I note that the Appostle Paul
preludes with a clear connection to their present lives, and practices, and conceptual thinking.
tells their past HiStorY (clear and to the point part of the big story of God and humans),
tells the NEW present day part of HiStorY,
links this to their own prophet insights,
gives them a present imperative, (here, & now)
which involves changing their allegiance to this new King, and thus
trusting this new King [who has been presently christened (but not yet appointed) by God on Earth] and learning to do his will.
Also I note that he addresses
The Authority of the Author of everything.
The oneness of humanity
The way to view God that is pre-eminently as our Father, that has nearness, and hope of relationship implicit within it.
The concept of "through-ness" or agency, vice regency (God ruling through this man)
mercy or love shown in appointing a human (that we can see) as our ruler and judge, who will be fair, and impartial.
PRELUDE:
Paul stood up in front of the city council and said, “I see that in every way you Athenians are very religious. For as I walked through your city and looked at the places where you worship, I found an altar on which is written, ‘To an Unknown God’. That which you worship, then, even though you do not know it, is what I now proclaim to you. Acts 17:22-23 GNBDK
"God, who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. Nor does he need anything that we can supply by working for him, since it is he himself who gives life and breath and everything else to everyone. From one human being he created all races on earth and made them live throughout the whole earth. He himself fixed beforehand the exact times and the limits of the places where they would live. He did this so that they would look for him, and perhaps find him as they felt about for him. Yet God is actually not far from any one of us; as someone has said, ‘In him we live and move and exist.’ It is as some of your poets have said, ‘We too are his children.’ Since we are God's children, we should not suppose that his nature is anything like an image of gold or silver or stone, shaped by human art and skill. God has overlooked the times when people did not know him, but now he commands all of them everywhere to turn away from their evil ways. For he has fixed a day in which he will judge the whole world with justice by means of a man he has chosen. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising that man from death!” Acts 17:24-31 GNBDK
"I'm representing here and now to you:
the God, who made the world and everything
with-in it, is the Lord and Boss of who
is in this holy place, each hoof and wing,
as well as rock and tree, and gas and space,
"the heavens and the earth", in short. So he
does not depend on us, the human race.
And can't be captured in a place that we
have made with our own hands. Nor does he need
some thing we could supply by working for
him, since it's he himself who gives and breathes
our lives and all things else to all, and more;
so from one human being he create-
-ed all the races on earth and made them
to live throughout the whole earth. He has made
and fixed beforehand places, where & when
they'd get to live. He did this so that they
would look for him, and so perhaps would find
him as they felt about for him. They say
he's not that far from anyone. We find
that some have said, ‘In him we live and move
and are - exist.’ It's as your poets said,
‘We too are all his children.’ This would prove
that we should not suppose his nature dead,
or anything that's imaged here of gold
or silver, stone, or shaped by art and skill.
So God has overlooked the times of old
when people did not know him, or his will.
But now he has commanded all of us
that's everywhere, to turn away from sole-
-ly selfish ways. He's made a pretty fuss
& fixed a day in which he'll judge the whole
world justly by means of a chosen man.
He's given proof of this, a way to test,
by raising him from death - as just he can!
- not just to more of this life, but the next”
Acts 17:16-31 (Greek and various English translations)
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