Theatre of Dionysos

Sitting at the foot of the Acropolis (part of the Parthenon is visible in this picture) are the remains of the theatre Dionysos. This theatre was built in the 5th century BC and housed many of the famous Greek plays by Aristophanes, Euripedes, and Sophocles. Later on it would host the Athenian democratic assembly.

How is the theatre of Dionysos significant for understanding the world of Paul?

Theater began not as a public telling of various stories but as the religious reenactment of the specific story of Dionysos. As the book, Ancient Greece, the monuments then and now writes, “At first the rituals related to Dionysos' adventures, his death and resurrection, that is to vegetation and fertility in Nature, and their aim was to purify and revive the life forces...”

How is Paul not adapting the Dionysos myth to Christian teachings?

A casual web search reveals all sorts of anti-Christian websites touting Jesus' resurrection as a simple adaptation of Dionysos' resurrection. While Christians must admit that other cultures possess stories of death and resurrection, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus differs in significant ways from the death and resurrection of Dionysos.

First, Dionysos is not an adult when he dies; he is a baby killed by his father's wife (she, Hera, is not Dionysos' mother, but angry and jealous of her husband's mistress).  Dionysos has no clue that his father, Zeus, will take his heart (that another God saved) and remake him. Jesus is a full-grown adult conscious of his death and resurrection.

Second, Dionysos does not willingly sacrifice himself for others. Hera seduces him with toys. Jesus willingly dies.

Third, Dionysos did not die with any plan for creation, salvation or redemption in mind. Jesus did.

Fourth, Dionysos' resurrection is not associated with the resurrection of believers but the resurrection of good weather, crops and spring. Jesus did not die on the cross to ensure crops grew in the Spring.  Christians believe that God did this long before Jesus dwelt among us:

In the Old Testament:  He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills.  He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry.  Psalm 147:8-9
From Jesus' mouth:   For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.  Matthew 5:45

Fifth, Dionysos dies every year at the harvest and returns in the spring. Jesus died once and for all.

Sixth, Dionysos worship culminated in ecstatic worship which included orgies and tearing apart the animal sacrifice.

Seven, Dionysos never bids his worshippers to lose their own lives as Jesus does. 

For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.  Mark 8:35

sources:
info on rituals and theater:  Drosou-Panayotou, Niki.  Ancient Greece, the monuments then and now.  Athens: Papadimas Dim., 2006.
info on resurrection story of dionysis:  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/2226/Greek/dionysis.html
http://www.proudtobepagan.com/sabbats.htm