1:9, 10 These verses parallel the preaching of Paul at Athens (Acts 17:22–31). In preaching to the Jews, Paul could presuppose knowledge of the existence of the true God and the authority of the Old Testament Scriptures, and go on to proclaim the advent of God’s promised Messiah. To those uninstructed in the faith of Israel, Paul stresses two things: first, acknowledging the true and living God and forsaking dead idols; second, preparing for God’s coming universal judgment to be executed by Jesus Christ, the God-Man, who died and rose from the dead (4:6; Acts 17:29–31).