April 12. Acts 17. Neil and Cheryl Rondorf

Seeking the Truth with Honesty

Below is a picture from our 2017 “Footsteps of Paul” trip to Greece and Turkey with the disciples.  In Acts 17, we see an encounter by Paul with the intellectual giants of his day in Athens.  Some of the philosophers refer to Paul as “a pseudo-intellectual (depending on your translation - ESV says “babbler”) - in any case not complimentary.  He is discussing Christ.  Yet, one could consider Paul as one of the great intellects of his time.  He came from Tarsus (Athens, Tarsus, and Alexandria were considered the teaching centers of this time), was trained by Gamaliel (who was considered as one of the great Jewish teachers of all time.) He quotes Epimenida, a Cretan who is credited with the quote Paul uses and who was familiar to Athenians.  Vs 28 “For in him we live and move and exist.”  We should connect the dots and then consider our own attitudes on things.  Paul was scoffed at by learned men and yet he spoke the truth.  Do we listen carefully for the truth in our own lives?  Do we look at the facts and evidence (very much an Athenian trait) and ignore them in favor of what we want to see?  Do we deceive ourselves in how we live and the results of our lives?  Is the influence of the world overwhelming us as the Areopagus hoped to overwhelm new ideas they did not agree with?  Or do we allow the Spirit to influence our decisions in a Godly, righteous way?  Are we willing to seek Godly advice and counsel in our lives?  Only you know the answers - but seek the truth with honesty.   

Ed teaching at what is believed to be the site of the Areopagus in Athens, Greece (Oct 2017)