Preaching to Philosophers

Preaching to Philosophers

2014-02-16

Acts 17:16-23

This passage is a classic Biblical confrontation between God's man & Satan's city.

·      Athens in its prime was the political, educational, philosophical center of world…

o   Home of the Parthenon & Plato, Socrates, Aristotle.

·      Now it's only a philosophical center with a world-famous university steeped in idolatry.

o   The pagan writer Petronius said,  “It is easier to find a god in Athens than a man”.

Athens filled Paul with righteous anger & grief, just like Jerusalem moved Jesus to tears & holy anger.

·      He channeled that emotion into action on 2 fronts: the synagogue & the streets. Acts 17:16-17, 1 Cor 9:22-23, 1 Pet 3:15-16

o   Synagogue: prove Jesus was the  long-awaited Messiah…..meaningless to Greeks.

o   Streets: not to philosophize, but discuss, listen, and share the Gospel.

§  Listeners included Epicureans: somewhat atheistic, had the "if it feels good do it" attitude & the Stoics: who were pantheists (god in everything).  Acts 17:18-21

The Gospel was Paul’s motivation & message: Jesus Christ & the resurrection

·      This “new idea” interested philosophers, not "babbler" Paul

o   They thought Paul was a foolish man, advocating for a foolish/worthless religion but Athenian’s listened for sake of curiosity & speculation, not for sake of truth.

§  Intellectual search for truth was more enjoyable than the acceptance of it,

·      He was invited to Areopagus: lit. “hill of Ares” (Greek)/Mars (Roman)

o   Either a place or religious gathering or an educational council that met there.

§  like Wall Street is designated either the street or stock exchange.

He established a common ground: started where they were: Religion Act 17:22-23, Heb 11:6

·      Acknowledging there is a god is a step toward knowing God. 

o   Won't search for a path to a destination you don’t believe exists.

·      Then he used the familiar to introduce the unfamiliar:

o   Altar (not idol) of unknown God (similar to the tomb of unknown soldier).

o   Unknown Altar for fear of missing blessings and receiving punishment.

Perfect entry point to present monotheism (1 true God) to polytheistic/pantheistic people.

·      The altar testified to their religion’s inadequacy & their ignorance.

o   If it was unknown to them, then they’re in total ignorance of his true nature.

§  For Greeks, ignorance was a cardinal sin.

Paul promised to tell them what they did not know—who Unknown God is.

·      Give Athenians info they sought for centuries.

o    “what” not “who” worshiped…. The god/alter was a thing/philosophy not personal God.

Americans are somewhat similar to the Athenians: cultured, pursue new/novel, education, idolatrous.  

·      Many people are religious but reject true God for “gods” of our own.  God is still unknown.

·      Like Athens, our community is filled with lost people & filled with idols to imaginary deities

o   Idols: sports, entertainment (chairs), materialism (cars, tech), info, $ security”, immorality, addictions, religion 1 Jn 2:15-17, Lk 19:41-42, 2 Cor 5:9-11, Philemon 1:6

§  church permeated with man and me-centered Epicurean philosophy.

·      Athens filled Paul with anger & grief like Jerusalem moved Christ to tears and holy anger

o   Does the lostness and coming judgment of people move you to sorrow and then action? 

We don't have to imitate Paul’s every action, but rather imitate his passion for God’s glory, his heart f