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  5. St Paul And Epicurus - Norman DeWitt

Short article with info from DeWitt

  • Kalosyni
  • November 10, 2023 at 8:37 AM
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    • November 10, 2023 at 8:37 AM
    • #1

    This doesn't list an author, but presents material by DeWitt:

    Quote

    Scholars have known for a long time that Paul's Greek vocabulary differs substantially from that of the Gospel writers. The following words are used rarely, if not at all, by the Gospel writers, but were standard words in Epicurean texts:

    Makarismos (cf. Gal. 4:15): technical term in Epicurean philosophy for unalloyed joy, the ultimate end of a life of right reason and right action. Recall that Aristotle also used it in Book 10 of his Nicomachean Ethics to describe the highest state of contemplation.

    Calculus (cf. Philip. 4:8): usually rendered as "think" or "meditate." It was used widely by the Epicureans. It does not occur in the New Testament except in Paul. "Meditate on these things" is repeated in Epicurean texts (e.g., p. 80).

    Autarkes (cf. Philip. 4:11-12): used by many of the Hellenistic philosophies but used only by Paul in the New Testament. Paul's meaning here is the same as Epicurus' conception of autarkes--being content with little or with what the circumstances provide.

    Aidios (cf. Rom. 1:20): "eternal" as in God's eternal power. It is used by Epicurus to describe his atoms. The only New Testament writer besides Paul to use it is the author of Jude. It almost seems as if Paul deliberately used this Epicurean technical term to "twit" the Epicureans in their mistaken belief in the incorruptibility of nature.

    Nouthetesis (cf. 1 Thes. 5:12): "admonition" in this sense is a technical term straight from Epicurean manuals. Its sense is "correction without blame or reprimand."

    Although there are no direct references to Epicurus, DeWitt has gathered an impressive list of allusions that are in his opinion unmistakable in their indication. Here are just some of them:

    "Peace and Safety" (1 Thes. 5:3). These were the watchwords of all Epicureans and DeWitt...

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    • November 12, 2023 at 3:52 PM
    • #2

    A very good summary of DeWitt's arguments that gets to the point.

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