Category Archives: Bible passages

2 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

God will…

“He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” 2 Thessalonians 1:8

Context

Paul, with Silas and Timothy, came to Thessalonica on his second missionary journey which we read in Acts 17 (mostly verses 1-10). Although it appears he was only in Thessalonica for a few weeks, there is reason to believe that he spent more time there than is implied. He describes in 1 Thessalonians 2:9 that he had worked among them and so was there long enough to establish himself in his trade.  Also Philippians 4:15 mentions financial support being sent more than once to him while in Thessalonica. Perhaps he returned on another occasion or perhaps the account in Acts 17 is somewhat truncated. Either way, Paul had quite an impact on the church and the church had an impact on him. The persecution he received from the citizens, including the Jews of this town, was impressive and forms the backdrop to the first chapter of this letter.

Observation

Structure

  • 1-2 Initial Greetings
  • 3-4 The cause for Paul’s prayer
  • 5-10 Paul’s encouragement to stay faithful
  • 11-12 The content of Paul’s prayer

1-2 Initial Greetings

“Paul, Silas and Timothy” Paul authored the letter in the company of Silas and Timothy whom the Thessalonian believers would remember as part of Paul’s ‘company’ in Acts 17. Paul may have used a scribe to pen the letter but he at least concludes it in his own hand (2 Thessalonians 3:17).

“…in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” This is the distinguishing feature of the church – that the assembly (church) in Thessalonians meet to worship God the Father and Jesus Christ their Lord.

“Grace and peace to you…” much of these opening verses are standard greetings in Paul’s letters. The starting point in any Christian communication is that we have grace and peace with God and one another. We are not a people trying to find or fight for peace but those who have been gifted it from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Peace with God has been paid for through Christ and peace with one another has been gifted to us because we have one Lord, one Master, one Saviour, one Judge.

The Thessalonians know who has sent the letter, that it comes in peace and are reminded of their connection to the author by faith in the same Lord and God.

3-4 The Cause For Paul’s Prayer

Note: verses 3-10 are all one sentence in the original Greek. That is not weird but rather helps us to see Paul’s flow of these two apparent sections into one thought flow. That is, he begins to praise them for their growth despite persecution (v3-4) and before concluding what he prays in verses 11-12 he exhorts them to remain faithful because they know the future.

“We ought always to thank God for you…” The interesting word in this phrase is the word ‘ought’. Paul feels obligated or compelled to thank God. It is only right and correct to be thanking God for what Paul has observed.

“…your faith is growing more and more…” The first reason for Paul’s obligation to thank God is that the Christians in Thessalonica are growing in their faith. Put this another way: their trust in God and his promises is getting stronger. Verses 5-10 will show us that it is the promises of God that they are showing trust or faith in. When persecution comes and faith is evident, that is the work of God, not man.

“…and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.” The second reason for Paul’s obligation to thank God is that the church is growing in their love for each other. Again, under persecution, the church will exercise love by the grace of God.

So, trusting God more instead of fleeing and loving one another more instead of abandoning their church are two signs that Paul diagnoses as the work of God.

“Therefore, among God’s churches we boast…” The reports from Thessalonica need to be shared with the churches of God for the encouragement of the hearer, for examples to the hearer and to spur the hearer on to praise God for the church growing despite strong opposition.

“…in all the persecution and trials you are enduring.” Thessalonica, like many other cities of the time, viewed religion as a primary source of unification. One way to establish peace and unity is to enforce one political religion. This may be the background to persecution referenced here. Background historical data can be useful but a simple reading of Acts 17:1-10 (and 11-15) gives enough information to know that the persecution was violent and life threatening.

5-10 Paul’s Encouragement to Stay Faithful

“All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right…” We come to a real test of our understanding in this passage. What does ‘all this’ refer to? Is it the faith and love of the Thessalonians? Is it the persecution of the Thessalonians? Or is it the faith and love despite the persecution? How is the growing faithfulness and increase in love of the Thessalonian church evidence that God’s judgment is right? Philippians 1:27-30 may shed some light on this, especially verse 28.

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

The word “sign” in Phil 1:28 is the same root word for ‘evidence’ in 2 Thess 1:5. The sign is that God is preserving the faith of them through persecution and this shows God’s alignment with the persecuted rather than the persecutors. The former will be saved in the end while the latter will be destroyed.

An alternate view is that the evidence that God’s judgment is right (or God’s righteous judgment) is the persecution and affliction that the Thessalonians experienced. This interpretation goes something like this: look at the way people are treating you – this is evidence that justice must come. This is the view that I am holding and it is based on the outflowing of the rest of the paragraph (verses 5-10). Let’s keep reading.

“…worthy of the kingdom of God…” this is not a celebration of works based religion but rather that the way the Thessalonians are responding to persecution is exactly how a kingdom kid would respond.

V6 “God is just: He will…” Paul merges now into a monologue about the future day of the Lord. This is the theme of chapter 2 and is introduced here in the opening stage of the letter.

“…pay back trouble…and give relief…” The future includes a judgment toward men based on what they have done. Trouble will come to those who are against the church of God and relief will come to those who have suffered for the kingdom of God. Ultimately, as spelled out in verse 8, this boils down to those who are for Jesus and those who are against.

“When the Lord Jesus is revealed…” The judgment will come when all is wrapped up on the final day of the Lord. We will discuss some of the controversies about the end of time when we come to chapter 2. The Lord’s coming is briefly described in mighty imagery: blazing fire and powerful angels. Paul will want to reassure his readers in chapter 2 that this has not happened yet and here he indicates quickly that it will not be a show people will miss. The immediate context is contrasting the trouble for those who don’t know God with the relief for those who do.

  • The Trouble: everlasting destruction; shut out from the presence of the Lord and his glory.
  • The Relief: brought to the presence of the Lord and his glory; holy; marveling at Him.

This section may be made clearer if read in reverse (sentence by sentence). The bullet points would look like this:

  • You Thessalonians believed our testimony to you (of God, Jesus and the gospel)
  • On the Day of the Lord you will marvel in his glorious presence because of your belief.
  • Others will be punished and excluded from God’s presence.
  • They will be punished because they neither know God nor obey (believe) the gospel.
  • This will happen when the Lord Jesus is made known (with heavenly fire and angels).
  • God is just and will pay back trouble for trouble and relief to the troubled.
  • You will be counted worthy because of your suffering for the kingdom.
  • You know that God’s judgment is right since you have endured such trouble.

Thus, the evidence in verse 5 refers to the trouble caused on the Thessalonians bearing testimony for God to judge and judge rightly. The encouragement is that the Thessalonians must keep enduring because they have believed Paul’s testimony and ought to recall the coming of the Lord. This persecution fits perfectly with the message of the gospel and is a sign that the gospel is true.

11-12 The Content of Paul’s Prayer

“With this in mind…” The present suffering from trouble makers is again in mind. Paul’s prayer will focus on the work of God to continue in the Thessalonians despite opposition.

“…we constantly pray for you…” Or ‘we always pray for you.’ It was routine for Paul to pray for his converts (Phil 1:9 and Col 1:3,9). Prayer for the body of Christ ought to be a major focus of our prayers. God does not promise to heal sickness or stop death or keep people safe in travel or to do well in exams but he does promise that he will complete the good work that he has started in a believer. Prayer, if nothing else, is the practice of those who believe God will fulfil his promises.

“…worthy of his calling…” This reflects the language of verse 5 and may be requesting that the church will continue to persevere and grow in faith as in verse 4.

“…he may bring to fruition…” God is asked in prayer to support the efforts of the church for good. No specifics are mentioned here – the prayer is far reaching and based on the desire of the Thessalonians for good. This may be answered in this life but is promised to be fulfilled on the Day of the Lord. This may be a request in line with the church to grow in faith – desiring the goodness of God.

“…every deed prompted by faith…” This may correspond to the love described in the church for one another. Both the growth in faith and the love for one another praised in verse 3 is the subject of Paul’s prayer in verse 11.

“…the name of our Lord Jesus…” lest we forget, the testimony believed (v10) and the gospel obeyed (v8) and the future of the church (v10) is all for the glory of the Lord Jesus.

Meaning

There is a clear and present danger that Christians may take their eyes off our future hope and relief and be overcome by the suffering of persecution. By the grace of God we pray that the church will live lives worthy of the gospel, knowing that today’s trouble reminds us of future judgment and stirs us to desire God now. God will bring disaster on trouble makers and bring eternal peace and glory to those who stand firm with Him now.

Application

  • Topic A: Prayer for the church. Take time to discuss prayer in your group. Think about the ease or awkwardness you experience together. Think also about the content of your prayers. How could you continue to grow in faith and love together through the things that you pray for and how you pray? Are your prayers gospel focused?
  • Topic B: Persecution and trials. There is no doubt that heavy persecution occurs around the world today against Christians. In Australia, physical persecution is not common. We can even enjoy great friendships with unbelievers in this country. Resistance is present though and our faith can be tested here too. Discuss ways you feel being Christian can be counter cultural to the point of discomfort or worse. How can you turn those feelings into hope for the future? How can or do you respond to such trials?
  • Topic C: Desiring to be in the presence of the Lord. The ultimate future described in 2 Thessalonians 1 is that we will stand amazed in the presence of the Lord. Share how this is or isn’t a compelling future for you. What can we do to set our hearts in this direction? Perhaps praying through verse 11 and 12 will be part of the answer.

Prayer of the Week

Heavenly Father and Jesus our Lord, thank you for calling us into your holy church. Please make us worthy of this calling. May our hearts desire goodness and may you bring those desires to fruition. May our actions be prompted by faith in you and not fear of man. We pray this so that Your name may be glorified in us and that we may be glorified in You. We pray all of this according to your grace our God and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Acts, Church, Mission

Acts 18:1-17 – God’s people in Corinth

Context

Paul’s second missionary journey has taken him from Antioch in Syria to Athens in Greece. He is only a short boat ride away from Rome. He preached the gospel in Athens while he was waiting for Silas and Timothy to join him there. He reasoned with the Athenians that Jesus is God’s chosen one, risen from the dead, who will judge the entire world one day with justice. No other so-called gods are anything.

Observation

Structure

  • 1-3 Paul meets refugees Priscilla and Aquila
  • 4-6 Paul is done with the Jews in Corinth
  • 7-11 God points Paul to his people in Corinth
  • 12-16 The Jews being pushed aside
  • 1-3 Paul meets refugees Priscilla and Aquila

“…went to Corinth…” A church was formed from Paul’s visit here which receives at least 3 letters from Paul (only 2 of them have survived). Crispus (v8) and Sosthenes (v16) are both spoken of in 1 Corinthians 1:14 and 1:1. Paul had impact in this first visit that would establish a church of Christ.

“…there he met Aquila…with his wife Priscilla…” This husband and wife team became partners in the gospel with Paul. They housed him while in Corinth and went on to travel with him before commencing gospel work of their own (see v19, 26; Romans 16:3; 1 Cor 16:19; 2 Tim 4:19).

“…Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome…” Priscilla and Aquila were refugees from Italy since Jews were being forced out of Rome. They were Greek since they were native of Pontus. Pontus is mentioned among the exiled Christians in 1 Peter 1:1.

“…he was a tentmaker…” Both Paul and Aquila were tentmakers. While Paul waited for his colleagues, Silas and Timothy, to arrive, he held an income alongside Aquila by working his trade. While tentmaking to earn money, he continued his habit of reasoning in the synagogues. This has become a modern shorthand phrase to refer to someone who works a low-key position somewhere in order to receive income while they continue their main goal in life which is to win people for Christ.

4-6 Paul is done with the Jews in Corinth

“…every Sabbath he reasoned…” Paul has continued to persist with the Jews in every town that he has visited. I am constantly amazed at how far and wide the Jewish faith had travelled for a religion that was all about the land and the Temple. It is apparent that the faith was also about the heritage and the hope that one day God would come and deliver them and re-establish his kingdom. And for this reason, Paul would reason with them every Saturday.

“…Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching…” When Siras and Timothy finally arrived to be with Paul, they may have brought rations and money with them to enable him to drop the tentmaking and devote all of his time to preaching.

“…testifying…that Jesus was the Messiah…” As we’ve mentioned in earlier posts, the subject of Paul’s message was not to establish the need for a Messiah but to prove that Jesus is the Messiah. In modern terms, we might say, in every context, that Jesus is the reason and purpose of life. Know Jesus, know life – No Jesus, no life. A Jewish faith that is honest and humble will recognise Jesus as the Messiah. But these Jews would not see it.

“…your blood be on your own heads…” Paul has made his case for Jesus and they have rejected Jesus as Lord. This will not fall on Paul’s head come judgement day, but on those who rejected. John 3:18 says that “Whoever believes in [Jesus] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” Condemnation falls on this fact alone: whether Jesus is accepted or rejected. Welcome Jesus today and you will be welcomed too into eternal life. Reject Jesus and you will receive the same response on the day of judgement. Paul is washing his hands of the Jews in Corinth.

7-11 God points Paul to his people in Corinth

“…Paul left the synagogue and went next door…” Paul’s next stop was not his lounge chair but to the next house. Right there, a stone’s throw away from the Jewish synagogue, stood another house containing a man who had regard for God. Perhaps his worship was unschooled or perhaps he fashioned his theology after the Jews that he heard next door.

“…many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptised…” Where one door had been closed to Paul, others were opened. Rejection by the Jews didn’t stop him from preaching and it turns out that some of the synagogue turned to Jesus and were baptised.

“…the Lord spoke…’I have many people in this city.’…” The Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, encouraging him to remain in Corinth and to keep speaking because his elect are there waiting to hear and believe. The Jews may be hard-hearted but God had prepared many other hearts in the city to receive Jesus as Lord of their lives.

“…so Paul stayed…teaching them the word of God…” As Paul stayed, he continued to make the word of God his teaching platform. The gospel does not grow or expand or sway or vear or increase or mature with other things. It remains about Jesus the Messiah who died and rose again according to the scriptures. Paul wants the world to hear the word of God – not the wisdom of Paul. With all the self-help books in the world and the thousands of hours of podcasts from Christians and other insightful people, nothing can grow and mature us quite like knowing and reading and learning from the word of God.

12-16 The Jews being pushed aside

“…the Jews of Corinth…brought [Paul] to the place of judgement…” Once again, the Jews are on Paul’s case to try and stop him from preaching Jesus. Once again, the Jews used their local Roman official to cast judgement for them. There is nothing new under the sun. These Jews will not succeed because God has been protecting Paul along his journey plus God had spoken to Paul and said that no harm was going to come upon him. It seems almost like God’s word could go unfulfilled – but we know better than to think that!

“…settle the matter yourselves…” Even before Paul has a chance to defend himself, the proconsul silences everyone and declares that this is none of his business. This is a waste of time for him. What does he care what Paul is preaching?

“…the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader…” Sosthenes was one of the Jews who had believed Paul, we know this because he is later mentioned by Paul in 1 Cor 1:1. The Jews turned on one of their own who had succumbed to the new teaching. Unable to do any real damage to Paul on their own since he was not part of their synagogue, they made a violent point to those within.

“…Gallio showed no concern whatever…” The Roman view of the Jews is becoming increasingly low. Aquilla and Priscilla had been driven out of Italy because they were Jewish. Now Gallio seems totally unfazed by what the Jews do to themselves.

Meaning

The Jews are no longer considered the people of God but only those whom God has set aside to receive Jesus as Lord. Both God and the rulers of the land seem to cast the Jews aside.

Application

  1. When do you stop reasoning with people about the gospel? What do you do when one dead end is reached on the mission field?
  2. A five year plan was set for us all to bring one person to church and to Christ in the next five years. What stage of the plan are you up to? Take time to pray for the person or people you believe God has given you to witness to.
  3. Paul was a tentmaker for a time but later devoted himself fully to preaching the word of God. Discuss how we use “tentmaking” and giving people fully to the work of the gospel in our church and community.
  4. Reflect on Acts 9-18 and consider the various ways the gospel has been presented. Look back over a map and see the area that Paul has covered. Give thanks to God that the gospel spread so far and so quickly into a world that had only known darkness. Pray for our world today that still needs this gospel so that we can know God, know eternal life and know the freedom that comes from serving Him alone.
Acts, Mission, The Word of God

Acts 17:16-34 – How to preach Jesus as Lord in a Gentile world

Context

It’s a new world where God has revealed Jesus to be the Messiah. He was rejected by his people and crucified but was raised to life again, showing his approval by God. Jesus is God’s Son, His promised Saviour, and, quite literally, the Champion of the world. But will the world receive Him?

Paul has been travelling a great distance from his home church in Antioch to take the gospel to the Gentile world. He left with Silas and also Timothy whom he collected on his journey. Paul preached in Thessalonica and Berea and was escorted from Berea to Athens for his safety while Silas and Timothy remained. His travel partners were summoned for, however, and Paul waits for them in Athens.

Observation

Structure

  • 16-21 The context of the gospel in Athens
  • 22-31 Paul’s gospel to the Gentiles
  • 22-23 Introduction
  • 24-28 About the Lord of heaven and earth
  • 29-31 About the man God has appointed to judge the world
  • 32-34 The people’s response

16-21 The context of the gospel in Athens

“…he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols..” The idols described are of gold or silver in tribute to as many gods as the Athenians are aware of and even to any that they have not yet heard (17:29; 23). They were not merely statues for artists to create and admire, but were dedicated to the gods and regarded even as gods. This distressed Paul. He didn’t simply see a cultural reflection from a spiritual people, he saw the foolishness and ignorance of a people who have failed to acknowledge the one true God. They were lost without the knowledge of the truth.

“…so he reasoned…” So Paul got to work to reason with the people. They were responding to information that they had heard up until now about deity and now Paul took up the opportunity to inform them of the reality. You see, Paul doesn’t consider that the truth is open to interpretation or that their perception of the world is just as valid as his. Rather, he sees that they are lacking the piece of the puzzle of life that can set them free! They need to know Jesus and this is not just his own faith and part of his custom, but it is the truth which they need to hear and respond to. The gospel is something that we can speak reasonably to people about. Of course it is since it stems from where life came from.

“…What is this babbler trying to say?…Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection…” Although he was reasoning with them, he also spoke to them, perhaps, in the manner which he had grown used to among Jews and Gentile converts. He included background information that may have sounded reasonable and contextual for a Jew but to the Athenians, this was a new idea and a new perception.

“…talking about and listening to the latest ideas…” His new audience were very interested to hear more since this was their custom. Paul had attracted the ears of locals who loved to listen to new ideas. They were philosophers. They were people who enjoyed to ask the big questions and fill the answers with interesting and plausible – even testable ideas. It’s ironic that the oldest story ever told, because it is literally the oldest story, is being considered by the Athenians as a new idea. Sure, Jesus is a new name in the world, but his story is part of the oldest one alive. Strangely, even though we now live in a world where the story of Jesus is old, I sense that he is so misunderstood, so overlooked and so under taught (both literally and properly) that he can even be presented today as a new idea. Don Carson, who is an North American Theologian, has been doing university missions for 40 years and he reflected on a pod-cast (speaking at Queensland Theological College) that the current missions he runs are not like the ones he used to run. Forty years ago, people knew enough of the story of Jesus and of church teaching that they had plenty to argue about. Today, introducing people to Jesus gives a hugely different response. People are interested and not offended. People have elementary questions rather than hate and pre-rehearsed debate.

22-31 Paul’s gospel to the Gentiles

22-23 Introduction

“…you are ignorant of the very thing you worship…” This is the opening of Paul’s speech and the point of his talk. He didn’t open with this line of course, he remarked positively on the very thing that he had found disturbing. He was taking their idolatry and describing it in a light that would lead him to talk about Jesus. Paul had found an opening and an intersection between his message and their understanding. This is a great lesson in evangelism, knowing where to start and where the gospel connects with the audience. When and how you begin is really not important except that you find where it is! The really important part of sharing the gospel is not so much where you begin but where you end up. The gospel is all about repairing people’s ignorance and giving opportunity to turn to Jesus and live.

24-28 About the Lord of heaven and earth

“…The God who made the world and everything in it…” This is Paul’s way in. The gospel is universal because the God who sent Jesus is the same God who made heaven and earth and everything in it. Of course, he is the only God! The point, though, is that God is not local and subject to certain communities and their borders. Rather, he is above everything and we only need to know who he is and what he has done and calls us to do. He is not contained by temples or things made by humans because he, first and foremost, made us! Even Solomon, who made the first great Temple knew this (See 1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chron 2:6).

“…as if he needs anything…” It’s a great mistake of all human religion that treats God like he needs to be appeased, fed, calmed, polished or whatever. Perhaps a robot might feel like they can provide for their human creators who made them for service. But the comparison is more like a soccer ball who feels that they have something to offer David Beckham. What possibly could an inflated cow-hide give to an athlete who knows how to be in control. Beckham does not serve the ball and the ball does not serve him – the ball merely is and does at Beckham’s whim and fancy.

“…rather, he himself gives…” It’s an equal mistake to think that God does not care about us puny humans. He is the giver of life. Because He created us and all things, we owe him our attention and respect. The world did not appear out of nothing by accident! God made everything and he place Adam in the world, with Eve, to fill it and subdue it. It is not our place to define God or to order his limitations but to acknowledge ours. From one man, all of life came. And for that, we give thanks to God.

“…God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him…” So, the gospel begins with this information: that God is the loving creator of all things. Next, it follows that all people on earth need to know him and thank him. Just as Romans 1:20 says, the basic outcome of life ought to be that we thank God and worship Him. The bible says that the heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1-2). Mankind is without excuse for ignoring their Creator. Paul adds that really God is not far away but near. The truth about sin is that mankind never reaches out to God. The truth about grace is that God always reaches out for us. Paul again reasons with the Athenians by using some of their own poets to help his argument. He has seen how their thinking and religion reflect that they are God’s creatures who need to be taught clearly about Jesus.

29-31 About the man God has appointed to judge the world

“…in the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now…” God has put up with idol worship for centuries. This was the constant battle of the Old Testament: to overcome idolatry in the hearts of the Israelites. The kings of Israel were graded good or evil based on their tearing down or building up of idolatry. God taught the Jews directly and they ought to have been a lighthouse for the world to tear down their idols and learn though the Jews who the one true God is. Instead, God has been putting up with idolatry for generations. Paul calls this ignorance. But the time is now to put aside ignorance and to teach the world that the living God has spoken to this world. And notice that the ignorance is not an excuse for sin because their next step is to repent.

“…he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed…” God’s dominion and power and authority has been established in Paul’s speech. The sin of all humanity has been laid down. The consequences of continued ignorance or rejection of this message is judgement which is coming. When the day of judgement comes, all will be judged equally and fairly. It is a day of justice. And the one who will judge is Jesus. He came the first time to save, but the second time he comes, it will not be to save but to judge (John 12:47; Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; Rev 14:7). All of humanity will stand condemned or freed based on their response to Jesus as Lord.

“…he has given proof of this to everyone…” How can we tell the world that Jesus is Lord when they are not Jewish or have any understanding of the being one God over all? How do you convince anyone that this is the truth and that Jesus is more than a carpentar and a prophet? You tell them about the resurrection. Paul places the resurrection as the central most important element of our faith (1 Cor 15). It was the resurrection that converted Paul! Not news about Jesus and his message but knowing that Jesus had been raised from the dead as he appeared to Paul on the Damascus road.

32-34 The people’s response

“…when they heard about the resurrection of the dead…” Now this is where the division begins. Some heard about the resurrection and became followers of Paul and believed while others sneered. John Dickson has done some great work in writing and presenting documentaries on the subject of the resurrection and the trustworthiness of the eye-witnesses. His books and DVDs like ‘The Christ Files’ and “The Life of Jesus” are excellent resources to have. Getting to grips with this discussion is important. Our faith is founded on the reality of the resurrection. Our hope is based on the reality of the resurrection. Our Lord’s character is tested on the reality of the resurrection.

Meaning

The gospel preached to non-Scriptural folk begins with a different context but still concludes with Jesus as Lord and the resurrection from the dead. No human is exempt from this one test: do they believe that Jesus is Lord, risen from the dead. Romans 10:9 says, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe with your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Otherwise…judgement is coming.

Application

  1. Being distressed by the world that you live in. Have you considered your own reaction to people saying OMG? Do you worry about the amount of energy and time and dedication people give to shopping malls? When you look at the world, do you see people striving to get along while we wait for our lives to be over or do you see people living in ignorance and desperately in need of a Saviour? Reflect on the way you see the world you live in.
  2. Reasoning instead of attacking. Even though Paul was distressed by the idolatry, he used it as a way to make inroads to the gospel. He did not attack their sin but reasoned with them to see the truth. It seems like Paul did not view the Athenians as primitives but as fellow humans in need of the gospel. Consider how you view those around you? Are they exempt from judgement and true worship because of their different look at life? Or are they living in ignorance and need persuasion to repent?
  3. The resurrection as proof. Do you believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus? Why? What makes you so sure? Could you persuade someone who is interested to listen?