Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-07-29
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.
A Scholarly Exposition Of the Lesson
-Thoughts Worthy of Calm ReAec-
tion-Half an Hour's study Of the
scrspturss-Time Well Spent.


II
| Lesson for August 1.
| Golden Text.-"Other foundation can
| no man lay than that is laid, which is
Jesus Christi Cor. 3: IL.
| Paurs Ministry in Corinth Is the sub
ject of this lesson-Acts IS: Ill. The
main work of Paul's second journey was
done ut Corinth, yet comparatively little
space is given to it in the book of Acts.
But in the epistIe to the Thessalonians,
written during this period, and the epis-
tie to the Corinthian Church written at a
later time there is much material for
learning what was Paurs occupation
there. In studying this lesson careful
reading Of the epistles to the Corinthians,
marking such passages as throw light on
the condition of the church and Paurs
stay there, will be very interesting.
Among the important passages are: Cor.
1: ILL; 2: 10; B.: 1-6; 4: 1921; 5: 1; q:
11;0: LIP; 10: 1922; II: 2; IA: 2C-33; is:
1-24; 2 Cor. 1: %: 2: 4; Z: 5-16; 0: 1-5; 10:
7-1S; 13: !, 2. From these passages we
learn that the Corinthian Christians
were subject to the temptations of licen-
tiousness and quarrelsomeness. They
were prone to divide into factions based
on personal liking for one or another lead
as were found in no other church OF that
time Of which we know-due to their re-
cent emcgence from an incredibly debas-
ing form Of heathenism and license. Yet
they had generous impulses, which show
cd themselves in Il hearty reception If the
apostle by many and in liberal contribu
tons to the needs of the saints at Jeru-
salem u Cor. o: y. Paul, however, took
Qgnnciul ms in, rsv,tb 10 M
little as possible on the hospitality Of
those for whom he labored, and support
ed himself almost entirely, though receiv-
ing some contributions from Philippi, at
an earlier period in his journey. After
Paul left Corinth this first time the dis
orderly tendencies already referred to
broke forth openly, and produced the
difficulties which led him to write the
two epistles. These were written on the
third journey, probably about 81.
Explanatory.
COrinth seems to have been actually, IL
not Intentionally, the goal of the whole
journey. There the longest time was
spent, and some of the most important
work accomplished. The homely thrift Of
the apostle in first making arrangements
for earning his board and lodging is wor-
thy of initiation. He claimed the right
to adequate support for his Christian
work, and yet preferred not to exercise
that right when the least misunderstanding
ing or friction was likely to arise there
from. Besides. the knowledge and prac-
tice of trade brought him into contact
with many Jews and others in sort Of
friendly comradeship that must have Civ
en- fine opportunities for his more impor-
tant work of spreading the gospel. One
might call him, in this phase Of his ca
reer, an industrial missionary. One Of
the great needs of foreign missions at the
present time is the need for Christian me-
chanics, farmers and manufacturers to
so to mission countries and support them
selves, while giving some of their time
and all their influence to the cause of
Christianity. A great army of such men
helped to accomplish the marvellous spread
of the gospel through the Roman empire
in the first century.
Paul had rules i'm his Christian work,
and followed them with very few excep-
tons. One of them was to use at first the
opportunities presented by the Jewish syn
agogues and Jewish communities, who
had common faith with his so far as the
doctrine of God was concerned. But it is
not unnatural that this custom led to the
mistake made by so many heather, that
the Christians were merely a branch Of
the Jewish church.
Silas and Timothy, left behind ut Phil
ippi, now rejoined Paul. 1t appears from
Thes. 3: that Timothy had previously
been sent by Paul with a message to the
church in Thessalonica, and had brought
his report to Paul at Athens. IL the epis-
tie and the Acts are to be harmonized-
and there is no reason for assuming dis
overwhelmingly had returned from
Athens to Macedonia, and now came back
to Corinth with Silas. The two helpers
brought from Macedonia news that caus-
ed Paul to be pressed in the spirit" ire
vised version, constrained by the word')
and he was stimulated to redoubled en-
ergy in his own work. Great men are
often the most sensitive to such fiuctua-
tons Of zeal, growing more earnest when
fired by the report of great victories or
great defeats.
With this vision compare the vision
which Elijah beheld, showing how much
stronger were the forces on the side Of the
Lord than he had imagined. Paul needed
such a vision perhaps, after the severe
depression brought on by the Jews decis-
i've rejection of his teaching. He did not
find it an easy thing to give up the hope
of winning large numbers of his own race
to Christ. When facts seemed to compel
that conclusion, he turned, reluctantly
and yet gladly to the Gentiles. ~.
During this year and six months occur
red the writing of the Thessalonian epis-
ties; and the beginnings of those difficult
ties which grew to such proportions that
Paul had later to write three letters to
the Corinthians to settle them.
Teaching Hints.
The leading Of God is sometimes not
plain at first, but becomes all the more
wonderful when its meaning is realized.
When Paul found the work that was
waiting for him in Corinth, he knew that
he had not wasted the time spent in wait
ing for the guidance of the Spirit.
There Is difference between persever-
ance and obstinacy. Paul persevered in
working for the Jews until it was clear to
him that his efforts could be more profita-
bly, spent in other work. Then he very
sensibly washed his hands of his country
men for the time being and threw his en-
crgy into other directions.
The Lord has many people in every city
that serve him unknown to the world Mt
large. We are perhaps wrong in always
making church membership the test of
personal religion. There are communities
in which there are many truly devout peo-
pie who are not prominent in the
churches. This may be due to wrong con-