Acts 17:2 “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,”
There are enemies of faith who hate any teaching or allegiance to God, but Paul did not consider those in the “Thessalonica” “synagogue” to be His enemies. It is obvious that He considered them brethren who simply had not come to the full knowledge of the truth concerning Jesus Christ, and he believed it was his duty to reason with them. Paul, for “three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures” concerning the completed work of Jesus Christs (Acts 17:3). “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” (Acts 17:4). There was “a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. 27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:” (Acts 18:24-27). In this context, to “reason” is to examine various doctrinal positions, comparing each position to the Word of God, by showing various passages of Scripture to prove or disprove each doctrinal position. Also, in this context, to “expound” is to bring froth and logically present passages of Scripture that more fully explains our Lord’s completed work of Salvation. There is a wide variety of doctrinal positions held among Modern Christians. But, there is only one truth, and our Lord tells us that “they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). It is absolutely certain that no one can lovingly believe and worship our Lord except He draws them to Himself and gives them the Spiritual desire and ability (“faith”) to believe and obey (John 6:44) Him. But, like the worshipers in the Thessalonica Synagogue and Apollos, many have not been taught the full truth and many have been taught great untruths; but, the Spirit of God within them is hungry for the truth of Jesus Christ. Even the Church at Corinth was mixing carnal logic and lust with the truth of the Lord; therefore, Paul tells us, “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” (I Corinthians 11:30). To counter the problem of growing Religious error in our day, Peter tells us that “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:” (II Peter 1:19). Maybe we ought not be so quick to treat the greater body of Christians as enemies; but, consider them brethren and lovingly “reason” with them and “expound… unto” them “the way of God more perfectly”! To do so, we must prayerfully apply ourselves to learn the Word of God and be willing and prepared to lovingly “reason” and, when the Lord opens to door of opportunity, “expound” “the way of God more perfectly” to those around us. Significant errors in doctrine leads to unbiblical practices and behaviors (I Corinthians 15:33), and have opened the door for, and is now even promoting much sinful evil in our Country! Let us “fight the good fight of faith” (I Timothy 6:12), and “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” and “… be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:11-13)!