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Jesus and the resurrection Paul preaches is contrary to all Greek philosophy, especially the fact
that Jesus took our sins with His death. This was in direct opposition to the Epicureans who
taught there was no sin, no right or wrong.

17:18 babbler, spermologos (sper-mol-og-oss); Athenian slang for 1) a bird that picks
up seeds; 2) men lounging around the marketplace, making a living by picking up
whatever falls from the loads of merchandise; 3) a babbler, chatterer, or gossip retailing
bits and pieces of misinformation; 4) a pseudo-intellectual who insists on spouting off.
Tragically, the super-intellectuals on Mar’s Hill failed to see in Paul all the necessary
ingredients for being a truth bringer.

OPPOSITION TO THE TEACHING OF THE RESURRECTION

The resurrection was contrary to both the Epicureans and Stoics (1 Corinthians 15).

EPICUREANS

Founded by Epicurus who taught happiness is found in pleasure. There is no standard of right
or wrong, but whatever gives you pleasure is right. Pleasure is an instinct; therefore, it cannot
be wrong and should be cultivated. Materialism was the next step in that line of thought, and
then atheism. They believed God was whatever you made Him to be. All the emphasis was on
the body. They believed in the soul but believed it was so integrated with the feelings and
emotions of the body; they were actually one. Death was the final pleasure, and there was
nothing following death.

STOICS

Founded by Zeno who taught from the porches (stoikos) of the temples in Athens. His
followers were called “porch people” or “Stoics.” Zeno believed the Epicureans were too
emotional and needed to be more reasonable. Reason is the foundation of the Stoics. The
mind could conquer anything, and virtue was the most important attribute. To Stoics, God was
the spirit of reason in the universe, and the gods of the Pantheon were each concepts of
reason.

PAUL AT MARS HILL

Verses 19-21 are the background for Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill. He has taught in the
synagogue and market just to get to a place of public audience.

Act 17:19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what
this new doctrine is of which you speak?
And they took (seized) him, and brought him unto Areopagus (Court of Ares), saying, May we
know what this new doctrine, thereof thou speakest, is?