Acts 17 question

[TinaK]

Hi,

Been awhile since I’ve last posted. I don’t get much computer time anymore. Anyway, I’m stumped on Acts 17:16-34.

I think I remember reading or hearing somewhere that one of Paul’s greatest failure as an apostle was when he was before the Areopagus in Athens. However, I can’t find anything about this anywhere. Can anyone help me on this?

I’m working on a stupid survey from church, and this particular passage came to mind while trying to answer some questions.

TIA,

TinaK
still in no-man’s land

 

[Della]

Why a failure? The last verses say:

[32] Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, “We will hear you again about this.”
[33] So Paul went out from among them.
[34] But some men joined him and believed, among them Dionys’ius the Are-op’agite and a woman named Dam’aris and others with them.

Sounds like he did pretty well considering these pagans knew nothing about the Hebrew prophets and the expectation of the Jewish Messiah. Remember, not even Jesus could persuade everyone, nor did he expect that he would.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

One notes that St Paul founded no church in Athens.

In Athens he used reason and logic; he tried to argue the case for Christianity. I think it was soon after this, and maybe as a result of this, that he stated

For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart.”
20] Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21] For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
22] For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,
23] but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
24] but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25] For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1:20-25

 

[TinaK]

One notes that St Paul founded no church in Athens.

In Athens he used reason and logic; he tried to argue the case for Christianity. I think it was soon after this, and maybe as a result of this, that he stated 1 Corinthians 1:20-25

That’s it! That’s the part I forgot! Athens was St. Paul’s failure because he didn’t preach Christ crucified.

Thank you!