The Unknown God

* While in Athens, Paul was brought before the Council of Areogapus, and they asked him, "What is this new teaching you're giving us?" (Acts 17:19, NIrV)

* Read Acts 17:22-31. After noting that the Athenians were "very religious", Paul said he found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Then he said, "Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you" (17:23, NIV).

God is the Maker

* Paul began, "The God who made the world and everything in it …" (17:24). Thus he presented two fundamental teachings of Christianity: 1) God exists; and 2) God made the universe. And, by implication, God is distinct from his creation. Furthermore, God is a "he" (17:25); that is, God is a personal God. This teaching conflicted with other philosophies.

1. Like the Epicureans, many people today deny that God made the universe (and the humans in it). Instead, they say that humans "evolved" from more simplistic life forms (ultimately from non-living chemicals) through purely naturalistic processes. Do you think this makes any difference concerning "meaning" and "purpose" in life? Explain.

2. Why do many people have difficulty accepting the idea that a personal God made the universe?

The Maker is Lord

* The God who made the universe is the Lord of the universe (17:24). It is His universe, and He is in charge! God does not need anything because He already owns everything. God does not need us, but we certainly need God! God is the source of "life and breath and everything else." (17:25)

* God "does not live in temples built by hands" (17:24). The Greek gods were represented by sculptures that were placed in temples. However, the Greek gods were much "smaller" than the Maker of the Universe!

Who Made Whom?

* Paul proclaimed that the Maker of the Universe is also the maker of the human race (17:26a). The Greek gods, who were like humans in many ways, were obviously the creation of humans. However, the God of the Bible is very different from Greek gods! Read Isaiah 40:18-28. (Later, read all of Isaiah 40 and Psalm 104).

3. How does the "size" and role of our god affect our attitude toward it? If God really is the Maker of the Universe, and our Maker, how should we respond? What can we do, as finite humans, to know this God who is infinite and beyond human understanding?

Aside: Two-Story View of Truth

* The "two-story view of truth" may be diagrammed in the following way:

* Though offered as a critique of Western culture, this dichotomy (division) is generally applicable to the supposed conflict between science and Christianity. However, the biblical worldview rejects this dichotomy. Biblical Christianity offers a whole and integral truth.

Reflection/Application

† Review this lesson, read everything, consider it; and come back for "Why We Were Made!"