Phrygian powder" used for the eyes. The city became so wealthy that it refused Roman help in rebuilding after suffering a devastating earthquake in 60 A.D. Of Laodicea the Bible says, in Revelation 3:17, "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind and naked. . . " It is interesting that the Loadiceans were rich, famous for their eye salve and the clothing they made.
But, sadly, the city was destroyed by a war in the 13th century and has long lain in ruins. As was the case with most ancient cities around the world, Laodicea became a quarry site for nearby builders. Today, when standing at the site of this once beautiful city, only a few scattered building blocks remain. You have to use your imagination to even picture that where you stand was once a city with tens of thousands of people. The earth at your feet is littered with pottery pieces and the occasional chunk of a broken column here and there. Most all of the ancient city is buried under rolling hills and deserted fields that grow thistles and weeds.

Blessings in your study of God's Word!

Marvin Hunt

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Blessings!
Marvin Hunt

Http://www.biblehistory.com

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