What Do You Worship?

Athens

Aechlys- Fathe of Tragety, Herodotus, Thucycddues. Hippocrates- Wester Medicen- Socrates- Westen Shiposphy- Plato.

Phidias Artst who made a staude of Zeus and Athena-

Themes: Family: Fathers; God: Father The old Greek deities were sometimes called “Father.” When Odysseus had returned to Ithaca, he made himself known to his aged father Laertes, who, overcome with joy and amazement, cried, “O Father Zeus! Verily ye gods are still abiding in broad Olympos.” Indeed, Olympian Zeus was called “the Father of gods and men” (p. 2), and Athena called him “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (p. 3). But these titles are empty words, for Zeus is (in Homer at least) immoral, capricious, and far from omnipotent. He is neither all powerful, nor all holy, nor all wise.

W. H. D. Rouse

Wisdom & Knowledge – She represented rational thought, intelligence, and strategic planning.

War (Strategy, not bloodlust) – Unlike Ares (god of chaotic, brutal war), Athena embodied strategic warfare and defense, guiding armies with wisdom.

Crafts & Skill – Especially weaving and practical arts; she was patroness of artisans.

Justice & Civilization – Seen as a protector of cities (her name is linked to Athens, which chose her as patron goddess).

Symbols

Owl – wisdom

Olive tree – peace and prosperity (she gifted the olive tree to Athens)

Armor, shield, and spear – war strategy and protection

1. Perceiving the Problem

Acts 17:16-21

The main problem that all people have is what they will worship.

The Epicureans were materialists and atheists, and their goal in life was pleasure.

Warren W. Wiersbe

Epicureans did not believe in any existence after death, and Stoics believed that only the soul, the divine spark, survived death.

John B. Polhill

The Stoics were pantheists and the Epicureans practical atheists.

R. Kent Hughes

v. 18

Origin & Influence: Founded by Epicurus (342–270 BC), who taught a philosophy of moderation, tranquility, and happiness. His followers spread his teachings widely, and centuries later Paul encountered Epicureans in Athens (Acts 17:18).

Philosophy & Knowledge: Epicureans were empiricists—valuing sense experience over abstract reasoning. They leaned toward practical, natural explanations and were skeptical of mathematics’ abstract nature.

Ethics & Lifestyle: They practiced a form of hedonism—seeking pleasure and avoiding pain—but in moderation. They rejected indulgence and excess, instead valuing calm, friendship, simplicity, and freedom from anxiety.

View of the Gods: Epicurus rejected the common fear of gods. He taught that they were detached, tranquil beings who avoided involvement with human affairs—thus, nothing to fear.

View of Humanity & Death: All things, including the soul, were made of atoms. Humans are not immortal; when the atoms disperse, existence ends. This meant death was not to be feared, since it brings no pain or awareness.

Biblical Contrast: While there are echoes of Epicurean ideas in biblical teachings on moderation and wisdom (Phil 4:5; Prov 3:13–18), the Bible affirms truths that Epicurus denied: God’s active involvement in the world, the soul’s immortality, and true happiness found in communion with God (Rom 8:6; Phil 4:6–7).

1. Secular Humanism

Focuses on human reason, ethics, and naturalism.

Rejects divine involvement in the world.

Emphasizes building a good life through relationships, moral responsibility, and rational thinking—similar to Epicurus’ emphasis on moderation, friendship, and tranquility.

2. Scientific Naturalism & Materialism

Belief that everything is explained by natural laws and material causes (similar to Epicurus’ atomism).

Often rejects the soul’s immortality, affirming that death is simply the end of consciousness.

Parallels Epicurus’ teaching that there’s no need to fear death because nothing follows it.

3. Modern Atheism & Agnosticism

Shares Epicurus’ skepticism about the gods (or God) being involved in human affairs.

Some atheists embrace a practical, ethical lifestyle centered on human flourishing without divine accountability.

4. Therapeutic Philosophies (Mindfulness, Minimalism)

While not atheistic by nature, movements like minimalism, mindfulness, and stoic-inspired self-help echo Epicurus’ emphasis on simplicity, tranquility, and freedom from unnecessary desires.

The idea of “less is more” and reducing anxiety by living simply would resonate with Epicurean ethics.

5. Utilitarian Ethics

Evaluates actions by the amount of pleasure or pain they produce.

Although utilitarianism is often more collective (seeking “the greatest good for the greatest number”), its roots in pleasure/pain calculus echo Epicurean hedonism.

6. Contemporary Lifestyle Equivalents

“Live for today” or “YOLO” attitudes (though often distorted into indulgence, which Epicurus himself rejected).

Some aspects of modern wellness culture, with its focus on peace, balance, and avoiding stress, mirror the Epicurean pursuit of tranquility.

Stoics

Origin & Spread: Founded by Zeno in Athens (~300 BC) in the stoa (porches); spread widely through the Greco-Roman world. Paul likely encountered it earlier in Tarsus or Cyprus. Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius was a famous Stoic.

Philosophy & Cosmology:

Materialists: all things originate from fire and return in a cosmic cycle.

Believed in the Logos (divine rational force) that orders the universe, present also in humans as reason/soul.

Good life = living according to reason/nature, not passion.

Ethics & Politics:

Emphasized universal brotherhood, natural law, and world citizenship.

Cicero developed Stoic natural law into an ethical/political framework.

Valued peace of mind, self-control, and harmony with nature.

Relation to Christianity:

Parallels drawn between Stoic Logos and John 1:1–18.

Natural law ideas compared to biblical teaching (e.g., Romans 1:26–27 “26 For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error.”

).

Augustine critiqued but also adapted Stoic ideas of natural law.

Paul’s preaching at Athens echoed Stoic themes (order, providence, moral law), but clashed on resurrection and history’s linear direction.

Key Difference from Christianity:

Stoics saw Logos as impersonal force, not a personal Creator.

Believed in cyclical history, not a climactic final judgment.

Accepted death rationally but without hope, unlike Paul’s teaching of resurrection and salvation.

🔹 Modern Groups & Movements Reflecting Stoic Ideas

Modern Stoicism movement – revival of classical Stoic philosophy; popular among business leaders, athletes, and self-help teachers (e.g., Ryan Holiday, The Daily Stoic).

Secular mindfulness / self-help culture – emphasis on calm, resilience, detachment from passions, and controlling only what you can control.

Secular human rights law – rooted in “natural law” ideas (Cicero → Enlightenment thinkers → modern constitutions).

Atheistic materialism – similar to Stoic belief in an impersonal ordering force rather than a personal God.

🔹 Modern Sayings That Echo Stoicism

“It is what it is.” – acceptance of fate beyond your control.

“Control what you can control.” – central Stoic idea of focusing on internal reason, not external events.

“Live according to nature.” – updated in modern environmentalism, minimalism, and “back to nature” movements.

“Keep calm and carry on.” – British WWII slogan with a very Stoic flavor of resilience and composure.

“Don’t let emotions rule you.” – reflects Stoic distrust of passion and emphasis on rational order.

🔹 Worldviews with Stoic Parallels

Deism (popular in the Enlightenment): Belief in a rational orderer of the universe, but not a personal God involved in history.

Fatalism / Determinism: The sense that all events are part of a necessary cycle or law of nature.

Secular Rationalism: Trusting human reason as the highest guide for living morally and harmoniously.

✅ In summary: Modern Stoicism (self-help, “Daily Stoic”), mindfulness, deism, and secular rationalism carry the Stoic DNA. Sayings like “It is what it is” or “Control what you can control” show how Stoic resignation and trust in reason live on in today’s culture.

V.18

Jesus - God

Resurrection - Antisasias ἀνάστασις - ANA - Up Stasis - UP

2. Proclaiming Common Ground

Acts 17:22-25

People are naturally worshipers.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 17

22 Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “People of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect.

Areopagus-

Its more common to see a God in Athens than a person

 Hill northwest of the Acropolis in Athens overlooking the marketplace (Acts 17:19). “Areopagus” also refers to the Athenian council or court that met there. The irregular limestone outcropping was also known as Mars Hill, Mars being the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Ares.

3. Presenting Our Purpose

Acts 17:26-29

An Exposition of the New Testament, Volumes I–III Chapter 17

The natural life which men live is from God; and they are supported in it by him; and from him they have all the comforts and blessings of life; and all motions, whether external or internal, of body or of mind, are of God, and none of them are without, the concourse of his providence, and strength and assistance from him; though the disorder and irregularity of these motions, whereby they become sinful, are of themselves, or of the devil; and their being, and the maintenance of it, and continuance in it, are all owing to the power and providence of God

An Exposition of the New Testament, Volumes I–III Chapter 17

Aratus

We are also his Offspring

4. Proclaiming the Resurrection

Acts 17:30-34