Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-07-27
The SUNDAY SCHOOL
international Lesson for August i
1SO7-PauIs Ministry in Corinth-
a

| - Il -
International Lesson for August 1,
1SO7-PauPs Ministry in Corinth-
! Acts :1S:1-11. ~
! GOLDEN TEXT.-Other foundation can,
| no man lay than that Is laid, is JESUS
| Christi Cor. BILL
THE SECTION includes Acts 1912; 1
!TIME.-A year and six months, begin
ming A. D. So. and extending near or into
EXPLANATORY.
I. Paul's Mission Field at Corinth.-
V. 1. After a stay Of a few weeks at
Athens, Paul departed, and, journeying
westward about 40 miles, came to Cor
inth, the city of business men, as
Athens was the seat of learning.
Corinth was the objective point of all
this journey of Paul's. Because of its
situation as strategic center of opera
tons for the spread of the Gospel. Be-
cause its varied population gave un,
usual freedom of thought and action.
II. PauPs Method of Work.-Vs. IA.
First. In Most Unobtrusive Way. 1.
And came to Corinth:" They entered
town as quietly and as unnoticed as
any two strangers may walk into one
of our towns any morning. Their first
care was to get lodging. And then
they had to seek for employment, for
they worked at their trade wherever
they went. Nothing could be more
commonplace.
Second. He Had Made Friends of Good
People There. 2. And found a certain
Jews" He always worked first among
the Jews. "Aquilla Priscil-
Ia" Priscilla was woman of marked
ability, being not only mentioned as
sharing the hospitality of the family,
but also in the theological instruction
of Apollos.
Third. Paul Supported Himself by
Daily Labor. 3. 1.-The same craft" or
trade. Every Jew was required by
rabbinical laws to teach his son trade.
that he might be Independent of the
varying circumstances of their chang
Ing life, and it was especially neces-
sary for the learned class, the scribes
| and rabbis, because they had no state
pay or annuity.
4. And he reasoned" Showed from
the Scriptures and from facts that
Jesus was the Messiah and the GOSPEL
true. He showed the reasonableness
of their becoming Christians. The Co.'S
pei always appeals to reason and good
sense.
Fourth. All this was done while he
was weak and sick and detected in spir-
1t. See Corinthians 2:3, where weak
ness" refers to bodily sickness. His
tough experience at Philippi, his small
success at Athens, his being driven
from place to place, his loneliness with
out his accustomed helpers, the in.
tense worldliness of Corinth and the
slow success there at first, and the bit
terness of the laws against him, all
tended to>depress and weaken him.
ILL Reinforcements from Macedonia,
US. S. First. Rejoined by His Friends
and Helpers. 5. ''Silas and Timothy
were come from Macedonia" They
had been left at Berea, when Paul was
compelled to leave (Acts 17:13-15.) Tim.
othy had been sent to Thessalonica Il
Thes. 1859, and from Philippians 4:15
we judge that he had visited Philippi
also.
Second. Good News from the
Churches where he had labored. Tim.
othy brought us glad tidings of your
faith and love-" and their ''longing to
see U.S." So that he twas comforted
over you in all our distress and affiic-
ton, through your faith" The Philip.
plans also sent him aid (Phil. 4:15),
which proved their love and piety.
The result was that "Paul - was
pressed in the spirits" The better read.
ing is given in the r. ", was con.
strained by the word. The same word
is used in 2 Corinthians 5:14: 1.-The love
of Christ constraineth u.s." holds com
pletely, impels, urges on.
w. A Change of Work.-Vs. 6-s. 6.
Sand when they opposed themselves: u
The word implies very strong opposi-
ton, as of force drawn up in battle ar
ray. The intensity and success OF
Paul's labors kindled an intensity OF
opposition. ''Shook his raiment:' u
Shaking off the dust as testimony
against them Matt. 10:14.) A sign
that he was relieved of all RESPONSE.
bility for their failure to be saved, and
no share in their character and con-
duct. Your blood, in the sense of death
and destruction, be upon your own
heads. This is not threat, but a
warning, q new effort to stop them
in their mad career. '.Henceforth,' u
so long as he remained in Corinth, II
will go unto the Gentiles."
8. But Paul had gained something
from the Jews, for ''Crispus, the CHIEF
ruler of the synagogue" became a
Christian. ''And many of the Corinth'
ians hearing believed" That is, many
of the idolatrous inhabitants of Corinth
in distinction to the Jews and prose.
lytes before alluded to. And were
baptized:" Here, as everywhere, those
who became Christians publicly. pro.
fessed their faith in the appointed way
9. "Then- spake the Lord to Paul in
the night by a vision:" A form most
probably appeared to the apostle when
he heard the voice, bidding him be Of
good courage. BE not afraid" Fol
fears were around him, not only fol
himself, but for the cause. !. vi,
4 10 "EOr T am with thee.' -, sl'heroforo