In the ancient Greek religion the Twelve Olympian gods resided on top of Mount Olympus. The Olympians gained their supremacy in a war of gods. They are known as Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Apollos, Artemis, Ares, Aphrudite, Hephaestus, Hermes, and Dionyssos. Mount Olympus, is the tallest mountain in Greece. It is the place believed that the gods used to reside, where they ruled the world and oversaw the lives of the mortals underneath them.
Greece is filled with temples and architectural masterpieces where people used to worship the ancient Greek gods and Athens, the capital of Ancient Greece is the place dedicated to the Greek Olympian gods.
While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy to arrive in Athens, Greece, he went to talk about Jesus and salvation. He spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there. A group of Athenian philosophers took him to speak to the Areopagus. Areopagus was the aristocratic council of ancient Athens. It is now referred to as Mars Hill.
Paul was an expert on knowledge about Jewish law and scripture. Paul had spent most of his life thinking and reasoning through scriptures. He knew about the beliefs, practices, and history of Greece and its people. While in Greece, he noticed that the Greeks had an altar or memorial dedicated to all sorts of gods. Paul was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere. There was a god for any and all occasions. He came across a shrine that was different from the rest. Paul notices an altar dedicated to "An Unknown God."
Once Paul was invited to the forum at Mars Hill, to talk about this new religion, Paul seized the moment. He wasn't going to miss this opportunity to speak the truth about the "Unknown God" which was in fact the same God that he has traveled the world to make known.
So Paul, standing before them at Mars Hill, addressed them as follows:
"Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious, for as I was out walking I saw your many altars, and one of them had this inscription on it - "To the Unknown God." You have been worshipping him without knowing who he is, and now I wish to tell you about him.
He made the world and everything in it, and since he is the Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn't live in man-made temples; and human hands can't minister to his needs - for he has no needs! He himself gives life and breath to everything, and satisfies every need there is. He created all the people of the world from one man, Adam, and scattered the nations across the face of the earth. He decided beforehand which should rise and fall, and when. He determined their boundaries.
His purpose in all of this is that they should seek after God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him - though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and are! As one of your own poets says it, 'We are sons of God.' If this is true, we shouldn't think of God as an idol made by men from gold or silver or chipped from stone. God tolerated man's past ignorance about these things, but now he commands everyone to put away idols and worship only him. For he has set a day for justly judging the world by the man he has appointed, and has pointed him out by bringing him back to life again." (Acts 17:22-31)
Paul's speech received a mixed reaction, just like today, the Bible receives a mixed reaction. Just like in Paul's day, some laughed about the truth of Jesus, some believe, some try to rationalize it, some has no interest, some wants to learn more, and there are those that feels as though it just foolishness. To some, He will always be the "Unknown God." To those that accepts Jesus as their personal Savior, He will always be "The KNOWN God."
The "KNOWN God," is the Word. "In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."
The "KNOWN God," came into the very world He created, but the world didn't recognize Him. He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him. But to all who believe Him and accepts Him, He gives them the right to become children of God. They are reborn, but not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
The "KNOWN God," is God. He is the Son of God. He is Love. He is Holy. Jesus is One with the Father. Jesus is the Creator. He is the head of the church. He is the image of the invisible God. He is the fulness of God. Jesus is the Savior. He is the KNOWN God!