Pagan and Christian worldviews

The Old Testament reflects the cognitive views of the ancient Near Eastern cultures. The New Testament reflects similarly, though a broader area.  God inspired his Word through human authors.  This does not mean that Israel borrowed pagan ideas to create a new faith but rather, that all cultures within a common time and location use common imagery, symbols and motifs to express their attempt at  understanding reality.  The Law given to Moses on Mount Sinai reflects the same structure as the treaties of the ancient Near East and even the laws of our nation.  These laws transcend time and culture.  Additionally, the creation story of Genesis 1 contains the same motifs that were seen in Egyptian creation stories.

These examples are just two of many which share the common environment of Israel with their pagan neighbors.  What is more difficult to see and what requires knowledge leading to wisdom, is to see how the Old Testament and New Testament authors, inspired by God, used literary techniques to reinterpret the pagan worldview to that of a monotheistic worldview.

The Bible is full of references to mythology and imagery.  This does not validate those sources as completely true.  What we can see in the Bible is the retelling of pagan stories within a monotheistic and Christian worldview.  Check out Acts 17:22 and see how Paul uses subversion by taking common terms and motifs and reworking them, eventually undermining the entire Stoic worldview but only to those who were open to understanding.

Unfortunately, literacy spreads civilization but within that evil and hopelessness as well.

As quoted from Brian Godawa in his book, Word Pictures,  “God is bigger than rationality, bigger than imagination and He is Lord of both.” Isaiah 1:18..”Come now, let us reason together,: says the LORD.  “Though you sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

Now that is some amazing imagery/reason statement!