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As Though He Needed Anything
For context, Acts 17 details some of the events of Paul’s second missionary journey starting with his and Silas’ visit to Thessalonica. After teaching about Christ in the synagogue as was his custom, the Jews were angered and put together a mob, leading to Paul and Silas being sent away to Berea. Although the Jews in Berea had a much more favorable response, the Jews from Thessalonica once again stirred up a mob which caused Paul to be sent away by sea to Athens while Silas and Timothy remained in Berea. While Paul was in Athens, he began reasoning with some of the philosophers in the marketplaces who then brought him before the Areopagus, an Athenian council that primarily handled matters of religion and education by the time of the 1st century. This brings us to Paul’s teaching to the Areopagus recorded in Acts 17 starting in verse 22. It reads:
“So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.”
Acts 17.22-27
When teaching the Athenians about this “unknown god”, Paul describes His nature as One who is not served by human hands, “as though He needed anything”, and it is this phrase that I would like to focus on for this discussion.
“As though He needed anything."
Although this phrase may be something we glance over in our study as not much emphasis is placed on it, when studied more closely this phrase reveals much about the nature of our God.
From an apologetic viewpoint, this phrase can be used to explain the nature of God as the Creator of all. It is this attribute of God that separates the Creator from His creation. Every living thing that has been created has its needs, whether that be physical needs such as food, water and shelter, or the emotional needs that all of us share. Conversely, God in His perfection is a being who needs nothing. This distinction serves as a humble reminder of our place with respect to God and can help us remember in times of trial that it is wiser to put our trust and our faith into the more Perfect Being who does not need anything.
In addition to providing insight into God’s nature as the Creator of all, this phrase can remind of us of the immense love our God has for us. As Paul said, “He himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything”. Despite not needing anything, God chose to create mankind and grant us life on this Earth. Every wonderful thing we are able to experience in life is the result of God choosing to give us life even though there was no need to.
Furthermore, God has no need to form a relationship with us, yet in His steadfast love he seeks to form a relationship with each and every one of us. The ultimate showcase of this love was carried out in the sacrifice of His one and only Son on the cross for our sins. Although there was no need, God in His love chose to provide a means of reconciliation with Him through Jesus even though we did not deserve it. For as Paul writes in Romans 5.10-11:
"For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
Let us not waste this opportunity to return to a right standing with Him. For with a spirit of humility, we can recognize our imperfections, repent and return to the God who despite not needing it, desires a relationship with His creation.
