Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1916 — ST. PAUL AT ATHENS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ST. PAUL AT ATHENS

Ac. 4 rr.«rjw«iy «. The Intellectual Center of the Old World —Images of Gods Everywhere. Preaching In the Parthenon—Basic Difference Between Greek Philosophy and the Scriptures. “In Him ice lite and move and have our being.’’—Verse 28, ZK' HILE Silas remained to 4 & & strengthen and establish the Bereans, as Timothy had at Thessalonica and Luke at Philippi, St. Paul went on to Athens, then the center of the world’s intelligence, a college city, where resided the most eminent philosophers of the world. Jerusalem had been the tenter of true religion; Home was the center of the world’s imperial authority; and Athens was the world’s intellectual capital.

We can imagine St I’aul walking through the streets of that great city, admiring its wonderful architecture, listening to some of the scientific teachers, and noting the numerous monuments with which the city was crowded—statues of gods, demi-gods and heroes. Every gate post carried its protecting god. Every street had its sanctuary. No wonder his heart was stirred within him as he beheld so intelligent a city wholly given over to idolatry! As usual, the Apostle found the Jewish synagogue, where he reasoned with the Jews and with devout persons. Daily in the mar- ...

set-places he talked with all who were willing. Some called him a babbler, implying that there was neither sense nor reason in his presentations. Others thought more favorably, and were curious to have a formal discourse.

So in the Lord’s providence the way

was opened for him to deliver a discourse on the Plan of the Ages amongst the wise men of the earth, probably In the great structure known as the Parthenon, on Mars Hill. However, the curiosity of the Athenians was superficial. They wished to keep abreast of every new theory, that they might the better defend their own position. Our Common Version reports the Apostle to have begun by accusing his hearers of being too superstitious. However true the statement might have been, it would have been unwise; for it would needlessly have offended his hearers from the outstart. We do well, therefore, to translate the word “too religious.” This translation tits well with the discourse which followed; for the Apostle proceeds to show that by the images erected they recognize innumerable gods, and that additionally he had seen one altar to the unknown God. This was being too religious in oue sense of the word—unwisely so.

Basic Doctrines Contrasted. The Inscription, “To the Unknown God,” became the Apostle’s text. He preached the true God and Jesus Christ, whom God had sent. He showed Divine Justice and its requirements, which Adam's fallen race cannot meet. He pointed out that consequently all mankind are under condemnation as unworthy of everlasting life, but that God has sent His Son to redeem our race from death and to grant us resurrection privileges. He drew their attention to a greater God than they had •thought of, and showed the length and breadth of Love Divine—that it is not confined to one nation, but that God had made of one blood all nations, to dwell on all the face of the earth. Anticipating the question, “Are we responsible for not having worshiped Him whom we knew not?” St. Paul declared that heretofore they had not been responsible for not having worshiped the true God. Such ignorance God “winked at”—overlooked; for until now His great Plan had not reached that stage of development which authorized the sending of His Message to the nations. But now God commands all men everywhere to repent; for He has appointed another Judgment Day. In the first Judgment Day Adam was found unworthy of everlasting life and was sentenced to death. His entire race shared in his penalty. But Christ

had redecme d Adam and his race from that death penalty, and thus opened the way for another trial for life or death everlasting. This seccond trial would not merely be for those living at that time, but for the entire race “a 11 men every-

where. This implied the awakening of the dead. Otherwise, the millions already dead could never participate in God's grace. The proof that this was God's purpose had been demonstrated bj’ the tact that Christ had risen from the dead. But the Athenian philosophers, like those of our day, sneered at the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. Some denied a future life; others held that human life iS indestructible. All were in opposition to the Bible teaching of a sentence of death, a redemption by death, and a resurrection from death. All interest in the Apostle’s teaching vanished for the majority when they learned that the entire philosophy rested upon the resurrection of the dead. Few can receive this,

St. Paul on Mars Hill.

He in Risen!