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In Matthew’s parable of the sower, Jesus compares teaching to seeds that grow only in receptive soil. The Roman philosopher Seneca, a Stoic writing in the first century, uses similar imagery to describe how moral instruction takes root in a ready mind and grows beyond its small beginnings.
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Seneca Letters from a Stoic 38
Letters from a Stoic
Classical
Words should be scattered like seed; no matter how small the seed may be, if it has once found favourable ground, it unfolds its strength and from an insignificant thing spreads to its greatest growth. Reason grows in the same way; it is not large to the outward view, but increases as it does its work. Few words are spoken; but if the mind has truly caught them, they come into their strength and spring up. Yes, precepts and seeds have the same quality; they produce much, and yet they are slight things. Only, as I said, let a favourable mind receive and assimilate them. Then of itself the mind also will produce bounteously in its turn, giving back more than it has received. Farewell.
Date: 65 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Matthew 13:8
New Testament
3 He told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil. They sprang up quickly because the soil was not deep. 6 But when the sun came up, they were scorched, and because they did not have sufficient root, they withered. 7 Other seeds fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked them. 8 But other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty. 9 The one who has ears had better listen!”
Date: 70-90 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... "Portals and Parallels: Seneca on the Power of Words ... The Roman politician Seneca made an analogy between words and seeds, similar to Jesus' parable of the sower ..."
Wright, N.T. & Bird, Michael F.
The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians
(p. 203) Zondervan Academic, 2019
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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