Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1916 — ST. PAUL AT CORINTH [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ST. PAUL AT CORINTH

Acts 18:1-11.—July 23. Lessons From St. Paul’s Experiences. Corinth a Better Field For the Gospel Than Was Athens—As Usual, the Message Was Opposed and Blasphemed by Those Who Preferred "the Traditions of the Elders.” “Be not airaid, tut speak, and hold not thy peace.’’—Verse 9. H THEN'S did not prove to be a very successful field for the Apostle Paul’s labors. He quickly perceived that science and philosophy, falsely so-called, occupied the attention of its citizens, and so satisfied their minds that they were not so ready for the Truth as were some others lesfs highly educated. In this respect his experience coincides with that of all who sincerely preach the Gospel of Christ stripped of all human invention and philosophy, and also illustrates his declaration that not many wise, great or learned, according to this world’s

standard, will be amongst the heirs of the Kingdom.— 1 Corinthians 1:2629. Leaving Athens, St. Paul journeyed about forty miles to Corinth, a prominent commercial city, noted for its manufactures. It was much less moral than Athens,

much less refined, but nevertheless a letter field for the Gospel. Where religious forms and ceremonies become popular, they are apt to have correspondingly less weight But where sin, immorality and irreligion are popular, minds having a religious trfend are apt to be more free, more open for the Truth. Unsatisfied by formalism, this class more keenly recognize righteousness because of its sharp contrast with the sin a!>ounding.

Apparently St. Paul was considerably downcast at this time. His rough experiences at Philippi, his small success at Athens, the slenderness of his purse and his need of fellowship contributed to make him so; and he Informs us that the Lord encouraged him with a vision. Soon after his arrival at Corinth he found Aquila and Priscilla his wife. They were tent-makers; and this being the Apostle’s trade, he abode with them and labored. At that time it was customary that the sons of the upper classes should learn a trade, however well educated otherwise. St Paul’s trade enabled him to provide for his necessities while preaching the Gospel—not that it would have been a sin for him to receive support from the believers, but that he hoped that the Gospel would commend itself the more if its chief expounder preached the Truth without charge, laying down his lift? for the brethren. The Progress of His Mission. Notwithstanding his discouragements and the fact that his labors barely provided for his maintenance, the Apostle never forgot that his chief mission in life was the preaching of the GospeL We read that every Sabbath day he reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue. Finally Silas and Timothy arrived. bringing with them not only good fellowship and encouraging news, but also a gift—quite probably from Lydia, the seller of purple dyes. The effect of these encouragements was that the Apostle felt a fresh vigor urging him to present his Message more zealously and thus to bring matters to a focus at the synagogue. After testifying with great boldness and finding that the Message was repelled by the majority of the synagogue, the Apostle forced the crisis by shaking his garment, as if not to take from them even the dust, and saying to those who had opposed and blasphemed, “Henceforth I go to the Gentiles.” The effect was good in two ways: (1) It helped Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, to take a decided stand; whereas otherwise he might have been stunted in his spiritual development

(2) The fact that the Jews had repudiated the Apostle’s Message drew the attention of the Gentiles the more particularly to the Gospel. Some of these Gentiles already believed. The new meetings were held in the home ot Justus, near thte syna-

gogue. Thus those who attended the synagogue would be continually reminded of St Paul’s Message and possibly would enter the house of Justus and hear more respecting the fulfilment of the prophecies In Jesus. The result was that a considerable number of Corinthians believed and were baptized, thus symbolizing their consecration to do God’s will. Thus we see that opposition is not necessarily an injurious thing to the Cause of the Lord. On the contrary, a most dangerous condition is stagnation. Evidently the Lord saw that His servant Paul needed some encouragement at this time. Hence another vision was granfid, l n which the Apostle was told, “Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace; for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to harm thee, for I have much people in this city.” What an insight this incident gives ns aii to the Divine supervision of the Gospel Message And its servants! That vision and its Message, we may be sure, were not merely for the Apostle, but for all of the Lord’s people from that time until now.

Tent Making.

“Jesus is The Christ."