Paul at Athens and Paul at Corinth
WHILE the apostle Paul waited a few days at Athens for some of his brethren to join him, “his spirit was provoked within him as he beheld the city full of idols.” His surroundings and experience have been clearly set forth in the following language:— The city of Athens was the metropolis of heathendom. Paul did not here meet with an ignorant, credulous populace, as at Lystra; but he encountered a people famous for their intelligence and education. Statues of their gods and the deified heroes of history and poetry met the eye in every direction; while magnificent architecture and paintings also represented the national glory and the popular worship of heathen deities. . . . Paul was not deceived by the grandeur and beauty of that which his eyes rested upon, nor by the material wisdom and philosophy which encountered him in this great center of learning. He perceived that human art had done its best to deify vice and make falsehood attractive by glorifying the memory of those whose whole lives had been devoted to leading men to deny God. The apostle Paul at once began his work of seeking to reach this people with the message which had been entrusted to him to give to them. “So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the market-place every day with them that met him.” This led to the invitation to address the people on Mars Hill, where “the most solemn court of justice had long been held to determine upon criminal cases, and to decide difficult religious questions.” In his discourse upon this memorable occasion the great apostle spoke “with earnest and fervid eloquence,” and “in the most impressive manner.” He “ably exposed the fallacies of the religion of the Athenians. The wisest of his hearers were astonished as they listened to his reasoning. His words could not be controverted. . . . The people were carried away with admiration of Paul’s eloquence.” The fruit of this effort was not large, although “certain men clave unto him, and believed: among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.” We do not read, however, of the establishment of a church in this city. After this experience Paul “departed from Athens, and came to Corinth,” “Athens was the acknowledged center of art and learning; Corinth, the seat of government and trade. . . . The city was almost wholly given up to idolatry. Venus was the favorite goddess; and a great number of dissolute women were employed in connection with the worship of this reigning deity, for the purpose of attracting the devotees of popular vice. The Corinthians had become conspicuous, even among the heathen, for their gross immorality.” The apostle himself describes the method which he followed in his effort to turn these people to the true and the living God. “And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” This change in his way of dealing with the people was adopted after considering the result of his work at Athens. “While in the latter place, he had adapted his style to the character of his audience; and much of his time had been devoted to the discussion of natural religion, matching logic with logic, and science with science. But when he reviewed the time and labor which he had there devoted to the exposition of Christianity, and realized that his style of teaching had not been productive of much fruit, he decided upon a different plan of labor in the future. He determined to avoid elaborate arguments and discussions of theories as much as possible, and to urge upon sinners the doctrine of salvation through Christ. . . . The apostle did not labor to charm the ear with oratory, nor to engage the mind with philosophic discussions, which would leave the heart untouched. He preached the cross of Christ, not with labored eloquence of speech, but with the grace and power of God; and his words moved the people.” A strong church was established at Corinth, for “many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.” There is a lesson of importance in this experience of the apostle Paul. Large natural gifts and the training of the schools are greatly to be desired, and the logic of natural religion can not be successfully disputed, but it is not enough to instruct or to convince the intellect. There must be genuine repentance for sin and a yielding of the heart to the Lord. There must be genuine sorrow for sin and a turning from it. When Christ is lifted up, and the power of his cross works upon the heart and conscience, a transforming influence takes hold upon the whole being, and there is a new creation. There is need to-day of the faithful preaching of Christ and his cross. The eloquence of the orator, the logic of the powerful reasoner, and the philosophy of the scientist do not change the natural heart, nor provide a barrier against sin. The new birth is more than an acknowledgment that there is a creative power and an infinite Intelligence revealed in the things that are made. “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness.” The sinfulness of sin and the saving grace of Christ need to be enforced by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus are souls won for the kingdom.