p. 13 | The Sunday School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 8, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 26.

The Sunday School

International Series.

LESSON IV.—SUNDAY, JULY 25, 1897.

PAUL PREACHING IN ATHENS.

NOTE.—“This lesson has some very interesting associations. It is connected with secular history and modern travel in such a way as to give reality to the Bible account, especially to those scholars who study ancient history. The scenes can be brought before the scholars in a series of vivid word pictures. While the map, the plan of Athens, and descriptions of the city, and pictures can be used with great advantage, there is more danger in this lesson than in many, that those should usurp the place of the practical teachings, instead of enforcing them.”—Peloubet. The lesson section includes chapter 17:13-34. This was the first preaching of the Gospel message in Athens, and the date is believed to be about A.D. 52. Paul was alone at this time, having left Luke at Philippi and Silas and Timothy at Berea and Thessalonica. Commit verses 24-27.

Lesson Scripture, Acts 17:22-34, R. V.

22 “And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens, in all things I perceive that ye are somewhat superstitious. 23 For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this set I forth unto you. 24 The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and 25 earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he 6 himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and he 26 made of one every nation of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the 27 bounds of their habitation; that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he is not far 28 from each one of us; for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we 29 are also his offspring. Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, 30 or stone, graven by art and device of man. The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men 31 that they should all everywhere repent; inasmuch as he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. 32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, We will hear thee concerning this yet 33 again. 34 Thus Paul went out from among them. But certain men clave unto him, and believed; among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.”

Golden Text.—“God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) Where did Paul take up his stand to proclaim the truth of God? Verse 22. Note 1. (2) What direct statement did he make in regard to the conduct of his hearers? Same verse. (3) To what had Paul's attention been called as he walked the streets of Athens? (4) What peculiar altar and inscription did he find? Verse 23. (5) To whom did Paul make the inscription apply? Same verse. Note 2. (6) What work did Paul ascribe to the God who was unknown to them? Verse 24. (7) What was his position in regard to creation? (8) What did he declare of God's dwelling-place? (9) How was God not worshiped? Verse 25. (10) What reason does he give for this? Same verse. Note 3. (11) In what manner does Paul declare the brotherhood of mankind? Verse 26. (12) What had he done for the world and the inhabitants thereof? Same verse. Note 4. (13) For what purpose had God done the things mentioned in verses 25 and 26? Verse 27. (14) What would be the sure result of their truly seeking the Lord? (15) What is said of his nearness to us? (16) How fully are we dependent upon him? Verse 28. (17) Who had declared this same truth before Paul? (18) How had they expressed it? Same verse. Note 5. (19) If men are the offspring of God, what conclusion is necessary in regard to the person of God? Verse 29. (20) How is God's mercy shown during the times of such ignorance? Verse 30. (21) But what command accompanies the giving of light? (22) What reason is given for this command? Verse 31. (23) Who will be the standard of righteousness to which the redeemed must attain? (24) What assurance have we that the life of Christ on earth met God's standard of righteousness? Verse 31. Note 6. (25) How did the Athenians receive Paul's statement in regard to the resurrection from the dead? Verse 34. (26) What was the result of Paul's teaching at Athens?

NOTES.

1. Areopagus.—This may have been the place Areopagus, or the court by that name sitting in some other place; but wherever it was, Paul was surrounded by the learned philosophers of the universities of Athens, lecturers who taught the famed philosophies of those times. It was by this court at this place that Socrates was tried and condemned for “innovations upon the State religion.”

2. To an unknown god.—“That no deity might punish them for neglecting his worship, or remain uninvoked in asking for blessings, they not only erected altars to all the gods named or known among them, but also to any other god or power that might exist, altho as yet unrevealed to them.”—Hackett. “It was death for any private person to disturb the religion of the State by the introduction of any foreign god that had not been publicly recognized. But how admirably does Paul avail himself of the inscription on the altar? Who could accuse him of innovation when he only expounded to the Athenians the attributes of the God whom they had ignorantly worshiped?”—Lewin.

3. Neither is he served by men's hands.—As they had worshiped their idols. Food and other offerings were brought and laid before the idols. God does not need such things. What he requires is the heart, the love of man, that true love which leads to the yielding of the will and to a willing obedience to all his righteous commands.

4. Determined their appointed seasons, etc.—The seasons or times which the Lord has made or fixed, especially in regard to the affairs of this world, as in Dan. 7:25; Rev. 12:5; Luke 11:24.

5. As certain even of your own poets have said.—The expression which Paul here uses is found in the writings of Aratus, a Greek poet of Cilicia, and in a hymn to Zeus, by Cleanthes, the successor of Zeno. It is thus seen that Paul was acquainted with the literature of the people to whom he was preaching.

6. Judge the world in righteousness by the Man, etc.—The Man is Christ. The fact that God raised him from the dead proves that he met the eternal standard of righteousness set forth in the unalterable law of God. He was as perfect as the law. He thus became a standard of perfection, or righteousness, for all the world; and that righteousness will be imputed to those who are finally accepted of God. It is necessary in order that they be accepted. Their imperfections must be covered by the perfection of Christ. In other words, Christ's perfection is substituted for their imperfection. Then truly eternal life is a “free gift.” The redeemed will come up to the standard, but they will do it only because He who met the standard has offered His own life in the place of the imperfect ones of those who have sought His salvation.

THE UNITED STATES IS IN PROPHECY.

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