Question

"Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, but thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Hebrews 13:1-2"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, us it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace" I Peter 4:8-10"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard..." Isaiah 58:6-8In 5-8 sentences, compare and contrast the Biblical idea of hospitality with the Greek idea of Xenia. Use at least one example from The Odyssey in your explanation. You may reference the verses provided about or others you found during your lesson.

Answer 1

Answer:

The theme of hospitality which can be seen in various instances and teachings in the Bible can also be seen in numerous instances in "The Odyssey". The Greeks highly hold the value of hospitality in their approach and treatment of guests, including strangers, which is nothing new according to Christian beliefs.

Explanation:

The theme of hospitality has been a part of human existence and quality since ages ago. This virtue is also seen in the Bible, where numerous prophets have talked of the need to entertain strangers where "some have entertained angels unawares". (Hebrews 13)

Likewise, this extending of hospitality to one's guests is a common feature in Homer's "The Odyssey" where we can see numerous instances of guests being warmly welcomed in their journeys. Some have even housed "gods" who were disguised. Another feature of this virtue is the Greeks' attitude of sending their guests off with gifts, for they believed that the same may one day fall on them and when that day arrives, they may also be treated the same way. One example is that of Odysseus' time in the land of the Phaeacians (Book 6-8). Not only was he welcomed warmly, he was given a safe stay and then departed with a number of gifts. Such was the etiquette of the humans even in ancient Greece, almost similar with that of how the believers in the Bible were taught to be.  The Christian brotherly love of friendship and hospitality is all the same to the Greeks who also seemed to have an unwritten rule of being hospitable to everyone, even strangers.