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Stoics
Stoics Followers of the philosopher Zeno (335–263 BCE), who lived in Athens and taught within a colonnade (Greek, stoa). They were numerous in NT times among Roman politicians and orators and emphasized the cosmopolitan nature of mankind, teaching that all are brothers and sisters in the world, but that the lot here of everyone is predetermined. The most effective means of dealing with this fate was to control one's own passions and ambitions so that inevitable external events had the least painful results. Stoicism was a philosophy of life which called for inner discipline, and had points of contact both with Jewish Wisdom literature (e.g. Wisd. of Sol. 7: 22–6) and with Christian teaching. For example, Stoics held that the universe was inspired by a divine Logos or Word (cf. John 1: 1–3), and there are parallels between the Household Codes of the epistles and ethical teaching of the Stoics. The difference is that the ideal for Christians was to include a warmth and love which the Stoics would have regarded as rather reprehensible. Christian martyrdom out of loyalty and love for Jesus was different from the steely courage to endure of the Stoics. According to Acts 17: 22–31 Paul encountered Stoic teachers at Athens, and he made use of popular Stoic philosophy in his sermon there.
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "Stoics." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 14 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. W. R. F. BROWNING. "Stoics." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 14, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Stoics.html W. R. F. BROWNING. "Stoics." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved February 14, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Stoics.html |
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Stoics
Stoics Followers of the school of philosophy founded (c.300 bc) by Zeno of Citium. Founded on the premise that virtue is attainable only by living in harmony with nature, stoicism stressed the importance of self-sufficiency and of equanimity in adversity. The philosophy was first expressed by Chrysippus in the 3rd century bc. It was introduced into Rome in the 2nd century bc, where it found its greatest adherents: Seneca in the 1st century ad; Epictetus in the 1st and 2nd centuries; and the 2nd-century Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
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Cite this article
"Stoics." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 14 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Stoics." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 14, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Stoics.html "Stoics." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 14, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Stoics.html |
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