Thematic Bible: Stoicism


Thematic Bible





And the man who does not take his cross and follow in my steps is not worthy of me. He who has found his life will lose it, while he who, for my sake, has lost his life shall find it.

Calling the people and his disciples to him, Jesus said: "If any man wishes to walk in my steps, let him renounce self, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, and whoever, for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, will lose his life shall save it.

And to all present he said: "If any man wishes to walk in my steps, let him renounce self, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, and whoever, for my sake, loses his life--that man shall save it. What good does it do a man if, when he has gained the whole world, he has lost or forfeited himself? read more.
Whoever is ashamed of me and of my teaching, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him, when he comes in his Glory and the Glory of the father and of the holy angels.

A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives; but, if the husband should pass to his rest, the widow is free to marry any one she wishes, provided he is a believer. Yet she will be happier if she remains as she is-in my opinion, for I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

With reference to the subjects about which you wrote to me: It would be well for a man to remain single. But, owing to the prevalence of immorality, I advise every man to have his own wife, and every woman her husband. A husband should give his wife her due, and a wife her husband. read more.
It is not the wife, but the husband, who exercises power over her body; and so, too, it is not the husband, but the wife, who exercises power over his body. Do not deprive each other of what is due-unless it is only for a time and by mutual consent, so that your minds may be free for prayer till you again live as man and wife-lest Satan should take advantage of your want of self-control and tempt you. I say this, however, as a concession, not as a command. I should wish every one to be just what I am myself. But every one has his own gift from God-one in one way, and one in another. My advice, then, to those who are not married, and to widows, is this: It would be well for them to remain as I am myself. But, if they cannot control themselves, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to be consumed with passion.

With regard to unmarried women, I have no command from the Master to give you, but I tell you my opinion, and it is that of a man whom the Master in his mercy has made worthy to be trusted. I think, then, that, in view of the time of suffering that has now come upon us, what I have already said is best-that a man should remain as he is.

I want you to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is anxious about the Master's Cause, desiring to please him; While the married man is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please his wife;

But throughout my body I see a different law, one which is in conflict with the law accepted by my reason, and which endeavors to make me a prisoner to that law of Sin which exists throughout my body. Verse ConceptsBodily LimbsSpiritual Warfare, As ConflictLiving Not For The MaterialEvil PrinciplesPrinciples Of WarMind BattlesGoing Through the MotionsstruggleWarLife StrugglesThe MindConflictStrugglesBeing DifferentBeing Uniquelawworkingmindset

We know that the Law is spiritual, but I am earthly-sold into slavery to Sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I am so far from habitually doing what I want to do, that I find myself doing the very thing that I hate. But when I do what I want not to do, I am admitting that the Law is right. read more.
This being so, the action is no longer my own, but that of Sin which is within me. I know that there is nothing good in me-I mean in my earthly nature. For, although it is easy for me to want to do right, to act rightly is not easy. I fail to do the good thing that I want to do, but the bad thing that I want not to do-that I habitually do. But, when I do the very thing that I want not to do, the action is no longer my own, but that of Sin which is within me. This, then, is the law that I find-When I want to do right, wrong presents itself! At heart I delight in the Law of God; But throughout my body I see a different law, one which is in conflict with the law accepted by my reason, and which endeavors to make me a prisoner to that law of Sin which exists throughout my body. Miserable man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body that is bringing me to this Death?




For now that John the Baptist has come, not eating bread or drinking wine, you are saying 'He has a demon in him'; Verse ConceptsAbstinenceAsceticism, People PracticingJohn The BaptistSelf DenialWineCharacter AssassinationAccused Of Being DemonisedDrinking No WineFasting Regularly


Among others, some Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers joined issue with him. Some would ask "What is this prater wanting to make out?", while others would say "He seems to be a Preacher of foreign Deities." (This was because he was telling the Good News about Jesus and the Resurrection). Verse ConceptsBabblersevangelism, nature ofPhilosophyResurrection, Of The DeadFalse Teachers, Examples OfScoffersAmateursAmbiguityEncouraged To Serve Foreign gods

John wore clothing made of camels' hair, with a belt of leather round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Verse ConceptsLeatherClothingBeltsAsceticism, People PracticingHairsInsectsJohn The BaptistLocustsWaistsHoneyHairclothHair GarmentsChristmas Tree