Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-24

Paul had succeeded in establishing
church in Berea before his eneni les
from Thessalonica appeared determined
to destroy the apostles work there.
This probably accounts for his sudden
departure for Athens. During his short
stay In Berca Paul had made some
warm friends. who went with him to
the seacoast," perhaps Dium, at the
extreme southeast of Macedonia, where
they secured passage to Athens. Paul
felt his loneliness in that center of
pagan culture, art, philosophy and re-
ligion, which caused him to send a
message By his conductors to SilaS and
Timothy TO come to him at the earliest
possible moment.
While the apostle was waiting for his
two faithful friends to reach him he
investigated the spiritual conditions OF
Athens. His soul was stirred within him
by the conditions that he learned ex-
listed in that city, where the poets and
philosophers had given expression to
the "profoundest thought on life, duty
and destiny with such perfect expression
that their words have furnished classic
models for all generations" It's tenn
pies were filled with trophies Of their
victories and the memorials OF their
heroes, whose deeds Aescnylus and
Sophocles had recorded in their his
tories In its market place Socrates
had asked his challenging questions; IN
the olive groves close at hand Plato
founded the academy; yonder was the
lyceum of Aristotle, and not far away
the garden of Epicurus. and the painted
porch of the Stoics." Paul tried to win
the Jews in their synagogue, evidently
without any great success. When he
tried to evangelize the Athenians they
showed some interest by arranging for
the meeting at Areopagus, where he de-
livered his challenge to the intrenched
paganism. When Paul stood upon Mars
Hill he spoke from the place where
Demosthenes and Lysias had moved the
multitude by their eloquence. Before
! the apostle was the marvellous "Acrop-
oils, adorned with the masterpieces OF
the chiSel of PhidiaS: above him the
| temple of Theseus, the most ancient
monument in Athens"
Paul's message to the Athenians was
marked by courtesy and iberality OF
thought concerning the gentiles. He
commenced his address with an adrolt
recognition of their natural religious
spirit. In the outline that has been
handed down to us one can detect TN;
mastery manner in which he presented
the fundamental principles of religion.
Having recognized their spirit Of wor-
ship, the apostle pointed out that their
devotion revealed their ignorance OF
God He spoke of the great vital re-
ligious truths. viz, lone supreme God
Creator and Preserver: all men His chill
dren and, therefore, of one family; ma
tons and individuals, guided by Prov1-
dence; His nearneSs to all and the ease
of access to Him: repentance from sin. ?"
These words led distinctly to Christ.
Although the crowd refused to listen TO
Paul, he won some distinguished disci-
PIES and in that message pronounced
the death doom of polythsism.
The Corinthian Mission.
Paul did not wait for the arrival OF
Silas and Timothy. He was appar-
emily discouraged and disappointed at
the result of his effort in Athens, for
he proceeded to Corinth. On the way
he determined ito preach Jesus Christ. >
Reaching the capital Of the Province OF
Achaia, he found city that surpassed
Athens. The city was washed by two
seas, the Ionian and the Aegean, united
through the activity Of commerce by a
canal. It was a cosmopolitan city,
filled with foreigners, who contributed
to its immortality. When this lonely
Jew reached Corinth, his mind was
filled with doubts concerning his work
in Europe and he did not commence
to show his moral earncstneSS and zeal
until his two associates, whom he had
requested to come to him, brought him
the encouraging news from the three