Who Said It
David Wells

David Wells was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (then Southern Rhodesia), and studied architecture at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He came to faith there and, although he moved on to England to work in his field, soon shifted to studying theology. He now teaches systematic theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts.

What He Said
Where to Begin

When invited to speak to the opinion leaders of Athens, Paul might have begun with a simple gospel message, but he didn't. Only at the very end of his address did he raise the issues of divine judgment, repentance, and the resurrection of Christ. We're inclined to get our audience to the gospel as soon as possible and in its most stripped-down version.

Why did Paul speak about worldview first? The Jews who heard Paul's gospel were prepared by the Old Testament to understand the nature of God, his relation to the creation, his holiness, the reality and consequences of sin, and the necessity of sacrifice. But the pagans to whom he spoke were at sea in all these matters. The gospel isn't a disembodied message that can be assimilated into just any worldview. If it is absorbed into a false worldview, its uniqueness may be lost. Without an understanding of God as creator and judge, the gospel makes no sense. So Paul took his hearers to the Christian God before he took them to the gospel.

Adapted from Only One Way?, edited by Richard Phillips (Crossway, 2006) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

I need Your Spirit's power, Lord, to defend the truth of Your Word while I live out the love of the gospel.

				Try an Issue of Men of Integrity Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Men of Integrity as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up for the Men of Integrity Newsletter    RSS Feed   RSS Help