The Sermon of Saint Paul at the Areopagus
Paul wants to reach people. To do so, he seeks their language. On his second missionary journey, he comes to Athens. There he speaks at the Areopagus…
Further informationI'm leaving, but where to?
CHAPTER 5 – MY LANGUAGE AND ITS IMPACT
Paul is not a solitary preacher. He is part of a network and, at the same time, its driving force. Some people accompany him on his journeys, whilst others support him locally. His message spreads over great distances. It reaches towns and communities across a wide variety of cultures. Paul does not speak in the same way everywhere, but adapts his words to his audience. He listens and responds. For him, communication becomes an encounter between people.
As well as verbal exchanges, he makes use of letters. These keep him connected to congregations, even long after he has moved on. His helpers carry his message forward. They read his letters aloud, explain them and discuss their contents. In this way, a stable network of communication is established across vast distances.
Paul’s words are shared, commented on and reproduced. Thirteen of Paul’s letters become part of the biblical canon. Today, seven of these are considered to be authentically written by Paul. This creates an enormous reach – not through technology, but through people. Was that Paul’s recipe for success?
St. Paul Preaching in Athens
Further informationDevotional Image: Areopagus Speech
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