Difference between revisions of "Aratus"

<p> (῎Αρατος ), the author of two astronomical poems in Greek, about B.C. 270, fragments and [[Latin]] translations of which are alone extant (Fabric. Bibl. Grave. 4:87; Schaubach, Gesch. d. griech. Astronomic, p. 215; Delambre, Hist. de l'Astron. Ancienne). (For an account of his works and their editions, see Smith's Dict. of Class. Biog. s.v.) From the opening of one of these poems, entitled Phaenomena (Φαινόμενα ), the [[Apostle]] [[Paul]] is thought to have made the quotation indicated in his speech at [[Athens]] (Acts 17:28), "As certain also of your own poets have said, ‘ For we are also his offspring;' "since the words precisely agree (Τοῦ γὰρ καὶ γένος ἐσμέν). Others, however (see Kuinol, Comment. in loc.), adduce similar sentiments from [[Cleanthes]] (ἐκ σοῦ γαρ γένος ἐσμέν, Hymn. in Jovem, 5) and [[Pindar]] (ἕν θεῶν γένος , Nem. 6). A few brief and casual quotations of this kind have been made the foundation of the hasty conclusion that Paul was well read in classic poetry; but this, from his [[Jewish]] education, is extremely improbable. (See [[Paul]]). In this, the most direct instance, he appears rather to refer to the general sentiment of the [[Greek]] mythology, of which the passages adduced (alluded to in a general way by Paul, as if taken second-hand and ‘ by recollection merely) are the frequent expression (note the plur. "poets"). See Schmid, [[De]] Arato (Jen. 1691). </p>