The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1921-09-09
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Sll1nljdaySclaoel
' Lesson '
tBy REV. P. B. FITzWATER. D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the MOODY
Bible Institute Of Chicago)
%, 1921, Western Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER II
PAUL IN ATHENS.

HEt EttENCB MAIEn1AAS-AoAe -.AS
90.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Paul Telling the
People about God. ess
JUNIOR TOPIC-Paul in Athens.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
in Famous Greek City.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Paul in a Center of Learning. Being
Driven from Berea, Paul Fled to Athens.
l. The IdoIatry Of the Athenians
". 1877.
Athens was the intellectual metrop-
oils Of the world at that time, the
home Of the worlds great eloquence
and philosophy. Paul's spirit was
| stirred within him when he saw the
city wholly given to idolatry.
+ II. The Parties Concerned wv. IL
21).
True to his usual custom Paul went
into the Jewish synagogue and entered
| into earnest argument with the Jews.
From them he turned to such as were
found in the market place. Here he
came into touch with the Epicurean
and Stole philosophers. The former
were atheistic materialists. They de-
MED the doctrine of Creation. They
| gave themselves up to sensual IN
dulgences since they had no idea OF
future Judgment. The latter were
pantheists. When they heard the
| tpreaching Of Paul they desired to
know what new doctrine he preached,
so they invited him to the Areopagus
where he might speak to them OF his
new doctrine. They inquired as to
: what this 'babbler" might say. The
word "babbler' means literally seed
picker"
| III. Paups Address on Mars Hill
! wv. 23-3D.
| /. The introduction wv. %, 2S). BE
did not accuse them Of Superstition" /,
as the A. v. would make 1t, but as IN
the Am. r. v. he introduces his dis
course in courteous and conciliatory
manner, stating that he perceived that
they we're very religious This he ex-
planned by stating that as he was view
ing their city he beheld an altar with
an inscription 'To the Unknown God"
This was his point of contact. He
proceeds at once to connect 1t with
the idea of the living God, implying
that this altar had been erected to
Him. He was too wise to begin at
once to denounce heathenism and
idolatry.
2. The body of his discourse (vv.
24-31).
az A declaration concerning God
wv. "a, 25). (a) He created the
, material universe ". 24). This was
direct blow at the philosophy Of both
the Epicureans and the Stoics. He did
not attempt to prove the existence OF
God; It needs no proof. The Bible
. everywhere assumes the existence OF
! a divine being. (b) His spirituality
= and immensely wv. "A, 25). He is
not served with "men's hands as
: though he needed anything" neither
!, is He confined by any sort Of religious
temple. Being essentially spiritual
t. He demands heart-service, and being
transcendent above all He is not con-
fined to earthly temples. (c) His &C
: tive providence ". 25). He gives ex-
= istence, bestows needed gifts, and az
= sovereign directs all things.
(2) Declaration concerning man wv.
26-31). (a) His common origin ". 26)
This was a blow at the foolish Athen'
ian pride which supposed that they
. were superior to all other people. This
= proposition he proved from their OWE
y literature (see v. 28). If men are the
offspring Of God and bear His like
= ness 1t is utter folly to make images
= as the senseless idols were. (b) Ma
lions have their place by the SOY
i. ereign purpose of God ". 26). Thu
. position and mission Of each nation II
Of Gods appointment. (c) Men shoult
= seek God ". 26). His goodness and
grace in supplying all our needs, ant
ordering even the affairs Of the ma
~ tons should move man to see and seel
God, for He is indeed very near t
- every one; so near that our existenc'
- and movements are all under His con
y troll ". 27). (d) Pressing obligation
% TO repent wv. 80, 81. This was hi
supreme message Though God kba'
~ formerly passed over idolatry He nov
g calls to all men to repent. The solemn
u reason for such action Is the comm
y day Of judgment, the credential Q
which is the resurrection OF Jesu
40 Christ from the dead. The judgmen
u of God of an unbelieving world Is
70 sure as this fact. Men will be judge
on the basis of their attitude towar
y, Jesus Christ.
re w. Result Of Paufs Preaching "
~ S2-34.
1. Some Knocked ". S2).