Plutarch of Chaeronea (c. ad 45 – before 125) is a famously versatile author, whose œuvre contains not just biographies of famous Greek and Roman statesmen and technical philosophical treatises, but also sophistic set-pieces and works with practical ethical and political counsel. His works show a constant interest in religion, from the treatise On Superstition, usually seen as a writing from his younger years, to the Delphic dialogues written towards the end of his life. A fascination with religion is also borne out by Plutarch's own career, becoming priest of the oracular sanctuary in Delphi.

Modern scholarship has long been puzzled by the paradox that Plutarch seems to present as a rational philosopher profoundly interested in the irrational phenomenon of religion. Apparent inconsistencies detected within his œuvre have been used to argue that Plutarch changed his opinions, drifting from youthful rationalism towards religion, even superstition, at the end of his life. Some scholars still cast Plutarch, especially in his later years, as an esoteric, a philosopher bent on escaping reason through religion. F. Brenk challenged this interpretation in 1977 by pointing to the continuous presence of ‘superstitions’ in Plutarch, even in works of his youth. The antithesis of a young and an old Plutarch has consequently lost most of its appeal. But because Brenk still considered religion to be opposed to rational philosophy, he seemed to cast the Chaeronean as less of a rationally minded philosopher in general, whereas before this characteristic used to be considered as limited to his late work. Unsurprisingly, therefore, Plutarch is now often seen as grappling throughout his life with conflicting loyalties: those of a philosopher, a scholar and a worshipper.