innodonni said:
I give these reasons for believing Philosophy to be futile:
For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
[1 Corinthians 1:19 (Isaiah 29:14)]
When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe man's labor on earth-his eyes not seeing sleep day or night- then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it.
[Ecclesiastes 8:16-17]
Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
[Ecclesiastes 12:12]
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
[Proverbs 3:5]
I've even begun an essay to prove my point. Maybe I'll post it here when it's finished.
I believe that what is spoken of in Scripture is not so much philosophy as the sole reliance upon the teachings of man and vainglorious philosophy. The source of all wisdom is God, but we are not to merely read like impotent children, incapable of thought of our own. Philosophy is best when it bears perspective and takes everything back to God in prayer.
Proverbs 2:1-5 said:
1 My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
3 and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
We are to search always and pray for understanding, growing in our wisdom and comprehension, viewing insight and understanding as priceless treasures.
Proverbs 15:14 said:
14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
2 Peter 1 said:
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
So, we are to seek knowledge, and to not let our minds be stagnant.
To take your own passages:
1 Corinthians 18-25 said:
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."[
3]
20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
Is the passage not speaking of the matter of salvation and how the wisdom of men, the philosophies of the age stood against the idea of such a salvation, a man hanging upon a Cross? What then does it say to those philosophies that do not oppose Christ Crucified, but instead hold Scripture in esteem and utilize the god-given gift of their minds? And what of Isaiah, which this quotes?
Isaiah 29:13-16 said:
"These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is made up only of rules taught by men.
14 Therefore once more I will astound these people
with wonder upon wonder;
the wisdom of the wise will perish,
the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."
15 Woe to those who go to great depths
to hide their plans from the LORD ,
who do their work in darkness and think,
"Who sees us? Who will know?"
16 You turn things upside down,
as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!
Shall what is formed say to him who formed it,
"He did not make me"?
Can the pot say of the potter,
"He knows nothing"?
Again, is not this preaching against the wisdom of men that counters God's word and stands upon false laws created by men to make them seem righteous?
To Ephesians 8, I say this: Who could not agree. Anyone who would claim to know with certainty, outside of the revelation of something beyond human capacity to comprehend is a fool. Human understanding will always be imperfect. Ever since Descartes, and in many cases long before, the wisest of philosophers always acknowledged the limitations of their own theories.
Ephesians 12:9-14 said:
9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails-given by one Shepherd. 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.
Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.
Ok, I'll try to remember to get some sleep at night so I don't study my brains out. Sensible wisdom amidst the whole is just that. This is not a condemnation of writing or learning, but a warning not to go overboard, because it isn't healthy. It is followed by the wisdom of God.
To Proverbs 3, I say this: Of course. The fool leans upon his own wisdom solely. Human wisdom, as I've already said, is imperfect. However, this does not mean the man shall not think for himself, and shall never read not but the word of God. Simply always recall 1 John 4, and take what you see back to the Gospel of Christ, knowing that by this you may discern error and truth.
Philosophy is not wrong. Vainglorious, pompous philosophy without proper perspective is wrong. That which counters the wisdom of God is true folly, but there is much man has said that does not counter this and much that does. Which shall I take? That which does NOT counter God, but I shall enjoy the gift God has given me in great thinkers acceptable to His Word.
