Mediterranean Learning at Sea

About the Trip

This Seeing His World Seminar explores the pagan religious, cultural, and political world into which Christianity was born. Set against the backdrop of the ancient Mediterranean, the seminar examines the temples, gods, philosophies, and imperial systems that dominated the

Greco-Roman world and shaped the historical setting of the New Testament. Far from emerging in a spiritual vacuum, Christianity confronted a world saturated with polytheism, emperor worship, mystery cults, and monumental religious architecture. Through focused teaching and historical analysis, participants will explore how the gospel message interacted with, challenged, and ultimately transformed this pagan environment.

Archaeological evidence—temples, inscriptions, civic spaces, altars, and urban remains—is brought into dialogue with the biblical text to illuminate the lived reality of the first Christians and the world in which the apostles preached. Particular attention is given to major centers of pagan worship and imperial power, including Athens, Rhodes, Ephesus, Crete, Malta, Sicily, and Rome.

This seminar aims to deepen confidence in the historical reliability of the New Testament by grounding Scripture firmly within its real-world context. By examining the archaeological and cultural setting of the first century, participants gain a clearer understanding of how Christianity moved from a persecuted minority faith to a transformative force that reshaped the ancient world—revealing not only the contrast between paganism and Christianity, but the power of the gospel to change history.

Important Highlights