WEDNESDAY September 6, 2023
A New Doctrine?
And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.” For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.
Acts 17:19-21
The philosophers decided to invite Paul to speak at the Areopagus. It was situated northwest of the city of Athens. The word Areopagus combines the Greek names “god of war” and “stone” or literally “Ares’ Rock.” In Roman mythology, Ares was equivalent to the Roman god Mars, the god of war. This is why the hill became known as Mars Hill. Imagine, Paul was given such a historical platform from which to preach Christ.
Interestingly, this small, hilly area was covered with stones that were used for seats. Athenian leaders and thinkers gathered there to discuss and investigate different thoughts and concepts. The Epicureans and Stoics were eager to hear what Paul had to say, so they sat ready to receive. Think about it. Paul had a perfect audience.
The new doctrine the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers wanted to hear was none other than the Gospel message! What an amazing opportunity God gave to Paul! As a brilliant theologian, he was able to help them in their search for truth. In his introduction, he used their own philosophies and religious way of thinking to begin his discourse. Paul had noticed an altar named: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. This would be his starting point.
Understand, the men of Athens were not committed people. They were tossed like the waves of the sea––always wanting to hear a new thing. The Bible teaches us as Christians not to be: ...tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine... (Ephesians 4:14). We need to know the solid doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Christian "doctrines" are translations into our concepts and ideas of that which God has already expressed in language more adequate, namely the actual incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection.
~C. S. Lewis~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
