Section Eight

To An Unknown God

Acts Chapter 17 (verses 16 to 34) has a story about Paul. He is in Athens and, seeing that the city was full of idols, he goes to the synagogue and to the marketplace to teach and preach about Jesus. Paul goes to a meeting of the local council (the Areopagus) and argues that God is not unknown as a sign he saw in the city suggested. Indeed, he says, God is not only knowable but was personal - it was possible to have a relationship with God. To back up his argument, Paul quotes from two philosophers known at the time: • ‘For in him we live and move and have our being’ (from a philosopher called Epimenides) • ‘We are his offspring’ (from a philosopher called Aratus) Paul develops this second quote, saying that because we are God’s offspring (i.e. his children) we can get to know God. God isn’t made from metal or stone and isn’t an image created by humans - he is a father.