Texts in Conversation
The Greek author Aratus opens his Phaenomena describing how Zeus fills all the streets and seas of the world. Colossians applies this same fullness language to Jesus, saying the whole fullness of God dwells in him bodily.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Aratus Phaenomena
Classical
From Zeus let us begin; him do we mortals never leave unnamed; full of Zeus are all the streets and all the market-places of men; full is the sea and the havens thereof; always we all have need of Zeus. For we are also his offspring; and he in his kindness unto men giveth favourable signs and wakeneth the people to work, reminding them of livelihood. He tells what time the soil is best for the labour of the ox and for the mattock, and what time the seasons are favourable both for the planting of trees and for casting all manner of seeds. For himself it was who set the signs in heaven, and marked out the constellations, and for the year devised what stars chiefly should give to men right signs of the seasons, to the end that all things might grow unfailingly. Wherefore him do men ever worship first and last. Hail, O Father, mighty marvel, mighty blessing unto men. Hail to thee and to the Elder Race! Hail, ye Muses, right kindly, every one! But for me, too, in answer to my prayer direct all my lay, even as is meet, to tell the stars.
Date: 300-250 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Colossians 2:9
New Testament
8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
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Notes and References
... this speech was neither the first nor the last source to cite this section of Aratus's Phaenomena for monotheistic apologetic purposes. The earlier Hellenistic Jewish apologist Aristobulus quoted all of verses 1-9 of its introduction (Aristobulus fragment 4.6-7), which he applied to the biblical account of creation. Theophilus of Antioch quoted the same material, and Clement of Alexandria used several verses; like Aristobulus, they emphasize both God's power and providence. Luke may follow Aristobulus in substituting "God" for "Zeus" here (without which he may have considered the quotation unacceptable); though it is possible that both made the change independently (a change they may have felt necessary in order to use it), it seems more likely that Luke uses a text already "sanctified" by its appropriation in Jewish apologetic ...
* 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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