Saturday, May 12, 2007

One to Grow on

Interestingly enough, Paul quoted a "Pagan" writer/philosopher when he said in Acts 17:28, "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your poets have said, For we are also his offspring." Paul clearly said this to create a common "bond" with the people of Athens, quoting a poet with whom they all were presumably familiar, and lessening the preconceived gap, or separation that they would have placed between themselves and Paul, being a Jew!
What I find interesting is that Paul was familiar with the writings of the so-called Pagan poets, Epimenides in particular, who was the original author of the saying. Modern day Christians could learn a lot if they only would read further into the scriptures, and examine the examples set forth by the forerunners of the Faith who oftentimes, went intentionally against the status quo.