Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-31
Close of Paul's
Second Journey
Sunday School Lesson for August I, 1909
Specially Arranged for Tls Paper

shall have frIhuIatiou. but poo of good
cheer. have overcome che world John
1888
TIME. Prom late A. u q Co ca-ly IN
5s Paul was az Cornth a year and
six months.
PLACE.-Corinth. the political capital
OF Greece. the metropolis OF commerce..
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
l. 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 0f
Greece. It attracted people from all
over the world on account OF IT'S de-
lghuul climate. It contained a popu-
laton Of 100000. OF the most betero-
geneous nature possible; a population
OF Greek adventures and Roman
bourgeois. with n tainting % Phoeni-
Cians-a mass of Jews. ex-s0ldiers.
philosophers. merchants. sailors. freed
men, slaves. tradespeopic. hucksters.
and agents OF every form OF yiCc-a
colony without arist0cracy. without
tradition. without welI-estabushcd citi-
zens. Hence 30 suffered from demo
cratic license and turbulence.
3 Paurs Iab0rs Among the C0rIn-
THAN Jews-Vs. 90. l. His Oppor-
tunity. This great city with its world
illness. and absorption ia pleasure its
vigorous and varied Ire. its infinite
needs. gave Paul a great opportunity
And yet the difficulties were SO SIM
mense. the obstacles SO iusurmount-
able that &c is no wonder that Paul
came 20 them feeling his weakness.
and in fear and trembling II Co. $3.50
and needed the vision OF cheer lv o.
2 His -Four Friends-paul had a
strong. social nature and felt the
value Of friends lie found a certain
jew" Paul always began with the
Jews, as the best possible opening for
hts work. He was "a tentmaker named
Aquila. a man OF some wealth. born
in Pontus" but doing business in
Rome. His wife was named Priscilla.
and Is supposed 90 have been "a Gen
tile.
g. In addition to these friends Suas
and Timotheus came from Macedonia
They had been left at Berca. when
Paul was compelled t0 leave lActs &C.:
1919. Timothy had been sent 90
Thessalonica a. Thes. 3. O.. and from
Philippians AIS we judge that De
had visited Philippi also Paurs friend
ly heart was cheered 10y their pres.
ence
The Circumstance in Which Paul
Worked He earned his own living
by working az his trade he was thus
living sermon. as 10 was Jewish law
that every boy be- taught a trade OF
some kind Tor his support
? He attended tv. - the syna
gogue every sabbath and reasoned
with the Jews" and Greek proselytes.
determined 90 know nothing among
them save Jesus Christ and him cru
Gifted q Cor. 2.2).
4. He met bitter opposition from his
countrymen w. 81 They opposed
themselves" The intensity and sue
cess Of Pauls labors kindled an ia.
tensity Of opposition. The result was
that the Jews ". 66) opposed them.
selves. and bias hemed" That was a
sign that the Gospel was becoming a
power in the community.
III PauPs Work Among the CORN.
THAN Gentiles VS. g-22 Paurs
Preaching Place was in the house OF
a man named ". a. "Justus. one that
worshiped God. a Gentle believer
in the one true God. but not a Jew.
whose house joined hard to the syna.
gogue" Here would De a perpetual
invitation 10 the Jews. while at the
same time the Gentiles would feel vel.
come 20 go there
During this period Paul wrote his
two letters 10 the Thessalonians.
Renewed Opposition. This was
both natural and providential Il
was time for Paul 20 go on with his
wider mission which no one could car.
ry on as well as he But his work
seemed so necessary where he was.
and his vision had hidden him 20 stay
how long he did not know. that il was
necessary that some unmistakable
guidance should make his duty clear
and plain.
IS After continuing for some time
longer at his work. Paul went 10
Cenchrea, the port of Corinth. where
he made a vow and then sailed Tor
Cesarea. stopping at Ephesus on his
way. Thence he went up TO Jerusalem
where only the vow could be consum-
mated. Moreover he wished TO be al
tho great feast OF the Jews. probably
the Passover. ". 2l)
The Vow. The shaving Of the head
indicates vow OF separation like that
of the Nazirite prescribed In Numbers
6. IN later modified form. The man
under the Nazirite vow was 10 drink
no wine or strong drink. and 70 let nc
razor pass over his head OF face The
hair was shorn az the beginning and
end OF the period. SO as 70 present
that grown in the interval At the
END Of the time during which the vow
lasted. his hair was shaver.
AS Kendall suggests. Paul may
have wished to show that although
ne had broken with the synagogue a.
Corinth. yet he was a true Jew and Z
faithful disciple OF Moses. by payirs
homage TO the law and submitting e
It's rules This would also be shown