Paul Preaching Among the Philosophers

“Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, ‘Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing Him, I proclaim to you…for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are His offspring.’ “ –Acts 17:22-23, 28 (NKJV. Read Acts 17:15-34).

Look at any good biblical map showing the missionary journeys of Paul, and you can trace Paul’s itinerary on his three missionary pilgrimages and his final journey to Rome. On this second missionary journey, he set sail from Berea and went to that famous capital of the Greek Empire, Athens. An ancient city, named for the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athene, had been in existence since at least 3,000 B. C. In the sixth century, BC, the city became the world’s first experiment in democratic government. By early in the fifth century BC, the Persians had conquered the city.

Under Pericles, a noted ruler, the city had become an architectural wonder. The Areopagus was a hill in Athens about 370 feet high, towering above the city. There learned men met and propounded their philosophies. It was fitting that Paul himself should go to the Areopagus. Indeed, he “held his own” as his clear voice rang out to those gathered to hear what this “stranger” among them would say.

“I perceive that in all things you are very religious,” declared Paul. “I found an altar with the inscription, ‘To the Unknown God.’ “ And from that text, Paul gave a powerful object lesson on who God is and what He wants to do among people. In my imagination, I can hear Paul as his voice rings out convincingly and clearly. With his own education and wisdom, he related what he said to what the Greeks, unbeknowinly, were seeking. Paul’s aim was to impart knowledge of the God who made them, and whose Truth they were ever seeking, even though they had encountered many detours through their own philosophers in getting to know God personally. Paul sought to help them see that there is only one true God, and He is a God of love and mercy. His audience, mainly, would have consisted not of people who had come up under the Jewish system of monotheism, the worship of one God. Rather, the Greeks had many Gods, one for wisdom, one for war, one for planting, one for harvest…the list goes on and on. We learn from Greek mythology that they had names for each of them. Paul wanted his hearers to know the Creator God, the One true God, who planned for His creation to seek and know Him. And with what power did Paul declare that our whole existence is determined by God, for the Creator is actively involved with His creation!

Was Paul’s confrontation at the Areopagus with the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers that much different from the many philosophies we have rampant in our present age? The New Age and other movements allow there are “other ways” to God rather than by the One true way, Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The legacies of many world religions are still strong in our present age, and each vies for a place, for converts, for believers. Listen to what Paul said concerning such false philosophies: “Therefore, since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. In the past, God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:29-30, NIV). Oh, God! Grant that we may be strong and faithful in the Truth, and seek, as Paul did before the philosophers, to present the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in all of its power.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Saturday, May 1, 2010

Bereans Receive the Message Gladly

“Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.” –Acts 17:10-12.

When the citizens of Thessalonica stirred up trouble against the mission team made up of Paul, Silas and Timothy, their Christian friends in that city helped the men to leave by night. Their next stop for preaching and teaching was the city of Berea. A Jewish synagogue was already established there. In that location Paul preached that Christ was the Messiah foretold by the prophets.

A good thing happened at Berea. The people met together, received the word “with all readiness and searched the Scriptures daily to find whether these things were so.” They were inspired, of course, by Paul’s word, but they searched out the answers for themselves.

A favorite name used for Sunday School classes is Berean, for good reason. The ones who met in Berea to hear Paul “searched the Scriptures daily” and sought the truths found therein. When people honestly search the Scriptures, they discover the truth. The Word of God is more powerful than a two-edged sword, we are told in Hebrews 4:12-13. Paul no doubt preached with authority. But the people themselves searched for truth from the scrolls of Scriptures available to them in the synagogue at Berea. This openness to God’s truth resulted in many conversions there, both of men and women, of Jews and Greeks. Those who didn’t want Paul to preach in Thessalonica soon heard of the Berean ministry. They went to Berea and stirred up trouble. Again, Paul was sent on his way to the coast and then escorted to Athens. But Silas and Timothy remained in Berea for awhile, no doubt teaching the eager learners. Later they joined Paul in Athens.

We can learn much from the Bereans’ example. Study God’s Word, for in it are found answers to the issues of life. “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). The words of Psalm 119:103 should be our daily testimony: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” “O how I love Thy Word. It is my meditation day and night.” (Ps. 119:97).

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Friday, April 30, 2010

Turning the World Upside Down

“But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, ‘These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” -Acts 17:6 (NKJV)

Tracing the progress of Paul and Silas on their missionary journey, they left Philippi where they had been successful in gaining many converts for the Kingdom of God. They traveled overland through Amphipolis and Apollonia and stopped in Thessalonica. There they found a community of Jews and a synagogue in which to meet. For three Sabbath days Paul met with the congregation and spoke to them from the Scriptures, declaring that Jesus was indeed the Christ. Some were persuaded and followed Christ, among them devout Greeks and “leading women,” or women of the aristocracy of the region. Paul and Silas were faithful in their witness but trouble was brewing.

The Jews who would not believe incited a great protest. They rounded up a mob to help them and went to Jason’s house where Paul and Silas were lodging. They couldn’t find the missionaries there, and Jason, whose privacy had been sorely invaded, was not about to reveal where his Christian friends were. They dragged Jason and his friends down to the city rulers. There the accusation was made, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here, too.” Out of the mouths of unbelievers came a true assessment of what was happening as the missionaries went about faithfully preaching. For those who were making the choice to follow Jesus, the world was being turned upside down—the believer’s world, and the influence to those who would hear and heed the Good News of salvation. Jason and his friends had to post heavy bond, but at Thessalonica, Paul and Silas were never apprehended. It was as if God was turning the world of those who would bring harm to the missionaries upside down. He was protecting His mission team. That night Paul and Silas were secretly helped from that town and went on their way to Berea where they continued their mission of turning the world upside down.

What am I doing to turn the world upside down for Christ? Has my life made a difference? It is not too late to have Christ become paramount and His mission become my mission. Turning the world upside down amounts to touching lives with the message and love of Christ. Like with Jason and his friends and Paul and Silas, there may be opposition, but Christ will be present and give the strength and mercy needed. These times demand that we, too, turn the world upside down.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones;Thursday, April 29, 2010

Prejudice Vanishes When Christ Is Paramount

“Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all…He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.’ “ —Acts 10: 34-36; 42-43 (NIV. Read Acts 10).

It was God’s intention all along that His Word and His Way should go out to all people. When he called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees and told him he would be the father of a Chosen Nation, he was to be a blessing to all people. But unfortunately, along the way, prejudice entered in. The Jews became an exclusive race. All others were “Gentiles,” and according to them, outside God’s covenant relationship.

Then Jesus came. His life was an example for all to follow. His death was a sacrifice for sin for all people. But even in the early church in Jerusalem, the deeply-ingrained prejudices surfaced, and there were those who felt that the uncircumcised (non-Jews) did not have an edge at all on the Kingdom of God without first going through the process of circumcision. Exclusivity was rearing its ugly head to prevent the gospel’s advance to all people.

Great persecution came to the church in Jerusalem, instigated at first by the Jews themselves. We are told in Acts 8:1 that all believers except the apostles were scatterd. Wherever they went, they preached the word, but sometimes, as in Peter’s case, they had to learn a lesson about getting rid of prejudice. To Peter, the lesson came in the form of a clear vision when God commanded him to eat of animals considered by Jews to be unclean and unfit. He had to learn that anything created by God was not unclean and deserved as much attention and love as the Jews felt they had in their favored, chosen position. Applied to people who needed the gospel, as in the house of Cornelius the Centurion, this meant that they, too, could partake of the riches of Christ’s glory and provision through repentance, belief and baptism.

Prejudice is often deep-seated and hard to overcome. It is sometimes difficult for us to believe this great truth: “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him, and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:26-27, NKJV). When Christ and His purposes are paramount in our hearts and witness, prejudice flees. This passage says it all: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 4:26-29 NKJV). Praise be to God!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Thursday, April 15, 2010