Solon & Croesus & Christ - Young

One of my favorite parts of teaching 7th grade Humanities is connecting the things we read to the scriptures. Last week, while reading Herodotus (~430 B.C.), we came across a scene where Croesus, the wealthy king of Lydia, asks Solon, a visiting Greek wiseman, who is the most fortunate of all men, expecting his guest to flatter him in his answer. 

But Solon surprises Croesus and names an obscure Athenian hero, who lived to see his children and grandchildren before dying a noble death in battle. When asked again, he names a pair of twins from Argos, who died after performing a feat of great honor towards their mother and the gods. Croesus protests! Surely, his Greek visitor isn't looking hard enough at all his piles of gold! 

But no, he cannot judge how fortunate a man is until he knows how the story ends. "The man who goes through life having the most blessings and then ends his life favorably, he is the man, sire, who rightly wins this title from me," Solon explains.

And so I asked my students if Solon's definition of fortunate and prosperous is an acceptable definition for the Christian. One said no, because Solon clearly has only worldly prosperity in view. Another countered with yes, provided we understand that for Christians the "blessings" must include the spiritual blessings that God's people have in Christ.

We also discussed what a "favorable end" could be for a Christian. Would Solon call it a favorable end when a godly grandmother dies, gathered to her people, prayed over by her children and grandchildren, who all follow the Lord in part because of her tireless prayer and example? Certainly favorable. (Although he would be a bit confused by the monotheism.)

What about a young man, stripped to the skin, tortured but never recanting his faith in the Lord, who is thrown to the lions and devoured for sport? Decidedly not a favorable end to the Greek! And yet, his "reward is great in heaven" (Matt. 5:12). The "favorable end" for the Christian may look like foolishness to the world, but "God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise" (1 Cor. 1:27).

Christ and his martyrs show us the limits of pagan wisdom. While there is much good to be gleaned in the literature of the Greeks and Romans, and we read widely in order to glean it, it is only when Christ is held up as the standard that true and complete wisdom can be found. I love being a part of that effort here at Classical, and am so glad that you are on this journey with us. 

Sincerely,
Christian Young
Administrative Director