What did the Athenian philosophers at Mars Hill call Paul when he preached to them?
The Athenian philosophers at Mars Hill called Paul a babbler. They dismissed his preaching as mere babble, especially when he spoke of the resurrection life. In reality, the contrast was reversed: Paul had kernels of truth, while their worldly wisdom amounted to nothing.
Les explains that when Paul came to Mars Hill and came up against the Athenian philosophers, he preached what they viewed as a foolish gospel. He told them about the resurrection life and so forth, and they called him the babbler, because to them it was just a bunch of babble. Les emphasizes that the reality was the opposite: Paul had kernels of truth, while the philosophers had nothing but babble. This illustrates Paul's point that man's wisdom amounts to nothing without God's wisdom, so no one should glory in men, since all things are yours in Christ.
Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
More Questions
Was Paul really the babbler at Mars Hill, or was it the philosophers?
The reality was the reverse of the philosophers' verdict: Paul had kernels of truth, while the philosophers had nothing but babble.