Essay on Christianity and Stoicism - 2346 Words

Stoicism emerged in Hellenistic Greece as a new way of reasoning. A way of fulfilling one’s spiritual duty. It quickly became one of the most important Post Classical Greek philosophies. For the purpose of my analysis, I have focused on the period 100 BC to 100 CE. During that time period, Stoicism became extremely influential in the Roman Empire. It was no longer just a Greek school; it became a semi-official Philosophy for the Roman elite. Throughout this time period, Christianity also began to emerge. Through influential missionaries, like Saint Paul (10-67 CE), Christianity began to spread and gain recognition, despite the fact that the Roman Empire was predominately pagan during the first century. Ironically, many early Christian†¦show more content†¦As evidence, he compares 1 Cor. 7:29, a text from the Bible written by Saint Paul to the Stoic text, Ad Marc. x. 11. Pfleiderer does not quote the Bible, he only cites it. For the purpose of this paper and to make the argument presented clearer, I am going to quote the Bible. Cor. 7:29 states, â€Å"I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short.† Ad Marc. x. 11 states, â€Å"Make haste to enjoy the love of your children and to let them enjoy your love and to drain every drop of joy, for you have need of haste; death is at hand! (43). Due to the vague similarities of concepts in the Christian and Stoic writings, especially the idea of life being short, Pfleiderer reasons that Paul was influenced by Stoicism. Pfleiderer also argues that both Stoics and Christians write about â€Å"the source of evil† (44). He cites Seneca, Ep. I 4; â€Å"Why do we deceive ourselves? Evil is not without us, it has its seat within us, in our inward part† (43). He compares this Seneca quote to one from the Bible, specifically Rom. 7:14. â€Å"For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.† Using these two quotes to argue that sin and evil are synonymous, Pfleiderer claims to have found yet another â€Å"remarkable parallel† between Stoic and Christian text. Charles N. Smiley also claims that Stoicism was â€Å"the mould in which Roman Christianity was cast† (647). Like Pfleiderer, Smiley makes equally vague assumptionsShow MoreRelated Comparing Christianity and Stoicism Essay3244 Words   |  13 Pageswas a particularly important collision; one between the Roman stoic and the gentile Christian. At this time in Western civilization, Christianity was just planting its seeds and beginning to grow, whereas stoicism was already legitimate in its foundation and strong in its following (Stavrianos 100). One might wonder how Christianity ultimately replaced stoicism as the prominent and official religion in Rome. 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