Lydia of Thyatira

When was Lydia active?

Lydia of Thyatira is dated fl. c. 50 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Lydia in the Apostolic Age (AD 4–70). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.

Which early sources mention Lydia?

Lydia of Thyatira is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Luke and John Chrysostom. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Lydia from?

The archive associates Lydia of Thyatira with Thyatira, Philippi. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.

Who were Lydia’s contemporaries?

The archive links Lydia of Thyatira to 4 other figures, including Paul of Tarsus, Silas (Silvanus), Euodia of Philippi and Syntyche of Philippi. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

“And a certain woman”: a woman, and she of low condition, from her trade too: but mark in her a woman of elevated mind (φιλόσοφον). In the first place, the fact of God’s calling her bears testimony to her. … then look at her wisdom, how she importunes (δυσωπεῖ) the Apostles, how full of humility her words are, how full of wisdom. “If ye have judged me faithful,” she says. Nothing could be more persuasive. Who would not have been softened by these words? She did not request, did not entreat simply: but she left them to decide, and yet exceedingly forced them. … Observe how the writer of the history is not ashamed of the occupations of the converts. … Having learnt these things, let us also be ashamed of no man. Peter abides with a tanner; Paul with a woman who was a seller of purple, and a foreigner. Where is pride? … “Whose heart the Lord opened.” Therefore we need God, to open the heart: but God opens the hearts that are willing. … The opening, then, was God’s work, the attending was hers: so that it was both God’s doing and man’s. … And she says not, Abide with me, but, “Come into my house and abide”: with great earnestness she says it. Indeed a faithful woman!