A certain preacher in approximately A.D. 53 left a prison in Philippi, and “passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia” traveling to Thessalonica (Acts 16:36-17:1). At Thessalonica, he went into a synagogue of the Jews “and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,” preached doctrines contrary to the people’s practice, was accused of having “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:2-6), and escaped “by night to Berea” (Acts 17:10). At Berea, he preached the same doctrines as before and also had to flee that city (Acts 17:10-13). He then went to Athens (Acts 17:15).

At Athens “he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there” (Acts 17:17). The learned men of that city, i.e., “certain Epicureans and stoic philosophers,” who said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods, because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection” (Acts 17:18). They then took him to the Aeropagus where they accused this preacher of preaching a “new doctrine,” and of bringing “strange things to our ears” (Acts 17:19, 20).

Yes, the “doctrine” this man preached was regarded as a “new doctrine,” and he was accused of bringing “strange things” to their ears. And we must confess that his teaching would be “new” to many today, and with regards to the mindset of multitudes in our modern world he indeed taught some “strange things.” Let us notice some of the “strange things” he preached.

1. With reference to “the church” mentioned in the New Testament, he called it “the body,” and even said “there is one body” (1 Cor. 12:20; Eph. 4:4). He wouldn’t be popular today among those who say “one church is as good as another,” and even thank God that there are so many denominations which enables everyone to “join the church of his choice!”

2. He considered himself on a equality with Peter and the other apostles (2 Cor. 11:5). On one occasion he mentioned Peter’s wife (1 Cor. 9:5), apparently not knowing that Peter had taken a vow of celibacy. He once wrote a letter to the members of the church at Rome in which he saluted many brethren, but did not even mention Peter! If fact, if Peter ever went to Rome, this preacher was seemingly unaware of it. And on one occasion he even withstood Peter “to the face” and spoke of his hypocrisy regarding a certain incident (Gal. 2:11-14). He must not have known that Peter was Pope!

3. He was scathing in his denunciation of human creeds (“other” gospels), and even stated that preachers of such “other” gospels would be “accursed” (Gal. 1:6-9). It was his conviction that the word of God is sufficient “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). He wouldn’t fit well in our modern religious society!

4. He was a prolific writer, and referred to the music in the worship of the church as “singing,” and stressed that the instrument upon which “melody” is to be made is the human “heart” (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; 1 Cor. 14:15; Heb.2:12; 13:15). He didn’t go in for instrumental music in worship. Strange indeed!

5. He considered baptism a burial - not sprinkling or pouring (Rom. 6:1-5; Col. 2:12). Many churches today wouldn’t desire his services!

6. He even taught that some would fall “from grace” (Gal. 5:4). Evidently there was a deficiency in his learning, for he seemed unaware of the Calvinistic “once in grace always in grace” theory! He wouldn’t fit well in many churches of today who preach long and loud that it is impossible for a person once saved to ever be lost. “Strange” teaching!

7. This preacher was a “stickler” on marriage and divorce! He even said that a “woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives,” and then went so far as to say that if, “while her husband lives she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress….” (Rom. 7:2, 3). How insensitive can a preacher get? How many churches of today would “hire” such a preacher as this man?? Yes, he preached some “strange things!”

8. Would you believe it; this preacher in preaching “strange things” really went out on a limb! He said “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission, and I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence” (1 Tim. 2:11, 12). Was he a woman-hating male chauvinist, or what? “Strange!”

9. This preacher even taught that a person must obey the gospel to be saved! He referred to the time when Jesus will return, and said that He, “in flaming fire,” will take “vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 1:7, 8). “Strange” preaching! He wouldn’t “fit in” in most modern churches!

            But in spite of all these “strange things” he preached, he loved the Lord, he loved the truth, he loved the souls of men and women, and he even became a martyr for the cause of Jesus Christ. Who was he? This man was the apostle Paul. He was a member of the church of Christ (Rom. 16:16). You can read more about him in your Bible!

Editors Note: Yes, the apostle Paul preached “strange things,” as brother Witherington so ably pointed out. I hasten to add that today, in some “Churches of Christ,” the “doctrine” that Paul preached would be “strange.” And, since Paul condemned homosexuality in his epistles, it is likely his name would be on the “hate crimes” list of our present administration (Rom. 1:22-32; 1 Cor. 6:9, 10)! - tgmc