The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-09-08

Our last lesson saw Paul and
SilaS established at Berea, well re-
ceived and having much success in
the winning of converts. All went
well until the prosecuting Jews of
Thessalonica discovered where Paul
and Silas had gone. Then they
came to Berea and stirred up the
people so effectively that it was
found advisable to send Paul away
by sea.
PauPs companions, SilaS and
Timothy, remained at Berea, but
Paul went on to Athens. While he
waited here in Athens for SilaS and
Timothy he was stirred up greatly
as he saw the city given over to
idolatry, and at Mars Hill in the
greatest city of Greece, which was
still the chief center Of culture and
learning in the ancient world, Paul
preached the remarkable sermon
which has been recorded for us in
the seventeenth chapter of Acts.
From Athens Paul went on to
Corinth, not far from Athens and
the most important commercial
city of Greece, known as "the eye of
Greece" 1t was a corrupt and Ii
centiouS city devoted to the worship
of Aphrodite, the goddess of love,
just the place to test the efficacy of
the power of the Gospel to save
from corrupt and evil living. Co.
rinth was to occupy very import
ant place in the prcching of Paul
On this particular journey he
stayed there for a year and a half
a long settled pastorate for one of
Paul'S travelling habits. How deeply
Paul became associated with this
church and how close it was to his
ministry is indicated in the two
large epistles which he addressed to
the Corinthians, in which he dis
cusses with them with great in
timacy many problems of faith and
conduct. and defends his ministry
against the criticisms that are al
most inevitable in any minister S
career.
1t is quite interesting to study
these criticisms and to see that even
a powerful preacher like Paul was
subject to exactly the same sort OF
petty criticism that assails the aver
age minister in an American COM
munity today.
Finds Friends
Here at Corinth Paul found
friends who were of the same oc-
cupation, and it is in this passage
that we have clear information re-
garding Paul's craft, which was that
of tent-maker. He stayed in the
same house with these Jewish
friends, Aquila and Priscilla, and
we can realize the vigor with
which Paul applied his work
through his assurance elsewhere
that he had supported himself with
his own hands.
Following his former custom, he
carried on his religious work in
Corinth through the Synagog, but
here, as elsewhere, opposition arose
and Paul felt the advisability Of
withdrawing from the Synagog,
though he found a preaching place
in the house of Jason, next door
The fact that Crispus, the chief
ruler of the synagog, was among
the Christian converts seemed to
influence others and many believed
and were baptized.
Words to Corinthians
1t is a very interesting and profit
able study in connection with the
story of PauPs work at Corinth to
read the two epiStleS to the Corin-
thians. In fact, it is the only way
that one can get the true and full
story of Paul's work there insofar
as it has been recorded in Scripture.
One might, indeed, emphasize the
value of reading, the whole story of
Paul's missionary Journeys always
in connection with the epistles The
epistles throw some light upon the
narrative and the narrative helps
to give the proper background for
the epistle.