1. Acts 17 ©Christians in a Pluralistic World

2. 17:1 When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. Christians in a Pluralistic World

4. 17:1 When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, Christians in a Pluralistic World

5. 3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.

6. 3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. NIV-- “proving” is wrong paratithemi = “to set before” “to demonstrate” “to give evidence” Christians in a Pluralistic World

7. 5 But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. Christians in a Pluralistic World

8. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have upset the world have now come here, 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” Christians in a Pluralistic World

9. 8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go. 10 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Christians in a Pluralistic World

10. 11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Christians in a Pluralistic World

11. 11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Christians in a Pluralistic World This is the question

12. 11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. Christians in a Pluralistic World

13. 13 When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14 The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. Christians in a Pluralistic World

14. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. Christians in a Pluralistic World

15. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. Athens: -Cultural center -Cultural center -Intellectual center -Very pluralistic -Intellectual center -Very pluralistic Christians in a Pluralistic World

16. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. Athens: -Cultural center -Cultural center -Intellectual center -Very pluralistic -Intellectual center -Very pluralistic -Why was Paul “distressed”? -Why was Paul “distressed”? Christians in a Pluralistic World

17. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. cf. The new pluralism: Christians in a Pluralistic World

18. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. cf. The new pluralism: -Old = people have the right to believe what they want and practice their religion... -Old = people have the right to believe what they want and practice their religion... Christians in a Pluralistic World

19. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. cf. The new pluralism: -Old = people have the right to believe what they want and practice their religion... -Old = people have the right to believe what they want and practice their religion... -New = must affirm that all ways are equally valid... -New = must affirm that all ways are equally valid... Christians in a Pluralistic World

20. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. cf. The new pluralism: -Old = people have the right to believe what they want and practice their religion... -Old = people have the right to believe what they want and practice their religion... -New = must affirm that all ways are equally valid... -New = must affirm that all ways are equally valid... -Why reject Greek religion? Christians in a Pluralistic World

21. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. Dionysus: -“the liquid fire in the grape” -“the liquid fire in the grape” -“the blood pounding in the veins of a young animal” -“the blood pounding in the veins of a young animal” -“All the mysterious and uncontrollable tides which ebb and flow in the life of nature.” -“All the mysterious and uncontrollable tides which ebb and flow in the life of nature.” Christians in a Pluralistic World

22. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. Dionysus: -Worship involved wild, drunken sex orgies -Worship involved wild, drunken sex orgies -Ritual prostitution was common -Ritual prostitution was common -Later became Roman Bacchus -Later became Roman Bacchus Christians in a Pluralistic World

23. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. Dionysus: Critique -Doesn’t exist -Doesn’t exist Christians in a Pluralistic World

24. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. Dionysus: Critique -Doesn’t exist -Doesn’t exist -Worship is immoral -Worship is immoral Christians in a Pluralistic World

25. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. Dionysus: Critique -Doesn’t exist -Doesn’t exist -Worship is immoral -Worship is immoral -Cannot save -Cannot save Christians in a Pluralistic World

26. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. Dionysus: Critique -Doesn’t exist -Doesn’t exist -Worship is immoral -Worship is immoral -Cannot save -Cannot save -Can’t even promote fertility or ferment wine -Can’t even promote fertility or ferment wine Christians in a Pluralistic World

27. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. Dionysus: Critique -Doesn’t exist -Doesn’t exist -Worship is immoral -Worship is immoral -Cannot save -Cannot save -Can’t even promote fertility or ferment wine -Can’t even promote fertility or ferment wine Christians in a Pluralistic World False!

28. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. Why believe anything? Christians in a Pluralistic World

29. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. Why believe anything? Because it’s true! Christians in a Pluralistic World

30. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. What about those who believe what is false? Christians in a Pluralistic World

31. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. The new pluralism: - an intellectual fad - an intellectual fad Christians in a Pluralistic World

32. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. The new pluralism: - an intellectual fad - an intellectual fad - ignores the question of truth - ignores the question of truth Christians in a Pluralistic World

33. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. The new pluralism: - an intellectual fad - an intellectual fad - ignores the question of truth - ignores the question of truth - hypocritical - hypocritical Christians in a Pluralistic World

34. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Christians in a Pluralistic World

35. Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?” Christians in a Pluralistic World

36. 20 “You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) Christians in a Pluralistic World

37. 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. Christians in a Pluralistic World

38. 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. Christians in a Pluralistic World Carefully studied their culture

39. 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. Christians in a Pluralistic World Discovered common ground

40. 24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. Christians in a Pluralistic World

41. 24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. They already sensed this... A God who creates all must be adequate to have done so... Rom. 1:19,20 Christians in a Pluralistic World

42. 24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. Christians in a Pluralistic World The transcendence of God

43. 24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.” Christians in a Pluralistic World

44. 24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.” The “self-existence” of God Christians in a Pluralistic World

45. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. Christians in a Pluralistic World Created diversity

46. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. Christians in a Pluralistic World

47. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. Christians in a Pluralistic World The immanence of God

48. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ Christians in a Pluralistic World

49. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ Christians in a Pluralistic World Epimenides and Aratus, two Greek poets

50. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's design and skill. Christians in a Pluralistic World

51. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's design and skill. Christians in a Pluralistic World Reduced, formalistic versions of God rejected

52. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. Christians in a Pluralistic World

53. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. If nothing is false, nothing is true Christians in a Pluralistic World

54. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” Christians in a Pluralistic World

55. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” Our dependency and his nature both point to judgment Christians in a Pluralistic World

56. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” The resurrection is the lynch-pin of Christianity Christians in a Pluralistic World

57. 32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. A few men followed him and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others. Christians in a Pluralistic World

58. Conclusions: äWe don’t decide what God is like äPluralism in the old sense is good äPostmodern pluralism is absurd äWe must come to grips with the God who is there! Christians in a Pluralistic World

59. Conclusions: äWhat does God want from you? äTo come back into relationship with him! Christians in a Pluralistic World

60. Next Time ãCorinth!

61. ä Comments? ä Questions? ä Experiences? Christians in a Pluralistic World