The Republican., 1925-10-08
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared Especially For The Repub.
lican's Readers by Rev. U. S.
Wright, D.D.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER II, 1925.
PAUL IN CORINTH.

AAAA -NA1 w SCAN LR
Corinth was the richest, rottenest
city in Greece. 1t was a seaport
where gathered the jolly tars, freed
from the confinement of the ship,
with money to spend, strangers who
therefore had no reputation to main
tain and could do as they pleased.
out for lark. And the city was pre-
pared to keep the money and to give
them abundant opportunity to leave
it behind. So it was wide open in its
welcome. The wine shop set forth its
wares, the great white way of blazing
lights that led to the Temple of
Pleasure crowning the hill that
guarded the town dazzled and allured,
the 1000 virgin brides of the goddess
solicited the indulgence of passion
without stint or limit and if virtue.
money or health remained after the
visit it was no fault of Corinth. The
tides of the whole world set into its
harbor and this must have been part
OF its attractiveness to Paul who now
turned his feet thitherward. Possibly
news would more readily reach him
there than in Athens. Possibly Ste
phen urged the need and the oppor-
tunity and invited his visit. Maybe
the court of Athens refused him
permit to teach in her streets. At
any rate he entered Corinth and tho
the city did not know it or care if it
were true destiny entered with him.
A penniless preacher had no attrac-
ton for the cash-grabbing citizenry.
He was a stranger out of work in
strange city. But it handled military
supplies Of which tents were a large
part so he turned his feet toward the
quarter where they were made and
inquired for a job. He was indepen-
dent and knew what he could do so
that no time nor effort was lost. That
is part of the advantage of having a
trade. 1t was not long before he came
upon a couple of Christians recently
driven from Rome with the Jews who
had been expelled by the Emperor
They were busy tent makers also and
willingly shared their house with the
Apostle. A job, home and a friend
in less than week makes a good rec
| ord even for Paul Then came the
Sabbath and mans first Sunday in
srange town is a mighty good index
of what he puts first in his estima-
ton of values. There was the stadium
| with its games. There was the sea
upon whose crescent beach he might
rest after a refreshing plunge into
its sparkling water. There were the
boats ready for sail or row. There
was the temple crowned hill whose
summit, 1000 feet above the town.
offered cooling breeze and enhancing
view. But instead he sought the
company of the men who were most
likely to become his bitter enemies
and shared a form that he had out
grown that he might worship. The
church he c0ud find might be wrong
but he would have been far more so
had he neglected it upon this day for
| quickening the consciousness of the
| presence of God.
THE NEW SITUATION
So the weeks passed until one glad
day Timothy appeared from Thessa-
lonica and Silas from Philippi. They
brought report of continued strife
but Of continued faithfulness to God
and love for the Apostle in proof of
which was a generous gift. Joy over
the news, satisfaction in the presence
of his friends, freedom from the ne
cessity of his previous close applica-
ton to toll, all were responsible for
change in Pauls spirit. He penned
the first letter to a church, to be
followed by later one clearing up
some more of the misunderstanding
of the meaning of his message by the
believers in Thessalonica, and he set
himself Zealously to Christianize
those whose acquaintance he had
made only to face his old time diff
Guilty of danger from the fanitical OPP
position Of the Jew. He had taken
his followers including the Ruler of
the synagog with him to the house
next door and the growing number
of attendants completely overshadow-
ed the Jewish congregation and
seemed to be Haunting heresy brazen-
! ly in their faces. Nuttered threats
| must have reached the ears of the
| battered itinerant and he felt deserted
for it is possible that Silas and Tim
othy had carried his letter into Mace
donia. At any rate there must have
been depression, for a vision of the
night made so deep an impression
| that he gave a full account Of it to
Luke. Fear not" was Gods word
that swept apprehension completely
out Of mis- mind. God was taking
care Of him and would see him thru.
Nor was he alone, for God had much
people" there and his spirit scared at
| the realization. ThaucefOrward the