| A first-century phenomenon that played a major role in the life of the citizens and the church were the collegia. A multitude of ancient manuscripts demonstrate the important part guilds played in the lives of citizens in the first-century Roman Empire. The social function of guilds had an adverse effect upon the church, as indicated in Rev. 2:18-29.;Guilds have a fascinating historical setting. Collegia were associations of individuals who voluntarily joined for social reasons. Guilds were involved in almost every facet of society, including economics and religion. Three types of guilds were found: trade guilds, social/cultic guilds, and funeral guilds. These guilds met on a regular basis, usually monthly with an annual festival, and shared in a common meal which was preceded by a time of worship of a patron deity and followed by late-night entertainment which concluded, on some occasions, with sex and drunken, violent mob scenes. The guilds had a hierarchy of officers and committees that saw to the business affairs of the guild, including external relations with the government. Many had a rich benefactor to supplement the cost of the meals and festivals. All the guilds had a cultic focus which included the worship of a patron deity. The guilds provided an established environment for many forms of worship, including emperor worship.;Guilds impacted education, economics, social status, religion, relations between the genders, relations within the class structure, and the geography of the city. Most importantly, guilds provided an environment for social mobility. To lose membership in a guild would be dishonorable and financially devastating.;The social function of guilds directly impacted the church of Thyatira in Rev. 2:18-29. The most popular feature of the city of Thyatira was guilds. "Jezebel" was a woman from the elite class who was a patroness or a benefactor to a trade guild in Thyatira, thus having access to the non-elite members of the church of Thyatira and immediate power to teach false doctrine upon entrance into the membership. The author of Revelation called upon the church not to tolerate any such action which would put their membership in the guilds in immediate peril, thus making them virtual outcasts. This interaction between the church and the guild is one example of the possible venue of persecution the elite had within the legal realm of guilds. |
