The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-31
Sunday School Lesson for July Is.
Paul's Ministry i'm COrinth.
Acts XVIII ILL.
BY j. e. GILBERT, ID. d., L. D.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education.

CORINTH.--After his address in Mars
hill at Athens, Paul proceeded to the city
of Corinth (verse u, which lay in a west
erly direction distant about ninety miles.
Situated In the isthmus which joins Pei
oponnesus to the continent. 1T had two
harbors, one at the west on the gulf of
Lepanto, and one at the east on the gulf
Saronic. This favorable position gave 1t
an extensive commerce by water, while
all who visited the Morea from the main
land were obliged to pass through 1t. Cor
inth was the highway of the natural and
artistic products of the Orient AMI Oc-
cident while from its increase in popula-
ton and wealth 1t became luxurious and
corrupt. Fired by the worship of Venus,
sensuality prevailed to a most fearful
extent. The arts were cultivated, and its
architecture, its sculptures, and its vases
have worldwide renown. In our lesson
today this voluptuous city comes for the
first time into Scripture history.
ASSOCIATES.-In all his ministry Paul
adopted a double method, that of public
declaration of the truth and that of pri-
vate influence over individuals. BY the
latter he gained many personal friends
who became earnest servants of Christ.
Such were Timothy and Dionysius. To-
days lesson presents two, Aqullla and
his wife Priscilla, whom he found at Cor
inth. Natives of Pontus, a province of
Asia Minor, they had resided in Rome,
but had been expelled with other Jews by
order cf the emperor (verse 2) This man
and woman afterward became highly use
full in the church. Removing TO Ephesus
(Acts xviii 26,) they were the instructors
of Apollos. Five years later GA. d. 59)
they unite with Paul in salutations to the
Cornthian church Il Cor. xvi. 1.9 Later
they must have returned to Rome and
identified themselves with the church
there, for Paul sends greetings to them
in his epistle (Rom. xvi. 81 1t is evident
that six years after GA. d. 66) they were
again members of the Ephesian church,
of which Timothy was pastor, for Paul
mentions them in his second letter, Civ
ing the wife's name first e Tin. iv. 49,
OCCUPATION.-The missionaries of
apostolic times received no salary. The
right of compensation for such service
was conceded, and, indeed declared and
defended q Cor. tx, III But there was no
one to pay. No missionary society raised
funds and sent out men as in our day.
| they went because God sent (Acts xiii 2.)
| And certainly the people to whom they
went before conversion contributed moth
| ing, and after ward they were few and
| poor. Besides, Paul had determined from
| the beginning to be without charge to
any II. 'IneSS. IL, ~ fortunately he was
able to support himself. The Jews had a
maxim, "He who does net teach his son
some handicraft teaches him to steal" "
| In acc ordance with this sentiment he had
learned the art of tent-makng, and he
might easily find employment in every
city. Moreover, it was, probably, through
| this occupation that he had found Aquil-
| la. Entering into the home of this man
the apostle worked with his hands for a
| livelihood (verse 81
| TEACHING.-Whil engaged in manual
| labor Paul did not forget his high and
hAlIr Gallinn II th1t- 10 o =