# Does the Bible forbid preaching in Asia? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2007, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452 "2007-06-18T12:24:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/1 "2007-06-18T12:24:38Z")
Somewhere I picked up the notion that a Bible verse specifically forbids preaching in Asia. I dunno where this idea came from, but is there any scriptural background for it? ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/2 "2007-06-18T12:49:01Z")
Jesus did _all_ of his preaching in Asia, so it cannot really have been prohibited. Perhaps you recollect Acts 16:6, where Paul and Barnabas were prohibited to preach in _the Roman province of Asia_, on _one specific occasion_? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/3 "2007-06-18T16:58:01Z")
The Bible, itself, was written in Asia. And wouldn’t that be considered preaching? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/4 "2007-06-18T18:12:38Z")
Well… The Bible is generally against sin. “Sin” is Hebrew for “China.” Therefore, the Bible is against China? I got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/5 "2007-06-18T18:19:37Z")
Oh god. Please tell that to Mother teresa. Except you can’t since she’s dead. What, India isn’t considered Asia? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/6 "2007-06-18T21:08:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Oh god. Please tell that to Mother teresa. Except you can’t since she’s dead. Well, you can; she just might not answer. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/7 "2007-06-18T21:32:49Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] Oh god. Please tell that to Mother teresa. Except you can’t since she’s dead. What, India isn’t considered Asia? [/QUOTE] In the Roman Empire, Asia was a specific province in what’s now western Turkey. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/8 "2007-06-18T21:38:57Z")
[QUOTE=Alessan] “Sin” is Hebrew for “China.” [/QUOTE] Yes, but that’s a modern translation. The Jews wandered in the “Wilderness of Sin” during their 40 years. They certainly didn’t make it to China. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/9 "2007-06-18T21:47:45Z")
[QUOTE=zev\_steinhardt] Yes, but that’s a modern translation. The Jews wandered in the “Wilderness of Sin” during their 40 years. They certainly didn’t make it to China. Zev Steinhardt [/QUOTE] Two very different words – \*\*Alessan \*\*was referring to “Sin” - סין - spelled with an initial “_Samekh_.” I don’t recall the word appearing in the Tanakh (but I am no scholar so I may be wrong.) I believe you are referring to the “Wilderness of **Tsin** ” - מדבר צין - spelled with an initial “_Tsade_” ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/10 "2007-06-18T21:54:30Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Amazing] In the Roman Empire, Asia was a specific province in what’s now western Turkey. [/QUOTE] I believe that the usual present-day meaning of “Asia” is a generalisation of that Roman province. Similarly, Africa used to be name of a Roman province convering part of present-day Libya and Tunisia, and the scope of “Africa” grew to cover the whole continent ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/11 "2007-06-18T22:02:08Z")
[QUOTE=Noone Special] Two very different words – \*\*Alessan \*\*was referring to “Sin” - סין - spelled with an initial “_Samekh_.” I don’t recall the word appearing in the Tanakh (but I am no scholar so I may be wrong.) I believe you are referring to the “Wilderness of **Tsin** ” - מדבר צין - spelled with an initial “_Tsade_” [/QUOTE] Nope… see Numbers 33:11-12. It’s spelled there with a Samech as well. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/12 "2007-06-18T22:04:08Z")
[QUOTE=zev\_steinhardt] Nope… see Numbers 33:11-12. It’s spelled there with a Samech as well. Zev Steinhardt [/QUOTE] Like I said… some kind of Biblical Scholar I am… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/13 "2007-06-18T22:10:19Z")
[QUOTE=Noone Special] Like I said… some kind of Biblical Scholar I am… :smack: [/QUOTE] Well, it helps that I’ve been a ba’al kriah for the last 19 years. It gives me a bit of en edge concerning knowledge of the pentatuch. (Translation: ba’al kriah = person who reads the Torah for the congregation in the synagogue.) Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/14 "2007-06-18T22:17:12Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] Well, you can; she just might not answer. [/QUOTE] If she did, it would be a miracle. And then she can be a saint. But, I think **tschild** got it right, as far as the actual question in the OP (barring semitic semantics). On one occasion, Paul was encouraged to go elsewhere than Asia. > [@Acts 16:6](#): > > Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/15 "2007-06-18T23:04:33Z")
The final book was to the churches in Asia: [QUOTE=Revelation1:4 NIV] John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, [/QUOTE] So I’d say no ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/16 "2007-06-20T17:31:03Z")
[QUOTE=zev\_steinhardt] Yes, but that’s a modern translation. The Jews wandered in the “Wilderness of Sin” during their 40 years. They certainly didn’t make it to China. [/QUOTE] That would explain why the trip took 40 years. And also why Jews like Chinese food. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/17 "2007-06-20T18:25:12Z")
Four lines into the first book of Revelation, it looks like John is sent there specifically: > [@](#): > > 4John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; This is from KJV, if that’s too modern a translation, but I don’t think it differs substantially from earlier versions. Since many of the Apostles weren’t on speaking terms at this point in their careers, I suspect Paul’s reluctance to go there is the result of territorialism and infighting, not any divine prohibition. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-bible-forbid-preaching-in-asia/408452/18 "2007-06-20T18:28:27Z")
And Acts says that Paul preached in Ephesus (and started a riot there), so the prohibition of preaching in Asia wasn’t even a permanent one for Paul.