Cappadocia

In the Bible

Cappadocia is mentioned twice in the New Testament.

• Acts 2:9: In the account of the day the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, the list of the homelands of those gathered in Jerusalem includes "Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia." These were Jews and converts to Judaism who lived dispersed across many regions, and the text records that they heard the apostles speaking in their own native languages.
• 1 Peter 1:1: The letter identifies its recipients as "the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia."

Background

Cappadocia is a highland plateau in the eastern interior of Asia Minor, known for its distinctive rock formations created by volcanic activity. It was a province of the Persian Empire and later became an independent kingdom. In AD 17, under Emperor Tiberius, it became a Roman province. Its chief city was Caesarea (Mazaca), which should be distinguished from the Caesarea in Palestine that appears frequently in the Bible.

The name is reported to appear in ancient Persian inscriptions as Katpatuka. It is often said to mean "land of beautiful horses," but its etymology is uncertain.

Significance in the Bible as a Whole

Cappadocia is one of the place names that illustrate how widely the gospel spread beyond Judea. Its inclusion in the Pentecost list suggests that a Jewish community was already present there. By the time 1 Peter was written, Christian communities appear to have existed in the region. The Bible does not record, however, who founded the church there, and the accounts of Paul's missionary journeys make no mention of a visit to Cappadocia.

Interpretation and Issues

• The "strangers scattered" in 1 Peter: Some interpret the phrase literally as referring to Jewish Christians living in the Dispersion. Others understand it as describing the whole church, including Gentiles, living as sojourners in the world. Some scholars hold that the order in which the regions are listed reflects the route taken by the person who carried the letter.
• The tradition of Peter's visit: The church historian Eusebius, citing Origen, records a tradition that Peter preached to the Jews of the Dispersion in these regions. The biblical text does not say whether Peter himself went to Cappadocia.
• Caphtor in the Old Testament: The Septuagint is reported to render "Caphtor" in Deuteronomy 2:23 and Amos 9:7 as Cappadocia. Most scholars today, however, identify Caphtor, named as the place of origin of the Philistines, with Crete and its vicinity.
• The underground cities: Cappadocia's rock-cut churches and underground cities are often described as places where early Christians hid from persecution. However, many of the underground cities predate Christianity, and most of the rock-cut churches are reported to date from the Byzantine period or later. They are difficult to connect directly with events of the biblical period.

Later History

In the fourth century, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa, all natives of this region, were active. They are commonly called the "Cappadocian Fathers" and are regarded as having played a major role in formulating the doctrine of the Trinity.

In the Korean Church

Cappadocia is frequently included in pilgrimage itineraries to Türkiye (Turkey), so Korean Christians also know it for its rock-cut churches and underground cities.