Apologetic Strategies
Paul in the Synagogue When Paul was in the synagogue his apologetic strategy was simple: preach the Word of God. He could present the straightforward gospel message because his audience shared his central presupposition that the Bible was the inspired Word of God. His starting point in the synagogue, therefore, was the Scriptures.
When confronted with unconverted people today who share our presupposition that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, we have no need of any apologetic tools beyond the Scriptures. Unfortunately, the vast majority of unconverted people do not share our presuppositions; they do not resemble the Jews in the synagogue at Thessalonica. Paul on the Areopagus However, later in the chapter when Paul confronted the Epicureans and Stoics on the Areopagus, he needed a different apologetic strategy. “And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, ‘Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I found an altar with this inscription, “To An Unknown God.” The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things; and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, “For we also are His offspring.” Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.’” (Acts 17:16-32) There was not a large-scale revival at Athens. However… “Some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.” (Acts 17:34) When we consider that his audience was Stoics and Epicureans, those were good results. Stoics and Epicureans The Stoics followed the teachings of the Greek philosopher Zeno (333-262 BC). Some of his teachings were… If Stoicism sounds like Zen Buddhism or the New Age Movement, it is because it shares many of the same ideas. The Epicureans followed the teachings of the Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270). Some of his teaching were… If Epicureanism sounds like Materialistic Atheism, it is because it shares many of the same ideas. So Paul’s hearers were Atheists and New Age mystics. That was a tough crowd! It is amazing that Paul had the results he did. Conclusion Paul adapted his message to his crowd. When speaking to those who did not share his presuppositions concerning the Scriptures, he referenced the common ground shared by all people as human beings created in the image of God. There are at least three areas of common ground listed in this passage. In the next article I will examine the common ground of the nature of man, the creation, and culture. |
...and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.’” (Acts 17:1-3) 
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Copyright © 2006 Paul Barker. All rights reserved. |