Moses as Most Ancient Theologian
The argument that Moses preceded all Greek and Gentile sages (Homer, Pythagoras, Plato, Orpheus) and that they drew their wisdom from him through the Egyptians, establishing Moses as the fountainhead of all theology and philosophy. "What is Plato but Moses speaking Attic?"
Preface and Praise of Sacred Scripture
-
Moses as the Most Ancient Theologian, Philosopher, Poet, and Historian
— Moses was the first of all those whose writings survive to be a theologian, philosopher, poet, and historian.
"Moses was the first of all those whose writings now survive, or whose name has been recorded in the writings of the Gentiles, to be a theologian, philosopher, poet, and historian"
-
Moses as the Most Ancient Theologian, Philosopher, Poet, and Historian
— Moses preceded Homer, Hesiod, Thales, Pythagoras, Socrates, Orpheus, Linus, Musaeus, Hercules, Aesculapius, Apollo, and Mercury Trismegistus.
"Moses was more ancient, and preceded by a great span of time all the sages of Greece and of the Gentiles, namely Homer, Hesiod, Thales, Pythagoras, Socrates"
-
Praises of Moses from Scripture and the Fathers
— Justin in his Exhortation teaches that the Greeks drew their wisdom from the Egyptians, and the Egyptians from Moses.
"Moses wrote his history in Hebrew, when the letters of the Greeks had not yet been invented"
-
Moses and Christ: Nineteen Parallels
— Numenius asserts that Plato and Pythagoras followed Moses's teachings: "What is Plato but Moses speaking Attic?"
"Plato and Pythagoras followed the teachings of Moses, and so what is Plato, he says, but Moses speaking Attic?"
-
Praises of Moses from Scripture and the Fathers
— From Moses Plato learned about God, calling Him "to on" just as Moses calls Him "ehyeh"; also about creation, the divine Word, resurrection, judgment, and the Holy Spirit.
"Plato learned about God from Moses, whence he likewise called Him "to on," that is, "that which is," just as Moses calls Him "ehyeh," that is, "who is," or "I am who I am.""