The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-07

Hill Mt Athens. Paul proceeded TO mo
city OF Corlnth (ycrso ~, which lay IN a
westerly direction, distant about ninety
miles. Situated in tho sthmus which
joins Poloponests to tho continent IL
had two harbors ono on tho west, on INC
Gulf Of Lepnnto and ono on tho eass
on tho EnronIo Gulf. This favorable po'
sitfon gave It nm extensive commerce W
water, while all who visited tho NORA
from tho mainland were obliged TO pass
through It, Corinth was the highway
of tho natural and artistic products OIL
the orient and occdent. With us IN
crease In population and wenlth IT De-
came luxurious aud corrupt hirod by
the worship Of Venus, sensuality pre-.
vailed to most fearful extent. The
arts were cultivated and Its architecture
It's sculptures, and its vases. have q
worldwide renown In our lesson to-
day this yoluptuous city comes for the
first into Scripture history.
ASSOCIATD-In all his ministry Paul
adopted n double method, that OF pub
lie declaration OF the truth and that OF
private Influence over individuals. BY
the latter he gained many personal
friends who becume earnest servants or
God. Such were Tlmothy and Dlonysus.
To-day's lesson presented two others.
Auuilla and his wife Priscilla, whom he
found at Corinth. Natives of Pontus,
q province OF Asia Minor, they had re-
sided in Rome, but had been expelled
With other Jews by order OF the En-
pe-or. (Verse q. This man and woman
afterward became highly useful in the
church. Removing to Ephesus (Acts
xvii:20) they We're the instructors OF
A 4, Five years later ca. .. 5eN
they were united with Paul In saluta-
tons to the corinthian Church q Cor.
Xvi:19). Later they must have returned
to Rome and identified themselves with
the church there, for Paul sends greet
sihgs to them in his epistle. CRomans,
xvi:2. It is evident that six years
later "a. D., 66,) they were again mem-
hers Of the Epheslan Church. OF which
Timothy was pastor, for Paul mentions
them in his second letter. giving the
wife's name first. e Tim lv:19).
ES OCCUPAT1ON-The missionaries OF
apostolic times received no salary. The
right, Of compensation for such service
was conceded, and indeed. declared and
defended Il Cor, TX. ID But there was
no one to pay missionaries. No mis-
slonary society raised funds and sent out
men as In our day-they went because
God sent. (Acts, xi1i:2) And certainly
the people to whom they went before
conversion contributed nothing and af-
terward they were few and poor. Be
sides Paul had determined from the be-
ginning to be without charge to any. u
Thess., ii:9.) Fortunately he was able
to support himself. The Jews had a
maxim. HE who does not teach his son
some handicraft teaches him to steal"
In accordance with this sentiment he
had learned the art OF tent-making, and
he might easily find employment in every
city. Moreover. 1t was probably through
this occupation that he had found Aquila
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
holy calling. Rather he made the six
days work contribute to the one days
work II 1t Is not the most profitable
the shop may nevertheless become
valuable place Of study Tho apostle
might learn the habits, the speech and
the dispositions Of the people about him.
and he might at times hold private con-
Versatlon, or In silence he might medt-
tate on the great subjects that had long
engaged his mind. Many eminent schol-
a a. nave come out Of the places of toll.
But when the Sabbath came Paul en-
tered into tho synagogue Verse AZ and
taught the people, both Jews and Greeks
VINO VINO would give the more earnest atten
tioll because his labor was gratuitous
Later, when Silas and Timothy came
from Macedonia he was pressed In snIr-
~ mat is. urged to greater diligence
Hronaoly they brought financial aid 90
ia. .,iat ne was able to devote his whole
., ,iiie TO teaching. And then he changed
tne character Of his discusses and On
Messiah. oesus was the
,orPOslTION-The earlier nroaoh,n = !,
iaui IN Corinth being the orf5inaru ~ ~
pes.,ioh or scripture after the ci,sto1,
~ - tne Rapbis. was very acceptable b,,+
.nio iater utterances In behalf OF 1es,1s
we're extremely offensive Verse as II
r. TaI p,ophple mat the people had heard or
knew not only Of his death but Of ths
subsequent hostility to His followers n
Lact' strong opposition to Christian,tv
Was general throughout the world (Acts
ASVlll: 70 So great was the antagonisn
among me Jews at Corinth that paul
1Spa' 'eu ron them, shaking his raiment
sNeh'. Y: 30. an Oriental habit, he de-
ciareu that he was free from ali resnon-
sipi iy 1or their sin. that they must be
neld accountable Geek, xxxiii: AZ and
lhat therefore after he would conflne ~,
ministry to the Gentiles. In as much > .
IN t ae,n. extremity they had blasphemed
an oirense punishable with death G,ov.
Nxxiv: lG) He exclaimed: Your blood be
upon your own heads" Thus he had
dono his full duty to his fellow country
men, Tor whom he cherished the most
ardent affection Ren., TX: 81,
CONVERSlON S-When Paul quit the
synagogue to labor among the Gentlles
he did not go entirely alone. CrIsp,s
the chief ruler, 'believed on the Lord
with all his house, how many we do
not Know. perhaps half n dozen persons
GVerse So That was a great victory, in
deed, a proof that the preaching was
forceful and convincing, as many Of the
Corinthians, mostly Gentles. and posi-
bly, a few Prosylites, believed Justus,
living hardly the synagogue. adhered to
laul and gave n. room in his house for
the after services. and Aquala ana Pris-
ella likewise joined the new movement,
so tho church at Corinth was formed.
Crispus, Justus Aquila, their wives, old
er children, probably some OF the SER
wants and others not mentioned, united
together In the name of Jesus to advance
Ills name. Here occurred those baptislns
which constituted a rare feature OF
Pauls ministry q Cor. l. A. most OF
that service being rendered by others,
while he devoted himself almost entirely
to the word.
VlsloN--by this time the situation had