How is it that Biblical teachings coincide with certain philosphical teachings?

[WritingRose]

Does anyone thoroughly understand this subject, and where is a good site to read up on it myself?

What would you say to someone who tells you that much of the Bible lines up with certain philosophical teachings? Not only that but claims that some writings have been found alongside each other, as though they've been copied?

Please reply as soon as possible. Could really use some input on this matter.

~Rose

[HisLeast]

Does anyone thoroughly understand this subject, and where is a good site to read up on it myself?

What would you say to someone who tells you that much of the Bible lines up with certain philosophical teachings? Not only that but claims that some writings have been found alongside each other, as though they've been copied?

Please reply as soon as possible. Could really use some input on this matter.

I'm a bit of an amateur at this kind of stuff. Hopefully Apothenian Kerdos will swing by and drop some wisdom down.

From where I stand, it REALLY depends on the philosophy in question.

[WritingRose]

I'm a bit of an amateur at this kind of stuff. Hopefully Apothenian Kerdos will swing by and drop some wisdom down.

From where I stand, it REALLY depends on the philosophy in question.

Well I seriously hope someone can shed some light on thsi for me.

I am of the opinion that philosopher borrowed teachings, and that God's ever present influence on mankind also managed to influence them.

[HisLeast]

Well I seriously hope someone can shed some light on thsi for me.

I am of the opinion that philosopher borrowed teachings, and that God's ever present influence on mankind also managed to influence them.

Like I said... it would probably really depend on the Philosophy in question.

[JesusReignsForever]

Read: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

There are a lot of people searching for ‘human wisdom’. Whether it is through the education system or human philosophy. Whatever it may be, it’s all foolishness in God’s eyes, as 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 says. That’s not to say we don’t bother with education, but just to recognize that Godly wisdom is more desirable. What should we be running after, and desiring above all else? Proverbs 8:10-11 speaks of wisdom being better than rubies or pearls, and there is nothing to be compared. You cannot learn Godly wisdom in a University and get a degree in it. It can only come to a heart in right relationship with God, and is seeking it. The Holy Spirit that dwells within us leads us into all truth. ‘…For the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels, and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny]. (V:10).

Two things were impressed upon me as a new Christian. The first thing was that the word of God, His teachings, is spiritually discerned. A person cannot possibly understand spiritual truths, unless they have the Holy Spirit within, teaching them the hidden meanings, (1 Cor.2:13-14). The human mind, no matter how intelligent cannot comprehend spiritual truths.

The second thing that was impressed upon me was that God raises up what the world considers foolish to shame the wise 1 Cor.1:25-28. This really stood out for me, as I was what the world would have considered foolish, not being well educated. But God chose me, and He chose you too. He can fill us with His wisdom and put worldly wisdom to shame. Let us desire and run after Godly wisdom. By doing so we will never be disappointed.

You may like to read the poemGod's Wisdom; Man's Folly

By M.S.Lowndes





For it is written, I will baffle and render useless and destroy the learning of the learned and the philosophy of the philosophers and the cleverness of the clever and the discernment of the discerning; I will frustrate and nullify [them] and bring [them] to nothing. Where is the wise man (the philosopher)? Where is the scribe( the scholar)? Where is the investigator (the logician, the debater) of this present time and age? Has not God shown up the nonsense and the folly of this world’s wisdom? ~ 1 Corinthians 1:19-20

Lord your wisdom I desire
More than costly jewels
Fill me with your Godly wisdom
So I may do your will

By M.S.Lowndes


Copied and pasted from http://www.heavensinspirations.com/gods-wisdom.html

[JesusReignsForever]

I tottally agree with the writer above some people just believe in these theologians too much...what always comes to my mind is "lean not toward your own understanding" I may ask questions but above all answers I am asking God to reveal to me the hidden fruits in his word..I desire to know what he truly thinks about things not completly what man says.

[WritingRose]

I tottally agree with the writer above some people just believe in these theologians too much...what always comes to my mind is "lean not toward your own understanding" I may ask questions but above all answers I am asking God to reveal to me the hidden fruits in his word..I desire to know what he truly thinks about things not completly what man says.

Yes, I know that the Bible is above the 'wisdom' of man.... but I am hoping there are some people on this board who are knowledgeable about the claims I mentioned above, and can shed some light on it.

Thank you for your input. I like your pic, as you look like a very happy lady.

~Rose

[PilgrimPastor]

Yes, I know that the Bible is above the 'wisdom' of man.... but I am hoping there are some people on this board who are knowledgeable about the claims I mentioned above, and can shed some light on it.

Thank you for your input. I like your pic, as you look like a very happy lady.

~Rose

I may be able to answer your question but what specific philosophies are your referring to?

[Br. Barnabas]

The answer is simple why some philosophy lines up with Christian teachings it is two fold. What do you think many of the earliest theologians were before they became theologians or Christians. They were philosophiers for example Justin Martyr was a philosophier before he became a Christian. Origen related very heavily on philosophy and wrote a response to the philosophier Celsus (even though he had been dead for several years, Celsus not Origen).

And then later on durning the dark ages many of the philosophiers were Christian and wrote with that leaning.

Neo-plationic philosophy as it has been pointed out did have a lot of influnce on many theologians in the early church.

[parker]

Proverbs contains a wealth of conventional wisdom, similar to many proverbs the world over.

Early Christian thinkers such as Augustine and Aquinas used the underlying framework of Greek thought and adapted it to encompass points of Christian theology.

Jesus parables, of course, overturn "conventional wisdom" such as those laborers who show up last get paid the same as the first, the Kingdom is like contaminated dough or that the Father sends the sunshine and the rain on both the good and the righteous as well as the evil and the unrighteous alike.

I hope that helps.

[thepenitent]

Does anyone thoroughly understand this subject, and where is a good site to read up on it myself?

What would you say to someone who tells you that much of the Bible lines up with certain philosophical teachings? Not only that but claims that some writings have been found alongside each other, as though they've been copied?

Please reply as soon as possible. Could really use some input on this matter.

~Rose

The philosopher you are referring to is almost certainly Plato. Many have argued that Paul was a platonist and that it forms the basis for his Christian metaphysic. This is easy to understand because Plato did have a strong "Christian" current running throughout his writings. I think it is mostly because Plato was just looking in the right direction, ie. focusing on the spiritual instead of the physical. It has been said it is as if Plato were viewing Christianity through a telescope. Despite the similarity of focus, the details of the two are completely different.

It should be noted the neo-Platonists were fiercely anti-Christian. Plotonus and Porphry completely rejected Christianity. Despite that, their works, especially those of Plotonus, captivated St. Augustine and fueled his conversion to Christ. Augustine was incredibly influencial on the early Church, thus his Platonic orientation certainly influenced the flavor, but not the substance, of his theology. This continued very strong in the early Church until it was substantially diminished and modified by the Aristotlian teaching and theology of Aquinas.

[Bethany67]

Paul occasionally quoted or borrowed from philosophers, as you might expect from a well-educated Roman citizen. Socrates wrote of heavenly matters being perceived 'through a glass dimly' which is similar to 1 Cor 13 (note that Paul was writing to ex-Pagan converts in a Hellenized culture). Paul quotes the Cretan Epimenides and the liar paradox in Titus; Titus was a Gentile convert who had been left in Crete to organise the church. Paul was familiar with the traditions of the Athenian Areopagus and used them as a vehicle for discussing with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers and preaching in Acts 17.

If you read the Code of Hammurabi (Babylon, mid-18th century BC), you'll find various ideas similar to bits of the Old Testament, especially 'an eye for an eye.' It predates the written OT, but there may well have been a cross-fertilisation of ideas coming from Israelite oral tradition.

[WritingRose]

Ah, the Pentitent and Bethany. Thank you so much for your input. You have shed a little more light on the subject... I am eager for all information you can give, or a point in the right direction to study it for myself.

God Bless!

Rose

[PilgrimPastor]

If you read the Code of Hammurabi (Babylon, mid-18th century BC), you'll find various ideas similar to bits of the Old Testament, especially 'an eye for an eye.' It predates the written OT, but there may well have been a cross-fertilisation of ideas coming from Israelite oral tradition.

An interesting foot note to this is Paul's account in I Thessalonians 2:3-7, "For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children." (NIV)

Common in the days of Paul's travels were many "wondering philosophers" who flattered the people with many vain words only seeking to pad their pockets. Paul is here speaking to a very present and real danger; people perceiving him as one of them, of people disregarding to the uniqueness of the Gospel of Christ.

There were also perversions of the Gospel from very early in the Church's history; as with today any opportunity to deceive somebody will be seized by somebody else.

There are a lot of lies and half truths pervasive in modern culture in regard to Christ. Again, what specific philosophies are you referring to or is a more general question?

[Athanasius]

I wonder if there is any difference in regards to the OT's "eye for eye" and the code of Hammurabi's "eye for an eye"?