In Acts, Paul was at the meeting of the Areopagus, and he was speaking to the people of Athens (Acts 17:22). While Paul is speaking to the Athenian philosophers, he says, “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone — an image made by human design and skill” (Acts 17:29). In order to ascertain what Paul means when he says we are the offspring of God, we have to understand the broader context.
Who Are the Offspring of God?
During Paul’s visit to the city of Athens, it was known to be a city full of false worship and idols (Acts 17:16). The people of Athens had not yet heard, understood, or accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul traveled to Athens to help present the truth of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection to the Athenians.
Acts 17 records one of Paul’s discourses to the people of Athens. Prior to Paul telling the Athenians that we are God’s offspring, he quotes from two ancient poets. The two quotes Paul proclaims to the Athenians come from Cretan philosopher Epimenides’ quote, “For in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28a) and Cilician Stoic philosopher Aratus’ quote of “We are his offspring” (Acts 17:28b).
Paul was utilizing concepts that could be understood by the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers who were present at the Areopagus. This was an advanced means of contextualization during Paul’s time as he presented the truth of God in a way that was understandable to the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers.
In modern-day missiological studies, missionaries follow Paul’s example of contextualization in order to help the lost come to know Jesus and other biblical truths. Paul utilized the modern-day Epicurean and Stoic philosophers’ extensive knowledge of the ancient Epicurean and Stoic philosophers to connect them to the truth of the true God of the Bible.
The Stoic philosophers believed that human beings are God’s offspring; however, despite believing that humanity was God’s offspring, the Stoics did not believe in the God of the Bible. When the Stoic philosopher Aratus wrote of “We are his offspring,” Aratus was referring to the Greek God, Zeus — not the true God of the Bible (Ibid.).
After Paul makes reference to Aratus’ quote, he connects it with the true God of the Bible. Paul says, “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone — an image made by human design and skill” (Acts 17:29).
The Greek word Paul uses for “God” here comes from theios, “which means just a general deity that Paul has identified as the world's creator” (Ibid.). Paul is pointing out the truth that if the philosophers believed that human beings are the offspring of God, then how could human beings speak, move, and be able to have creativity if “God” was made out of stone (Ibid.).
Stone idols cannot speak, move, or express creativity as mankind can. If human beings are the offspring of a stone idol “God,” then would not human beings be stone as well? Since human beings are not stone creatures, then it would attest to God being a living, true God as stated in the Bible.
This is the argument that Paul presents in order to facilitate the philosophers to think and ponder on the truth Paul was bringing to them. Philosophers during this time would literally sit around all day, think, and ponder on new ideas (Acts 17:21).
By presenting this information to the philosophers, he wanted them to think over the information and deeply ponder these concepts in their own minds. An idol could not portray God’s Image because God is not made out of a stone. Mankind is not created in the image of an idol, but rather, mankind is created in the Image of the One and Only Eternal God (Genesis 1:27).
Paul was telling the philosophers that mankind is indeed the offspring of God because we are created by Him; however, mankind was not created by a mute idol in the center of Athens. To worship an idol was to sin against the true God of Heaven.
Continuing on, Paul tells the philosophers that in the past, God chose to overlook this ignorance, but now, God commands all people across the world to repent and place faith in Jesus (Acts 17:30). Paul also informs the philosophers that in the future, there will be a resurrection and a judgment to befall all mankind (Acts 17:31).
Some of the philosophers were interested in Paul’s speaking about the resurrection of the dead and yearned to hear more; however, others sneered at Paul (Acts 17:32). There were some who listened to Paul’s message and placed faith in Jesus, such as Dionysius, Damaris, and others (Acts 17:34).
Neither the Epicureans nor Stoics philosophers believed in a literal resurrection of the dead, which ultimately meant they did not believe in a future judgment (Ibid.). The Epicureans did not believe in life after death as they believed once a person passed away, their soul “ceased to exist;” however, the Stoics believed their purpose in life was to live in agreement with the logos (“the law that governs the universe”) in order to return to the logos when they died (Ibid.).
Both the Epicureans and Stoics had erroneous beliefs surrounding God, life after death, and the need for salvation. Paul shares the truth of God with the philosophers; however, the New Testament never gives a record of Athens becoming home to a significant church during the writings of the New Testament (Ibid.).
Athens was highly influenced by philosophies and false belief systems opposed to the true God of the Bible. Despite the town being highly shaped and molded by a pagan belief system, it is plausible many other philosophers and Athenians came to accept Paul’s message of Jesus Christ in addition to Dionysius, Damaris, and others; however, we cannot be certain.
Who Are the Children of God?
Just as Paul tells the Epicureans and Stoics, “we are God’s offspring” by quoting Cilician Stoic philosopher Aratus, we are told in the Bible, we are God’s children (Romans 8:14). John 1:12-13 says, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
At the moment of salvation, we become God’s children. Our broken relationship with the Creator of our souls is made right by placing faith in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. We are God’s offspring because we are made in His Image (Genesis 1:27).
Being created in God’s Image means we have the ability to speak, think, make decisions, move, be creative, and have free will. Every single person was created by God and each person is made in His beautiful image. God is our Father, and He wants us to run to Him.
He loves us as a father should love his child. Even though in our fallen world, there are many fathers who do not treat their children correctly, rest assured to know that your Heavenly Father loves you and He delights to call you, His child. We are the offspring of God because He is our Creator, and we are His children. Praise be to our wonderful Lord and Savior!
For further reading:
Does the Name ‘Jesus’ Actually Mean, ‘Hail, Zeus’?
Why Did Paul Compare Christianity to Greek Mythology?
What Does it Mean to Have a Childlike Faith?
What Does it Mean to be a Child of God as an Adult?
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