St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology (Nov 2022)
Stoicism and Christian Ethics
Abstract
It is widely accepted that the Stoics had a decisive influence on historical Christian thought, particularly Christian ethics. But the nature of this influence is contested among contemporary scholars. Moreover, even those historical and contemporary theologians who engage with Stoic writings recognize that certain Stoic positions, most notably the Stoics’ tendency towards fatalism, their radical rejection of the emotions including grief and anger, and their positive account of suicide, are incompatible with Christian teaching. Despite these complexities, the Stoics remain significant both for understanding the historical development of Christian thought and for contemporary Christian practice. This article familiarizes the reader with major contours of contemporary scholarship on the Stoics’ import for Christian ethics and suggests possible directions for constructive scholarship through which contemporary Christian ethicists may continue to engage the work of the Stoics.
