|
by
Doug Ward |
When I was an undergraduate at Haverford College in the late
1970s, Philosophy 101 was one of the most popular courses on campus. The
professors who taught it were known to be stimulating and inspiring teachers,
and students formed long lines to register for the class.
I
was an exception. I never joined the lines, and I chose not to take Philosophy
101. The philosophers were asking the right questions, I felt, but they were
drawing upon the wrong sources. I wanted to learn about the divinely inspired
words of the Bible, not the human reasoning of Plato and Aristotle. As far as I
was concerned, those who asked "What is truth?" with Pontius Pilate
(John 18:38) could find the answer in John 17:17 ("your word is
truth").
Later
on my attitude toward philosophy began to mature, guided by a better
understanding of theology and history. I learned that all people are created in
the image of God, and that God has made certain foundational truths available
to all, including the fact of his existence and some basic moral principles
(Rom 1:18-32; 2:14-15). Our ability to reason also comes from God, so the
strict dichotomy that I had imagined between reason and revelation is not
valid. Even though we live in a fallen world, we use reason to make valuable
discoveries in areas like mathematics, science, and yes, philosophy.
Historically
servants of God, beginning in ancient times, have often benefited from the wisdom
of the world. Moses, as Stephen tells us, "was instructed in all the
wisdom of the Egyptians" as part of his preparation to lead the nation of
Israel (Acts 7:22). Later, when Moses became overburdened as the nation's sole
judge and prophet, he received sage advice from his father Jethro the
Midianite. Jethro recommended that Moses establish a judicial system with lower
courts to handle routine cases. In that way Moses could concentrate on the more
difficult cases (Exod 18:13-23). Moses implemented this wise suggestion (vv.
24-26), which was consistent with God's intention that Israel become "a
kingdom of priests" (Exod 19:6) with shared responsibility for carrying
out their divine mission.
When
Paul took the gospel to the Greco-Roman world, his knowledge of Greek thought
proved to be an invaluable asset. We see this especially in his discussions
with philosophers in Athens (Acts 17:16-34). At the Areopagus Paul was able to
communicate with the Athenians in terms familiar to them. For example, he quoted
Greek poets in explaining characteristics of the true God (vv. 25-29). Paul's
familiarity with Greek literature undoubtedly gave the gospel a more
sympathetic hearing in Athens than it otherwise would have received.
|
Origen's
Exodus Analogy |
As Christianity grew and spread, there was a continuing need for
educated leaders and teachers who could engage surrounding cultures
effectively, as Paul had done. This need raised the question of how Christians
should approach classical Greek learning. One answer, in the form of an analogy
based on the Exodus, was articulated by the renowned theologian Origen (185-254
AD), bishop of Caesarea. Origen laid out his analogy in a letter to his disciple
Gregory Thaumaturgis (c. 213-270).1
In
the letter Origen compared classical learning, including philosophy, to the
treasure that the Israelites obtained as they departed from Egypt (Exod
12:35-36). According to a familiar tradition, Israel devoted this treasure to a
holy purpose by using it to construct the tabernacle and its furnishings.
Similarly, Origen urged Gregory to devote his classical education to the cause
of Christianity.
Origen
observed that the Egyptian treasure must have contained materials of various
types and qualities, which the Israelites skillfully employed in making the
various articles associated with the tabernacle. By doing so, they put this
treasure to better use than the Egyptians had. Similarly, Christian students
should apply the various aspects of their education appropriately to obtain a
deeper understanding of God's word, thus making better use of this knowledge
than pagans had.
Unfortunately
the Israelites misappropriated some of the treasure by creating the golden
calf. To properly work with these materials the guidance of the Holy Spirit was
required, as God granted to Bezalel and Oholiab (Exod 31:1-11). Analogously,
Origen cautioned, education could be misapplied to produce false teachings. The
discovery of spiritual truths requires divine guidance, sought through prayer
and study of the Scriptures, at every stage of learning.
|
Cautiously
Seeking Treasure |
Origen's analogy is based on the conviction that there are
treasures to be found in human knowledge, and that Christians should seek them
out. Caution is required, however. Not all of this knowledge is valuable, and
wisdom and discernment are necessary to identify the real treasure. Origen told
his students to study all of the different philosophical schools, but to
espouse none of them. He wanted them to find the gold but not construct any
golden calves.
Over
the centuries countless Christians have followed Origen's advice to Gregory and
become treasure hunters, pursuing an advanced education for the purpose of
advancing the kingdom of God. (In fact, Greek philosophical texts are still
available for Philosophy 101 students because Christians have preserved them.)
Christian philosophers have developed persuasive arguments for God's existence.2
In
mathematics and the sciences, Christians seeking to glorify the Creator of the
Universe have been responsible for many of the greatest discoveries. The same
can be said about other fields of study. Today there is much more treasure to
be found, and the world needs more Christian treasure hunters. With a strong
Hebraic foundation in the word of God, we can cautiously but confidently
explore the wisdom of the Greeks.
1For a helpful
discussion of this analogy, see "The Despoliation of Egypt: From Stolen
Treasures to Saved Texts" by Joel S. Allen, pp. 347-356 in Israel's
Exodus in Transdisciplinary Perspective, Thomas E. Levy, Thomas Schneider,
and William H.C. Propp, editors, Springer, 2015.
2A
good place to learn about these arguments is William Lane Craig's Reasonable
Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics, Crossway, 2008.
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