Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1946-11-23
PAUL IN ATHENS AND CORINTH

PAUL IN ATHENS AND CORINTH
LESSON TEXT-Acts 17:22-28a; 18:
IA; / Corinthians 1:22-25.
MEMORY SELECTION For other
foundation can no man lay than that Is
laid, which Is Jesus Christi Corinthians
Sill.
History repeats itself, in spiritual
things as well as in secular events.
The experiences of Paul at Athens
and Corinth are peculiarly spplica-
bic to our day, for here he encoun-
tered the very problems which face
(and have apparently stopped) the
church today.
The cities were not far apart IN
miles, and they were both pagan. but
they differed widely in their cul-
tural and commercial development.
Athens was the home of goddess
culture. Corinth was prosperous
commercial center known through
out the world for grossly icentious
living.
What did the gospel accomplish
In such cities? We shall soon see.
L. Goddess intellectually Meets
the Gospel (Acts 17:22-28a).
Paul was alone in Athens. He
had been separated from his COM
panions Silas and Timothy (Acts II:
I'D, and was to await them at Ath-
ems. While he waited he looked the
city over and found it wholly given
to idolatry ". l6). This was no
idle observation of scientific mind,
for it caused PauPs spirit to stir
In him.
1t is a bad sign when a pro-
fessed Christian can live in the pres
ence Of sin and false worship and
not be deeply moved by it.
Paul did something about It'll He
went into the great daily gatherings
of philosophers and gave them some
solid Christian philosophy to work
on. They were curious to know
more, and when the opportunity
arose, Paul preached the sermon Oh
Mars Hill.
He found them superstitiously re-
Igious, but religion does not save.
They even feared lest they had for
gotten some god, SO one altar was
ito the unknown Cod ". 23). This
gave Paul his opportunity, for he
declared the one true God-unknown
to them-as the answer to their
question.
The intellectual felt superior and
had an idea that God needed him,
a kind of snobbery which is as cur
rent In 1916 as it was in Paurs day.
How effectively he disposed Of that
attitude appears in verses "a and 25.
They needed God. and without him
they could no. draw a breath!
Moreover. the pagan intellectual
then as now would swell with pride
as he thought of the race and people
to whom he belonged. They were
superior - master race. Paul
declares Gods truth that all men
are of one blood, and that the ma.
tons are in his hands ". 26).
What they had to do, and wha,
the goddess intellectuals Of our day
need to do, is to seek God in humble
repentance and faith; then lives car
become fine and noble and useful
(vv. 27. 32-34.
III. Sophisticated immortality
Meets the Gospel (Acts Is: 1-4.
To Corinth Paul came (evidently
still alone) without friends or funds
Like all well-bred Jewish boys. hs
knew a trade. He was sail max
er and tent maker. Rather thar
have the ungodly men of Corintf
hinder his preaching by the crit
cism that he was doing it for mon
ey, he supported himself.
The minister who is eager for rich
financial return, and who is willing
to accept the gifts of the ungodly
that his work may prosper, ha:
closed the door for his testimony tt
many who do not believe. In fact
one wonders whether he has any
real testimony to give.
In this wicked city, given over t.
vice and feshly pleasure, Pau
made his way to the synagogue ana
began to preach Christ. He rea
soned and persuaded and won som'
for the Lord as he continued witt
them for a year and half (Act
18:1D.
PauFs letter to the Corinthian
reveals the struggle of the believer
at Corinth to maintain moral stand
ards and spiritual warmth in such
city, but it also clearly indicate
that the gospel of Christ is 9TH
power of God unto salvation to ey
eryone that believeth" (Rom. 1:16)
even in the midst of sin and col
ruption.
iii. The Gospel Meets Sin-and !
Victorious q. Cor. 1:22-2O.
The wisdom of this world-fo
which Athens stood in special wa
becomes foolish in the eyes {
men, as it is already in the sigh
of God, when it stands up again:
the gospel (read Wv. 10-2D.
The preaching of the cross, whic
looks foolish to the wording ". %.
is the wisdom and the power of Coz
and by it men are saved.
Whether Jew or Gentle, Whethe
seeking signs or wisdom, Whethe