The Sociolinguistic Aspects of Paul's Speech at the Areopagus as Contextualization of Gospel Proclamation

This research discusses the linguistic aspect of the Apostle Paul's apologetic speech in the Areopagus when interacting with Epicureans and Stoics. The focus is on studying the sociolinguistic aspects used by Paul in philosophical debates and how these can be applied to spreading the Gospel. The sociolinguistic approach Paul uses in conveying the Gospel of Christ to adherents of existing beliefs, namely “to the unknown God” (as recorded in Acts 17:16-33), is the aim of this research. Paul's skill in applying sociolinguistics allowed his speech at the Areopagus to take place peacefully and without any significant conflict. Through open debate, the Christian concept of true divinity and the concept of the divinity of the Greek people were debated before the Areopagus council. In the end, some of the Hellenistic philosophers came to faith. This research is expected to make a significant contribution to the understanding of how sociolinguistics can be applied in the context of theology and missions. Thus, the results of this research are not only relevant for Bible studies but also for the development of communication strategies in the dissemination of Christian teachings in the modern era.