In the Footsteps of Paul: Day 19, Thursday, March 12

Corinth and Athens

On our final morning we drove from Athens to Corinth, the ancient city at the very top of the Pelopponesian Peninsula.  It was here that St. Paul himself traveled from Athens to bear witness to the Gospel.  He immediately met a Jewish couple, Aquila and Priscilla, who had just arrived from Rome.  Paul moved in with them and began to teach in the synagogue.  The Jews in Corinth were resistant to the Gospel, "And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said, 'Your blood be on your own heads!  I am innocent.  From now on I will go to the Gentiles."  And he did, from then on teaching in the house of Titius Justice.  Many Corinthians believed, including leading Jews.  Paul received a vision from God, telling him to not be afraid, but to continue to boldly proclaim the Gospel.  Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half.  It was there the Roman proconsul Gallio, in refusing to respond to the call of many Jews that Paul be stopped, gave tacit approval to the Christian mission. (Acts 18:1-17)

Within the ruins of ancient Corinth is a museum that has wonderful Greek and Roman artifacts, including superb statues of two emperors.

Augustus, the Roman Emperor when Jesus was born.

Nero, the Roman Emperor whose persecution of Christians in Rome

led to the martyrdom of both St. Peter and St. Paul.

The Temple of Zeus in Corinth

Of great historical interest to Christians is the Bema, the very stone on which St. Paul stood when he preached and taught in Corinth.  It is quite close to the site of the synagogue.

The Bema, or stone, from which St. Paul preached in Corinth

Paul's two Letters to the Corinthians are among the most beloved books in the New Testament.  Although they address and deal with very practical issues confronting the Corinthian Christians, they are also filled with passages of profound spiritual power and beauty.

"Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude...it bears all things, believes all thing, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13

"So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

Teaching about Paul in Corinth, in front of the Bema.

We then drove back to Athens to visit the Parthenon.  This Temple of Athena on the Acropolis of Athens is of course one of the great wonders of the classical world.  Set high above the city, it provides magnificent 360 degree views of all of Athens.  

The Small Temple to Athena on the Acropolis.

The Parthenon

Zeus' Temple in Athens, seen from the Parthenon

While Paul was in Athens, he spent his time in public conversation with pagan philosophers and rhetoricians.  He was invited to speak at Mars Hill, at the foot of the Acropolis.   This gave Paul an opportunity to proclaim the Gospel.  He preached his famous sermon, often called "To the Unknown God."  In it, he met the Greek philosophers on their own ground, using logic to decry worshipping idols in temples, as was the pagan custom.  He declared that the God who created the universe, revealed himself in the risen Lord Jesus Christ.  Although some scoffed at the notion of a bodily resurrection, many believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris. (Acts 17:22-34)

Teaching on Paul in Athens at the foot of Mars Hill.

We had our final dinner, and a time for prayer and discussion.  We'll leave the hotel at 3:30AM for our flight back to Atlanta.

Thank you, family and friends, for your prayers and support! We'll be home soon.  God bless you.