Communicating the Christian Worldview with Authenticity, Relevance, and Effectiveness

This talk introduces Acts 17:16-34 as a paradigm passage for Christian academics when faced with the secular and pluralistic academy. This includes exploring the contemporary relevance of the following: (a) the agora (marketplace) as the ancient Athenian arena for Paul's communication, (b) the apostle's engagement with Athenian objections, questions, and worldview alternatives, (c) the creative argumentative approach in Paul's Areopagus Speech, and (d) the explicit and implicit aims of Paul's communication in Athens. An appropriate understanding of this key biblical passage provides the Christian academic with foundational resources for his / her communication of essential Christian truth claims.