The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-17
Che International Sunday School lesson
FOR JANUARY Is.

world He would take his seat quietly
in the congregation at the synagogue
services. And at the time when any
one present in the audience was asked TO
speak word 10 the WOrshipers. he
would take Advantage of the opportunity
as a Jew, aud as a rabbi. The hearers
would at once be attracted by his erudi-
ton, cultured language, knowledge of
the Jewish scriptures, powers as an ora
tor, and the magnetism of his personal
ity As he would proceed. any member
of the congregation could ask him ques-
tons. and, possibly. answer some of his
citations or remarks. The custom was
not to deliver set grafton, but 10 be-
gin an animated dialogue. with many
eager and interested participants, either
for or against the sentiments of the
speaker. and in the presence of many 81
lent listeners There was probably very
little drowsiness in the audience after
Paul would begin. as his subject was
great. and the speaker was great himself.
PauTs first sermon in these synagogues
was always on the same theme: The
prophecy and teaching of the Old Tes-
lament fulfilled in the erucified and risen
Nazarene as the Messiah of Israel.
At Thessalonica for three Sabbaths in
succession, he entered a synagogue and
argued with his counJrymen Here he
seems to have been unusually forcible in
his proclamation OF the Messiahship and
glory of Jesus. as the Christ. as his
audiences heard him in the same place
for SO long a time. From the scriptures
he advanced three propositions: First,
that it was predicted that the Messiah
should be a sufferer second. that all the
prophets bore witness that the Messiah
would rise from the dead; and third.
that since Jesus had suffered and risen
from the dead He must be the predicted
Messiah - The method of Pauls argu-
ment was 10 begin with the prophetic
intimations of the suffering Messiah
conception which was most unweIcome
TO the Jews, and had almost faded from
their minds They expected and wanted
a conqueror not sufferer. and they
could not be led to look believiugIy on
the realization of the prophetic ideal in
Jesus. till the forgotten features OF that
ideal were made clear and prominent
But that being done. Paul could turn to
the blessed story Of the life and death
which fitted the prophetic ideal as close
" as a east does mold. The presupposi-
tions with which We approach the gospel
story largely determine the reception
which we give it. If we feel that men as
sinners need power which viii deliver
them from the guilt and tyranny of sin,
we shall not stumble at the cross If we
do not so feel, we shall be quite salts
fed with human Christ who says beau
tfful things about God and does beauti-
fuI things that are examples to men
The Two Parties.
The preaching OF a pure gospel always
draws a line of division in a community
where it is not unanimously accepted
and obeyed- PauTs preaching in Thes-
saIonica won many converts to Chris
tianity- Some of these were Jews. who
were convinced of the truth Of what he
taught and some were Greeks who had
already become proseIytes TO Judaism.
Among the latter were men and women
Of the highest social standing Those
who believed formed themselves into a
party and became allies and helpers of
Paul in his gospel work and worship.
This was the right thing for them to