Paul had been raised in a Hellenistic (Greek thought, influence and customs) society in Tarsus. In the book of Acts, chapter 21, we find that Paul spoke fluent Greek to the Roman military captain, Lysias, to stop a crowd from lynching him. Historian and exegete William Barclay stated the following: The captain was amazed to hear the accents of cultured Greek coming from this man (Paul) whom the crowd were out to lynch.Paul was fluent in Koine Greek, a Greek tongue commonly spoken in his native city of Tarsus, as well as being fluent in Classical Greek, which indicated that he had been exposed to Greek learning at the university level. George T. Montague had the following to say concerning Pauls use of Classical Greek and his possible exposure to the university or philosophical schools in his training: His mastery of the Greek literary technique of the diatribe and his occasional citation of Greek authors (Aratus in Acts 17:18; Meander in 1 Cor. 15:23; Epimenides in Tit 1:1) are considered by some as evidence that he frequented the Hellenistic schools of rhetoric. Church History scholar John Drane takes the argument to another level, discussing the following speculative reasonings concerning Pauls exposure to Greek philosophy: Of the many philosophical schools of the time, Stoicism was probably the most congenial to Paul. One or two of the great Stoics came from Tarsus, and Paul may have remembered something about their teachings from his youth. Some scholars have suggested that Pauls acquaintance with Stoic philosophy was closer than this. In 1910 Rudolf Bultmann pointed out that Pauls reasoning sometimes resembles the Stoics arguments. Both use rhetorical questions, short disconnected statements, an imaginary opponent to raise questions, and frequent illustrations drawn from athletics, building, and life in general. It is even possible to find phrases in Pauls teaching which could be taken to support Stoic doctrine; for example the statement that all things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:16-17)....Pauls letters also often reflect Stoic terminology - as when he describes morality in terms of what is fitting or not fitting (Colossians 3:18; Ephesians 5:3-4). No doubt Paul would know and sympathize with many Stoic ideals. This highly reasoned argument by Drane is based upon the many parallels of Stoic doctrine and the Bible. Both are monotheistic, both believe in living according to the will of God, (or nature in the case of Stoicism). British Scholar F. W. Walbank, who was the Rathbone Professor of Ancient History and Classical Archaeology at the University of Liverpool, had the following to say concerning Stoicism: This school, set up in the Painted Hall (Stoa Poikile) by Zeno of Citium in Cyprus (335-263), taught a complete philosophical system which with certain modifications was to flourish throughout the Hellenistic period and to become the most popular philosophy during the first two centuries of the Roman Empire. It had several main tenets. The only good is in virtue, which means living in accordance with the will of god or nature - the two being more or less identified. Ones knowledge of what that is depends on an understanding of reality, which (contrary to the views of the skeptics) can be acquired through the senses by a perception conveying direct apprehension (kataleptike phantasia), as the Stoic jargon described accepting the evidence of the senses. Such virtue is the only good: all else (if not positively evil) is indifferent. Stoic philosophy, it would appear, was embraced as the popular philosophy of the Roman Empire in Pauls day. It is easy to see how Paul, being taught Stoic fundamentals, used Stoicism in metaphorical language to get his audiences to understand his point. This approach would have been the one that would have made the most sense in the impartation of Gods word. It is very easy to picture Paul intertwining Stoic philosophical techniques and ideas with the truths contained in the gospel, to assist Gentile audiences in their understanding of the word of God. Paul utilized his Grecian cultural and educational background as leverage in his efforts to convert and train Gentile hearers in the way of the Lord.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 21:49:54 +0000
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