Posted by: Nick Jones

The themes that are predominant in Mathew and Luke is how to be kind to others and no matter what always bless and turn the other cheek to the person who is transgressing against you. They portray Jesus as a kind and loving person, but also as a teacher to the sinners around him. Jesus is showed as a mustard seed to his followers, and foreshadows the way the people shall live after Jesus is crucified. He is also called the light of the world.

The parallels between Jesus and the cynic philosophers Epictetus and Lucian are that they are teachers. They tell stories of real events and thus teach their followers from it. They also both teach their followers of how to love their enemies no matter what. In Mark 5:39 it says “if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.” Both Jesus and Epictetus teach to have faith and strong connection with the lord. They also both teach no matter what the profession of a man (even a tax collector or a major sinner) can be saved if he has faith.

Both the New Testament passages and cynic sage offers a version of a alternative social order aligned with god by giving up all his personal wants, desires, and feelings. In the New Testament they do this in order to focus on only god and to be broken down in the eyes of the lord. A cynic philosopher must give up all his personal feelings about his own death and body. A cynic philosopher also must also remove any desire both spiritually and physically. All these align with god’s will by only focusing on him and giving up any desire, will, and feelings towards any other thing in order to have a personal relationship with him.