Mondays are for Church History
8/13/18
Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Amazon Kindle Edition, 2014.
Volume 2, Ante-Nicene Christianity A.D. 100-325, “Chapter 8. Christian life in Contrast with Pagan Corruption.” Sections 88-103, Loc. 16158-17158.
§ 93. Plutarch,
Schaff finds Plutarch an interesting character. He even calls him “the greatest biographer and moralist of classical antiquity” (Schaff 2014, Loc. 16425). He lived about AD. 50-125 in Boeotia, writing and lecturing about moral philosophy. “He recognized a supreme God, and also the subordinate divinities of the Hellenic religion” (Schaff 2014, Loc. 16435). Plutarch appears to know nothing at all of Christianity, though he does have some superficial knowledge of Judaism. Schaff considers Plutarch’s morality very similar to a Christian moral framework. He thought of religion as the root of morality (Schaff 2014, Loc. 16441). Schaff refers to Plutarch’s The Delays of Divine Justice as a valuable work for understanding Plutarch’s view of the role of religion and the danger of ignoring religious faith (Schaff 2014, Loc. 16452). Some of the observations are remarkably close to a Christian view of moral philosophy. However, Schaff is clear that Christianity would not excuse Plutarch for a failure to trust Jesus. A high moral standard does not rescue us from sin.
8/13/18
Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Amazon Kindle Edition, 2014.
Volume 2, Ante-Nicene Christianity A.D. 100-325, “Chapter 8. Christian life in Contrast with Pagan Corruption.” Sections 88-103, Loc. 16158-17158.
§ 93. Plutarch,
Schaff finds Plutarch an interesting character. He even calls him “the greatest biographer and moralist of classical antiquity” (Schaff 2014, Loc. 16425). He lived about AD. 50-125 in Boeotia, writing and lecturing about moral philosophy. “He recognized a supreme God, and also the subordinate divinities of the Hellenic religion” (Schaff 2014, Loc. 16435). Plutarch appears to know nothing at all of Christianity, though he does have some superficial knowledge of Judaism. Schaff considers Plutarch’s morality very similar to a Christian moral framework. He thought of religion as the root of morality (Schaff 2014, Loc. 16441). Schaff refers to Plutarch’s The Delays of Divine Justice as a valuable work for understanding Plutarch’s view of the role of religion and the danger of ignoring religious faith (Schaff 2014, Loc. 16452). Some of the observations are remarkably close to a Christian view of moral philosophy. However, Schaff is clear that Christianity would not excuse Plutarch for a failure to trust Jesus. A high moral standard does not rescue us from sin.
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