Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5441 philosophy

◄ 5441 philosophy ►

Dictionary of Bible Themes

An ideology or system of values which seeks to understand and, through rational argument, to investigate the nature and meaning of reality. Scripture exposes the emptiness of philosophy based purely upon human wisdom, while affirming that, at its best, human wisdom points towards God, and can serve as a preparation for the gospel.

Acts 17:18-23

The gospel represents the height of human reason

Ecclesiastes 7:25

The quest for understanding

Acts 17:18-21

The benefit of received wisdom

Proverbs 1:2-4
Ecclesiastes 12:9-11
Job 11:7-9

The limits of human enquiry

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17

The danger of philosophical speculation

1 Timothy 6:20-21

True insight is given by God

Ecclesiastes 2:26
Matthew 13:11
2 Timothy 3:7

pp Lk 8:10

Acts 17:24-28

True meaning is found in relationship with God

Epicureanism

Paul meets some Epicureans in Athens

Acts 17:18,18

Followers of the Greek philosophy founded by Epicurus (341-270 B.C.). In strong contrast to the Stoics, they taught that pleasure, and the avoidance of all disturbance, pain and fear, was the chief goal of life.

Epicureans' assessment of Paul and his message

Acts 17:19-20

Paul's listeners mistook the Greek word for "resurrection" ("anastasis") for the name of a strange god. While Epicureans did not deny the existence of gods, they believed they had no interest in the lives of human beings, and that therefore everything in life was the result of mere chance.

Epicurean and Stoic philosophers bring Paul to the Areopagus

Acts 17:32

The response of Epicureans and others to Paul's preaching

2 John 1:7

Docetism

Docetism questions the reality of the incarnation

See also

1 John 2:22-23

Docetism is a denial of the physical reality of Jesus Christ's incarnation that may have been prompted by the typically Greek perception of physical matter as evil.

John 1:14
1 Timothy 3:16

Scripture affirms the physical incarnation of Jesus Christ:

Hebrews 2:14
Romans 8:3
Philippians 2:6-8

Scripture emphasises the physical death of the Son of God:

1 John 4:10
1 John 4:1-3

See also

Docetic views are identified as heretical

John 6:53-56
1 Timothy 4:4

Gnosticism

Contrary to the teaching of Gnosticism, the world is not inherently evil

Genesis 1:31

Gnosticism was a religious philosophy whose fundamental belief in the inherent evil of the created realm led to a number of heretical teachings about creation, human nature, the person of Jesus Christ, salvation and ethics.

Nehemiah 9:6

Creation is God's work and is therefore good:

Psalms 19:1
Acts 17:24
Colossians 1:15-17
Revelation 4:11
Romans 8:20-21
Ephesians 1:9-10

Creation, though fallen, will be redeemed and reconciled to God through Jesus Christ:

Colossians 1:19-20
Acts 17:26

Contrary to the teaching of Gnosticism, human beings are not sparks of divinity trapped in evil, fleshly bodies

Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7
Psalms 8:3-8

Human beings are a good creation of God:

Romans 6:12-13; 8:22-23; 12:1
1 Corinthians 6:12-18,19-20

Human beings can know bodily redemption and use their bodies to serve God:

1 Thessalonians 5:23
Romans 8:10-11
1 Corinthians 15:35-44

The future existence of glorified human beings will be a bodily existence, not just a spiritual one:

2 Corinthians 5:1-4
Philippians 3:20-21
2 Timothy 2:16-18
John 1:14

Contrary to the teaching of Gnosticism, Jesus Christ did not merely appear in human form

Luke 24:36-43
Colossians 2:9

The Son of God became a real flesh-and-blood human being:

Hebrews 2:14
1 John 1:1-3; 4:2-3
2 John 1:7
John 19:33-34
1 Corinthians 2:8

As a man, the Son of God experienced death on the cross:

Philippians 2:6-8
Colossians 1:19-22
1 John 5:6
1 Corinthians 3:18-20

Contrary to the teaching of Gnosticism, salvation is not found simply in a divine revelation of special knowledge

Colossians 2:8,18-19

Salvation is by faith in the crucified Christ:

1 Timothy 6:20-21
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Colossians 1:19-20; 2:2-4,8-10

All knowledge and wisdom needed for full salvation are to be found in Christ:

2 Peter 1:3
Matthew 15:10-11

Contrary to the teaching of Gnosticism, Christian behaviour is not to be marked by licence and ritualistic self-denial

There is no value in empty ceremonial observance or ritualistic self-denial:

Romans 14:5-6
Colossians 2:16-17,20-23

pp Mk 7:14-15

1 Timothy 4:1-5
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Galatians 5:13

Christian behaviour is to be marked by liberty, not by licence:

Colossians 3:5-14
Titus 1:15-16
1 Peter 2:16
1 John 1:5-6; 2:3-6; 3:3-10
Jude 1:4
Acts 17:16-18

Stoicism

Paul encounters the Stoics in Athens

Acts 17:18

The Stoics were a leading philosophical group based, like their rivals the Epicureans, in Athens. Stoics held that God was the inner reason of the universe and that salvation lay in accepting one's place in the established order.

Stoics ridicule Paul

Acts 17:18

Stoics misunderstand Paul's message

Acts 17:24-25

Paul presents a view of God very different from that of the Stoics

Acts 17:26-27

In contrast to Stoic belief God is the Creator

Acts 17:32-34

In contrast to Stoic belief God is a personal being.

See also

Response of the Stoics to Paul's message

2033 Christ, humanity
4005 creation
5002 human race, and creation
5026 knowledge
6510 salvation
8237 doctrine, false
8355 understanding
8361 wisdom
8748 false religion
8750 false teachings
8766 heresies
9312 resurrection, significance of Christ's