Pagan Influence in the Writings of Paul

Kicks Against the Pricks

Euripides :  "kicks against the pricks" (Euripides, Bacchae.)

Aeschylus:. "kicks against the pricks." (Aeschylus, Agamemnon 1624.)

Acts 26:13 "kicks against the pricks" (Luke quoting Paul)

Note on Euripides: The context is that Dionysus discards his divine nature and walks in the human world disguised…Dionysus, the god disguised in human form, tells him that his efforts to resist the new movement will be completely worthless; he is not contending against flesh and blood, but against a god. “You are mortal, he is a god. If I were you, I would control my rage and sacrifice to him, rather than kick against the pricks” [From Euripides, The Bacchae]. Source:

A. N. Wilson, Paul:The Mind of the Apostle (W. W. Norton & Co., N.Y., 1997), pp. 75-76.

'We are indeed His Offspring' and "in thee we live and move and have our being"

Aratus : "for we are indeed his offspring." (Aratus, Phenomenae / Phainomena 1-5)

Epimenides (6th Century BC):  "for in thee we live and move and have our being." (About Zeus)

Acts 17:28 - Paul teaches: "For in him we live, and move, and have our being as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."   

'Cretans Are Always Liars'

Epimenides "the Cretians, always liars, evil beasts, idle bellies...." (Epimenides, Cretica -- a poem scolding the Cretans for making a tomb to Zeus because Epimenides believed Zeus to be eternal.)

Titus 1:12 "One of themselves, [even] a prophet of their own said, The Cretians [are] always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies...."

'Bad Company Corrupts Good Character.'

Euripides: "Bad company ruins good morals." (Euripides, Aiolos.)

Menander of Athens -- Greek Dramatist and poet 342 BC: "Bad company corrupts good character" (Menander, Thais.)

1Cor. 15:33 "Be not deceived, evil communications corrupt good manners."

'Work out your own salvation'

Buddha (5th Century BC) -- his last words: "Work hard to gain your own salvation."

Phl 2:12  "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

First learn Piety at Home

Publius Terentius Afer (Terence) 190 BC: "But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home." (Andria Act IV)

1 Tim 5:4  "But if any widow have children or nephews let them learn first to show piety at home"