Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? Others, He seems to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
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Clement Of Alexandria
AD 215
Branding not all philosophy, but the Epicurean, which Paul mentions in the Acts of the Apostles,
Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. The former of these philosophers held as their doctrine, that the Almighty did not interfere by his providence in the government of the world; that the soul did not subsist after the body; and consequently, that there was no future state of retribution. The latter denied that man had liberty of action, and maintained, that all things happened by destiny and fatal necessity. These were the two opposite sects St. Paul had to contend with. (Calmet)
The Stoics believed in the immortality of the soul, and came the nearest to the Christian religion: but both Stoics and Epicureans, with all pagan philosophers, denied the resurrection of bodies; hence St. Augustine says, the faith of a resurrection is peculiar to Christians. (Estius)
What is it that this babbler would say? A word of contempt, which some translate, this prattler. It is thought to be a metaphor from birds picking up little seeds, or the like, for their food; and to signify, that St. Paul had p...
Yes, but these were matters they did not at all know what to make of. Howbeit, he did convert both Dionysius the Areopagite, and some others. For those who were careful of (right) living, quickly received the word; but the others not so. It seemed to Paul sufficient to have cast the seeds of the doctrines. (a) To Corinth then, as I said, he was led by the Spirit, in which city he was to abide.
How came they to be willing to confer with him? (They did it) when they saw others reasoning, and the man having repute (in the encounter). And observe straightway with overbearing insolence, some said, What would this babbler say? For the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:14 Other some, He seems to be a setter-forth of strange deities: δαιμονίων, for so they called their gods. And having taken him, they brought him, etc.
It is a wonder the philosophers did not laugh him to scorn, speaking in the way he did. And some said, What does this babbler mean to say? insolently, on the instant: — this is far from philosophy. Other some said, He seems to be a setter forth of strange gods, from the preaching, because he had no arrogance. They did not understand, nor comprehend the subjects he was speaking of— how should they? affirming as they did, some of them, that God is a body; others, that pleasure is the (true) happiness. Of strange gods, because he preached unto them Jesus and the Resurrection: for in fact they supposed Anastasis (the Resurrection) to be some deity, being accustomed to worship female divinities also. And having taken him, they brought him to the Areopagus
Therefore the opinion of those is vain and false, who, when they attribute the one to God, take away the other, not less than the opinion of those who take away both. But the latter,
