What the Bible says about Mutual Understanding
(From Forerunner Commentary)
In Acts 17:23, the apostle Paul deliberately builds a bridge of common understanding and similarity, referring to something the Athenians already understood. Later, in verse 28, Paul again seeks common ground by quoting from their own literature: "For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'"
The important thing to remember is that the apostle Paul started at the Athenians' current level of understanding, continually finding commonalities between himself and his audience upon which to build mutual understanding and foster growth. An ambassador skillfully demonstrates how his country and another's country share similar interests. As the late Rabbi Meir Kahane pointed out, an alliance is not so much built on friendship as on common interests.
David F. Maas
How to Conduct Ourselves as Ambassadors for ChristRelated Topics: Alliances | Ambassador | Ambassadors for Christ | Ambassadors of God | Common Ground | Paul's Relationship to Athenians | Paul, Diplomacy of