The Golden Saying of Epictetus XV

'If what philosophers say of the kinship of God and Man be true, what remains for men to do but as Socrates did:--never, when asked one's country, to answer, "I am an Athenian or a Corinthian," but "I am a citizen of the world."' -Epictetus

This passage is applicable to the church. And what about the church? Simply, church unity.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, -Colossians 1:24

Get it right people. I am reminded of J.C. Ryle's essay on the true church. He says that the true church is composed of anyone who has passed from death to life. Anyone who is saved; that it has nothing to so with denomination but more to do with how whether or not a group of people after being saved by Christ meet together to talk of the glory of God. Why is there divisions among us that make claims of one being more saved than the next. Shall we not make these judgments by the works of righteousness in their lives?

Although, I do like to contradict Epictetus a little bit. I am an American and I would not have it any other way.

The Golden Saying of Epictetus XIII

"But God hath introduced Man to be a spectator of Himself and of His works; and not a spectator only, but also an interpreter of them. Wherefore it is a shame for man to begin and to leave off where the brutes do. Rather he should begin there, and leave off where Nature leaves off in us: and that is at contemplation, and understanding, and a manner of life that is in harmony with herself. See then that ye die not without being spectators of these things." -Epictetus

No one born of God commits sin; for God's nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God. 1 John 3:9

We find Epictetus being lenient in his golden saying XIII. Epictetus argues for a better quality of life to be had if we observe God and his works. As noble as this might seem God demands more of us and we have the obligation to make ourselves like Jesus. Jesus was without sin and though all man has sinned we must still make the effort to be sinless. And luckily God's mercy and grace and his son's death is powerful enough to so. Epictetus, whom I have much respect for, was not given the Gospel and so did not realize his own personal sin that had to be dealt with. So he merely recommended that we look to God as an example for our lives. He did not say that it was required.

He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high . . . Hebrews 1:3

And it is this that we should be, but are not.

The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, XI and XII

XI

The other day I had an iron lamp placed beside my household gods. I heard a noise at the door and on hastening down found my lamp carried off. I reflected that the culprit was in no very strange case. "Tomorrow, my friend," I said, "you will find an earthenware lamp; for a man can only lose what he has."

XII

The reason why I lost my lamp was that the thief was superior to me in vigilance. He paid however this price for the lamp, that in exchange for it he consented to become a thief: in exchange for it, to become faithless.

-Epictetus-

19 They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a molten image. 20 They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. Ps. 106

The two proverbs of Epictetus seem to be speaking of a kind of manifest punishment or a judgment. He knows that no evildoer will go unpunished in either two ways.

One: A worldly manifest punishment that gives him the title of faithless or thief. For this man he has no faith in anything but in himself which quite honestly is the last person you would want to put your faith in; for can we as mortals deliver ourselves from disaster one hundred percent of the time. No. But the thief regards his acquiring a lamp, through robbing, worth sacrificing his good repute.

Two: This is his judgment he receives from God. In the first proverb Epictetus uses the phrase household gods and how he had his lamp placed beside them as though it belonged there. This thief wanted this household god (lamp) and regarded it more valuable than the actual God. This directly relates to Psalm 106. The thief made and exchange that was clearly a bad decision. It would be like trading a billion dollars for an 1886 penny. But he was so consumed by his desires that to him it was worth the trade.

You have to ask yourself, "Is the sin worth it if I will falling from the grace of God?" But this statement has the most weight if you have a correct idea of the sublime vision of God. For he is a consuming fire.

The Golden Saying of Epictetus IX

If a man could be thoroughly penetrated, as he ought, with this thought, that we are all in an especial manner sprung from God, and that God is the Father of men as well as of Gods, full surely he would never conceive aught ignoble or base of himself. Whereas if Caesar were to adopt you, your haughty looks would be intolerable; will you not be elated at knowing that you are the son of God? Now however it is not so with us: but seeing that in our birth these two things are commingled--the body which we share with the animals, and the Reason and Thought which we share with the Gods, many decline towards this unhappy kinship with the dead, few rise to the blessed kinship with the Divine. Since then every one must deal with each thing according to the view which he forms about it, those few who hold that they are born for fidelity, modesty, and unerring sureness in dealing with the things of sense, never conceive aught base or ignoble of themselves: but the multitude the contrary. Why, what am I?--A wretched human creature; with this miserable flesh of mine. Miserable indeed! but you have something better than that paltry flesh of yours. Why then cling to the one, and neglect the other? -Epictetus

How stupid are you? Let me answer for you: Very. The conceit and ignorance even among believers can be quite astonishing when it comes to things to be prideful of. We deal with this when we have too much pride or are so self abasing we refuse to be lifted up. Why would we forget who it was we came from? Who is our kin? The Father. Although we admittedly screw up which is naturally pushing God away from us we may still remember than that God would like to be close with you since he made you.

Why should we trifle over points of connection we have to those of fame and power when we can claim direct points of connection to divinity. If you compare the two side by side we just look like morons.

Why this dwell on this misery, for we are "Miserable indeed!" Who are you to stay sulking in the corner as if God has not given you your very life. Buck up and remember your place, though you deserve less take the gift and use to his glory you knucklehead.

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; -Genesis 1:26

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. -Ephesians 4:30

then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. -Thessalonians 4:17-18

The Golden Saying OF Epictetus, VII

What saith Antisthenes? Hast thou never heard?— It is a kingly thing, O Cyrus, to do well and to be evil spoken of. -Epictetus

Therefore we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you are enduring. 2 Thes. 1:4

Steadfastness is a very important thing to keep in mind, though it is commonly ignored. The reason being is that in this nation we live, we have inherited kingly lifestyles. Sure, we work hard, but that was inherited from the fall of man. Otherwise, we live very, very comfortably.

Occasionally, we might get into less than desirable positions. Some huge temptations for us is to doubt our faith, or shake our fist at God saying, "I didn't deserve this!" Why do we not think we deserve pain? There is no reason to think this way, and it sprouts from this supposed right to living luxuriously.

This is where Epictetus' stoicism comes in. What he is speaking of is receiving false repute. If you really had good lifestyle then it really should not matter to you what others might say. We will get insecure and act as if there accusations of us were true. It strings back to one of the primary points of stoicism which is contentment. We must be content with our surroundings, because we really don't deserve anything more in the first place. The world does not owe you anything. Be content.

The Golden Saying OF Epictetus, VI

But what saith God?—"Had it been possible, Epictetus, I would have made both that body of thine and thy possessions free and unimpeded, but as it is, be not deceived:—it is not thine own; it is but finely tempered clay. Since then this I could not do, I have given thee a portion of Myself, in the power of desiring and declining and of pursuing and avoiding, and is a word the power of dealing with the things of sense. And if thou neglect not this, but place all that thou hast therein, thou shalt never be let or hindered; thou shalt never lament; thou shalt not blame or flatter any. What then? Seemeth this to thee a little thing?"—God forbid!—"Be content then therewith!"

And so I pray the Gods. -Epictetus

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
II Cor. 12:10

6 There is great gain in godliness with contentment; 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world; 8 but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
I Tim. 6:6-8

What I see hear is a direct statement telling you that in is a very good and righteous thing before God to be content. But I would like to discuss from where this non-contentment comes. When people find themselves in a less than desirable position, there attitude changes from how they were acting before. When something goes wrong for them they immediately start operating in a pre-supposed belief that they grew up with. Examples of those beliefs would be, American Duties, or Family values. When God tells you to turn the other cheek and American duty tells you to punch the guy in the face, you have not fully given yourself up to God. Same goes for contentment. If you are not content, then you have not fully acknowledged Gods teaching. You are putting our other faiths before God, when we should be seeing the world everyday through the eyes of our primary christian faith. Do not be doubled minded.

18 But some one will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe -- and shudder.
James 2:18-19

Your faith will only be evident to God if you display your faith with works, and not temporarily replace your christian faith with family values.

The Golden Saying Of Epictetus, V

Rufus used to say, If you have leisure to praise me, what I say is naught. In truth he spoke in such wise, that each of us who sat there, thought that some one had accused him to Rufus:—so surely did he lay his finger on the very deeds we did: so surely display the faults of each before his very eyes. -Epictetus, speaking of C. Musonius Rufus, a stoic philosopher.

Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning.
Prov. 9:8-9

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.
Prov. 12:15

This specific golden saying is brief in it's message, but the proverbs that relate are very telling. The proverb that I would like to focus on is the latter.

The foolish man does not typically see himself as foolish. I say the word "typically" since there are exceptions where a Christian would be acting foolish, but is aware of it. The only reason they are doing this is to serve themselves. But aside from that, a fool sees everything he does as right. What we find ourselves doing is treating a habit of ours as normal and neutral. We do not give a second thought to whether or not the action is foolish or a sin. We are stuck in ruts, and it would be healthy to examine our actions. I have no examples to support this, sadly, but I know it happens.

Be not righteous overmuch, and do not make yourself overwise; why should you destroy yourself?
Eccl. 7:16

This passage his to help those who have become too introspective of all their actions. They consequently entangle themselves in over thinking their actions. An example might be: 1. Pride is sin. 2. Thanking people for their good deed can encourage pride. 3. I should not thank people for their good deeds, because I do not want to be a stumbling block for them. Although this is an attempt to be wise, the person is very thick headed, because the bible directly tells us that we honor each other. Though, one should always be mindful of other peoples advice, and not believe that everything they do is not an offense.

The Golden Saying Of Epictetus, IV

But I have one whom I must please, to whom I must be subject, whom I must obey:—God, and those who come next to Him. He hath entrusted me with myself: He hath made my will subject to myself alone and given me rules for the right use thereof. -Epictetus

3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his own will. 5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere, "What is man that thou art mindful of him,or the son of man, that thou carest for him? 7 Thou didst make him for a little while lower than the angels,thou hast crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet."Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.
Heb. 2:3-8

Are you really in full subjection to God? But that is as far as I can go with you concerning the idea. It is something that is most easily pointed out by you. This is sad truth, but many christians are trying to balance their own ideas with God. A magnificent example would be the "Christian" pop-star Jennifer Knapp who has recently come out as a lesbian. She is denying the direct teachings of the bible and substituting her own reality so that she can take the benefits of a Christian label and still do what she wants. Sadly, other Christians accept them as right and slowly convince themselves that their is no sin in the issue. These people are under the impression that God is a Santa Clause figure that gives everyone free presents as long as their intentions are good. They are ignorant of the one who has entrusted them with themselves.

who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Phil. 3:21

The Golden Saying Of Epictetus, III

Try to enjoy the great festival of life with other men. - Epictetus

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
Mat. 18:15

9"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Mat. 5:9-12

What Epictetus is suggesting we do is a bit different from how the bible might handle it. But Epictetus approaches it with common sense. He is not saying that we attempt to avoid confrontations with enemies completely because that contradicts one of the stoics primary beliefs, which is that only you have control over yourself and nobody else. Epictetus, is not guaranteeing any blessing but only suggests that you become arbitrator, and with addition of the rest of his philosophy that we live with what was dealt with. Luckily, the Bible tells us in case we are persecuted for our beliefs we may take on the title of peacemaker, and be blessed by that.

You were so close, Epictetus; but no cigar.

The Golden Saying Of Epictetus, II

How then do men act? As though one returning to his country who had sojourned for the night in a fair inn, should be so captivated thereby as to take up his abode there.

"Friend, thou hast forgotten thine intention! This was not thy destination, but only lay on the way thither."

"Nay, but it is a proper place."

"And how many more of the sort there may be; only to pass through upon thy way! Thy purpose was to return to thy country; to relieve thy kinsmen's fears for thee; thyself to discharge the duties of a citizen; to marry a wife, to beget offspring, and to fill the appointed round of office. Thou didst not come to choose out what places are most pleasant; but rather to return to that wherein thou wast born and where wert appointed to be a citizen."-Epictetus

Besides that, they learn to be idlers, gadding about from house to house, and not only idlers but gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
I Tim. 5:13

3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place;
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, `Why do you stand here idle all day?'
Mat. 20

I cannot imagine that many of us have ever thought about this message. Probably because it is not a major problem in day to day life, but I do still think it is good to be conscious of it. That said I will only look at the positive side of things. This is a magnificent gift from God to put it simply It is only right to work on our own miniature empires to the glory of God. If we live intentionally poorly what is it at all that we can do before God? Even though I don't believe it is necessary to have a marriage and children I will say get married (to the glory of God), beget offspring (to the glory of God), and build an empire and thank the Lord for it.

The Golden Saying of Epictetus, I

This is the beginning of a series that I call The Lone Virtuous Pagan. I am speaking of course of The roman stoic philosopher Epictetus. Epictetus was a very remarkable man since though He was a slave, He still rose to great power in his time as a slave. He obtained this power just by following the simple rules of stoicism.

Although, He was a pagan, His philosophy was covering basics that some Christians have not yet understood. To give him more validity, I will be giving you His golden sayings and some bible verses that relate to of which He speaks. So, I begin with The Golden Saying of Epictetus, I.

"Are these the only works of Providence within us? What words suffice to praise or set them forth? Had we but understanding, should we ever cease hymning and blessing the Divine Power, both openly and in secret, and telling of His gracious gifts? Whether digging or ploughing or eating, should we not sing the hymn to God:—

Great is God, for that He hath given us such instruments to till the ground withal: Great is God, for that He hath given us hands and the power of swallowing and digesting; of unconsciously growing and breathing while we sleep!

Thus should we ever have sung; yea and this, the grandest and divinest hymn of all:—

Great is God, for that He hath given us a mind to apprehend these things, and duly to use them!

What then! seeing that most of you are blinded, should there not be some one to fill this place, and sing the hymn to God on behalf of all men? What else can I that am old and lame do but sing to God? Were I a nightingale, I should do after the manner of a nightingale. Were I a swan, I should do after the manner of a swan. But now, since I am a reasonable being, I must sing to God: that is my work: I do it, nor will I desert this my post, as long as it is granted me to hold it; and upon you too I call to join in this self-same hymn"

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Col. 3:16

33 O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 "For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?" 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever. Amen.
Rom. 11:33-36

Are we reasonable beings? Has God given us this earth to live on and prosper so that we can ignore him? As long as we live on earth it is our work that we praise him in all we do, for all we do is a gift of God. There is not much more to say, but you should ask yourself if you have been ignoring God and reaping his benefits, or are you waking up every day and praising him whatever your circumstance.