| their writings they display a deep discernment of Shemite moral and spiritual values, and yet in the next sentence they contradict what they have just stated with a statement from the other tribes. A description of the dichotomous people in this part is not one of a Charles Manson or an Adolph Hitler. It is one of everyday people trying to live a decent life, while learning as much as possible along the way. Independent, yes. Certain that they are the only ones who are right, definitely. Most of society fits that description. The only thing missing is Holy Spirit guidance. The Roman Epictetus was born in 60 A.D., while Marcus Aurelius was born in 121 A. D.. They were Stoics. We can come full circle back to scripture when we consider that in 53 A. D. Paul observed the same thing described above with the Stoics in Athens. In Acts 17:16-34, we see: "Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. 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. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and behold your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD, Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwellest not in temples made with hands; Neither is 123 ______________________________________________________________________________ worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. And hath made of one blood nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagate, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.". It seems at least that one of the persons, that the Stoics took Paul to, became converted. He was able to sort through the ripples of handed down wisdom and know that what Paul was saying was correct, and answered his previously unanswered questions. Paul encountered the same thing many times. One instance can be found in Acts chapter 14 at Lystra. We see in this a very graphic illustration of the statement, "Many are called but few are chosen.". It is not God's choice but man's that makes the statement true. Men choose to remain dichotomous, that is not what God wants. 124 _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ |
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