Sermon Tone Analysis

Apollos’ Background

Alexandrian...Eloquent Man vs 24

Alexandrian...Eloquent Man

Eloquent Man

formally trained sophist

He was a

Sophism is an ancient Greece, method of teaching “arete”- excellence or virtue.

Sophist believed that law was an agreement between people and that justice is nonexistent.

The individual human being, rather than a god or an unchanging moral law, is the ultimate source of value (Protagoras.).

The sophist may well appear to be like the philosopher, but is not: the philosopher is concerned with truth, and virtue; the sophist with appearance, power and money.

is a method of teaching.

In ancient Greece, sophists were a category of teachers who specialized in using the techniques of philosophy and rhetoric for the purpose of teaching arete—"excellence" or "virtue"—predominantly to young statesmen and nobility.

www.richmondphilosophy.net/rjp/back_issues/rjp9_crome.pdf

They believed that law was an agreement between people and that justice is nonexistent.

Among the Sophists, Protagoras, Gorgias, Prodicus, Hippias, Thrasymachus, Callicles, Lycophron, Antiphon, and Cratylus are the best known.

dictionary.reference.com/browse/man+is+the+measure+of+all+things

dictionary.reference.com/browse/man+is+the+measure+of+all+things

Man is the measure of all things definition.

A statement by the ancient Greek philosopher Protagoras.

It is usually interpreted to mean that the individual human being, rather than a god or an unchanging moral law, is the ultimate source of value.

According to convention, Plato opposes Socrates, the prototypical philosopher, to the sophists, and henceforth the difference is taken as absolute.

The sophist may well appear to be like the philosopher, but is not: the philosopher is concerned with truth, and virtue; the sophist with appearance, power and money.

“Competent in the scriptures” vs 24

Competent [Grk- dynato = power) & Scriptures [Grk-graphe = writing]

[Lit] powerful in the writings

The only writings that existed at that time were the OT scriptures because the NT scriptures had not been canonized yet.

Apollos was eloquent (due to his sophistic training), and powerful in the OT scriptures

Scriptures = OT because they were the only “graphe” (write) in existence at the time.

The NT scriptures had not been gathered/ canonized yet.

OT

“Instructed in the Way of the Lord…Taught Accurately the Things Concerning Jesus” vs 25

Only the baptism of John

The Way = common reference to OT spiritual & moral standards

He at least was awaiting the

What Apollos lacked

Only the baptism of John

“Knew Only the baptism of John” vs 25

Accurately - assumes there was something missing from what Apollos

What was missing is indicated in statement “only the baptism of John”

Only the baptism of John

“Only” indicates something was lacking in Apollos’ understanding and teaching

What is the baptism of John?

The purpose of John the Baptist’s ministry

luke 1:16-17

The Baptism of John the Baptist

John’s Baptism was one of cleansing, repentance, and preparation for the coming Messiah

Paul also elaborates on this in .

.

The Solution

“They explained to him the way of God more accurately” vs 26

The Bible doesn’t say explicitly what they taught Apollos, but this probably refers to them explaining the implications of the resurrections (e.g.

spiritual blessings in Christ, unity in the body, spiritual warfare cf.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians; ):

Scriptures

There’s no explicit indication in Scripture that Apollos was guilty of syncretism (blending sophistic thought/practice with Christological- anti man centered teaching)

However it is evident from what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians (cf.

, , ) that Apollos’ followers venerated Apollos’ eloquence in communicating the gospel and his possible health & wealth, over the simplicity of Paul’s communication of the gospel and simplicity of living.

Practical Exhortations from Paul:

There’s no place for divisions in the chuch, especially based on what teacher one follows ()

Modern Examples: John Calvin; MacArthur; Piper; etc.

Remember: One planted, another watered, but God gave the growth.Christ (not man’s eloquence) is the Wisdom and Power of God ().

Christ (not man’s eloquence) is the Wisdom and Power of God ().

What about denominations?

Denominations are an unfortunate but necessary division due to increasing popularity of unbiblical teachings and practices.

The Outcome

Ministry of the Holy Spirit

Apollos was commended vs 27

The Church as God’s new witness

“the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him”

Apollos’ Ministry was fruitful vs 27b - 28

“he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus”

Meditations & Practical Applications

Sources:

Sophism:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophist.www.cengage.com/resource_uploads/downloads/0495603821_150630.ppt.

www.richmondphilosophy.net/rjp/back_issues/rjp9_crome.pdf

dictionary.reference.com/browse/man+is+the+measure+of+all+things