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Here is Paul not knowing what is in the hearts of these men telling them about the Unknown God and while doing so tells them they are also the offspring of God. Now if Paul believed these were offspring of God then why would enough think these (many of which went on to mock Paul) would experience an eternal torment.
Act 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
Act 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Act 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Act 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Here is Paul not knowing what is in the hearts of these men telling them about the Unknown God and while doing so tells them they are also the offspring of God. Now if Paul believed these were offspring of God then why would enough think these (many of which went on to mock Paul) would experience an eternal torment.
Act 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
Act 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Act 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Act 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
I believe it is because Paul knew firsthand that it's God who overshadows us in His own time, each one is called when He chooses. Paul uses the word "we" because he knew very well that he was just like them, and no different. All have been created by God, we are all His children. But He needs to "shepherd" us back to the flock in order for us to know Him. (It is man's teaching of "do it yourself" which causes so much wrath and division.)
And although there is certainly a personal element to knowing salvation, man must initially be drawn by the Spirit. Until that time, the things of the Spirit are foolishness to him. No man comes to God, God must come to man. (Or rather, man can "believe" that he comes to God on his own, but he is mistaken, because it is God who gives him the will to come in the first place! )
(It is man's teaching of "do it yourself" which causes so much wrath and division.)
Selah.
God has a relationship with every man, though the man be in various states of faith or unbelief, strength or weakness, hope or despair. For we were all at one time without hope, but God is faithful.
Paul was sent by God to be an evangelist among the gentiles. Instead of marching in and kicking-over their pagan statues ... which would only drive them further away, he took another approach.
He acknowledged by their many religious statues that they were honestly seeking Spiritual answers and were even trying to 'cover all the bases' by even erecting a statue to "The Unknown God" --in case they missed one. -- As Jesus often did, Paul used an approach that appealed to their 'God-seeking heart, without attacking them for being pagans. "I see that you are seeking spiritual things, ... let me tell you about the 'unknown God' that you have erected a statue to."
Christians who follow this approach to a lost and dying world, do much better with non-believers than those who simply attack people for not yet being Christians. The Biblical examples set by Christ, Paul and the disciples -- still work today!
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