Bible Question: what approach did paul take in trying to reach these people?WHAT DOES HE NOT USE?How successful were his efforts Acts17:18_34 |
Bible Answer: Dear Beanna, Welcome to the forum! Paul started out by reasoning with the all the Athenians and the strangers gathered at the Aeropagus where all would gather to talk about things new. He speaks of having observed that the men of Athens are very religious people in all respects. Then he begins to reason with them about the Unknown God and how they were worshipping this god in ignorance. He goes on to describe the qualities of this Unkown God for many verse. One could even say Paul used wisdom in the way in which he choose to reveal who the Unkown God is. However, a switch in mode occurs in verse 31 as Paul stops reasoning and begins to give a very short straight forward declaration of a man who has been appointed a judge of the world by the Unkown God and prooved to be so by being raised from the dead. This is about the shortest testament of the death and resurrection of Jesus that can be found in the whole NT, but it is a declaration of His death and resurrection and the judging of men through Jesus. What Paul does not use the other elements that he and Peter usually employed; the proof that Jesus rules eternally on the throne of David and that David does not and is dead, the crucifixion story, the OT prohecies come true in the life, ministry, and person of Jesus. But he does say Christ died and was raised from the dead, however short, he does give the central message of the gospel, in one very short sentence. He began with reasoning and wisdom, but ended up in a declarative sentence containing the essence of the gospel message of salvation. You will find other instances in Acts where it is said of Peter, of Paul and of Steven that wisdom or reasoning was used to approach the unblievers. What you will find is that except in instances where they are presenting a defense to prosecution, examination by kings and rulers, and while presenting an accusation to those who are about to stone the speaker to death, the central message of the death, or crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus is presented as what consist of the message preached, whatever the means of delivery may be. God's day to you, Tamara |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Bible general Archive 4 | Author | ||
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chesshores | ||
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beanna | ||
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Hank | ||
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Tamara Brewington | ||
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dscott1 | ||
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Neilw | ||
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Silasfirst | ||
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Jim Estes | ||
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salmartinezjr | ||
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praidup | ||
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believer53 | ||
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Tamara Brewington |