Ἐπικούρειος

an Epicurean

Definition

An Epicurean is a follower of the Greek philosopher Epicurus (341–270 BC). In the New Testament, the term specifically refers to members of the Epicurean school of philosophy who encountered the apostle Paul in Athens (Acts 17:18). Epicureans taught that the chief goal of life was pleasure, defined as the absence of pain and disturbance (ataraxia), and they generally rejected divine intervention in the world, believing the gods were distant and unconcerned with human affairs. This philosophical stance placed them in direct contrast with Paul's message of a personal, creator God who actively judges and redeems.

Biblical Usage

The word Ἐπικούρειος is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 17:18. In this context, some Epicurean (and Stoic) philosophers debate with Paul after hearing him preach about Jesus and the resurrection in the Athenian Areopagus. The usage is purely descriptive, identifying a specific philosophical group present in the intellectual marketplace of Athens.

Etymology

Derived from the name of the philosopher Ἐπίκουρος (Epikouros). The name Epicurus itself is likely from the Greek ἐπί (epi, 'upon') and κουρος (kouros, 'guardian' or 'ally'), though the connection to the philosophical sect is direct and not based on analyzing the compound parts. The term simply denotes an adherent of his teachings.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it identifies a major worldview that the gospel confronted in the Greco-Roman world. Understanding the Epicureans' materialistic and relatively atheistic perspective highlights the radical nature of Paul's proclamation of a personal God, creation, judgment, and resurrection (Acts 17:24-31). It enriches the reading of Acts 17 by showing Paul skillfully engaging with and challenging a sophisticated, yet fundamentally opposed, philosophical system.

In the 1st century, Epicureans were a well-known philosophical school. They were often misunderstood as advocating for crude hedonism, but their ideal was actually a tranquil life free from fear, particularly fear of the gods and death. They believed the universe was composed of atoms and chance, not divine design. This cultural context makes their confrontation with Paul, who preached a purposeful Creator and a bodily resurrection, particularly dramatic.

Στωϊκός (Stōikos, G4770) — A Stoic philosopher, another school Paul debated in Acts 17:18; Stoics emphasized living in harmony with divine reason/logos and were generally pantheistic, contrasting with Epicurean materialism. φιλόσοφος (philosophos, G5386) — A general term for 'philosopher'; Epicureans were a specific subset of philosophers.

Word Details

Scripture References