“Reasoning from Creation"
Acts 17:16-34
Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you… [Acts 17:22-23]
They resisted the Word in Thessalonica; they received the Word in Berea; they ridiculed the Word in Athens. We can certainly find the same today. And yet Paul, in his day, continued to preach the Gospel to all, young and old, rich and poor, educated and not.
There were different challenges in different places. In Thessalonica there were spiritual and physical attacks. In Berea there were blessings in the preaching and teaching of the Word and yet Paul had to flee physical persecution. Now in Athens, the capital of Greek and stoic philosophy, there were fierce philosophical debates within the darkness of idolatry. The challenge for Paul in Athens would be like the challenge today at many universities.
But notice that Paul’s ministry tactics were different here. Rather than “reasoning from the Scriptures,” he reasoned from Creation, a philosophical apologetic. His audience were Epicurean and Stoic philosophers who did not have the Scriptures. Therefore, going to scripture at this point would be futile.
These were steeped in polytheism; therefore, Paul related to them on their “philosophic” level. “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a partaker of it with you.” [1 Corinthians 8:22-23]
The noticeable similarity, however, is the Resurrection. “He [God] has given assurance of this to all by raising Him [Jesus] from the dead.” [Acts 17:32]. Paul began with a philosophical dialogue; HOWEVER, he did not remain there; he concluded with the Resurrection, which caused many to mock him. “However, some men joined him and believed.” [Acts 17:34]
Has it ever been about numbers? It has always been about faithfulness to preach and teach God’s Word, in season and out of season, and in all places.
“The soil here was not deep and it contained many weeds, but there was a small harvest. And, after all, one soul is worth the whole world! We still need witnesses who will invade the ‘halls of academe” and present Christ to people who are wise in this world but ignorant of the true wisdom of the world to come. Take the Gospel to your ‘Athens’” – Wiersbe.
