Turkey is a historically significant country but how does it fit into the biblical narrative? Is it mentioned in the Bible? This article takes a closer look at the available evidence to answer this question.
Turkey is a transcontinental nation, with a small section of land situated in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Eurasia and the majority of the nation located in the Anatolian Peninsula. Its ancient history predates the rise of the Ottoman Empire and its territorial boundaries are home to some of the oldest archaeological sites in the world. This has long been an area of religious and cultural importance.
The Bible mentions several places in Turkey. The Apostle Paul was from Tarsus, in modern day southeastern Turkey, and the seven cities addressed in Revelation were located in the area. In the New Testament, Paul visits Ephesus on the western coast of Turkey, and in Acts 16:8-9 he visits a region in modern day central Turkey. The gospel is said to have been spread throughout Asia Minor which includes much of modern day Turkey.
The Old Testament mentions another area of modern day Turkey – Cilicia. This region was the home of several Old Testament figures, including King David’s father, Jesse, and his grandfather, Boaz. Abraham is said to have sojourned through the land of the Hittites, which was part of Cilicia in modern day south central Turkey. The Bible mentions other locations in this region such as Jerusalem, Antioch, and Caesarea.
A deeper dive into the history of Turkey reveals multiple other biblical events. It is believed that Noah’s Ark landed on Mount Ararat, located in Turkey, and the Tower of Babel is believed to have been located in the city of Harran. The Galilee area, which contains the Sea of Galilee, is part of modern day Turkey.
Turkey in the New Testament
The New Testament mentions many people who lived in parts of modern day Turkey, including the Apostles Peter, John and Paul. Paul’s missionary journeys eventually took him to Ephesus which was then part of the province of Asia. This was later to become part of Roman Asia Minor and is now within the borders of Turkey.
Paul’s mission to the Gentiles was to spread the gospel and he subsequently visited seven cities in the region. These cities, including Ephesus, are all now located in modern day Turkey.
Paul also visited Philippi, Colossae, Laodicea, Derbe, Iconium, Lystra, and Troas. In the Book of Acts, Paul also mentioned many other places in the region – Tyre, Pamphylia, Pisidia, Mysia, Perga, Lycaonia, and Paphos. All of these cities were located in what is now modern day Turkey.
The New Testament also mentions the city of Caesarea, the site of the famous imprisonment of the apostle Paul. Caesarea was located in modern day Turkey, in the Roman province of Judea.
Turkey in the Old Testament
The Old Testament also contains numerous references to places and peoples in modern day Turkey. Abraham was said to have sojourned through the land of the Hittites, which was part of Cilicia in modern day south central Turkey. The Bible also mentions other locations in this region such as Jerusalem, Antioch, and Caesarea.
King David’s father, Jesse, and his grandfather, Boaz, were both from Cilicia in modern day Turkey. The Bible also mentions other people from Cilicia such as the Pharaoh of Egypt and various other figures from the ancient world.
The book of Kings also references multiple accounts about the ancient city of Harran, which is located near the border of modern day Turkey and Syria. Harran is believed to be the city of the Tower of Babel, from which the many languages of the world were said to originate.
The Old Testament also mentions the region of Galatia, located in north central Turkey. This region was home to the tribe of the Galatians and the Apostle Paul’s famous letter to the Galatians was written to people in the region.
Conclusion
It is clear that Turkey is mentioned in the Bible. From the pages of the Old Testament to the travels of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, the Bible makes it clear that this region was an important part of biblical history. Many of the places and people that are mentioned in the Bible can still be found in modern day Turkey, allowing us to gain further insight into the historical importance of this part of the world.
