This is really my first time studying philosophy in a Christian seminary context. I’ve always been used to systematic theology, biblical theology but it is really interesting to be able to intersect that with philosophy. This class covered the Greek philosophers like Plato, Aristotle and I think the most influential is Plato who influenced people well known theologians like Aquinas and to a little extent even Augustine. I come to appreciate that Greek philosophy has capitalized some kind of abstract conceptual almost divine being that is being the master of all kinds of things and thoughts, the initiator of them all. They move so close to who God is conception is but just can’t get there, and hence it is very sad. This truly speaks of the vanity and frustration of the worldly wisdom and forces in this world to try to mimic God or try to reach the ultimate transcendent. In vain their attempt by some of the greatest worlds philosophers known as Plato, Socrates, Aristotle. They all have come to some kind of conceptualization like the ruler of all rules kind of thing but have just fallen short of it.

The biggest problem is that their supreme conceptual idea it’s only an idea but not a being and hence cannot communicate, they cannot love, and interact with humans as the God in Christianity. I think that kind of situation will bring civilization to annihilation simply because it cannot land but it floats in the thin air forever. Therefore it becomes a breeding ground to some of the great influencing philosophers of the modern age like Nietzsche, like a lot of French and other philosophers in trying to deny God but come up with a substitute which is totally devastating and self-defeating. Their philosophies unfortunately have influenced a lot of our schoolbooks and colleges and writings for example Karl Marx thought about communism and a host of others. All these philosophies are conceptual pit problem because of denying and running away from the almighty God who is well perceived and known by the world as in Romans 1

Romans 1:18–21 (ESV)

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. ¹⁹ For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ²¹ For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Did you see the unleashing of the wrath of God against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men it’s God’s judgment upon all the philosophical work so they’re trying to detract or distract human beings from knowing and following the only God the creator of the world? As a matter of fact the wrath of God specifically against ungodliness and unrighteousness of men and that is a direct product of any philosophies centering on anything outside of Christ and that is defined as godlessness. Godlessness is commonly understood as doing things that are very ungodly and that is the result of not focusing on the only one true God Jesus Christ and God the Father. And not only that these people not only practice ungodliness, but they actually suppress the truth about Christ as well as exactly what these philosophers are doing like Plato, French Foucault and all these guys.

You can see how the intersection of Christianity’s biblical and systematic theology comes in really powerful together with the worldly and ungodly philosophies of the world. If you don’t have enough grounding on the philosophy like in this class, you won’t know exactly how to engage them by knowing their strengths and weaknesses and how to portray Christ and the gospel as the answer to human brokenness.