Stoicism

Stoicism derives its name from the Painted Porch in the market place... of Athens, where it was first taught. It was founded by Zeno of Citium (or Cyprus) (335-263 BC) and became one of the two principal philosophical schools of the Hellenistic world (the other being Epicureanism).[1] The development of the teaching of Stoicism is divided into three periods, the Early Stoa, the Middle Stoa and the Later Stoa (or Roman Stoicism). The teachings of Stoicism changed significantly thought the centuries, so it is difficult to generalise about what the Stoics taught, especially as none of their works survive. What fragments we do have of their writings come from later writers who sought to summarise, oppose or use such material to their own ends.[2] The New Testament writers often expressed Christianity using Stoic terms and phrases, but the two world views differed radically from one another.[3] The use of common language does not imply any commitment to the underlying philosophy.

Zeno’s successor, Chrysippus of Soli (c.280-207 BC), used allegorical interpretation in an attempt to demonstrate that Hesiod and Homer were really Stoics, and in so doing greatly promoted this method of interpretation.[4] The importance of allegorical interpretation becomes clear when we examine the teachings of Philo, Clement of Alexandria and Origen. Stoic influence is also evident in the writings of Theophilus of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Tatian, Tertullian and Athanasius.

Later Stoics believed that the universe was created by fire and would be destroyed by fire, before being created again. The goal of Stoicism was to bring the human mind into agreement with the Logos, the impersonal force of reason who formed the universe and to recognise that the Logos did so for mankind’s benefit, regardless of personal circumstance.[5] The Logos might be described by a Stoic as "the soul of the universe" while the physical world was the universe’s body. While some claim that this is not true pantheism,[6] it has to be noted that Stoics believed that everything was material, even god. Everett Ferguson provides a very helpful summary of the Stoic view of matter and deity:

There are two basic kinds of matter: the grosser matter and the finer matter called breath or spirit (pneuma) that is diffused throughout reality. This special form of matter holds everything together and is given various names: logos (reason), breath (pneuma), providence (pronoia), Zeus, or fire (the element considered most akin to reason). Stoicism was pantheistic in that it found the divine reality in everything.[7]

This is clearly very different to Jewish and Christian views of a transcendent Creator.[8] Despite their differences, Stoic and Christian ideas of creation both were agreed on one matter: the universe did not come about by chance. As Cicero’s Stoic declares: "Nothing that is without mind can generate that which possesses mind."[9]

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