Christianity and the Classics
W. B. Stanford
‘ What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?’ cries Tertullian of Carthage when the Christian Church was barely two centuries old, ‘what harmony is there between Plato's Academy and Church?’ Then, all mastery eloquence that he had learned in school classical rhetoric, denounces non-Christian literature as pernicious—‘We have no need curiosity going beyond Christ Jesus, nor inquiry Gospel.’ The question might still be crudely asked to-day—Why teach pagan countries schools? Some may answer problem conflict are past; none greater churches opposes education now; on contrary clergy mostly encourage it, while it scientists object. But Christianity classics meet each other different facets epochs. Sometimes these seem less adjustable than those before them. And some defences made for pre-Christian by Christians, uses they recommend deserve attention still. follows here mainly an historical survey, necessarily a very sketchy one. It must begin long our Lord's time, at death Alexander Great 323 B.C. By time Palestine Egypt, great centres Judaism, come under Greek rule. After Alexander's both regions were taken over Ptolemy. He his namesake successors enlightened tolerant monarchs. Under their rule Hellenism gained ground among Jews Jerusalem Alexandria.
Greece & Rome