Lexical Summary Epikoureios: Epicurean Original Word: Ἐπικουρεῖος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Epicurean. From Epikouros (compare epikouria) (a noted philosopher); an Epicurean or follower of Epicurus -- Epicurean. see GREEK epikouria Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1946: ἘπικούρειοςἘπικούρειος (Ἐπικουριος T WH; see Iota), Ἐπικουρειου, ὁ, Epicurean, belonging to the sect of Epicurus, the philosopher: Acts 17:18. Topical Lexicon Definition and Occurrence Ἐπικουρείων designates the followers of the Greek philosopher Epicurus. The name appears once in the New Testament, Acts 17:18, where Luke reports that Epicurean and Stoic philosophers confronted Paul in Athens. Historical Background of Epicurean Philosophy Epicurus (341–270 BC) established his Garden in Athens about three centuries before Paul’s visit. His school taught that the universe arose by chance from atoms, that the gods (if they existed) were distant and uninvolved, and that the highest good was freedom from pain and anxiety. Pleasure, defined primarily as tranquility, became the guiding ethic. Epicureans rejected the immortality of the soul, divine judgment, and providential governance, cultivating instead a materialistic worldview that prized self-sufficiency and personal ease. Epicureans in the New Testament Context By the first century the Garden still operated, and Epicureans enjoyed influence in Athens, a city that “spent their time in nothing more than to hear or tell something new” (Acts 17:21). Luke’s notice that Epicurean philosophers disputed with Paul underscores the intellectual variety of that gathering on the Areopagus and signals the particular objections Paul’s gospel would face: disbelief in resurrection, skepticism toward divine intervention, and a worldview centered on temporal pleasure. Theological Contrasts with Biblical Revelation 1. Doctrine of God: Epicureans considered the gods detached; Scripture presents a God who “gives everyone life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:25). Paul’s Evangelistic Approach in Athens Paul neither ignored nor capitulated to Epicurean thought. He: His respectful yet uncompromising proclamation offers a model for engaging philosophies hostile to biblical truth. Legacy and Lessons for Contemporary Ministry 1. Worldview Awareness: Materialistic, pleasure-centered ideologies still dominate secular culture; the apostolic response remains relevant. Related Biblical Passages • 1 Corinthians 15:32 – “If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’” Historical Impact Early Christian apologists (Justin Martyr, Athenagoras) rebutted Epicurean materialism, arguing for creation ex nihilo and bodily resurrection. Though the Garden eventually closed, Epicurean themes reemerged in Enlightenment and modern secularism, illustrating the enduring challenge Acts 17 records. Summary The single New Testament reference to Epicureans is more than a historical footnote; it frames a timeless collision between materialistic pleasure and the gospel of the risen Lord. Paul’s address on the Areopagus charts a faithful path for believers who encounter contemporary echoes of Epicurean thought, calling them to proclaim the Creator, the nearness of God, and the sure hope of resurrection. Forms and Transliterations Ἐπικουρείων Επικουριων Ἐπικουρίων Epikoureion Epikoureiōn Epikoureíon EpikoureíōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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