Wednesday, May 19, 2004 AD
Preaching to Pagans
Following my earlier link to Dick Lucas’ exposition of 1 Corinthians 13, here’s another classic exposition by Lucas, entitled “Preaching to Pagans”, looking at St Paul’s Athens sermon. Lucas identifies from this passage seven characteristics of an effective preacher to pagans, “whether of the religious or irreligious variety”:
1. Powers of Reasoning
Paul didn’t rely on emotional appeals: he “reasoned”, “explained”, “proved” etc, and “not a few” were “persuaded”. Lucas draws attention to “the relentless logic, the close reasoning and the irresistible conclusion” of Paul’s “marvelously tight, ordered, and clear” sermon structure. He also refutes the old chestnut about Paul’s “failure” at Athens making him take a different approach in Corinth of “knowing nothing … except Jesus Christ and him crucified”.
2. Demolition skills
Lucas highlights how effectively Paul demolished “arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God” in his Athens sermon, particularly the way he “subverts everything that Athenian religion stood for” in vv.24,25.
3. Fearlessness
Lucas highlights Paul’s direct and forceful approach:
Paul’s persistence is shown in this passage. “Who but this man could have turned a defence of his position, before such an audience, into so direct a call for repentance?”
5. A Heart for God
Lucas quotes John Stott, who asks “whether we can speak as Paul spoke if we do not feel as Paul felt”. As Lucas points out, “A heart for God … will also be a heart for lost mankind.”
6. A Missionary Mind-Set
“The God of the Bible wants ‘all men’ to be saved (1 Tim 2:3), and preachers to pagans discover within themselves the same desire. With its repeated emphasis on ‘all men’ (25f, 30, 31) Paul’s sermon in Athens is very much a missionary sermon.” Again, Lucas effectively dismisses arguments that this sermon - with its reference to repentance but not to faith in Christ - is an inadequate presentation of the Gospel.
7. A Wide Culture
A balance is important here: “The preacher to pagans does not have to be a glutton for pagan culture, especially of the present day variety … What matters is wide sympathies, and an interest in all things human.”
Finally: one of the most important traits identified by Lucas in St Paul is the ability to know when to stay and persevere, and when to move on in the face of rejection. In one of the best passages in his exposition - one which has justifiably been adopted for the Proclamation Trust's "splash" intro page - Lucas writes:
1. Powers of Reasoning
Paul didn’t rely on emotional appeals: he “reasoned”, “explained”, “proved” etc, and “not a few” were “persuaded”. Lucas draws attention to “the relentless logic, the close reasoning and the irresistible conclusion” of Paul’s “marvelously tight, ordered, and clear” sermon structure. He also refutes the old chestnut about Paul’s “failure” at Athens making him take a different approach in Corinth of “knowing nothing … except Jesus Christ and him crucified”.
2. Demolition skills
Lucas highlights how effectively Paul demolished “arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God” in his Athens sermon, particularly the way he “subverts everything that Athenian religion stood for” in vv.24,25.
3. Fearlessness
Lucas highlights Paul’s direct and forceful approach:
Words of conspicuous force were given him. He will tell them of what they do not know! Their religious zeal is entirely misdirected! Their ignorance is culpable! Even their own poets know better! The Judge of the whole world has already been appointed, and his appointment confirmed! The call to all men is going out, and proud Athenians are not excepted! Repentance is heaven’s command for them, and that without delay! If this is typical, no wonder Paul so often landed up in trouble.4. Persistence in Evangelism
Paul’s persistence is shown in this passage. “Who but this man could have turned a defence of his position, before such an audience, into so direct a call for repentance?”
5. A Heart for God
Lucas quotes John Stott, who asks “whether we can speak as Paul spoke if we do not feel as Paul felt”. As Lucas points out, “A heart for God … will also be a heart for lost mankind.”
6. A Missionary Mind-Set
“The God of the Bible wants ‘all men’ to be saved (1 Tim 2:3), and preachers to pagans discover within themselves the same desire. With its repeated emphasis on ‘all men’ (25f, 30, 31) Paul’s sermon in Athens is very much a missionary sermon.” Again, Lucas effectively dismisses arguments that this sermon - with its reference to repentance but not to faith in Christ - is an inadequate presentation of the Gospel.
7. A Wide Culture
A balance is important here: “The preacher to pagans does not have to be a glutton for pagan culture, especially of the present day variety … What matters is wide sympathies, and an interest in all things human.”
Finally: one of the most important traits identified by Lucas in St Paul is the ability to know when to stay and persevere, and when to move on in the face of rejection. In one of the best passages in his exposition - one which has justifiably been adopted for the Proclamation Trust's "splash" intro page - Lucas writes:
Rejection by people who don’t want the truth is painful of course, and evangelical pastors are bound to experience that pain from time to time. But the next move may be very different. It was a dark night when Paul was hustled out of Thessalonica, but the very next day was one of the brightest in his experience (Acts 17,10f.). Who knows when we might meet some noble souls like the Bereans who are eager for the truth? That’s the romance of preaching to pagans.
