I)              The problem of philosophy

a.     Can lead to anti-Christian beliefs

                                        i.     Colossians 2:8

                                      ii.     Do not be deceived by worldly philosophies

b.     Synthesis can lead to heretical or dead beliefs

                                        i.     Heresies within the church caused by synthesis

1.     Gnostics attempted to synthesize Platonic thought with Christianity

2.     Neo-Orthodoxy attempted to synthesize Existentialism and Romanticism with Christianity

c.      Can supplant living spirituality

                                        i.     The philosophy can be true, but lack in any form of love

 

                                      ii.     It becomes cold and metallic – though solid, it offers no warmth to a cold world

II)            The benefit of philosophy

a.     Brings us closer to knowledge, which aids in our spiritual growth

                                        i.     By discovering life around us, we learn how the world operates

                                      ii.     Knowledge comes with good judgments (Psalm 119:66)

                                     iii.     Hatred of knowledge causes us to lose fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:29)

                                     iv.     Knowledge is a thing of wise men (Proverbs 10:14)

                                      v.     The list simply goes on – knowledge is a thing to be pursued for righteousness and good living

b.     Aids in apologetics

                                        i.     We are to know our enemy’s methods, this is the work of a good tactician

                                      ii.     1 Peter 3:15 says we are to defend the Word

1.     “Defend” is apologia which is a legal term used to present convincing evidence, specifically for the defendant’s innocence

2.     “Word” is logos which can refer to a rational statement(s)

                                     iii.     Philippians 1:7, 16 has Paul stating that he is a defender of the Gospel

1.     In order to “defend” something, he had to be actively involved in debating opponents to the Gospel

2.     Vs. 16 shows that he was pro-active in his defense – he went out to the people instead of letting the debate take place in the Church

                                     iv.     Titus 1:9 says that a leader in the Church should be able to refute arguments against the Gospel

III)          Counter-arguments (taken from J.P. Moreland’s book Love Your God with All Your Mind.

a.     1 Corinthians 2:14-15 speaks of the foolishness of God

                                        i.     God has transcended the wisdom of man, therefore His followers should follow suit

                                      ii.     We are to be spiritual in our knowledge, not carnal

                                     iii.     Response:

1.     The Greek word used for “understand” is ginosko, which can carry an experiential knowledge with it – thus, natural man has not experienced the truth of God and therefore thinks it foolish

2.     Paul is really using a play on words – he’s showing that man’s wisdom (that is, wisdom apart from God) isn’t wisdom at all. Previous passages from Proverbs have already shown that losing fear in the Lord begins with a rejection of true knowledge and wisdom.

b.     John 14:26 says that a helper (Holy Spirit) will come and teach us all things

                                        i.     This shows that the Holy Spirit teaches us and brings to light all things

                                      ii.     It is true, direct illumination from the Spirit – we have no need of reasoning

                                     iii.     Response:

1.     The context shows that this is solely in reference to the disciples so that they might remember the words of Christ

2.     If this were the case – that the Spirit would teach us all things – then there would be no need for the Bible; the Spirit would tell us

c.      1 John 2:27 says we will have no need for any teacher, that the Spirit will teach us all things

                                        i.     The Spirit will teach us all Spiritual truths, He is our teacher

                                      ii.     Any attempt to teach a rational faith, or use philosophy, is an attempt to supplant the Holy Spirit

                                     iii.     Response:

1.     If we don’t need a teacher, then why is John being a teacher?

2.     Why is there a spiritual gift of teaching?

3.     John was referring to the proto-Gnostics who taught there was a need of a teacher to lead a pupil into special knowledge. Believers, therefore, have no need for additional knowledge from some special teacher.

4.     The context (warning against false teachers leading people astray) fits with this explanation

IV)          Conclusion

a.     Philosophy is extremely beneficial for spiritual growth, especially in growing in fear of the Lord

b.     Philosophy is an aid in breaking down intellectual barriers to conversion – it works within Apologetics (along with evidence) as pre-evangelism

c.      Christians should be careful about synthesizing – this is where the value of Sola Scriptura comes in