The Apostle Paul was confronted by the risen Jesus Christ (Acts 9), and transformed into a zealous missionary on behalf of the cause he had previously persecuted. In the course of his travels he came to Athens (Acts 17).
Athens at the time was a prominent Greek city, and notorious for its devotion to many different gods. It contained altars to every god they could think of, and lest one had been overlooked there was a spare (v. 23).
Paul was stirred by the sight of all this superstition, and as was his habit he talked about it to all those he met. There was no difficulty in this, for the Athenians were notorious talkers. Paul told them about his own faith. He mentioned Jesus and the resurrection of the dead, and it was not long before the people took notice and wanted to know more. In accordance with the general temper of the city, such news quickly reached the ears of the philosophers, and they brought Paul to the Areopagus on Mars Hill—an open-air theatre where discussions took place. Paul was invited to speak.
Paul’s Speech on Mars Hill
Try to visualise the scene. Paul’s audience would consist of a variety of people—lawyers, doctors, merchants, philosophers; scoffers, and others who were really interested to listen and learn. Across the valley on its own hill stood the gleaming temple of Athene. Paul, the Jew, and now the Christian, faced the crowd. Being an educated Roman citizen he was as learned in philosophy as any, but Paul had also received education from a divine source. He had been taught of God, by the risen Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:3).
With great tact Paul commended the evident desire of the Athenians for worship, and declared himself to be an ambassador on behalf of the ‘Unknown God’
(Acts 17:23). The altar had created a problem for them—they could carve images of all the other gods, but they couldn’t make an image of what they didn’t know, so the altar was empty. Paul used this as his introduction: ‘The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything’ (vs. 24–25).
He continued, probably turning his gaze to the splendid temple of Athene in front of him: ‘Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man’ (v. 29).
Human ideas are not a true standard, and images and temples that proceed from human imagination are symptoms of ignorance. Paul continued, ‘The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead’ (vs. 30–31).
What was the effect upon the listening crowd? Some mocked, some were more polite, but there were some who believed.
The Teaching of Paul and Jesus
Let’s consider just two of the comments Paul made in his letters regarding this God whom he revealed to the Athenians.
Although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”—yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist (1 Corinthians 8:5–6).
There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).
Two very important points are to be observed from these testimonies. Paul taught that there is one God, and one Lord Jesus Christ. They are distinct and are not to be confused. He emphasised these truths in contrast to the generally accepted view of there being ‘many gods’.
Though Paul had become an ardent believer in Christ Jesus, he had been reared in the Jewish religious faith, one of the fundamentals of which was ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one’ (Deuteronomy 6:4).
Throughout their history Israel had often been unfaithful to this truth. Their embracing of the many gods of the surrounding nations was one of the evils for which God sent them into captivity (for example Ezekiel 8). By the First Century, Jewish religion was far from the truth which God had delivered to them through Moses and the prophets, but at least they had left behind the ideas of ‘many gods’. Paul had many contentions with the Jews, but never once was the controversy regarding the unity of God—that was accepted.
If Paul were to return to our day, what would he find in regard to the Christian faith? Would he not find circumstances parallel to those he found in Athens? The prevailing view among the churches is that God is three persons—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. As an alternative to this incomprehensible idea, some teach that Jesus was a mere man, the genius of his age, who by his own endeavour became an object of worship.
The Truth About God
Neither of these views is to be found in the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, we never read “God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost”, nor anything about “one in three’’ or “three in one”. On the contrary, special emphasis is laid upon the fact that God is the Creator and Sustainer, and Jesus is His Son. To speak thus of Jesus is in no sense derogatory of his honour and glory, for we read:
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David (Luke 1:32).
You are the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered (Hebrews 5:7–8).
Such testimony cannot be understood of Jesus if, in fact, he was an integral part of the Godhead. The simple teaching of the Bible presents Jesus as the Son of God, born of the virgin Mary. His earthly ministry was that of a servant learning obedience, and his example becomes an inspiration to those who seek to follow in his steps. He is ‘one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin’ (Hebrews 4:15).
We need to believe. ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16). The apostle Philip preached the Gospel in Samaria, and ‘when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women’ (Acts 8:12).
The Call of the Gospel
Let us return to Athens, to Mars Hill, as part of the listening crowd. How have the words of Paul affected our minds? In those far-off days ‘some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this”… But some men joined him and believed’
(Acts 17:32–34).
Today is ours. Not one of us can be certain of tomorrow; and so whilst it is today we need to think seriously about these things. Will we believe and obey; accept the salvation God offers; be baptised for the remission of our sins, and become associated with the promise of eternal life through the Son of God; accept him as our Saviour, and serving him, receive his aid to overcome (John 16:33)?
If we do, then God will no longer be unknown. ‘This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent’ (John 17:3).
A E Owler