The document discusses the influence of ancient Greek philosophy on Western thought, focusing on several key philosophers and schools of thought. It introduces Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, and examines Epicureanism and Stoicism in more depth. Stoicism in particular had a major influence on early Christianity and the writings of Paul. While Paul engaged with Stoic ideas and techniques, he focused his message on preaching Christ and his crucifixion.

1. Lesson 4 Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts – The Greek Influence Part 2
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2. • Ancient Greek colonies develop
• Greek “religion” develops
• Philosophy surpasses “religion”
• Socrates
• Plato
• Aristotle
• Aristotelian “Naturalism” in U.S.
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Review

3. • Ancient Greek colonies develop
• Greek “religion” develops
• Philosophy surpasses “religion”
• Socrates
• Plato
• Aristotle
• Aristotelian “Naturalism” in U.S.
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Review

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Removing the “Stickies”

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A Caveat and A Disclaimer

6. • Based in materialism
• There is only matter, nothing more
• Denigrated the “gods”
• Dismisses Plato’s “World of Shadows”
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Epicureanism – Epicurus (circa. 307 BC)

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Modern “Materialists” - Marx & Engels, Lenin

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Epicureanism – Moderns Iteration – George Lucas

10. • Pleasure the greatest good
• Led to Hedonism – “do as you want”
• Early challenger to Platonism
• Later, main opponent of Stoicism
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Epicureanism

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12. Why do bad things happen to
“good” people?
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The Post-Modern Epicurean Question

13. In Roman times, the two contenders for
people’s philosophical ideals were:
• Epicureanism
• Stoicism
• Other ideas
were minor
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Two Contenders

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Skepticism - Pyrrho of Elis (365–275 BC)

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Alexander the Great

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Alexander the Great’s Empire (356-323 BC)

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Death of Alexander the Great

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After Alexander – Circa. 323 BC

19. • Probably most influential on Paul
• Taught in Tarsus by Athenodorus, and
• Athenodorus taught Caesar Augustus,
thus it was adopted by Roman Empire
• Rejected Plato's and Aristotle's “form”
• Determinist, fatalist, practical, & ethical
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Zeno and Stoicism - (334 – c. 262 BC)

20. • Probably most influential on Paul
• Taught in Tarsus by Athenodorus, and
• Athenodorus taught Caesar Augustus,
thus it was adopted by Roman Empire
• Rejected Plato's and Aristotle's “form”
• Determinist, fatalist, practical, & ethical
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Zeno and Stoicism - (334 – c. 262 BC)

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Modern View of Stoicism

22. • Stoics taught that the Λόγος logos
created all things
• It literally means, "word", discourse" or
"reason”
• Divine use prefigured in Psalm 33:6
• First used in NT by Luke in 1:1-2
• Used twice by John: 1:1 & 1 John 1:1
• Paul does not use the word in this sense
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The Stoic Λόγος logos

23. • Stoics taught that the Λόγος logos
created all things
• It literally means, "word", discourse" or
"reason”
• Divine use prefigured in Psalm 33:6
• First used in NT by Luke in 1:1-2
• Used twice by John: 1:1 & 1 John 1:1
• Paul does not use the word in this sense
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The Stoic Λόγος logos

24. • “Materialistic” vs God-centered
• Monotheistic, but stoic god is the
“Logos,” the creative force in the
universe, ultimately “corporeal”
• Both highly moral
• Stoicism absolutely determinist while
• Christianity has complex idea of God’s
influence in events
• Death is eventual end, not beginning
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Stoicism vs Christianity

25. • Paul’s Mars Hill Speech quotes Stoic poet,
Aratus of Soli in Cilicia (Note Cilicia)
• See Acts 17:18 and 23
• Audience were Stoics and Epicureans
• The “mockers” were Epicureans
• Doctrines of creation, divine immanence,
spirituality and fatherhood of God, would
be familiar and acceptable to Stoics
• Preaching on Christ, not so much
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Paul and the Stoics

26. • Idea of “conscience” was Stoic
– Romans 2:15 and 9:1.
• “All things were created through Him
and for Him” an echo of the “Logos”
– Colossians 1:16-17
• However, it was Stoic technique not
philosophy that Paul used
– Rhetorical questions & “straw man”
– Illustrations – athletics and building
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Pauls’ Stoic References and Techniques

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Paul at Mars Hill

28. . . . But we preach Christ and Him
crucified” 1 Corinthians 1:24
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Paul’s “Gospel”

29. Let’s Pray About It
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