Comments on: Lectionary Thoughts on Acts 17.22-31: What did Paul think of his preaching in Acts?

By: megshoeman

megshoeman — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:46:36 +0000

Actually, I was thinking of the 1 Corinthians passage, just to say that there are all sorts of flashy modes of thinking and ideological trends swirling about even while many preachers are perfectly content in their preaching to leave Christian epistemology in the dust.

By: jmeunier

jmeunier — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:43:51 +0000

Meg, I love the term “Oprahization” of theology, but I’m not sure what it means. If you you check back to these comments, could you explain, please?

By: Will

Will — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:09:40 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Bart. You mention that Paul preaches Jesus as risen from the dead. Well, it would be hard to speak of Christ risen without speaking of his death! It would be hard to imagine that Paul would think on his preaching and conclude he didn’t preach enough of the cross.

The 1 Corinthians passage speaks more to the situation in Corinth and their love of philosophy rather than a reflection of his own preaching.

Still, my friend gave me something to think about!

By: Tuesday, 22 April 2008 « Orthokardia’s Weblog

Tuesday, 22 April 2008 « Orthokardia’s Weblog — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:29:28 +0000

[...] Posted by Bart on April 22, 2008 Lectionary Thoughts on Acts 17.22-31: What did Paul think of his preaching in Acts? « Ramblings fro… [...]

By: Bart

Bart — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:06:08 +0000

Acts 17:18 “Paul was telling them the good news of Jesus rising from death”
Paul started by telling the good news. In 1 Cor 1:18 he states “the teachings about the cross seem foolish to those who are lost. But to those who are being saved it is the power of God.” I believe Paul is talking more of the Greek fixation on the theoretical discussion. They were more interested in the cognitive experience than in being saved so the words seem foolish. I believe the words Paul spoke in Athens were from the Holy Spirit and thus perfect for the wooing of men, but their hearts were hard. They were only nine pages (I do not have a study bible) beyond Pentecost.
If there was a downfall to Paul’s preaching it might be that he did not wait for the right time. Acts 17:16, “Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens.” The workers were almost always sent to the harvest in twos or threes. I am not saying a single person cannot share the good news, but Jesus might have had more of a reason than companionship.
What do I take away from these scriptures? Live in the experimental not the theoretical realm. The experimental, going out and doing, requires faith and trust in God while the love of understanding relies on our own strength. The second take away might be work in twos or threes and I might even go as far as saying we could learn from the method Jesus modeled for making disciples.

Bart
http://orthokardia.wordpress.com

By: Will

Will — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:11:46 +0000

Thank you, Meg. Interesting thoughts … which passage did you have in mind when you said it brings all kinds of important questions? The Acts one or the 1 Corinthians one?

By: Meg Shoeman

Meg Shoeman — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:30:07 +0000

Thanks for that, Will. Interesting point indeed, and the notion brings to mind all sorts of important questions–gender language for God, the Oprahization of theology, even suffering, etc. Whatever Paul meant, I wish more preachers would be so bold again as to follow his line.
Wishing you well as you finish up that sermon.