“It should be noted that the term “Golden Rule” does not come from the Bible. However, the Bible does say that “however you want people to treat you, so [you should] treat them” (Matthew 7:12, New American Standard Bible). The rule has been stated in many ways for millennia. In the Egyptian story “The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant,” recorded on papyrus almost 4,000 years ago, we read, “Do for one who may do for you, that you may cause him thus to do.” Similarly, the Roman statesman and philosopher Seneca instructed leaders, “Treat your inferiors as you would be treated by your superiors” (Epistulae morales ad Lucilium 47.11). Clearly, human nature wasn’t much different back then. ”

Michael McKinney
www.vision.org