The true northerner., 1897-07-28
The SUNDAY SCHOOL.
international Lesson for August 4,
1SO7-Pnurs Ministry I'm Corinth-

10 man lay than that is laid which Is Jesus
Christ Cor 3ll.
THE SECTION includes Acts 1S:1-22;
| Corinthians.
lTIME.-A year and six months, begin
1ing A. ID. 81, and extending near or into
EXPLANATORY.
/. Paul's Mission Field at Corinth.-
Y. 1. After stay of few weeks at
Athens, Paul departed, and, journeying
westward about 40 miles, came to Cor
NTH, the city of business men, as
Athens was the seat of learning
Corinth was the objective point of all
his journey of Paurs. Because of its
cituation as strategic center of opera
tions for the spread of the Gospel. Be-
cause its varied population gave un-
usual freedom of thought and action.
III. Paurs Method of Work.-Vs. Ia.
First. In Most Unobtrusive Way. /.
"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 ut their trade wherever
they went. Nothing could be more
commonplace.
Second. He Had Made Friends of Good
People There. 2. "And found certain
Jew:" He always worked first among
the Jews. "Aquilla Priscil-
Ia" Priscilla was a 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. ''The same craft" or
trade. Every jew was required by
rabbinical laws to teach his son a 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
oftheir becoming Christians. The Cos
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 toeing 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.
III. Reinforcements from Macedonia.
VS.. 5. First. Rejoined by His Friends
and Helpers. 8. "Silas and Timothy
were come from Macedonian" 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. $500, and from Philippians AIS,
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 was 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 spirit" The better read
ing is given in the Il. v, was con-
strained by the word. The same word
is used in Corinthians 5:14: The love
of Christ constraineth u.s." holds COM
pletely, impels, urges on.
". \ Change of Work.-Vs. 6-S. 6.
"And when they opposed themselves"
The word implies very strong opposi-
ton, rs of force drawn up in battle ar
ray. The intensity and success of
Paurs labors kindled an intensity of
opposition. ''Shook his raiment:"
Shaking off the dust as a testimony
against them Matt. 1O:14) n 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 a threat, but n
warning, q new effort TO stop them
in their mad career. "Henceforth,
so long as he remained in Corinth, Il
will go unto the Gentiles."
s. But Paul had gained something
from the Jews, for 'Crispus, the chief
ruler of the synagogue" oecame 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.
0. Then spake the Lord to Paul in
the night by vision:" form most
probably appeared to the apostle when
he heard the voice, bidding him be of
good courage. "Be not afraid:" For
fears were around him, not only for
! himself, but for the cause.
10. For am with thee:" Therefore,
mo man shall set on thee to hurt thee:"
Paul could not be harmed till his work
was done. So great man once said:
"I am immortal till my work is fin