ACTS
OF THE APOSTOLES
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LESSON
36
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SECOND MISSONARY JOURNEY
15:36-18:22
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Athens. 17:16-34
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Athens. City
close to, F.F. Bruce, the famous Biblical
scholar says in his
commentary that
despite losing its political
prominence continued
to represent the top
of the culture of the
ancient world. Athens was in
a real
leadership in the field
of art and
thought even boasted
of being
the birthplace of democracy. The Romans, out of
respect for its glorious
past was
granted a
status of free
city within
the empire and
allowed to
maintain their
own institutions. Corinth had replaced Athens
as the
city economically and politically most
important in
Greece, but Athens still
represented a mint for any intellectual of the
time.
IN ATHENS (17:16-21)
1.
What was
the reaction of Paul before the idolatry of the city?
THE SPIRIT was deeply moved by the idolatry he saw.
ATHENS THE FAMOUS TEMPLES WERE A WORK OF ART unsurpassed BEAUTY BUT AFTER PAUL discovered the darkness of idolatry.
ATHENS THE FAMOUS TEMPLES WERE A WORK OF ART unsurpassed BEAUTY BUT AFTER PAUL discovered the darkness of idolatry.
2.
In verse
17 is described the double Evangelistic strategy of Paul. Describe it.
Shared the GOSPEL INTO THE
SYNAGOGUE AND
OUT IN THE PLAZA.
OUT IN THE PLAZA.
3.
His missionary
work between the gentiles awoke reactions. Read the verses 18 to 21 and note
the information more outstanding of each one.
v.18
The Epicurean philosophers and Stoics argued with Paul, TO HEAR THE GOSPEL OF JESUS
AND THE RESURRECTION.
EPICÚRUS. v.18 The origin of this philosophical is a disciple of Socrates called
Aristippus. This was the motto: "The greatest good is the desire, the
greatest evil is pain." Consistent with all tried to develop a lifestyle
of avoiding all kinds of pain. It was, however, Epicurus (341-270 BC) who named
this school of philosophy. He founded a school in Athens and she developed the
ethics of pleasure that his predecessor had enunciated. For the epicurean
delights not all were kind of sensual, considered as such values as friendship and art. In the religious
aspect did not believe in the existence of life beyond death. Nor denied the
existence of the gods, although they felt that, if any, were entirely
indifferent to the needs of humans.
STOIC. v.18 They believed that all human beings were part of the same universal
reason or logos. For them, every human being is like a little world in
miniature, reflecting in turn the universe. These ideas led them to demand a
high degree of belief in ethics and a sense of brotherhood among all human
beings. Polhill, in his work several times cited indicates that from the
religious point of view were pantheists, believing that a divine principle was
present in all nature, including humans. This principle or divine spark, the
logos that we have already referred, brought coherence to the whole universe.
For the Epicureans humans develop and reach their full potential when they live
by reason.
v. 19-20
BEING asked Paul to the Areopagus OF
THEM SPOKE strange
things and wanted to know WHO
WANTED TO SAY ALL THAT.
AREOPAGUS. v.19 Is the name of a hill in
Athens beneath the famous Acropolis. The
name comes from the
deity to whom he was devoted,
Ares, the Greek god of war. Also the
name Areopagus was used to
designate the supreme council of the city at least at
certain times met in the same
place..
v.21
ALL RESIDENTS IN ATHENIAN
WERE ALWAYS INTERESTED TO HEAR NEW THINGS comment.
SERMON IN THE AREOPAGUS
(17:22-31)
4.
Ley us
analyze the structure of the sermon. The verses 22 to 24 are utilized by the apostle
to introduce the topic to his listeners. How does he do it? What resources does
he use?
PAUL’S SPEECH WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE FORM OF CALLING THE ATTENTION OF THE GREEK PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHT.
17:23 I passed by and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. When you worship, then, without knowing, Him I proclaim.
Paul kept his identity, even IN THE MIST OF THE SINICAL INTILECTUALISMO.
THE RESULT WAS THAT SOME OF THOSE WHO HEARD PAUL CAME TO SALVATION.
17:23 I passed by and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. When you worship, then, without knowing, Him I proclaim.
Paul kept his identity, even IN THE MIST OF THE SINICAL INTILECTUALISMO.
THE RESULT WAS THAT SOME OF THOSE WHO HEARD PAUL CAME TO SALVATION.
TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. v.23 The Athenians, based more on superstition than religion had
altars dedicated to the god or gods unknown. Through
these should avoid the wrath and punishment of possible and unknown deities.
5.
In the
verses 25 to 27 the apostle explains who is this God and what he expects for
the human kind. Annotate those things.
GOD THE GIVER OF LIFE, WHICH
HAS DEFAULT ORDER
OF TIME.
WHO IS WAITING FOR US SEEK HIM AND IS NOT FAR FORM MAN KIND.
WHO IS WAITING FOR US SEEK HIM AND IS NOT FAR FORM MAN KIND.
6.
In verse
28 representation of a transition before entering in the final phase of his
preaching. What is the content of this transition?
Bringing them into MEMORY THAT SOME
OF POETS stated that the lineage of God.
YOUR OWN POETS. v.28 Scholars agree in saying that Paul quotes Epimenides of Knossos, poet of the sixth century BC and Aratus of Cilicia, a poet of the third century BC.
7.
In verse
29 illustrates a new attack of Paul the idolatry, annotate what it says in
regards.
DIVINITY THAT IS NOT LIKE
TO GOLD, SILVER OR STONE CARVED BY IMAGINATION
OF MEN.
8.
Paul finishes
his preaching with a warning of the judgment form God. Read the verses 30 and
31 and take notes on what was said by Paul.
GOD HAS PASSED BY HIGH TIMES
OF IGNORANCE, CALLING ALL MEN TO REPENT,
FOR ONE DAY THE WORLD WILL BE JUDGED. JESUS FOR
WHICH A GIVEN
WITNESS TO ALL by
raising Him from the Dead.
THE RESULTS OF THE PREACHING (17:32-34)
9.
The
corresponding verses and annotate the results of the sermon of the apostle.
SOME OF THE GREEKS mocked, while
others wanted to HEAR AGAIN
PAUL, RESPOND IN
SOME FAITH BELIEVED
ONE OF WHICH WAS
A MAN NAMED DIONISIO, MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL CIRCLE AND A WOMAN AEROPAGUS
CALLED DAMARIS.
WHEN THEY HEARD ABOUT THE RESURECCION. v.32 The idea of the resurrection
of the body was totally alien to Greek thought. Educated in the tradition of the philosopher Plato, the Greeks believed in dualism body and soul.
They considered the latter immortal, but could not understand a bodily resurrection as the body was inherently wrong for
them
APLICATION
10.
What can
you apply to your personal life of what was learned in this passage?
11.
What signs
of idolatry do you see around you? Make the observation in a very broad sense,
Martin Luther affirmed that God is the one that takes the first place in our
heart. What gods does your society worship? Does it produce in you with such
idolatry?
12.
Look at
the content of the sermon by Paul Is there biblical references like in those
directed to the Jews? Why doe= you think Paul doesn’t use the bible text? ¿Why
do you think that it makes references to the Greek culture?
13.
What are
the needs in the area you live in? How can the gospel satisfy them?
14.
How would
you present the gospel to the people with little or no religious background?
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