The Yale expositor., 1909-07-30
Close of Paul's
/ Second Journey
Sunday School Lesson for August I. 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper

GOLDEN TEXT.-"In the world We
shall have tribulation; but be OF good
cheer; have overcome the world.
1889.
TIME.-From late A. ID. 81 TO early in
SO. Paul was at Corinth a year and
| six months.
PLACE.-Corinth, the political capital
| OF Greece. the metropolis of commerce.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
i. 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; a population
Of Greek adventurers 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-establlshed citi
zens. Hence 1t suffered from demo
cratic license and turbulence.
2. Pauls Labors Among the Corin-
| THAN Jews.-Vs. 2-6. /. His Oppor-
tunity. This great city with it's world
liness. and absorption in pleasure, its
vigorous and varied life, it's infinite
needs, gave Paul great opportunity.
And yet the difficulties were so i'm
mense. the obstacles so insurmount-
able that II 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 (v. 81.
2. His Four Friends-Paul had a
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 tentmaker named
Aquila. man of some wealth, born
in Pontus" but doing business in
Rome. His wife was named Priscilla,
and is supposed to have been a Gen.
tile.
5. In addition to these friends, Silas
and Timotheus came from Macedonia
They had been left at Berea, when
Paul was compelled to leave (Acts II:
1870. Timothy had been sent to
Thessalonica Il Thes. 5: g., and from
Philippians 4:15 we judge that he
had visited Philippi also. Paul's 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.
.. 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
Gifted q Cor. 2:2).
T. 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 ". So opposed them
selves, and blasphemed" That was a
sign that the Gospel was becoming a
power in the community.
III. Paul's Work Among the CORN
THAN Gentiles.-Vs. 1922 Paurs
Preaching Place was in the house of
a man named ". y "Justus, one that
God" a Gentle believer
in the one true God. but not a Jew,
whose house joined hard to the syna-
gogue." Here would be a perpetual
invitation to the Jews, while at the
same time the Gentiles would feel well
come to go there.
During this period Paul wrote his
two letters to the Thessalonians.
Renewed Opposition. This was
both natural and protidential. 1t
was time for Paul to go on with his
wider mission which no one could car
~ on as well as he. But his work
seemed so necessary where he was,
md his vision had hidden him to stay,
now long he did not know. that it was
necessary that some unmistakable
guidance should make his duty clear
md plain.
is. After continuing for some time
onger at his work, Paul went to
Jenchrea, the port of Corinth. where
lie made a vow and then sailed for
,esarea. stopping at Ephesus on his
way. Thence he went up to Jerusalem
where only the vow could be consum-
mated Moreover ne wished to be at
he great feast of the Jews, probably
he Passover. ". 21)
The Vow. The shaving of the head
indicates a VOW of separation like that
Il the Nazirite prescribed in Numbers
, in a later modified form. The man
Inder the Nazirite vow was TO drink
10 wine OF strong drink. and to let no
azor pass over his head or face. The
lair was shorn at the beginning and ]
nd of the period, so as to present
hat grown In the interval. At the ,
od of the time during which the vow
asted, his hair was shaven. ,
AS Kendall suggests. Paul may
ave wished TO show that although