Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-07-21
Sunday School Lesson
Blu DR.. Marion McH. Hull

PauTs success. or lack Of it, I'M
Athens, was not conductive to long
stay there: even before Silas and Tim
othy could get back from Macedonia heI
left the classic city and went to Corinth
1t is hardly likely that he travelled the
forty miles between Athens and Corinth
by land, but on account of physical con-
dition probably took ship and covered
the distance in a few hours.
Corinth had been RACED to the ground
about two hundred years before this.
and for over one hundred years had lain
in ruins until julius Caesar rebuilt III
and made it a Roman colony. 1t was
situated on the narrow isthmus between
the two CULTS and had therefore, two
good ports. Shippers preferred to I'M
load at one port and load again at the
| other rather than risk the dangers OF
the cape Corinth at once, therefore,
became place of great commercial I'M
portance 1t attracted large numbers
| of Jews from all over the ancient world
| on account of its commercial advantages
| and large numbers of Greeks came
! there because 1t fostered the Isthmian
| games Great wealth was accumulated
| by it's inhabitants, and with 1t luXurl-
| Gus and loose living. 1t was by FAR
| the wealthiest city in Greece and also
| the most wicked Under the name OF
religion the grossest immortality was
practiced. There is no place today whlch
would give us an adequate comparison Ny1I
1t would have the commerce OF New
| York, the culture of Princeton, and the
gay and ease-Ioving society life of Paris
COURAGEOUS.
Into this city the insignificant look
ing little lew came who had been max
ing his life so felt in the cities OF
h. azf
! Rut Paurs spirit was broken in way.
| His experience at Athens had taught
! hin, that it is not by wisdom OF man
words that hearts would be changed ana
| lives transformed and so, as ne after
wards wrote to them, he told them tha'
he came not with excellency OF speech
| or of wisdom, declaring unto you the
| testimony of God. For l deterrnlheu
not to know anything among YOU save
Jesus Christ, and him cruclIleu -
! 7 was with you in weakness, ana III
| fear. and in much trembling He mao
| lost ALI confidence in himself, but hau
gained confidence in GOO.
| His first act was to find place Where
| he might make a living. Fortunately
| he came upon a Jewish couple Aquli
| and Priscilla, his wife, who were aiSo
| tentmakers They had been eApeileu
from Rome by the edlct Oh lduuiuss
which secular history tells US was 10
sued because of the frequent uprlslhss
-, ~ Jewish quarter of Rome because
/ of Christ. ,os Dome
Christianity had early reached Rome
where there were large numbers u
| Jews. and undoubtedly news OF the rIo'S
| which had occurred over the proclaliie
ton of Jesus as the Messiah mad reach reach
| cd the ears of the emperor VINO nne"
No distinction between Jews anu IN us -
tians and had issued the edlct eApe'iii'e
| all Jews from Rome - 4b,s cor-
! Tbora is some question whether thls Sou
MA were Christians before Paul knew men men
| or became so the result OF ms conVa ~. his
them. 1t matters little for We nfIYsnced their
lives deepening their spiritual knowledge, anu S1
enlarging their spiritual capacity ana uSeiul-
ness. ,, .h ,raat making
| q LIVING that he did not have time TO 90 much
| preaching We may be quite sure, hoWeNeI'
| That he lost no opportunity to SPEAK III lne
| rome Of Christ to those with whom ne came
| in contact On the Sabbath days, however ne
went into the synagogue and reasoned WIN .ne
| 49, Iesus was the Christ. Much opposition
was aroused by this, until In true OL .1Sr
! fashion he shook out his raiment' saying, ,ou
blood be upon your own heads. am ciedn'
| Henceforth / go unto the Gentiles."
| CLEAN.
/ There are not many people who can say
this who can boldly claim that they have dis
tcharged their whole obligation In preaching
| the gospel to any particular set OF people.
Have you given those with whom You come
| in contact the opportunity to accept christ as
| their Savior? Can you say 70 them that you
| have done your full duty il giving them an
opportunity to know and accept Jesus christ
as their Savior? If you have not, may God give
YOU a sense of your responsibility ana en-
| able you TO discharge 1t.
And what about your church? Has your
| Sunday school class or your church done It's
whole duty to the community in which you
are located so far as giving them an adequate
opportunity of accepting Jesus Christ as their
| Savior is concerned? Has the gospel been
| preached as a witness unto all those about you ?
Well that was the remarkable thing about
| this man. He had done his whole duty to
| them he said. He was clean; clear Of every
| responsibility as to their spiritual condition.
Paul differed from PLATE in his claim to
cleanliness because Paul had done all that
he could do while PLATE had not, and just
here is the answer to my question concerning
you. You know whether you have done all
| that you could do not. If you have not
exhausted your last resource, you cannot claim
| cleanliness of responsibility.
| Turning to the Gehtiles more particularly,
| Paul rented a house right next door to the syn
| agOgue, and continued to proclaim the gospel,
| for since Timothy and Silas had brought him
such good news of the constancy of the Chris
go ~ q