Plato writes
...he [the philosophic soul] keeps quiet and minds his own business - as a man in a storm, when dust and rain are blown about by the wind, stands aside under a little wall. Seeing others filled full of lawlessness, he is content if somehow he himself can live his life here pure of injustice and unholy deeds, and take his leave from it graciously and cheerfully with fair hope. (The Republic, 496d)Amazingly (or perhaps just reflecting my prior ignorance), Paul reflects this same thought some 400 years later.
and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, (1 Thes 4.11)and
11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. (2 Thes 3.11-12; cp 1 Tim 5.13)I shouldn't be surprised that Paul would reflect the best of his surrounding Hellenistic culture. What I am surprised at is how little the western Protestant church understands these connections. While certainly not inspired Scripture, this background is incredibly rich. Why have we not studied this, or been taught this, or understand this? Shame on me, and on us.
