“Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.”
Acts 17:18 KJV
Philosophers of the teachings of Epicurus, and others called Stoics, debated with Paul. When they heard him speak about Jesus and His resurrection, they said, “What strange ideas is this babbler trying to present?” Others said, “He’s peddling some kind of foreign religion”. Epicurus was a Greek philosopher who espoused a radical materialism that claimed people should live for pleasure and materialistic gain, denying an afterlife as the gods had little interest in or concern for humanity. Stoicism in contrast, is a passive determinism of emotional indifference that focuses on self control, mastering emotions and passions to realise peace within oneself. Stoics believe you realise your full potential by living by sheer reason and divine principle which they call logos. But Paul was bold and preached the Gospel of Jesus’s resurrection. The Gospel has stood the test of time because almost every university and college founded in the west, originated in a Christian setting. May we continue preaching the Gospel like Paul did, boldly. Amen!
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