ATHENS: How the Apostle Paul Engaged Culture to Share the Gospel

Acts 17

“How do we get the Gospel to flow with the culture?”

-        Dr. Jim O’Neill, Co-founder https://www.nextgenleader.net/ 

When the Apostle Paul visited Athens, likely around 50 AD, the city was a prominent center of learning and culture, though it had experienced a decline from its classical peak. The city had a glorious past as the cradle of Western philosophy and democracy. By the first century AD, it was part of the Roman Empire but retained much of its cultural and intellectual influence. Wealthy Romans sent their children to Athens to be educated by its philosophers and gain sophistication in the presence of its culture. Democracy, however faltering its first steps, began in this city, and education and the arts flourished in its environment.[1]

Athens was not Paul's main destination; he arrived there after being forced out of Berea by the Jewish leaders who had driven Him out of Thessalonica (Acts 17:14–15). While waiting for Silas and Timothy, Paul was disturbed by the city's idolatry (Acts 17:16). He spent time in the Jewish synagogues and the Agora, Athens' marketplace and social hub (Acts 17:17).

Athens was home to famous philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. It had numerous schools of thought, including the Academy (founded by Plato) and the Lyceum (founded by Aristotle). Epicurean and Stoic philosophies were particularly influential during Paul's time. The city was renowned for its educational institutions and attracted students from across the Roman Empire.

Although Paul was a Jew, their philosophies were not unknown to him. Tarsus, his home city in Cilicia (Asia Minor, modern Turkey), was itself a major center of philosophical learning in the 1st century. Three well-known Stoic philosophers - Zeno of Tarsus, Antipater of Tarsus, and Chrysippus, among others - were natives of the city. The Epicureans were bitter rivals of the Stoics, and both philosophies were current in Athens at the time of Paul’s visit.[2]

Due to the intertwining of religion and philosophy, the Athenians worshipped a pantheon of gods and goddesses, with numerous temples and altars dedicated to them. Key sites included the Parthenon, the Temple of Hephaestus, and various other shrines. Paul's observations in Acts 17 suggest that Athens was filled with idols, which he found troubling. The prevalence of statues and altars dedicated to various deities was a common feature of the city.

Having been struck by the number of idols in the city, Paul engaged in discussions in the synagogue and the marketplace (Agora) with Jews, God-fearing Gentiles, and others who were present. He also conversed with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. His message about Jesus and the resurrection sparked curiosity and debate, leading to an invitation to speak at the Areopagus (Mars Hill) which was a prominent rock outcropping where philosophical and legal discussions took place and was significant both as a council and a physical location. The Areopagus Council was responsible for religious and moral oversight.

In his famous sermon here (Acts 17:22-31), Paul spoke about the "...unknown god…" to whom the Athenians had an altar. He used this as a starting point to introduce the true God of Scripture, emphasizing God's transcendence, the need for repentance, and the resurrection of Jesus.

An important observation is how Paul presents the Gospel of Christ in the setting of the Jewish synagogue as compared to his presentation in the overwhelmingly gentile Council of Areopagus.

The Apostle Paul contextualizes the Good News of Jesus as Savior of the World:

In the Synagogue Acts 13	In the Court of Areopagus Acts 17
Follows custom/culture of the Synagogue	Addresses custom/culture of religious statues
After the reading of the Torah and the Prophets, Paul uses Scripture from Exodus to King David to Jesus and the New Covenant vv. 17-37	Uses "the cosmological argument" (argument from creation) vv. 24-31
Shares justification by faith in Jesus that wasn't provided by the Law vv. 38 - 41	Shares why God created humankind, …so that they should seek the Lord… vv. 26 & 27
Uses the Hebrew Scriptures to proclaim that this is their history and the plan of Israel’s God to reach them and the gentiles. Vv. 23-26	Uses poems to Zeus attributing them to the true God v. 28. The 1st phrase is from a poem attributed to Epimenides the Cretan v. 28a and the 2nd from a poem by Aratus v. 28c.
Presents the Resurrection of their Messiah Jesus vv. 34-37	Presents the Resurrection of Jesus as representative of all humanity v. 31
Calls for repentance. vv. 38-41	Calls for repentance. …but now commands all everywhere to repent…. v. 30
RESPONSE: They …the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. v. 42 and …many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabus. v. 43	RESPONSE: Some ridiculed, some desired to hear him again, and some …joined him and believed… vv. 32-34

Paul's visit to Athens highlights the city's rich intellectual and religious life and illustrates the challenges and opportunities Paul would face in spreading the Good News (Gospel) and making disciples of Jesus in other environments.

Questions for today’s disciples:

·       Do you know how to effectively share the Good News of Jesus in your own culture?

·       Have you practiced your story as part of His story?

·       When was the last time you shared this Good News with others?

[1] Fant, Clyde E.; Reddish, Mitchell G.. A Guide to Biblical Sites in Greece and Turkey (p. 12). Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition.

[2] Ibid. (p. 16).