Thread: So did Paul quote from peg and philosophers? Yes he did but
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So did Paul quote from peg and philosophers? Yes he did but
Posted : 25 Feb, 2021 08:06 AM
Paul quoted Menander in the book of Acts and in 1 Corinthians. He quoted Epimenides in the book of Titus. Let’s take a look.
Acts 17:28, “for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.'”
“The first part of verse 28 comes from Cretica by Epimenides, and the second part of the verse from Hymn to Zeus, written by the Cilician poet Aratus. To be sure, both of these lines were directed at Zeus in Greek literature, but Paul applied them to the Creator of whom he spoke.”1
Paul quoted “the first half of the fifth line, word for word, of an astronomical poem of Aratus, a Greek countryman of the apostle, and his predecessor by about three centuries. But, as he hints, the same sentiment is to be found in other Greek poets. They meant it doubtless in a pantheistic sense; but the truth which it expresses the apostle turns to his own purpose—to teach a pure, personal, spiritual Theism.”2
1 Cor. 15:33, “Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.’”
“a current saying, forming a verse in MENANDER, the comic poet, who probably took it from Euripides [SOCRATES, Ecclesiastical History, 3.16].”3
“The words “Bad company ruins good morals” are found in a play by Menander (4th-3rd century B. C.) but may well have become a common saying by Paul’s time.”4
“Evil communications corrupt good manners. An iambic line from the ‘Thais’ of Menander, and perhaps taken by Menander from a play of Euripides. More accurately it means “evil associations corrupt excellent morals.”5
Titus 1:12, “One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
“Epimenides of Phaestus, or Gnossus, in Crete, about 600. He was sent for to purify Athens from its pollution occasioned by Cylon. He was regarded as a diviner and prophet. The words here are taken probably from his treatise “concerning oracles.” Paul also quotes from two other heathen writers, ARATUS (Ac 17:28) and MENANDER (1 Co 15:33), but he does not honor them so far as even to mention their names.6
“A prophet of their own; viz. Epimenides, a native either of Phæstus or of Cnossus in Crete, the original author of this line, which is also quoted by Callimachus. Epimenides is here called a prophet, not simply as a poet, but from his peculiar character as priest, bard, and seer; called by Plato θεῖος ἀνήρ and coupled by Cicero with Bacis the Boeotian prophet, and the sibyl (Bishop Ellicott); described by other ancient writers as a prophet (Alford).”7
As you can see, Paul the apostle clearly quoted unbelievers. But I must say again that it is not in support of their inspiration or their wisdom. We Christians will sometimes quote to a Mormon, or something out of the book of Mormon, or even the Quran. But in so doing, our goal should be to expose the error of those religious systems and promote the truth of Christianity as revealed in the New Testament.
We are free to study other philosophical and religious systems. But, we should do so with the goal of using the information we have to better equip ourselves, other Christians, and expose the error of false systems of thought.
2 Cor. 10:5, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
So did Paul quote from peg and philosophers? Yes he did but
Posted : 27 Feb, 2021 06:14 AM
part Il
In light of this history of redemption Paul also proclaims Jesus Christ and the resurrection. The salvation of the idolatrous Athenians lies in the faith in the risen Christ. Not only does Paul show the error in both popular Greek religion and serious philosophy, but also he urges the people that "they should seek God." In verse 30 Paul states that whereas the Athenians' worship of an unknown god was overlooked by God in former times, now that the true God has been proclaimed to them the citizens must repent. Judgment of the world is imminent......
God has given assurance of this coming event by raising Jesus Christ from the dead. Indeed Jesus and the resurrection are the main themes of Paul's speech. With sorrow we note that this gospel was mocked by some: the gospel is folly to the Gentiles. Yet the mission work in Athens was not altogether futile, for some believed, including Dionysius and Damaris. As for the Athenian philosophers, they could no longer claim that the message of salvation had not been told to them.........
So did Paul quote from peg and philosophers? Yes he did but
Posted : 27 Feb, 2021 11:16 AM
" of course Paul being a Roman citizen would have studied the poets..... nothing silly about that!"
Then Apostle Paul is a new creature, and all old of being a Roman is passed away, and Paul does not look back at vanity/poets..
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
"Mankind was created in the image and likeness of God, as revealed in Genesis 1 :26-27"
"Surely Paul has in mind the second commandment here, as stated, for example, in Leviticus 26:1 "you shall make for yourselves no idols and e rect no graven image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land"
Here, Acts 17:11, reveals the purpose of the deceiver trying so hard to make studying of poets and philosophy, be protected by its faithless mind. That the noble ones study the scriptures, to see what is what, as all else tells us nothing at all.
As Acts 17:21-23, shows how the deceivers tactics and tricks, are the VERY SAME, as the Athenians, to spend their time ion nothng but giving new threads/topics to try to entertain each other with, in ignorance..
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts 17:21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
As for idols, we go with the revealed knowledge of Christ greater than the deceivers interpretation of idols..
All who covet are IDOL WORSHIPPERS, their god is themselves..
Philippians 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
" Paul himself writes elsewhere that God's eternal power and deity are visible in creation (Romans 1 :20)."
"Thus on the Areopagus Paul points out that the Athenians had exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man."
Romans 1:20-25, shows it is not the Athenians as the deceiver would have us believe, but all that are made fail to glorify God, and all of the world then is without excuse, and the answer of God is told, they give themselves up to uncleanness through their own lusts, to be dishonourable, SERVING THEMSELVES, NOT GOD..
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
"Thus the apostle in no way identifies with Stoic or Epicurean theology, but declares the God who is Creator and Judge"
As said, the judgement is for the world, nothing to do with the Athenians, or whether Paul identifies with anyone, but it is AS TOLD, ALL MEN EVERYWHERE ARE TO REPENT, NUFF SAID..
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
"The salvation of the idolatrous Athenians lies in the faith in the risen Christ"
Do I have to correct the deceiver on everything / Idolatry is a work of the flesh, which man does for his own pleasure..
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Then we are exhorted, to take heed lest we fall and escape the temptation to idol worship our own pleasures..
1 Corinthians 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
