Is learning Greek Philosophy useful?

[RDKirk]

As had been noted, it can be useful--although not necessary--to have a cursory knowledge of Greek philosophy. If you can find a book that gives a survey of the major philosophies and philosophers, then read up on two or three of the majors--particularly Aristotle--you'll do okay.

With regard to Paul's ministry, remember that Paul's audience had Greek philosophical backgrounds, and some of what he wrote to them took that into consideration.

Do read up on the ones explicitly mentioned in scripture--the Stoics and the Epicurians. They aren't mentioned for nothing.

Interestingly, I found Romans an easier read after reading Aristotle. Not so much with regard to the thoughts, but just in terms of the rhetorical format.

 

[Reconciliation and Truth]

Greek philosophy is inherently pagan and has no use in Christianity.

This forced me to physically laugh, 'out loud.'

Thank you.

 

[chilehed]

I mean, works of Plato and Aristotle have been used by Christians to defend their beliefs or even to get into a common ground with non-Christians. What do you think?

I think that anyone who hasn't studied a scrap of St. Thomas Aquinas has done himself a grave disservice.

 

[mark kennedy]

I mean, works of Plato and Aristotle have been used by Christians to defend their beliefs or even to get into a common ground with non-Christians. What do you think?

New Testament Greek is a little different then classical Greek. The New Testament language is Koine Greek, it was actually invented, sort of, by Alexander the Great. That's how it became such a widespread language, it was the language of an empire. That was actually the gift of the Greeks to the Mediterranean world, with the Romans it was the roads.

 

[mark kennedy]

Greek philosophy is inherently pagan and has no use in Christianity.

You must never have heard of Aristotelian Scholasticism. The Medieval Catholics loved it.

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

I mean, works of Plato and Aristotle have been used by Christians to defend their beliefs or even to get into a common ground with non-Christians. What do you think?

In my opinion, it is best to learn philosophy from a Christian perspective first, get an overview, learn the basics and terminology. An introductory college level course would probably be ideal, but there are a few books for the motivated self-learner to glean from. Personally I believe these are of more value to the Christian than say the works of Plato or Aristotle. From those you basically get one set of philosophies from a single philosopher, rather than learning more broadly about the different often competing views in philosophy even conflicting philosophies. The Greek Philosophers definitely made major contributions to philosophy as we know and understand it today. Even so, since all truth is God's truth, wherever or whatever they speak truth to, none of them were inventors, that is, for every truth, they would be thinking God's thoughts...After Him as creatures made in the image of God. Just a few thoughts for whomever might read.

 

[DennisTate]

I mean, works of Plato and Aristotle have been used by Christians to defend their beliefs or even to get into a common ground with non-Christians. What do you think?

I am glad that I have been spending more time on near death experience accounts.

I am thinking that they could be the greatest fulfillment of this promise so far:

John 16:25

These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

Reverend Howard Storm's Near-Death Experience

 

[RDKirk]

In my opinion, it is best to learn philosophy from a Christian perspective first, get an overview, learn the basics and terminology.

My story: When I was a freshman in college, I first took Logic 101, but after that I signed up for a "Survey of Philosophy" course that was taught by the head of the department.

Unfortunately, I was the only person who signed up for it, so I gave up hope taking it as a lecture course. But I went in to the professor to inquire if I could take it as a "directed study" course--do the reading and then take the test.

He said, "No, he only taught it by lecture."

So I said, "Well, I guess it's no-go, then, since I'm the only one signed up."

He said, "Oh, I'm still teaching it."

So there we were. He was at the lectern and I was the only student in the room. We did that about three sessions, then he told me to just meet him in his office.

It was a pretty good experience, but by golly, I for sure hat to do the reading, or the next session would be pretty awkward.

But this is what was wonderful: Because it was just me and him, we discovered that we were both Christian. That was a surprise for me, because I thought from his name that he was Jewish.

And, in fact, he had been born Jewish. But Judaism left him unsatisfied. As a philosopher, he had become an atheist. He had studied for decades, seeking a satisfactory philosophy...and had found nothing.

Then he took a look--a first look, really--at the one he'd never bothered to look at before, Christianity. And there he found the satisfaction and peace he'd sought.

So I studied more or less as his disciple as we surveyed philosophy that he taught from the viewpoint of "how all the others got it wrong."

 

[Not David]

I think that anyone who hasn't studied a scrap of St. Thomas Aquinas has done himself a grave disservice.

Well, I was born Evangelical Protestant and I am planning to convert to Orthodoxy so I haven't had the chance but I will definitely check his works.

 

[Not David]

My story: When I was a freshman in college, I first took Logic 101, but after that I signed up for a "Survey of Philosophy" course that was taught by the head of the department.

Unfortunately, I was the only person who signed up for it, so I gave up hope taking it as a lecture course. But I went in to the professor to inquire if I could take it as a "directed study" course--do the reading and then take the test.

He said, "No, he only taught it by lecture."

So I said, "Well, I guess it's no-go, then, since I'm the only one signed up."

He said, "Oh, I'm still teaching it."

So there we were. He was at the lectern and I was the only student in the room. We did that about three sessions, then he told me to just meet him in his office.

It was a pretty good experience, but by golly, I for sure hat to do the reading, or the next session would be pretty awkward.

But this is what was wonderful: Because it was just me and him, we discovered that we were both Christian. That was a surprise for me, because I thought from his name that he was Jewish.

And, in fact, he had been born Jewish. But Judaism left him unsatisfied. As a philosopher, he had become an atheist. He had studied for decades, seeking a satisfactory philosophy...and had found nothing.

Then he took a look--a first look, really--at the one he'd never bothered to look at before, Christianity. And there he found the satisfaction and peace he'd sought.

So I studied more or less as his disciple as we surveyed philosophy that he taught from the viewpoint of "how all the others got it wrong."

That sounds awesome, especially when you can talk about Philosophy to another Christian.

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

Greek philosophy is inherently pagan and has no use in Christianity.

On the surface I'd like to agree, but cannot due to knowing a little, not much but a little about Aristotle. His work The Organon is considered the first text or textbook on logic, concerned with making distinctions, which is broadly what formal classical logic is concerned with. The laws of logic are perhaps the most valuable "tools" of thinking we as humans have with which to interpret...basically everything. With them we make distinctions, like between Christ and Anti-Christ. As in, Christ cannot be both Christ and Anti-Christ at the same time...formally this is the law of non-contradiction in practice.

As an informal example from Scripture:

Hebrews 6:18 "that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us."

In other Scriptures we read that God is a God of truth (Psalms 31:5), Christ is the way, the truth (John 14:6).

Why is it impossible for God to lie? Because to do so would be self-contradictory, He would have to contradict His own nature.

So in short, I wouldn't completely write off Greek philosophy, just advise to exercise caution.

 

[Radagast]

Greek philosophy is inherently pagan and has no use in Christianity.

That's not the view of the Church, and that's not the view of Paul, who quoted some of the Greeks.

 

[Radagast]

That sounds awesome, especially when you can talk about Philosophy to another Christian.

There's a good overview of philosophy (in several volumes) by Frederick Copleston, a Jesuit. Volume 1 covers Greece and Rome.

 

[Dwayne Smith]

I mean, works of Plato and Aristotle have been used by Christians to defend their beliefs or even to get into a common ground with non-Christians. What do you think?

Man [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] THE GREEKS!! JESUSIANS FOR LIFE BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[trophy33]

Greek philosophy is inherently pagan and has no use in Christianity.

En arché én ho Logos...
J 1:1

 

[EzekielsWheels]

Yes to logic.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

I mean, works of Plato and Aristotle have been used by Christians to defend their beliefs or even to get into a common ground with non-Christians. What do you think?

Why would you, as a genuinely converted Christian, want to incorporate pagan beliefs into your mind? Wouldn't that work against the work of the Holy Spirit to transform your mind into the mind of Christ? I would think that the mind of Christ and pagan teaching would be inconsistent with each other.

This sounds the same as the Israelites having a mixture of Moses and the teachings of Baal, and those who incorporated the teachings of Baal into their prophesying, made themselves false prophets, totally condemned by God.

So wouldn't the mixture of pagan thought into Christian doctrine make a person a false prophet and teacher in these days?

 

[Radagast]

So wouldn't the mixture of pagan thought into Christian doctrine make a person a false prophet and teacher in these days?

But much of what Plato and Aristotle say is not incompatible with Christianity, and useful in several ways.

Historically, Aristotle caused problems when Western European Christians first read him, because he denied that the world was created (something that Plato accepted).

But apart from that serious problem, most of Aristotle ranges from harmless to really useful.

During the Middle Ages, Plato and Aristotle were sifted pretty thoroughly, to separate the good from the bad.

 

[Radagast]

Not so much with regard to the thoughts, but just in terms of the rhetorical format.

Aristotle has a rhetorical format?

The impression I get is that his actual books were thrown away, and what we've got is some random student's lecture notes.

 

[mmksparbud]

It is useful in that when you read about it---you realize where some of those pagan believes has crept into Christian believes. The bible was interpreted by some according to the Greek pagan mindset, instead of by the Jewish mindset. It was, for I instance, where the immortality of the soul came from.