Others argue that it was a success, and even that it should encourage Christians to engage unbelievers philosophically. Some interpreters have claimed that Paul’s ministry to the philosophers there was a failure. So we turn to Paul’s missionary trip to Athens in Acts 17. One way to seek an answer to the question of whether or not philosophy is a worthy activity for a Christian is to return to the life of Paul and how he evangelistically engaged a group of philosophers. I would not be a Christian philosopher if I thought the Bible condemned it. Doesn’t the apostle Paul warn of false philosophies (Col 2:8) and write that the wisdom of God makes foolishness of the world’s wisdom (1 Cor 1:18–25)? Did I choose the wrong career? But sometimes Christians wonder if followers of Jesus should be philosophers or should even reason philosophically.
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I am a Christian and a professional philosopher. He offers an answer in this excerpt adapted from the September/October 2021 issue of Bible Study Magazine. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.ĭid Paul mean Christians should avoid philosophy altogether? Or does the Bible support engaging philosophy to glorify God?ĭouglas Groothuis is a professor of philosophy at Denver Seminary and author of Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith and Walking Through Twilight: A Wife’s Illness-A Philosopher’s Lament. Facebook Twitter Reddit Pinterest Email LinkedInĬolossians 3:8 leaves many believers hesitant to merge the worlds of philosophy and Christianity: