holy envy for greek mythology

I never thought that the term holy envy would apply for me with Greek mythology but today I was proven wrong. 

The term holy envy means admiring something from another faith so much that you want to incorporate it into your own faith or life. 

The people living at this time, thousands of years before Christ were wise way beyond their years in ways I did not expect. I’ve always thought that we know better because we have had their history to learn from, but they were practicing things that we have lost. 

Our guide showed us a couple of statues that I loved. The first was of two boys who pulled their mom’s carriage when the animals couldn’t. They were celebrated by the city and in reward got to sleep in the temple. They were found dead in the temple the next morning, with smiles on their faces. 

Some may see this as sad, but they believed that these two boys died at the peak of their glory without pain - shows that the most important thing for them at this time was quality of life rather than how long they lived. 

There was another statue of a young man that was victorious in the Delphi version of the Olympic Games. His facial expression hit me- he almost had a smile but you could tell he was humbly showing respect after his win. 

I love the way that Delphi viewed success. On the outside of their temple they had sort of mottos inscribed that said “Know Thyself” and “Nothing to Excess.” 

Success in Ancient Greece was the moment when you are in accordance with yourself - when you can hear the harmony and the melody of your own soul

“As we come to understand ourselves and our melody we come to hear Gods symphony and our part in it.” - Boston

I found it interesting to learn and put together that these are the people that Paul was preaching to. 

I think I have assumed that the people the apostles taught were living wickedly and that’s why they were being called to repentance. 

But then we read Acts 17 while sitting on Mars Hill in Athens below the Acropolis.

And it said that Paul “disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.”

Of the people in Berea, Paul describes the as noble because “they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

Many of those Paul taught were the devout.

“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.”

My professor explained that superstitious is a bit of a mistranslation. Some better words for the Ancient Greek may be that they were “very religious” meaning that they spent most of their time trying to figure out God and understanding the world. 

What a perfect time for Paul to come preach to them, they were already seeking. 

He mentions how the Greeks had an altar to the “Unknown God,” and then proceeds to explain the nature of God.

How God made the world and everything in it, including them. How He gives us breath.

He reveals the powerful truth that we are the offspring of God. 

I can only imagine how hearing and understanding that they are of divine origin may have changed the lives of those in Athens who were willing to listen. 

Knowing that I am the offspring and daughter of Heavenly, loving Parents certainly has changed me.