Epictetus and Biblical Teachings

Epictetus, a Roman slave and philosopher, made several statements which contrast with Biblical truths.  Epictetus made his contempt for authority obvious, showing his hatred of tyrants.  The Bible teaches subjection to leadership, but only within Scriptural guidelines. Epictetus said that there is “bondage in the chains of the body and its manifold necessities.”  Paul describes the physical body as “lowly” in Philippians 3:21, but writes that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”(Philippians 1:21).  Epictetus taught that the body was prison-like, while Paul sees the body as an instrument in God’s hands. Humans were, to Epictetus, the “kinsmen”, “kindred”, and “from” the deities.  The Old Testament speaks of Israelites as being the Children of Israel, a godly man.  After the Old Covenant was abolished, the New Testament teaches that Christians are the Children of God, and co-heirs of Heaven with Jesus. As all men are equal, as they are all from the gods, Epictetus reasoned that “tyrants… [who] deem that they have after a fashion power over us, because of the miserable body and what appertains to it… they have power over none.”  As the ancient Israelites lived under a theocracy, they were not equal to their Ruler.  The New Testament shows that all authority is appointed by God for the good of His children.
Epictetus believed the struggle of the body and mind to be the lowly, limited, physical part of man conflicting with the quintessential spirit of man.  The Bible defines this conflict as being between the evil flesh and the soul of man, both of which were designed to bring glory to God.  Epictetus’ theories about a man’s war with himself are contrary to Scriptural explanations of the human heart and body. Epictetus believed the struggle of the body and mind to be the lowly, limited, physical part of man conflicting with the quintessential spirit of man.  The Bible defines this conflict as being between the evil flesh and the soul of man, both of which were designed to bring glory to God.  Epictetus’ theories about a man’s war with himself are contrary to Scriptural explanations of the human heart and body.