Sure, but it doesn’t come from the bible. It predates it.
Same with ‘eye for an eye’.
So that’s why you wrote this? You think feudalism is older than the new testament?
Most historians would resist that idea.
What? No. I meant to say ‘older than feudalism’.
Anyway, the first known usage of the Golden Rule is by Confucius ca. 500 B. C.
Long before New Testament was written.
1 Like
This is pretty close: Leviticus 19:34 You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.
2 Likes
3 posts were split to a new topic: Comments on Government Involvement in Women’s Health Decisions
The principle of the Golden Rule is found throughout history over a broad range of cultures as a guiding principle in the treatment of others.
-
“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD.” — Torah (ca. 1200-1500 BCE) Leviticus 19:18
-
“When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” — Torah (ca. 1200-1500 BCE) Leviticus 19:33-34
- “The alien is my brother” is a Roman Catholic extension of the above.[2]
-
“What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others.” — Confucius (ca. 551–479 BCE)
-
“This is the sum of duty; do naught unto others what you would not have them do unto you.” — Mahabharata (5:15:17) (c. 500 BCE)
-
“Since to others, to each one for himself, the self is dear, therefore let him who desires his own advantage not to harm another” — Udana, (ca. 470 BCE)
-
“Neither to harm, nor be harmed.” — Epicurus (c. 350 BCE)
-
“What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man.” — Hillel the Elder (ca. 50 BCE-10 CE)
-
“As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” — Jesus (ca. 5 BCE-33 CE) in the Gospels, Luke 10:27
-
“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” — Muhammad (c. 571–632 CE) in a Hadith
-
“Act with reference to every rational being (whether yourself or another) so that it is an end in itself in your maxim.” — Immanuel Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, 1785
4 Likes
All of this is fully explained by Romans 2:15.
2 Likes
Hey… this is interesting, yes? You cited Confucius as the origin of the Golden Rule, but Patrick’s collection doubles-down on your approach.
He cites Leviticus as older than Confucius… and even as a Unitarian Universalist, I have to agree that there are plenty parts of the Old Testament older than Confucius!
1 Like
Come on , come on… someone needs to just paste what it SAYS!!! And here’s several versions!
New International Version
They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)
New Living Translation
They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.
English Standard Version
They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
Berean Study Bible
since they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them.
Berean Literal Bible
who show the work of the Law, written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and the thoughts between one another accusing or also defending them
New American Standard Bible
in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
King James Bible
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Christian Standard Bible
They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them
Contemporary English Version
This proves that the conscience is like a law written in the human heart. And it will show whether we are forgiven or condemned,
Good News Translation
Their conduct shows that what the Law commands is written in their hearts. Their consciences also show that this is true, since their thoughts sometimes accuse them and sometimes defend them.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts will either accuse or excuse them
International Standard Version
They show that what the Law requires is written in their hearts, a fact to which their own consciences testify, and their thoughts will either accuse or excuse them
1 Like
Possible.
I believe Amos is also older than Confucious. It was, I believe, written in 8th century BC.
But that’s not important for this conversation.
I am willing to skip it for the purposes of this conversation, if you are willing to skip Confucius for the same reasons?
[Oh, and I fixed my typo, which you started copying - - my fault. Confucius only has one “o” in it. Sorry about that.]
1 Like
I prefer this principle more than Romans as it is more applicable to modern world where your actions not your thoughts matter more. It is more in line with the humanist “minimizing harm”.
The Scriptures i accept say faith without works is dead. And Jesus says the foreigner samaritan who actually helped a stranger in need is better than the jewish priest who ignored the one in need. The Old testament calls out injustice and lack of a fair payment for jobs well done.