Thematic Bible: Stoicism


Thematic Bible





Whosoever does not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. The one having found his soul shall lose it; and the one losing his soul for my sake shall find it.

And calling the multitude to Him with His disciples, He said to them, Whosoever wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever may wish to save his soul shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his soul for my sake and that of the gospel shall save it.

And He spoke to all, If any one wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever may wish to save his soul shall lose it; and whosoever may lose his soul for my sake, he shall save it. For what is a man profited, gaining the whole world, and losing or forfeiting himself? read more.
For whosoever may be ashamed of me and my words, the Son of man will be ashamed of him, when He may come in His glory, and that of the Father, and that of the holy angels.


A wife has been given so long a time as her husband may live; but if her husband may die, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. But she is happier if she may so remain, according to my opinion: but I realize that I truly have the Spirit of God.

But concerning those things about which you wrote to me: That it is good for a man not to receive a wife: but on account of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband give to the wife that which is due, and likewise the wife also to the husband. read more.
The wife has not the authority over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband has not the authority over his own body, but the wife. Do not defraud one another, unless it may be with consent for a time, that you may give attention to prayer, and again come together, in order that Satan may not tempt you on account of your incontinency. But I speak this according to knowledge, not according to commandment. But I wish that all men were even as myself; but each one has his own gift from God, some one, and some another. But I speak to the unmarried and the widows, that it is good for them that they may remain even as I: but if they do not contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

But concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give knowledge, as one having obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful. But I consider this to be good on account of the present distress, that it is good for a man so to be.

I wish you to be free from solicitude. The unmarried man cares for the things of the Lord, in order that he may please the Lord: but the one having married cares for the things of the world, in order that he may please his wife.



For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, having been sold under sin. For that which I do, I know not: for I do that which I do not will; but I do that which I hate. But if I do that which I do not will, I consent to the law that it is beautiful; read more.
but now it is no more I that do it, but sin dwelling in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my carnal mind, there dwells no good thing. For to will is present with me, but to do that which is beautiful is not: for the good which I will I do not; but the evil which I do not will, that I do. If I do that which I do not will, it is no longer I that do it, but sin dwelling in me. Then I find a law, that, to me wishing to do that which is beautiful, that the evil is present with me: for I delight in the law of God according to the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?










And certain ones of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers interviewed him, and some continued to say, What would this babbler wish to say? and others said, He seems to be the propagator of strange divinities: because he was preaching the gospel of Jesus, and the resurrection.


And the same John had his raiment from camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.