The Yale expositor., 1909-07-23
Paul Chief
Missionary at Athens
Sunday School Lesson for July rs. 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper

i IN spirit dno
| TIME-A. ID. 81.
| PLACE.-Athens, the capital of Greece
| and one OF the most renowned and In
| fiuential cities In the history OF the world.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
/. Athens in st. Paul's day. Driven
from Berea, as we learned In our last
lesson, Paul came to Athens in Greece.
| AS he walked from the Piraeus, where
he landed. along the new road to the
city. he saw raised at intervals affairs
| to the unknown gods.
AS the city OF Athens came into his
view his soul must have been filled
with the deepest emotions. He had
seen Jerusalem, the most influential
city in the world for religion; he
longed to go to Rome, which stood
above all others in power. in law, in
imperial sway, the capital of the
world; but now he was to gaze upon
the city which then stood and still
stands enthroned above all others for
intellectual supremacy, for literature,
art, architecture and philosophy.
g. Paul Begins his Work in Athens.
VS. 1921. While Paul waited" for
Silas and Timothy to come from Be-
rea before proceeding farther, or be-
| ginning special work in a new and
peculiar field, Ibis spirit was stirred
In him." urged on as with sharp goad
to give the Gospel to city wholly
given to idolatry." His work was with
four classes of persons. The Jews,
devout persons, epicurean philos-
ophers and stoics. These met Paul In
debate
8. Paul's Address Before the Uni
versity of Athens.-Vs. 22-31. The
Athenians were proud of their city
and could be called by no higher title.
A Wisely Chosen Text. %. las l
passed by" along the streets and ave-
nues Of the city, "and beheld your de-
votions," not acts of worship, but OBJ
jects of worship-ldols, affairs, tenn
pies, II found an altar with this in
scription," to the unknown god, OF an
unknown god.
/. God the Creator of Heaven and
Earth. "a. Not an idol TO be seen and
handled, not a being in human shape,
not shut up to dwell "in temples made
with hands"
2. His worship therefore must be
spiritual. 25. Neither is worshiped
with mems hands," presenting to idols
costly offerings, and food and drink.
God wants not help, but love.
3. One God and All Men Brethren.
26. Made of one blood" all races,
kinds, and degrees are from God, and
therefore are brethren.
4. His Desire Is That All Should
Find Him. 81. IF haply they might
feel after him and find him.
8. For We Are His Children. 2S.
For in him we live, and move, and
have our being" This is true both of
our natural and of our spiritual life.
G. Therefore God Is a Spirit. 20.
Therefore I'VE ought not to think that
the Godhead is like unto gold" etc.
The human soul with its vast powers
must have an author and father great
er than itself, of the nature of spir-
it, but infinitely greater than our spir-
it's.
Z. If God Is Our Father We Should
Be Children Worthy of Him. 30. THE
|
at" overlooked. did not punish with
the severity that falls upon willful sin
against light and knowledge But
now" Since Christ has come with new
light, new motives, new message
from God. Commanded all men
everywhere to repent" To turn from
their sins, and live as children OF a
holy God should live.
8. New Motives. 81. ID God will
Judge the world in righteousness.
Every decision will be right, correct
loving. God will Judge men according
to character and life, the test being
whether they have done right or
wrong; not their wealth or position
or rank or genius. (2) The great mo-
tives were embodied in Jesus Christ
whom he hath ordained" to be the
Saviour of men, the test of obedience
the way and the truth and the life
CD Hath given assurance" that he
Jesus, is the Judge, the Saviour, the
everything King. I'm that he hath
raised him from the dead"
II is probable that Pauls address
was cut short here before he had fin
ished what he wished to say.
4. The Effects Produced by Paul's
Address. = VS.. 1924. /. 32. Some
Knocked" The teaching seemed alb
surd TO them.
2. Some refused to decide. 1--WE
will hear thee again." Like Felix
they would wait for more convenient
season. They could endure almost
any strange theories. but when 1t came
to giving up their sins. and to a
change of life. they rebelled.
3. A few accepted the truth. re
pented, and became disciples of Jesus
"a. "Dionysius the Areopagite," that
is a member of the learned council
before whom Paul had preached
Damaris.
The resurrection OF Jesus proved
that he was the Son of God, and was
living, though unseen; that there II
at(