There are striking similarities between the Gospels and Plato's
"Gorgias."

Forgive my lack of education in this matter. I have some interest in
Greek, but no diplomas.

The Gospels have the phrase, "Turn the other cheek."

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a
tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one
strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any
one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well;
and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."
(Matthew 5:38 RSV)

Plato's Gorgias has Socrates saying:
[quote]
And never mind if some
one despises you as a fool, and insults you, if he has a mind; let him
strike you, by Zeus, and do you be of good cheer, and do not mind
the insulting blow, for you will never come to any harm in the
practise of virtue, if you are a really good and true man.
[/quote]

Does history indicate that there was a Platonistic philosophy of moral
nonviolence pre-dating Jesus? Or was this doctrine not really
practiced until Jesus came? Either way, does this mean Plato is a
prophet like (e.g.) Isaiah, because Plato foretold Jesus?

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LBoogie wrote:
> lsenders@hotmail.com wrote:
> > Does that help any? That Paul terms the Church as a mystery,
directly
> > relates to it being a new dispensation separate from the previous,
the
> > system of Law given to the nation of Israel.
>
> I see that you prefer to emphasize the dichotomy between the
> dispensations of law and grace (the Church age). I can emphasize the
unity.
>
> I believe that law and grace existed throughout

Please define "law."

Also, grace is an attribute of God so naturally it is to be found from
the beginning. However, that does not negate the distinquishing nature
between the economy of Israel, being under Law, and that of the Church,
being under grace. The grace of which Peter preaches at the beginning
of Acts and Paul preaches at the end of Acts and on into his succeeding
epistles is of a different emphasis.

> -- from cover to cover.
> According to scripture law and grace is incredibly connected
and
> intertwined -- almost inseparable.
>
It all depends upon your definition of "law." Even John separates
them in Jn 1:18. And the greek there does not smudge the Law given to
Moses, but rather speaks to that though it was good (Rom 7:12) it could
not produce holiness in the sinner. All it could do was condemn man
because the Law never empowered / enabled man to keep it. But John's