The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-31
suNDAY-ScHO0L LESSON
For February s-"The Church at
COrinth"-Acts xviii, Lii.

COR1NTH-After his address on Mars
Hill at Athens. Paul proceeded to the city
Of Corinth Verse u, which lay in Fl .wester-
Situated In the isthmus which Joins Pelopo-
ncsus TO the Continent, 1t had two har-
bors. one on the west on the Gulf of Lee
Gulf. This favorable position gave IL an ex-
tensive by water. while all who
visited the Moria from the mainland were
obliged to pass through it.. Corinth was the
Highway of the natural and artistic products
Of the Orient and -Occident. With its in
crease in population and wealth it became
luxurious and corrupt. Fired by the wOr-
ship OF Venus. sensbality prevailed to a
| most fearful extent. The arts were cuiti-
waited and Its architecture: its sculptures
and its vases have a worldwide renown.
In our lesson to-day this voluptuous city
| comes for the first time Into Scripture his
AssoCIATE-In all his ministry Paul
adopted a double method. that Of public
declaration Of the truth and that of private
influence over individuals. By the latter he
earnest servants of God. SUCH were Tim
othy and Dionysius. To-day's lesson pre-
sents two others. Aquila and his wife Pris.
ella, whom he found at Corlnth. Natives Of
Pontus. a Province OF Asia Minor. they had
resided in Rome. but had been expelled
Verse "a This man and woman afterwards
became highly useful in the church. Re
moving to Ephesus Acts xviii. 26. they
we're Tie instructors zm Of AR OH w,, Five es years rs
AotSA ~ Ne - tHNS
salutation to the Corinthfan church q Cor.
XVI, 1g. Later they must have returned to
Rome and identified themselves with the
church there. for Paul sends greetings TO
them In his ~epistle. CRom. xvi: 81 It is
evident that six years later. A. D. So. they
we're, again ga wh me,n Ttno,b Ut w .ne ne Gpaesl ian
Paul mentions them in his second letter.
giving the wife's name first. Oh Tim. ".
oCCUPATION-The missionaries of apos-
tohc times received no salary. The right
Of compensation for such service was con-
Il Cor. tx, III But there was no one to
pay missionaries. No missionary society
raised funds and sent out men as in our
acts Kill. - And certainly the people to
whom they went before conversion contrib
Yss mot no,h, mgr and h.s sftsrwa P.h, they they were
mined from the beginning to be without
charge to any. q Thess. 4. 81 Fortunately
had a maxim. HI who does not teach his
son some handicraft teaches him TO steal"
In accordance with this sentiment he had
easily find employment in every city. More
over. u was probably through. this occupa-
ton that he had found Aquiia: Entering
into the home of this man, the apostle
worked with his hands for a livelihood.
TEACHING-while engaged in manual Ia
Dor Paul did not forget his high and holy
calling. Rather he made the six days work
contribute to the one days work. IF il is
not the most profitable. the shop may, new
ertheless. become a valuable place OF study.
The apostle might learn the habits. the
speech. and the dispositions OF the people
about him. and he might at times hold pri-
yate conversation. or in silence he might
mediate on the great subjects that had
long engaged his mind. Many eminent scboI-
ars nave come out Of the places Of toll. But
when the Sabbath came Paul entered into
the synagogue Verse ~ and taught the peo-
PIE, both Jews and Greeks. who would give
the more earnest attention because hts Ia
hor was gratujtous. Later. when Silas and
Timothy came from Macedonia. he was
pressed in spirit that Is. urged TO great
er diligence. Probably hey brought fjnar-
cial aid so that he was able TO devote his
whole time to teaching. And then he
etdeavored to show that Jesus was Tho
Messiah. INC
nOPPOSIT1ON-The earlier preaching Of
ton Of Scripture after the custom of fine
Rabbis. vas very acceptable. but the later
a.scranees in behalf of Jesus were extreme