Paul’s Speech to the Athenians at the hill Areopagus, Acts 17:28:
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.
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Paul quoted the first phase from Epimenides’ Cretica, “For in him we live and move and have our being.”
Epimenides was a 6th Century BC philosopher and religious prophet and a contemporary of more famous philosophers like Aristotle and Plato, who also refer to him in their writings.
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Paul quoting the second phrase from Aratus’ poem Phaenomena, and also Cleanthes’ Hymn to Zeus which has the same words.
Aratus was a Cilician, one of Paul’s own countrymen, and with his writings St. Paul was undoubtedly well acquainted, though he had flourished about 300 years before that time.
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“From Zeus begin; never let us leave
His name unloved. With Him, with Zeus, are filled
All paths we tread, and all the marts of men;
Filled, too, the sea, and every creek and bay;
And all in all things need we help of Zeus,
For we too are his offspring.”
—Aratus, Phænom. 1–5.
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“Most glorious of immortals, many-named,
Almighty and for ever, thee, O Zeus,
Sovran o’er Nature, guiding with thy hand
All things that are, we greet with praises. Thee
’Tis meet that mortals call with one accord,
For we thine offspring are, and we alone
Of all that live and move upon this earth,
Receive the gift of imitative speech.”
—Cleanthes, Hymn to Zeus
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Isaiah 1:2
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
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– Tom Irvine
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