Acts 17:15-34
Over the past month or so, the Christian blogosphere has been dealing back and forth with contextualization. Many of the “emergent” churches hold Acts 17 as their reason for changing their [presentation of the] gospel to fit the audience. The contention is that Paul, in Athens, did the same thing - changed what he preached to accommodate the people he was trying to reach.
Now, I’m no theologian. It’s all Greek to me, so to speak! But the passages I include here [from The Complete Jewish Bible] do not cause me to see any change in what or how Paul preached. He still preached Christ crucified and resurrected. [see 17:18, 31, 32]. He spoke in love to a people who were lost, telling them of the Savior.
This is the difference I see:
Paul made brief reference to the community’s ways/beliefs to point to Scripture.
Emergent churches make brief reference to Scripture to point to the community’s ways/beliefs.
If you are interested in a deeper look at this, I recommend starting with Phil Johnson’s blog entitled Paul on Mars Hill. There are links within his post to the entire series.
Acts 17:15-34 (CJB)
17:15
Sha’ul’s escort went with him as far as Athens, then left with instructions for Sila and Timothy to come as quickly as they could.
17:16
While Sha’ul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit within him was disturbed at the sight of the city full of idols.
The very sight of the idols disturbed Paul. He was not looking for a way to accommodate their idols. As a matter of fact, later in the chapter, he will point out to them their ignorance of the Unknown God they have an idol for.
17:17
So he began holding discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and the “God-fearers,” and in the market square every day with the people who happened to be there.
Notice that Paul did not ask the non-believers into the synagogue to hear him preach, but went out into the public to reach them.
17:18
Also a group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers started meeting with him. Some asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others, because he proclaimed the Good News about Yeshua and the resurrection, said, “He sounds like a propagandist for foreign gods.”
17:19
They took and brought him before the High Council, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
17:20
Some of the things we are hearing from you strike us as strange, and we would like to know what they mean.”
17:21
(All the Athenians and the foreigners living there used to spend their spare time talking or hearing about the latest intellectual fads.)
Paul had a group of people who were prepared to listen to the truth about Christ. This did not mean all would be called to believe, but none would believe if Paul were not faithful to present the true gospel!
17:22
Sha’ul stood up in the Council meeting and said, “Men of Athens: I see how very religious you are in every way!
17:23
For as I was walking around, looking at your shrines, I even found an altar which had been inscribed, ‘To An Unknown God.’ So, the one whom you are already worshipping in ignorance-this is the one I proclaim to you.
17:24
“The God who made the universe and everything in it, and who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in man-made temples;
17:25
nor is he served by human hands, as if he lacked something; since it is he himself who gives life and breath and everything to everyone.
Notice how he lovingly points out the them the uselessness of their altar - how God does not need, nor desire, that?
17:26
“From one man he made every nation living on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the limits of their territories and the periods when they would flourish.
17:27
God did this so that people would look for him and perhaps reach out and find him although in fact, he is not far from each one of us,
17:28
‘for in him we live and move and exist.’ Indeed, as some of the poets among you have said, ‘We are actually his children.’
17:29
So, since we are children of God, we shouldn’t suppose that God’s essence resembles gold, silver or stone shaped by human technique and imagination.
Paul is pointing to portions of their society that have affirmed God.
17:30
“In the past, God overlooked such ignorance; but now he is commanding all people everywhere to turn to him from their sins.
17:31
For he has set a Day when he will judge the inhabited world, and do it justly, by means of a man whom he has designated. And he has given public proof of it by resurrecting this man from the dead.”
Notice that Paul talks about both sin and judgment. He does not assume everyone understands their sin is unacceptable.
17:32
At the mention of a resurrection of dead people, some began to scoff; while others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
17:33
So Sha’ul left the meeting.
17:34
But some men stayed with him and came to trust, including the High Council member Dionysius; there was also a woman named Damaris; and others came to trust along with them.
Resurrection was not a “popular” subject. Yet, Paul went there, knowing he could not preach the gospel without doing so. People were not going to be happy about his subject matter. But God! was still faithful to draw those He had called.
Have a blessed day, and a worship-filled week!
R.
I think your last paragraph sums it up well.
“Resurrection was not a “popular” subject. Yet, Paul went there, knowing he could not preach the gospel without doing so. People were not going to be happy about his subject matter. But God! was still faithful to draw those He had called.”
He didn’t tip toe around a subject because of the culture. He could not preach Christ without the resurrection. We too are called to preach the word and let God do the work. Not the other way around.
Nicely posted.