Paul's Mars Hill Apologia in Acts 17:16ff [Class Summary]
Last week's assignment was to apply the same analysis on Acts 17:16-34 that we did on Acts 22-26 two weeks ago. Let's dive right in.
“Paul did not reason from the Scriptures—he reasoned TO the Scriptures. God’s Word was always his starting point, and as we’ll see presently, the Scriptures were also the middle and the end of his reasoning, too!”
I started by backing up a few verses to Acts 17:1, 2, where I noted that Paul had established a routine—something he did everywhere he went—he went to the local synagogue (here, in Thessalonica) and he reasoned with those present. But this wasn't just any kind of reasoning, and it was reasoning "from the Scriptures." Oh, how many times have I read that verse and glossed over the simple preposition "from?" Paul did not reason to the Scriptures—he reasoned from the Scriptures. God’s Word was always his starting point, and as we'll see presently, the Scriptures were also the middle and the end of his reasoning, too!
From Thessalonica, Paul went to Berea, and there we are introduced to the noble-minded people of that city who never took what he said for granted, but always ran what they heard through the filter of God's Holy Word. I encouraged the kids to be Bereans themselves—they should never take what I say for granted. They should never take what the pastor says for granted, and they should never take what we parents say for granted, either. Everything is to be filtered through the Word of God. A pastor from my past was fond of saying, "Keep the fish. Throw away the bones." To that saying I would like to add "If you think I'm in error, please let me know, because I do not want to walk in error myself let alone be found guilty before the Bema seat of Christ of teaching your children errors!"
Paul in Athens
Paul arrived in Athens and couldn't help but see that the city was chock full o' idols. Because of this, he showed up in the synagogue (remember, this was his custom!) where he reasoned with the Jews and God-fearing gentiles, but he also preached in the marketplace, speaking to anyone who'd listen. Among these people were the Epicureans and Stoics. We talked about what these two groups believe, but I won't burden you with that here; suffice to say that both groups were more-or-less deistic (the gods are basically "hands off" in human affairs) and that neither had a belief in an afterlife.
Take special note of the people's reaction to Paul's message—they scoffed and ridiculed. But why? "Because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection."
Wait…what?
But...but...but...they didn't believe the Hebrew scriptures! They didn't even acknowledge YHWH. Don't the apologists of our day tell us that we should start from where people are in their unbelief and then rationalize them first to deism, then to generic theism, and then eventually to Christian theism, presenting Christianity as the most probable explanation of the way things are? What in the world was Paul doing?
Paul's Sermon on Mars Hill
Something struck me as I read verses 22 and 23 aloud to the class. Despite the fact that the Athenians worshipped a metric truckload of gods, they still felt the need to erect an altar "TO AN UNKNOWN GOD." Have you ever thought about why they did this? Were they just trying to cover their bases? Some argue (as did I for far too many years) that Paul started with where the Athenians were and then reasoned towards Christ, but I think that's an error of perspective...a perspective that ignores the rest of Scripture.
Think about it. Paul was personally intercepted and then discipled by Jesus Christ for three years in the desert following his "road to Damascus" experience. So, though he had not yet written Romans 1, I'd not bet against him having already been taught by Christ that
...the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. — Romans 1:18-23
“Paul started with special revelation from Christ, observed the truth of God’s Word in Athens, and then boldly proclaimed that truth to the Greeks.”
So, when we look at the beginning of Paul's speech at the Areopagus, we should not think that he was starting from where the Athenians were and reasoning to Christ. Quite to the contrary, Paul started with special revelation from Christ, observed the truth of God's Word in Athens, and then boldly proclaimed that truth to the Greeks! These people already knew innately that something (Someone) was missing from their worship, and Paul was simply pointing out to them the truth that they were suppressing in unrighteousness! Just as it takes considerable and continuous effort to hold a beach ball under the water, so the unbeliever has to expend considerable and continuous effort to suppress the truth of who God is (Romans 1) and what he requires of us (Romans 2). Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, saw clear through their charade and cut right to the chase: "What you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you!"
But wait...it gets better.
Paul's actual sermon to the Areopagus is found in Acts 17:22-31, and it is absolutely saturated with the Old Testament:
Verse 24: Isaiah 42:5, Deuteronomy 10:14, Psalm 115:16, 1 Kings 8:27.
Verse 25: Job 22:2, Psalm 50:10-12
Verse 26: Malachi 2:10, Deuteronomy 32:8, Job 12:23
Verse 27: Deuteronomy 4:7, Jeremiah 23:23-24
Verse 28: Job 12:10, Daniel 5:23. (Note: Paul did not quote Epimenides and Aratus in this verse to prove the Scripture true—rather, he quoted them as an application of the truth of Romans 1:19!)
Verse 29: Isaiah 40:18
In verse 30, he called on the people to repent, and then in verse 31 he spoke of the judgment to come and of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Did you happen to notice that Paul started with creation? Do you think that might be important? More on that another day.
In a nutshell, Paul started with Scripture, his message was saturated with Scripture, and he concluded by talking about the resurrection of Jesus Christ (which, of course, implies both Jesus' death and burial). Conspicuously absent from Paul's message were any philosophical arguments for the existence of God, a proof demonstrating the illogical nature of polytheism, arguments for the historical accuracy of the Hebrew Scriptures, or even why we should believe the Bible in the first place. It was Scripture through and through. Remember, what we discussed last week about why God went through all the trouble to give and preserve His Word to us:
Now these things [in the Old Testament] happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved....Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
— 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11
Just in case we might be tempted to think "Yeah, but that was the Old Testament." Take special note of how Paul opens the very next chapter:
Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. — 1 Corinthians 11:1
Amen, and may we also prove to be worthy imitation, as we live out the Scriptures before the world.
Homework
Explain the gospel. Note that I didn't just say "What is the gospel?" I said to explain the gospel, which is not just what it is but why it's important, and why it is necessary.