Hebrews chapter 1, in the New Testament speaks of the very transient nature of the cosmos in verses
8-10: Note, also, that, in verses 8 and 10 Jesus Christ is CALLED GOD, BY GOD HIMSELF. 1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and
upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty
on high: 4 Being made
so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time,
Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to
me a Son? 6 And again,
when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels
spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness
is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed
thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are
the works of thine hands: 11 They
shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they
shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. 13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my
right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall
be heirs of salvation?
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Athens, Greece |
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New Testament Book of Acts chapter 17: 1 Now when they had
passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them,
and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again
from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. 4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout
Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. 5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the
baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring
them out to the people. 6 And
when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned
the world upside down are come hither also; 7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there
is another king, one Jesus. 8 And
they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other,
they let them go. 10 And
the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,
in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable
women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
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The Acropolis at Areopagus, Mars Hill, Athens |
13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea,
they came thither also, and stirred up the people.14 And
then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. 15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto
Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed. 16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his
spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons,
and in the market daily with them that met with him. 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some
said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them
Jesus, and the resurrection. 19 And
they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? 20 For thou bringest certain strange things to
our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing
else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) 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. 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. 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; 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;
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Bronze Marker - text of Apostle Paul's message |
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Mars Hill at Athens, Greece |
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;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: 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. 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. 30 And the times of this ignorance God
winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in
righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him
from the dead. 32 And
when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed:
among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Ship canal in present day Greece |
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