Alexander the Great
betty boop noted that Alexander the Great was taught by Aristotle who was taught by Plato who was taught by Socrates. I'd like to add two comments:
(1) Alexander “normalized” the Greek language to a common Greek which greatly facilitated the spread of the Gospel and general knowledge throughout the Greek speaking world and
(2) Daniel prophesied about Alexander the Great. Josephus recorded this concerning the (alleged) confrontation with Alexander at Jerusalem:
And when Jaddus understood that Alexander was not far from the city, he went out in procession, with the priests and the multitude of the citizens. The procession was venerable, and the manner of it different from that of other nations. It reached to a place called Sapha, which name, translated into Greek, signifies a prospect, for you have thence a prospect both of Jerusalem and of the temple. And when the Phoenicians and the Samarians that followed him thought they should have liberty to plunder the city, and torment the high-priest to death, which the king's displeasure fairly promised them, the very reverse of it happened; for Alexander, when he saw the multitude at a distance, in white garments, while the priests stood clothed with fine linen, and the high-priest in purple and scarlet clothing, with his mitre on his head, having the golden plate whereon the name of God was engraved, he approached by himself, and adored that name, and first saluted the high-priest.
The Jews also did all together, with one voice, salute Alexander, and encompass him about; whereupon the kings of Syria and the rest were surprised at what Alexander had done, and supposed him disordered in his mind. However, Parmenion alone went up to him, and asked him how it came to pass that, when all others adored him, he should adore the high-priest of the Jews? To whom he replied, 'I did not adore him, but that God who has honored him with his highpriesthood; for I saw this very person in a dream, in this very habit, when I was at Dion in Macedonia, who, when I was considering with myself how I might obtain the dominion of Asia, exhorted me to make no delay, but boldly to pass over the sea thither, for that he would conduct my army, and would give me the dominion over the Persians; whence it is that, having seen no other in that habit, and now seeing this person in it, and remembering that vision, and the exhortation which I had in my dream, I believe that I bring this army under the Divine conduct, and shall therewith conquer Darius, and destroy the power of the Persians, and that all things will succeed according to what is in my own mind.'
And when he had said this to Parmenion, and had given the high-priest his right hand, the priests ran along by him, and he came into the city. And when he went up into the temple, he offered sacrifice to God, according to the high-priest's direction, and magnificently treated both the high-priest and the priests. And when the Book of Daniel was showed him wherein Daniel declared that one of the Greeks should destroy the empire of the Persians, he supposed that himself was the person intended. [3] And as he was then glad, he dismissed the multitude for the present. But the next day he called them to him, and bid them ask what favors they pleased of him; whereupon the high-priest desired that they might enjoy the laws of their forefathers, and might pay no tribute on the seventh year.[4] He granted all they desired. And when they asked him that he would permit the Jews in Babylon and Media to enjoy their own laws also, he willingly promised to do hereafter what they desired. And when he said to the multitude, that if any of them would enlist themselves in his army, on this condition, that they should continue under the laws of their forefathers, and live according to them, he was willing to take them with him, many were ready to accompany him in his wars. …
Justin Martyr is beautifully discussed in the above article. For anyone interested, I'd like to offer a link to his writings: Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. I – First Apology of Justin Martyr
In the above, Martyr states that Plato had “borrowed his statement that God, having altered matter which was shapeless, made the world” from the Hebrew prophets (Moses in particular).
Martyr also believed that Plato was (unknowingly) speaking of Christ in Timoeus where he said "He placed him crosswise in the universe".
Philo of Alexandria
Philo hasn't been mentioned yet, but Lurkers may be interested in reading more about him: IEP: Philo of Alexandria
Philo was a Hellenized Jew who lived 20 BC to 50 AD, in Christ’s incarnate time on earth. He is noted for trying to reconcile Jewish thought with Greek philosophy.
Of particular interest to this discussion might be his Model of Creation and his response to Eternal Creation:
True ideas "evolve," it seems. Thank you so much for your excellent post and invaluable links. I expect to be spending some time with both Justin and Philo very soon!