I really like this show, this teaching. I am reminding myself first, and everyone else with me, that the apostle Paul was a human being who did not do everything perfectly. Acts 17 is not a letter written by Paul, which of course would be inspired by the holy spirit and thus perfect. This is a letter written by Luke, which IS inspired by the holy spirit, but which merely records Paul's address on Mars' Hill.

We assume Paul delivered a perfect address here. But why? Because we assume that Paul does everything perfectly. But he doesn't. He's a human being just as we are human beings. I am here today to suggest to you that Paul blew it on Mars' Hill. It is possible, and I explain why.

The only other possibility is that Paul, at this early stage in his ministry, knew nothing of the conciliation of the world. Let's discuss this thing together.

I really like the conversational tone of this presentation. I think we're looking into something unique here. We're thinking something we're "not supposed" to think—that Paul could have botched an important address. Simply entertaining this possibility can make us feel that, heck, God can even use  us—imperfect human beings as we are—as heralds of His eonian plan.