I. INTRODUCTION
A. The meeting of the minds: Paul oriental and Christian, the Athenians European and heathen. However, the Athenians were not ignorant savages, but instead a people of a "highly cultivated intellect."
1. Paul had often been in contact with those of the Jewish mind-set, and had frequently come into contact with the heathen thinking under various forms of idolatry.
2. But the heathen Athenians were much more sophisticated and intellectual in their approach to religion and philosophy than anyone Paul had encountered thus far in his travels.
B. History bears out that at this point in history (the first century), the most highly cultivated minds in the world were assembled in Athens.
1. The Greek mind was very interested in things concerning morality, as well as religion and philosophy. They had probably pushed their thinking about as far as it could go without divine revelation enter the Apostle Paul.
2. The Greek language lent itself to such things as poetry, oratory, and philosophy. It was the best language of its time for conveying abstract ideas and subtle discrimination of thought.
C. What could Paul, as a minister of Christ, bring to these people that they did not already possess? What would he have to say to them that would interest them? Does Christianity bring something to the table of religious and philosophical thought that man can not otherwise attain?
D. It is the purpose of this lesson to make two major points: Paul's subject was worthy (and is worthy) of the attention of all men regardless of their background and Paul possessed a body of knowledge that was (and is) beyond that possessed by men in general. Simply said: we all have much to learn from Paul!
II. DISCUSSION
A. The Gospel is a subject worthy of the attention of even the most sophisticated minds. Paul did not spend time convincing his listeners of this point, since they were the ones who invited him to speak.
1. However, in our day and age, it is often (if not always) necessary to show people reasons why the Gospel is worthy of their attention.
a. Many people believe that discussions of religion are beyond their purview and better left to the so-called "clergy." Modern man's propensity for specialization and division of labor, has caused him to put religion in a list with all the other professional pursuits. The scientist might choose to study nature, the doctor chooses to study anatomy, but it is left to the preacher to study the Bible. The Athenians did not have this compartmentalized state of mind. They were as much interested in religion as in any other subject. Paul found them in this state of mind, therefore it was not necessary for him to create it.
b. Some people do pursue religion to a point, then turn back. When astronomers look into the heavens, they are on the verge of discovering God (through His handiwork), yet many of them are atheists or agnostics. When surgeons explore the inner workings of the human anatomy they see God (through His handiwork), yet few among them are true Christians.
c. Some people pursue religion to a point where they do see that God exists, that He has established a moral government, and has left us in need of His revelation and when they do discover these facts they find them distasteful. They do not see the beauty in God's will and His Word. Many are actually repelled by God's will and His Word. These people are not attracted by the Gospel themes of obligation, duty, eternity, retribution, prayer, repentance, death, and judgment, (1 Cor. 2:14). We can see this very attitude among the Mar's Hill audience, (Acts 17:32).
2. There will be occasions when the Gospel teacher will need to show that his subject is worthy of the listeners attention.
a. When approaching someone who claims to be interested in philosophy, emphasize the philosophers penchant for "truth." All religious subjects should be investigated, if a person is a true philosopher. People must be convinced to follow truth, no matter where it leads.
b. The subject of religion is as worthy of man's attention as any other matter. (Once the Gospel is obeyed it can be seen to be more worthy of man's attention.) The Athenians obviously believed this when they invited Paul, a perfect stranger, to address them. Nature does not hold all the answers to all of man's questions. Some questions can only be addressed by turning to religion.
c. The subject of religion applies to all men, including those of the more cultivated mind. It is not just a subject of abstract interest, but a subject of personal interest for every man and woman. All of the philosophers that invited Paul to speak on Mar's Hill, no matter their own philosophical bent, were interested in the matters that Paul was to discuss. Today, many of the so-called "cultural and intellectual elite" feel they are exempt from the claims and requirements of religion in general. The great talents of men are not a substitute for love of God. The possession of high intelligence does not free a man from his obligations of purity and holiness. Accomplishments in earthly pursuits do not replace God's requirements for righteousness or prepare man to die. No man, no matter his birthright, talents, or efforts is released by them from his spiritual, moral, and physical obligations to his fellow man and God.
B. When it came down to pure and undefiled religion, Paul was in possession of greater knowledge than his educated listeners. They had many things to learn from Paul, such as: truths that they did not know and answers to questions they could not resolve with the unaided human mind.
1. See how Paul approached his subject:
a. he did not directly attack their religion,
b. he commended their zeal as real zeal in a great cause,
c. he referred to their own acknowledged uncertainty of things spiritual (i.e.: altar TO THE UNKNOWN GOD),
d. he proposed to reveal this god, the ONE TRUE GOD, to them,
e. he agreed with them as far as was scripturally possible and used their own admitted philosophy as a starting point, as well as quoted their own poets, (1 Cor. 9:20-23).
2. Observe the doctrines Paul revealed to the Athenians:
a. doctrines that could be advanced on principles they already held;
(1) the existence of God (Acts 17:22-23a) Paul took their belief a step further one true God, not many gods,
(2) the unknown God (Acts 17:23b-24a) the Creator of the world they believed the world was created by "fate" or "chance,"
(3) the immensity of God (Acts 17:24b) He could not be contained within the walls of a temple or shrine they believed their gods were restricted,
(4) the independence of God (Acts 17:25) God needs nothing from man they believed that man must nourish his gods,
(5) the unity of the human race (Acts 17:26a) "one blood" then (as now) men wanted to break mankind down into races, castes, and clans,
(6) God has a grand purpose in the arrangements he has made for mankind (Acts 17:26b) many of the ancients believed that this grand purpose could not be defined,
(7) the spirituality of God and religion (Acts 17:29) they believed gods could be represented by altars and graven images,
b. doctrines that were peculiar to Christianity that Paul was allowed to advance before being interrupted (v.32);
(1) God now commands and requires universal repentance (Acts 17:30) repentance is an obligation, not a recommendation,
(2) the One True God will judge the world by the appointed Man (Acts 17:31a),
(3) there will be a resurrection of the dead (Acts 17:31b),
c. doctrines that Paul would likely have proclaimed if he had not been interrupted [as seen in his letters to the Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians, and (most likely) Hebrews];
(1) the plan of salvation made possible by the sacrifice on the cross,
(2) the incarnation of the Son of God,
(3) the atonement made for sins,
(4) justification through a working faith,
(5) the existence and work of the Holy Spirit,
(6) the offer of pardon for our sins.
C. Lessons that we can learn from Paul's experience in Athens:
1. Christianity is not afraid of investigation Jesus was serious when he gave the "Great Commission," (Lk. 24:44-49).
2. Even today, mankind is still behind Christianity in their thinking. While man has made progress in every aspect of this earthly life in the last 2000 years, he has not surpassed (or even caught up to) God in his spiritual life. Man in his own unaided studies has not yet answered questions concerning: the moral character of the Creator, our soul and its immortality, the future, or redemption from sins. The answers to these questions demand revelation from God, the same revelation that Paul proclaimed on Mar's Hill 2000 years ago!
3. Christianity will remain ahead of the world as concerns these questions in the future as well. Science, nature, mathematics, and technology have much more that they can reveal to man, but their revelations will never supersede or surpass the Bible, the Cross and the Christ.
4. The three lessons above furnish proof of the Divine origin of Christianity. Where are the followers of the Greek mythology today? Where is pure Stoicism and Epicureanism to be found? Are there any followers of the astronomy of Ptolemy around today? They were there on Mar's Hill with Paul. Their teachings for the most part are history, yet the teachings of Paul live on.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Why are there not more doctors, lawyers, educators, and others of the so-called "learned professions" in the church?
2. Think about the questions posed in the introduction (I.C.).
3. Why do some people feel that studying the Bible is not their business?
4. Name at least three reasons why man needs to give Christianity his attention.
5. This lesson proposes 16 doctrines that Paul either taught the Athenians or would have taught them if he was not interrupted. The first ten are described in our lesson context (Acts 17), find scriptures to support the remaining six [II. B. 2. c. (1-6)].