Bithynia

Bithynia was a Roman province in the northwest corner of Asia Minor.

During Paul’s second missionary journey, the apostle Paul and Silas planned to preach the good news in Bithynia. However, the Holy Spirit did not allow them to do so (Acts 16:7).

The apostle Peter may have later ministered in Bithynia and nearby provinces in Asia Minor. He addressed his first letter to believers living in these regions (1 Peter 1:1). Christianity entered Bithynia in some way, possibly through Peter.

Bithynia was first occupied by a Thracian tribe. This group established a prosperous kingdom there in the third century BC.

In 75 BC, Bithynia became part of the Roman Empire. This happened when Nicomedes IV Philopator, the last king of Bithynia, left his kingdom to the Roman people.

For administrative purposes, Rome usually governed Bithynia together with Pontus, a province located to the east.

After New Testament times, Bithynia played an important role in church history.

Early in the second century, Bithynia’s Roman governor, Pliny the Younger, wrote to Emperor Trajan about how to deal with Christians. Trajan’s reply described the earliest known imperial policy on the persecution of Christians.

Later, two major church councils met in western cities of Bithynia. The Council of Nicaea met in AD 325, and the Council of Chalcedon met in AD 451. The Council of Nicaea declared that Christ is fully divine (fully God). The Council of Chalcedon made official statements about the two natures of Christ, explaining that he is both fully divine and fully human.

The Roman province of Bithynia lay in the northwest part of Asia Minor. It was bordered on the north by the Black Sea. On the west, it bordered the Propontis, now called the Sea of Marmara. On the south, it bordered the province of Asia. On the east, it bordered Galatia and Pontus.

Bithynia was a mountainous region. Mount Olympus stood in the south and rose to about 2,315 meters (7,600 feet). However, the land near the seacoast and in the interior valleys was very fertile.

The province produced fruit and grain. It also had valuable natural resources, including fine marble quarries, good timber, and excellent land for grazing animals.

The main river of Bithynia was the Sangarius, now called the Sakarya River. It flowed from south to north into the Black Sea. Most travel and transportation followed the river valleys.