Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-07-14
BY DIR. MARION MICH. HULL

1t was a lonely man who was left in
the classic city of Athens when the
Beerean Christians who had conducted
Paul that far turned homeward with in
structions from him to send Silas and
Timothy as soon as possible. He was IN
i'll health, the scourging at PhiIlppl, the
persecution at Thessolonica and Beroea,
and the hasty journey to Athens, had not
improved his condition. In addition TO
being sick in body. he was sick at heart,
for he was troubled about the young
Christians he had left in Tessalonicd
who would surely be subjected to perse-
cution by the Jews, and he did not an
ticipate that their faith would be strong
enough to weather the storm.
In this condition of mind and BODY
Paul wondered about the city of Athens
for several days. What he saw eXasper-
ated him for everywhere he turned he
saw images which were objects of wor-
ship. The Grecians delighted in beauty
of form. In every street there were
shrines. Ii has been stated that there
were no less than 10000 idols in Athens
at that time. Strolling through the
streets one day he saw an altar with
this inscription ITO the unknown God.
Whether they intended it that way or
not, he interpreted it to mean that the
cravings of the human heart were not
satisfied by any of those whose shrlnes
were found.
JESUS AND THE RESURRECTION.
Paul utilized the opportunities he hal
in the synagogue as he had done on oth-
er occasions. He talked with the Jews,
opening their scriptures to them, AMI
alleging that the Christ must needs have
suffered and risen again from the dead
and that Jesus of Nazareth whom he
preached unto them was the Christ In
addition however, to this method OF
approach, he adopted the form which
was common in Athens, not only in the
synagogue, but in the market place
where great crowds gathered every day,
he disputed with the Jews and with tho
Grecians He talked personally with
everyone who would converse with him
on the subject; and here, as elsewhere,
the subject Of his conversation was,
Jesus and the resurrection"
At that time it very common FOR any
one who wanted to set forth some strange doc
trine and gain literary prominence thereby,
10 do lust this thing in the market places
and because Paul had spoken Of Jesus and the
resurrection, these Athenians thought that ne
was talking about some strange and new gods.
They looked upon him as just another man VINO
was seeking prominence through this COM
mon method. Because also some Of the things
he had said resembled somewhat certain phil
osophies which had been presented there IN
wears mast some of this cultured and highly
educated class of people looked upon him
as a plagarist, dealer in scraps OF learn
ing: whereas others showed some interest.
THE EPICUREANS AND STOICS.
In the course of his conversation he came
across some of the Epicureans and some of the
StOics. These represented the Sadducees and
the Pharisees of the Grecan lands. In fact,
the whole Grecian world was divided with these
philosophers. Essentially they were exactly the
same, for both depended upon man and man
sufficiency for salvation The Stoics openly
believed in the self-sufficiency of man. They
hardened themselves against anything that
would tend toward luxurious living; they believed
that a man could find in himself all that was
necessary for his temporal and eternal good,
and they had rather hazy ideas of a future
life.
The Epcureans on the other hand believed
that happiness was secured by the contemplation
Of those things which were pleasant. The
founder of this cult would withdraw into his
garden and exclude from his thoughts and
contemplation anything that would be harsh
or grating, and dwell there upon those that
would be pleasing, thus seeking to secure hap
pincss. Unfortunately, his followers had de-
generated his philosophy that they sought
lieved in future state, and their philosophers
might he summed up in ''eat. drink and be
merry, for tomorrow we will die" Both Epi-
cureans and StoicS eliminated anything outside
of man as an object of worship. and depended
upon self for the development of the highest.
Pauls proclamation of salvation only through
the atOninC blood of the Savior opposite
TO their views of independence, and he was
taken to the Areopacus where he might like
Socrates had done before, answer the charge
against him of proclaiming some new cult.
UNKNOWN. YET KNOWN
The Areopagus was the highest court in
Athens Formerly it had the power of imposing
the death sentence but this power had been
taken away from it. 1t merely a
tribunal for the purpose of deciding individ-
ual questions, particularly those involving re-
iClous and philosophical problems. Its mem
herS we're the most highly educated and Gull
tured people of Greece, although usually around
the court sat large audience surrounding II
W in into
Paul had the opportunity Of addressing the most
cultured audience in the world. We shall see
now he used his opportunity, and the effect
that II had.
The court met on the Hill Of Mars which
was reached by stone steps from the market
pace Just in front of it was a temple Of
MARS; behind 1t was the Acropolis with the
Pirthenon. and also the ivory statue of Atbenae
from whom the city was named As PAM
stood there' spread out before him he could see
Of the idols. 'i' '"ii'e'
In answer TO the question as TO his doc.
trines. he began with the form of address used
Dy the most polished orators of the day eve
men or Athens" and adroitly continued ~
perceive that in all things yau are verv relir.
lous. Ihus he won their favor and hearing
tor as passed along and observed tho ob-
focus OF your worship with a Sween ~ HE bo,I
: f nUId'ed TO them clustered all about him
IoIhu an altar with this Inscription ..To
the nkncwn God" whom Therefore ~, No.
snip IN Ignorance. Him declare / unto You.
''' tNFi III NOnierrUl speech al IN
2tl words started from what thew know, 90
God. corrected their misunderstanding Of Him
gave ihem true picture If what God ,s. do
cIared Him TO be easy of access NOT difficrIt
10 tnd. ever present: patient bur comma,d
ing now oil men everywhere TO reDont 70
mink differently about Him: for in IJts own
appointed time and by His own nnnointeJ
man. lie would Judge the world He had aJyou
assurance Of this by raising that man from the
dead, even Jesus ~ "
riley had this false conception Of Cod n,
they did not take Him into account as hov-
Ing anything to do with their oyistence. 2ol
they conceived IF God rs plural ami 1vveIIino
In temples; 81 they believed that He paadaJ
hn'nan service and sacrifice: a. they believed
Him 20 he far off and take no interest in
the afairs Of men; 81 they conceived of His
having bodily form.
PAU corrected their conception and declared
ttlm 10 be tl) the Greater of the world and
MI things therein: (2l the Ruler of heaven
and of the universe: and therefore al ona
who could not possibly be confined within the
four walls II temple: - therefore also
neclinC nothing that We could give or do but
on tho contrary One who is necessary 10 each
one Of MS for life and breath and all things:
t"l taxing so much interest I'm the affairs Of
men that He actually alots to ma tionS tie
periods and boundaries in which and over which
verify His presence by contact Cthis Is wha I
"sPck after Him and find Him. means In the
oli'inah.
He declared that God Ind baen rationt enough
/ to overlook their ignorance. hut now command
ing everyone TO change their mind and thinl,
Of Him in His true light. for He would fudge
the world al APPOINTED time and by an ap-
pointed man. the assurance Of which He had
given ~ raising Him from the dead
hon fhnv honr