The resurrection of the dead is anathema to the modern mind. Rudolf Bultmann, one of the most famous New Testament scholars and liberal theologians of the 20th century, said, “A historical event involving a resurrection from the dead is absolutely inconceivable. ” For the apostle Paul, however, Christianity without the resurrection of Jesus from the dead was inconceivable (see 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11). Along with the other apostles, Paul proclaimed the resurrection as the great fact on which Christianity stands or falls. How can we talk to people who are disillusioned and skeptical of the resurrection? Luke’s account of Paul’s ministry in Athens (Acts 17: 16-34) gives us much-needed direction. When Paul arrived in Athens he preached in the synagogue, but he also went to the “free market”, where philosophers and teachers met to exchange ideas (v. 17). Paulo persevered through the initial misunderstanding and mockery, accepting an invitation to speak with the Areopagus, a solemn body of retired officials. In this discourse, Paul first gently but firmly exposes a fundamental and fatal weakness of polytheism. The altar, to the unknown god? it was the final recognition by the Athenians that their religion was insufficient and inadequate. So Paul presents the Athenians with the solution they needed, but would never find among themselves. worship of the only true God.
Paul speaks to the Athenians of the sovereign and absolutely necessary God who has made and supports the world and all that it contains (vv. 24-25). He also speaks to them of themselves (vv. 26-29). God made all human beings “in one,” and he also “put the times and limits of his room previously established” (17:26). All our lives are inevitably lived before the omnipresent God (17:28). We are also the holders of his image (“generation”; vv. 28-29).
- For these reasons.
- Should we seek God? (V.
- 27).
- We should not try to think of God or worship him with images (v.
- 29).
- However.
- As sinners.
- The best we can do is “identify the way with our hands”.
- That is.
- Grope in the dark (v.
- 27).
- God is always present for his creation.
- But his sinful creatures have intentionally refused to come to him.
- Still.
- Because God created and supported us.
- We will one day be accountable to Him (see v.
- 31).
Until now, Paul reasoned with the Athenians on the basis of what they knew about God and themselves since creation. So are you turning to a particular event in history? God raised a man from the dead (v. 31). The fact that God removed Jesus’ death sentence and publicly confirmed it means that Jesus was a righteous man. All this to say: he is unlike any other person who has ever walked the face of the earth. This righteous Jesus declared on earth that he would judge everyone (see John 5: 19-29). The resurrection confirmed this statement. By raising Jesus from the dead, God has publicly ratified Jesus’ statement about judging the world at the end of this age. Because this judgment is correct and imminent, does Paul plead with his listeners to repent? (Acts 17:30), who went from worshiping idols to worshiping the Triune God. The resurrection and the preaching of the gospel throughout the world put an end to the “times of ignorance,” in which it pleased God to retain the final judgment (v. 30). The days of relative but guilty gentle blindness were over. Only the Gospel can dispel the current ignorance and blindness in which unrenewed humanity finds itself. The mention of Paul’s resurrection produces two different results. Do some people laugh and smile sarcastically? the idea that someone’s body would have an immortal existence would be ridiculous to the Greek mind (v. 32a). Others, however, wanted to hear more and, believing in Christ, followed Paul (vv. 32b-34).
The proclamation of Jesus’ Resurrection, on this occasion, did not earned Paul the honors of Athenian intellectuals, nor has it resulted in a visibly impressive number of converts in Athens, but Paul did not preach the resurrection because it was popular. because it’s true. Jesus’ resurrection confirmed the judgment to come, but He also obtained blessings for those who did not deserve it. As much as God likes to use this truth in the lives of those who do not believe, the mission of the church remains to tell others that Jesus rose from the dead.
By: Guy Waters. © 2016 Ligonier. Original: Resurrection
This article is part of the January 2016 edition of Tabletalk magazine.
Translation: Joel Pedro Cavani Review: Yago Martins © 2016 Faithful Ministério All rights reserved. Website: MinisterioFiel. com. br Original: Resurrection: A Vital Truth for Christianity
Authorizations: You are authorized and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format, provided that the author, his ministry and translator are no longer no longer modified and not used for commercial purposes.