It is no secret that the pagan philosophy of Stoicism has many parallels with Christian doctrine. In fact, this observation is generally accepted by biblical and philosophical scholars alike. These resemblances are most strongly represented within the moral and ethical teachings of both schools of thought and have been the subject of scholarly debate for many years. However the question lies not in whether such similarities exist but on how they came to be; and this can be answered no better than by the letters of both Lucius Annaeus Seneca, a stoic philosopher, and his contemporary, Paul the apostle. By considering their backgrounds, beliefs, and writings, one can draw one of two conclusions: either Paul was indeed greatly influenced by Stoic teachings or he was merely writing in the language common to his time.
During the first century A.D., when Paul was writing and ministering, Stoicism was the most popular philosophical movement in the Roman Empire. The movement, at first solely a Greek construct, was founded by Zeno of Citium sometime around 300 B.C. (Nash, 67-68). It came to Rome during the first century A.D. – largely due to the literature of one of its followers, Marcus Tullius Cicero – and soon grew to overtake the cultured centre of Roman thought (Thorsteinsson, 13). In principle, Stoicism was both materialist and pantheistic (Nash, 68-69). For the Stoics, everything in the universe was divine. This meant that their concepts of Nature and Natural Law were fundamental to their doctrine. On the one hand, Nature was a guiding principle that was synonymous with God. As such, on the other hand, the universe was ordered and followed a natural law (Hadas, 21, 23). It was this concept that brought another important aspect of S...
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A Roman hero is one who not only displays great pietas, but also acts in accordance with stoic beliefs. To be pious is to show great devotion to the duty of one’s family, the gods, as well as fate. Stoicism is the belief that one should act according to reason rather than personal desires, submitting oneself to the fate predetermined by the gods. In both pietas and stoicism, actions are performed in order to satisfy the needs of the greater good. Dissociating oneself from emotions allows the individual to pursue a state of ataraxia, emancipation from the torment induced by emotions. By adhering to stoic principles, one will not be moved by their passions, allowing for a full investment in one’s pietas. Aeneas...
Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a roman philosopher that lived from 4 B.C. to 65 A.D., offered some of the most influentially inspiring writings that argue the very purpose of life and the inward reflection of oneself. Seneca was a confidant of the Roman Emperor Nero and towards the end of his life procured many letters and writings of his beliefs to mentees. He is considered a major influence on the Christian theology because of the comparison between the morality expressed in his philosophy and verses in the Christian bible; specifically those concerning money and wealth as a path to evil and the treatment of man to one another. His philosophy expanded the traditional views of stoicism; a Hellenistic ideology that addresses the ways in which one
Lucretius, a famous Epicurean poet, took a stand against the superstitions and fears that the Romans had toward the state religion. He claimed that religion and the fear of gods was what caused unhappiness. Lucretius wrote a story where the Greek princess Iphigeneia was killed by her father Agamemnon, with the hope that he could win the favor of the gods by sacrificing his own daughter. In this case 'religion stood with all that power for wickedness . . .too many times /religion mothers crime and wickedness'; (Lucretius 452). The Romans at that time saw themselves as 'laying foully groveling on earth, weighed down /by grim religion looming from the skies, threatening mortal men';(Lucretius 451). Epicureanism offered some Roman people something that they could seek in order to escape the fears of the gods and religion in general.
As a worldview, Stoicism is a philosophical approach to help people to cope with times of great stress and troubles. In order to give comfort to humanity, the Stoics agree with the Pantheistic view that God and nature are not separate. Instead, the two forces are one. By believing that God is nature, humans have a sense of security because nature, like God, is recognized as rational and perfect. The perfection of nature is explained through the Divine, or natural, Law. This law gives everything in nature a predetermined plan that defines the future based on past evens (cause and effect). Because the goal for everything in nature is to fulfill its plan, the reason for all that happens in nature is because it is a part of the plan. It is apparent that, because this law is of God, it must be good. The Divine Law is also universal. Everything on the planet has a plan that has already been determined. There are no exceptions or limitations to the natural law. The world in the Stoics’ eyes is flawless, equal, and rational.
In these letters Paul provides the most complete statement of the doctrine in the New Testament. If want to know the ins and outs of Christianity, let people check out the writings of Paul to the Romans. So says a notable interpreter. Because of that this note on Romans should earnestly by every Christian, as very important and contains the full spiritual object.
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