THE UNKNOWN GOD OF ATHENS

Acts 17:22-23 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' Hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious, For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you.

Having been invited to speak to the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers of Athens in the place called the Areopagus, also known as Mars' Hill, Paul in a most uniquely inspired manner, preached the message of eternal salvation of one's soul through Christ Jesus to all in attendance on that day. In this world-renowned city of societal culture - a great educational city known for its philosophers, orators, writers, poets, and artists of all mediums, Paul found a people totally lacking in knowledge of the inspired word of God. From that day forward, the same message Paul delivered on Mars' Hill has been preserved for all to read, hear, believe, and obey. God's Holy Word continues to proclaim Jesus to be the promised Messiah and Savior of the world today, and will continue to do so until the end of time.

After observing all of the man-made idols and the various images of worship that took place within this city, Paul addressed all that were present on this occasion. By inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, he said to them, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. Many bible scholars accept the less harsh and kinder translation of Paul's admonition of their religious conduct as found in the New King James Version. There it quotes Paul as saying, Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious. Paul was fully aware of the sincere, yet misinformed, audience he was addressing, and, because of this, he spoke to them in an inoffensive, yet critically and scripturally informative manner. All too often preachers and teachers of God's word, whether they themselves have full knowledge and understanding or not, ask questions and make thought provoking statements that are more difficult for their audience to comprehend in order to inflate their own egos by convincing others to rely on their knowledge and follow their teaching. Oh that all preachers and teachers were more understanding and respectful when proclaiming God's Holy Word to those that do not know, or misunderstand, God's true intention of bringing the hope of salvation into a world filled with sin.

Here, the apostle Paul uses an idol that the Athenians erected on Mars' Hill, and, by its inscription, was dedicated TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. It seemed that these people were convinced that a deity existed that they sensed but could not understand or comprehend. This God, Paul says, is the one that he had full knowledge of, and was anxious to explain to them - Him declare I unto you.

The verses following the lesson text record Paul's convincing arguments that the God unknown to them was, indeed, the God of all in Heaven and on Earth. This God, that was unknown to them, was the God that made the world, and all things therein. He is the God that dwelleth not in temples made with hands (Vs. 24). This God has no need to be worshipped with men's hands, that is, as it was among pagan idol worship, He has no need for man and women of the world to bring offerings to feed and nourish Him. Why? Because it is He that provides all things that nourish and sustain mankind - it is He that giveth to all life, and breath, and all things (Vs. 25).

All families of the earth have descended from His original creation - they are all made of one blood. And it was this God, whom they did not know, that determined all things for mankind including his time on earth and the boundaries in which he exists (Vs. 26). And, as Creator of the world and all things therein, and as the Giver and Sustainer of all mankind, all people have the duty and obligation to earnestly and devotedly seek the Lord. Paul then told those in his audience, as well as telling us today, that God is always near to us and can easily be found by all men and women that seek Him. Therefore, in our everyday life on earth, we should never lose hope, be saddened, or suffer despair because He (God) be not far from every one of us (Vs. 27). God is only a prayer away from us at anytime in our life.

Not only is God our Creator, He also sustains us, and if asked to do so, He gives us righteous direction during our life on earth, For in Him we live, and move, and have our being (Vs. 28). Although, as the writers and poets of their time revealed to them, this was a common belief among the philosophers of Athens. They were unable to find it because they sought it from a source that was unable to provide it for them. That is, they looked to an unknown god - to idols made by the arts and crafts of mankind rather that as the true Giver and Sustainer of life - the God of Heaven and Earth, that was so near to them, and yet, because of their lack of knowledge due to unbelief, was far away from them. We are truly made in the image of our Creator (Gen. 1:26-27). Therefore, for our spiritual and physical wellbeing, we cannot look to an inanimate image of gold, silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device (Vs. 29).

Certainly, in times past, (God) suffered all nations to walk in their own ways (Acts 14:16). During previous periods of time, God's plan of salvation was only revealed in prophecy, and these prophecies were not clearly known and understood by mankind. Therefore, God winked at, or overlooked their erring ways due to their ignorance of His will. But now (He) commandeth all men everywhere to repent (Vs. 30). Why? Because His Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior has come to earth and fulfilled His mission of bringing full knowledge of His plan of salvation to all mankind. Verse 31 tells us that Jesus was that Man whom He hath ordained - He is the promised Messiah. God proved this fact to the world by giving assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead. He is the Son of God and Savior of all believing men and women of the world. And in that appointed ...day (Judgment Day), ...He will judge the world (both Jew and Gentile) in righteousness.

Through Paul, and by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, God, the Creator of all things in Heaven and Earth, was indeed THE UNKNOWN GOD whom they had worshipped in ignorance.