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Greek myths are fascinating. They involve brave heroes, cunning villains, and fierce battles. But there is something in these stories that people don’t really know what to make of: the Greek gods. Everyone’s heard of Zeus and Athena, but they look at them as characters in a story. What some people fail to understand is that the Greeks actually worshipped these so-called gods.
Greek myths are fascinating. They involve brave heroes, cunning villains, and fierce battles. But there is something in these stories that people don’t really know what to make of: the Greek gods. Everyone’s heard of Zeus and Athena, but they look at them as characters in a story. What some people fail to understand is that the Greeks actually worshipped these so-called gods.
Atheists will look at Greek gods, then look at a description of our God and say, “Ok. What’s the difference?” They believe our God is just as mythical as those of the Greeks. But Greek beliefs could almost not be further from the beliefs of Christians today. There are many differences in their deities and ours.
Atheists will look at Greek gods, then look at a description of our God and say, “Ok. What’s the difference?” They believe our God is just as mythical as those of the Greeks. But Greek beliefs could almost not be further from the beliefs of Christians today. There are many differences in their deities and ours.
So the purpose of this article is to prove that the God of the Bible is completely set and apart from the gods of other religions, such as that of the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans, etc. (I'll focus mostly on the beliefs of the Greeks, as I've studied them the most).
So the purpose of this article is to prove that the God of the Bible is completely set and apart from the gods of other religions, such as that of the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans, etc. (I'll focus mostly on the beliefs of the Greeks, as I've studied them the most).
1. Too many gods.
1. Too many gods.
The Greeks and others worshipped many, many gods. Zeus, Athena, Hades, etc. But what does the Bible say?
The Greeks and others worshipped many, many gods. Zeus, Athena, Hades, etc. But what does the Bible say?
1 Timothy 2:5 says: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”
1 Timothy 2:5 says: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”
The Bible teaches that there is just ONE God, ONE savior, ONE creator, and ONE Mediator. The Greeks had gods for everything! Here are just SOME of the major ones…
The Bible teaches that there is just ONE God, ONE savior, ONE creator, and ONE Mediator. The Greeks had gods for everything! Here are just SOME of the major ones…
Zeus, god of storms
Zeus, god of storms
Hera, goddess of the sky
Hera, goddess of the sky
Athena, goddess of wisdom
Athena, goddess of wisdom
Hermes, god of mischief
Hermes, god of mischief
Atremis, goddess of the woods
Atremis, goddess of the woods
Aphrodite, goddess of love
Aphrodite, goddess of love
Ares, god of war
Ares, god of war
Hephaestus, god of craftsmen
Hephaestus, god of craftsmen
Demeter, goddess of the earth
Demeter, goddess of the earth
Apollo, god of light
Apollo, god of light
Dionysus, god of revelry
Dionysus, god of revelry
Poseidon, god of the ocean
Poseidon, god of the ocean
Eris, goddess of spite
Eris, goddess of spite
Hestia, goddess of the hearth
Hestia, goddess of the hearth
Eos, goddess of the dawn
Eos, goddess of the dawn
Hades, god of the Underworld
Hades, god of the Underworld
AND THE LIST GOES ON! I just listed the major ones, the Olympians as they’re called (not counting Hades). For each aspect of the Greeks’ lives, they had a god.
AND THE LIST GOES ON! I just listed the major ones, the Olympians as they’re called (not counting Hades). For each aspect of the Greeks’ lives, they had a god.
Obviously, they had it a little mixed up.
Obviously, they had it a little mixed up.
2. What made them special?
2. What made them special?
Our God of the Bible has characteristics that set him apart from His creation: He’s a spirit, He’s incapable of sinning, He’s all-powerful, etc. So look at that list, and then compare it to a Greek god (I’ll use Zeus, because he was “the most powerful”): He has human appearance, he was unfaithful and had many wives, and his power was limited to simply changing shape between animals. Does this really sound like the true God? Greek gods were just humans who could shape-shift, and live forever. The Greeks were basically praising glorified humans.
Our God of the Bible has characteristics that set him apart from His creation: He’s a spirit, He’s incapable of sinning, He’s all-powerful, etc. So look at that list, and then compare it to a Greek god (I’ll use Zeus, because he was “the most powerful”): He has human appearance, he was unfaithful and had many wives, and his power was limited to simply changing shape between animals. Does this really sound like the true God? Greek gods were just humans who could shape-shift, and live forever. The Greeks were basically praising glorified humans.
3. Sin
3. Sin
Our God is incapable of sinning. Mark 10:18 states: “So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is God.” Here, the SON OF GOD told one of His followers that even HE didn’t deserve to be called good, and He lived a sinless life! There is no question the God of the Bible is incapable of sinning.
Our God is incapable of sinning. Mark 10:18 states: “So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is God.” Here, the SON OF GOD told one of His followers that even HE didn’t deserve to be called good, and He lived a sinless life! There is no question the God of the Bible is incapable of sinning.
The Greek gods, on the other hand, are perfectly capable of sinning, and do so often. Just a couple of examples are…
The Greek gods, on the other hand, are perfectly capable of sinning, and do so often. Just a couple of examples are…
· Zeus was unfaithful to his wife innumerous times
· Zeus was unfaithful to his wife innumerous times
· Apollo killed a satyr, because it claimed it was a better musician
· Apollo killed a satyr, because it claimed it was a better musician
· Aphrodite cheated on her husband
· Aphrodite cheated on her husband
· Apollo murdered the Cyclops’s sons
· Apollo murdered the Cyclops’s sons
· Hera imprisoned a mortal out of jealousy
· Hera imprisoned a mortal out of jealousy
And the list goes on and on and on. I’d like to point out the second one: Apollo skinned a satyr ALIVE, because it claimed it was a better musician. These gods were sinning for the most ridiculous reasons imaginable!
And the list goes on and on and on. I’d like to point out the second one: Apollo skinned a satyr ALIVE, because it claimed it was a better musician. These gods were sinning for the most ridiculous reasons imaginable!
Also, these gods tend to view marriage as optional…Zeus has over five other lovers, not to mention Aphrodite, who was said to have a child with Ares (NOT her husband). It’s pretty obvious that these gods were capable of sin...which is what our God hates.
Also, these gods tend to view marriage as optional…Zeus has over five other lovers, not to mention Aphrodite, who was said to have a child with Ares (NOT her husband). It’s pretty obvious that these gods were capable of sin...which is what our God hates.
4. Salvation
4. Salvation
Greeks believed that if they lived good lives that, when they died, they could go to the Elyasion Fields, a sort of paradise in Hades. And, if they were EXTRORDINARILY good, they would have a spot on mount Olympus, home of the gods.
Greeks believed that if they lived good lives that, when they died, they could go to the Elyasion Fields, a sort of paradise in Hades. And, if they were EXTRORDINARILY good, they would have a spot on mount Olympus, home of the gods.
So let me get this straight: You do good stuff, and you go somewhere where there aren’t even any gods, not counting Hades, the god of death. Or, if your works are good enough, you get to see the gods. Ok. But the Greeks missed something that was kinda important.
So let me get this straight: You do good stuff, and you go somewhere where there aren’t even any gods, not counting Hades, the god of death. Or, if your works are good enough, you get to see the gods. Ok. But the Greeks missed something that was kinda important.
Matthew 3:16-17 says: “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”
Matthew 3:16-17 says: “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”
God was pleased that His son was baptized. Without baptism, no one could have made it to Heaven. Fourth Grade children are taught the steps of salvation in Bible class…I just wonder if the Greeks were taught as well?
God was pleased that His son was baptized. Without baptism, no one could have made it to Heaven. Fourth Grade children are taught the steps of salvation in Bible class…I just wonder if the Greeks were taught as well?
1: Hear (Greeks heard)
1: Hear (Greeks heard)
2: Believe (Greeks believed)
2: Believe (Greeks believed)
3: Repent (That’s when things went awry. The Greeks didn’t repent from their wrongdoings)
3: Repent (That’s when things went awry. The Greeks didn’t repent from their wrongdoings)
4: Confess (Greeks DIDN’T)
4: Confess (Greeks DIDN’T)
5: Be baptized (Greeks WEREN’T)
5: Be baptized (Greeks WEREN’T)
6: Remain faithful (Since the gods had temples built in their names, I believe that the Greeks were faithful)
6: Remain faithful (Since the gods had temples built in their names, I believe that the Greeks were faithful)
The Greeks only complete three or less of the six steps of salvation.
The Greeks only complete three or less of the six steps of salvation.
Now, does it sound like these Greek gods and our true God are practically the same? The Greeks were wrong, their beliefs were messed up, so their actions were as well. Do you remember what happened to the Greek nation? It crumbled upon itself. Without a true God, there are no true standards. Without true standards, a country, a nation, a continent, and even the whole world, can collapse. Remember who came after the Greeks? The Romans, who also worshipped pagan gods. Remember what happened to them? They collapsed as well. It is crucial that we know that our God is the one true God, and fulfill the first of the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.”
Now, does it sound like these Greek gods and our true God are practically the same? The Greeks were wrong, their beliefs were messed up, so their actions were as well. Do you remember what happened to the Greek nation? It crumbled upon itself. Without a true God, there are no true standards. Without true standards, a country, a nation, a continent, and even the whole world, can collapse. Remember who came after the Greeks? The Romans, who also worshipped pagan gods. Remember what happened to them? They collapsed as well. It is crucial that we know that our God is the one true God, and fulfill the first of the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.”
So, as you can see, the Greeks were more than a little confused. But that’s what comes when God is taken out of the picture. God should be the hub of our “wheel (our life),” not one of the spokes. He should be at the center, with everything else coming out from Him.
So, as you can see, the Greeks were more than a little confused. But that’s what comes when God is taken out of the picture. God should be the hub of our “wheel (our life),” not one of the spokes. He should be at the center, with everything else coming out from Him.
-Reese
-Reese
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