In order to save, all people Paul needed to be all things to all people. To the greek philosophers he did his best to act the greek philosopher and so was attending a symposium.

“So your god can do all things” Dimitrios asked looking at Paul with interest….

“JHVH has unlimited power ”

“Can he make a rock too heavy for himself to lift?”

Paul smiled, he was a Pharisee, from a family of Pharisees;  Looking for loopholes in holy truth was a game he was born into.

“No. Lifting rocks is simply a matter of strength and gods strength is unlimited. Therefore no matter how large a stone is god can still lift it”

“ So God can’t do everything!” Dimitrios cackled thinking he scored a point.

“If you describe a logically contradiction is it actually a thing… or is simply a flaw in your language that allows nonsense phrases to be created?” Paul replied. Which turned the conversation the nature of contradictions and if a system of grammar could be created that would disallow them without making valid concepts inexpressible. Paul needed to argue that infinity was a logically valid concept (because it was required to describe god) but could otherwise let his voice rest and enjoy the wine. Greeks love their philosophizing, and so long as he inspires philosophy they thus will love god. Paul did good work this night…

“Rabbi, I know something of Jews, I know you don’t have celebate priests like we greeks. Don’t you have any burning desires?” Dionysus asked.

“Sadly I started going  bald as a teenager,  my red skin makes me look like an angry drunk even when I’m cold sober,  and I’m not rich, Edith was the only woman who was willing to look past that, and she died of Leprosy” Paul Replied

“Couldn’t your Healer god yeswwa? Issue?” Dionysus stumbled over the name.

“Just call him Iesus!” Dimitrios called out

“Couldn’t Iesus have healed her?” Dionysus asked.

“We lived over 2 weeks away from where Yeshua was working. I thought it wasn’t worth the risks of cross country travel. So Edith died.  And Yeshua’s followers kept reminding me it was my fault… For a long time I hated them for that. And hated myself more. Edith went blind before she died, so I started to refuse to see in some sort of weird attempt to join her.  A follower of Yeshua, Ananias, helped me accept that I was a sinner, like all men, and that Yeshua would take away my sins, as he did for other men thus ending my self induced blindness”

The conversation moved on. But eventually it moved back, after most people were asleep.

“I think you’re handsome even if women don’t. I suspect my style of love may not be your first choice… But surely I am better than no one at all!” Dionysus whispered to Paul.

Paul had been with no one at all for quite a bit of time, and Dionysus was better than no one. But what he did was still a sin. Only happily married people were completely immune to those sort of temptations… Perhaps Paul should work harder encouraging christians to wed, for it was better to marry than to burn.