The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-07-31
Close of Paul's
Second Journey
Sunday School Lesson for August l, 1903
Specially Arranged for This Paper
Specially Arranged for This Paper


cheer; 1 have overcome the world. John
1888.
TIME.-From late A. d. 81 to early In
S. Paul was at Corinth year and
six months.
PLACE.-Corinth, the political capital
Of Greece. the metropolis Of commerce.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
/. Corinth, the Vanity Fair Of the
Roman empire. Corinth, the center OF
government, commerce and business,
as Athens was of learning. literature
and art, was situated on the isthums
which joins the great divisions OF
Greece. It attracted people from all
over the world on account Of its de-
lightful climate. 1t contained popu-
lation of 100000, Of the most hetero-
geneous nature possible: population
of Greek adventures and Roman
bourgeois, with tainting of Phoeni-
cians-a mass of Jews. ex-soldiers,
philosophers, merchants, sailors, freed
men, slaves, tradespeople, hucksters,
and agents of every form Of vice-a
colony without aristocracy, without
tradition, without well-established citi-
zens. Hence it suffered from demo
cratic license and turbulence.
2. Pauls Labors Among the CORN
THAN Jews.-Vs. &c. 1. His Oppor-
tunity. This great city with its world
illness, and absorption In pleasure. Its
vigorous and varied life, its infinite
needs, gave Paul great opportunity.
And yet the difficulties were so I'M
mense, the obstacles SO insurmount-
able that 1t is no wonder that Paul
came to them feeling his weakness,
and in fear and trembling Il Co. 2:3)
and needed the vision of cheer w. 81.
2. His Four Friends.-Paul had q
strong, social nature and felt the
value of friends. He found certain
Jew" Paul always began with the
Jews. as the best possible opening for
his work He was a tentmaker named
Aquiia, a man of some wealth, born
in Pontus" but doing business in
Rome. His wife was named Priscilla,
and is supposed to have been Gem
tile.
S. In addition to these friends, Silas
and Timotheus came from Macedonia
They had been left at Berea, when
Paul was compelled to leave (Acts IT:
1879. Timothy had been sent to
Thessalonica q Thes. 8: 81, and from
Philippians AIS we Judge that he
had visited Philippi also. Paups friend
ly heart was cheered by their pres
ence.
The Circumstance in Which Paul
Worked. He earned his own living
by working at his trade. He was thus
a living sermon, as it was Jewish law
that every boy be taught a trade Of
some kind for his support.
2. He attended ". A "the syna-
gogue every Sabbath and reasoned
with the Jews" and Greek proselytes,
determined to know nothing among
them save Jesus Christ and him cru
CITED Il Cor. 2:2).
4. He met bitter opposition from his
countrymen. ". 81 They opposed
themselves" The intensity and sue
cess of Paul's labors kindled an in
tensity of opposition. The result was
that the Jews ". 66) opposed them
selves, and blasphemed." That was
sign that the Gospel was becoming q
power in the community.
| III. Paurs Work Among the CORN
THAN Gentiles.-Vs. 1922. Paurs
Preaching Place was in the house Of
a man named ". y "Justus, one thai
worshiped God" Gentle believer
in the one true God, but not Jew
whose house joined hard to the syna
gogue." Here would be a perpetual
invitation to the Jews, while at thu
same time the Gentiles would feel wei
come to go there.
! During this period Paul wrote hi
two letters to the Thessalonians.
Renewed Opposition. This wa
both natural and providential l
was time for Paul to 60 on with hi
wider mission which no one could car
ry on as well as he. But his worl
seemed so necessary where he was
and his vision had hidden him to stay
how long he did not know. that it wa
necessary that some unmistakabl
guidance should make his duty clea
. and plain.
} IS. After continuing for some tim
J longer at his work, Paul went t
! Cenchrea, the port Of Corinth, wher
he made ~vow and then sailed 70
Cesarea, stopping at Ephesus on hi
, way. Thence he went up to Jerusalem
where only the VOW could be consun
mated. Moreover he wished to be a
the great feast of the Jews. probabl
the Passover w. 21.)
; The Vow. The shaving Of the hea
/ indicates a vow of separation like tina
| of the Nazirite prescribed in Number
6, in later modified form. The ma
I under the Nazirite VOW was to drin
| no wine or strong drink, and to let n
/ razor pass over his head or face. Tn
hair was shorn at the beginning an
, end of the period, so as to preser