Rediscovering Ancient Wisdom

Greek Philosophy for Bible Exegetes

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I
TS GOOD to see when a Christian is so consumed with zeal to understand the New
Testament that he or she resolves to learn Greek to better understand its message. For some,
this same kind of zeal might motivate an interest to learn about the Greek philosophy
circulating at the time the New Testament was written.

St. Paul was well versed in Greek philosophy. He was raised in Tarsus (a philosophical center),
studied in Jerusalem at Gamaliels rabbinical school, and when in Athens discoursed intelligently
with Stoic and Epicurean philosophers. The better-educated of those to whom he directed his
letters would have been familiar with Greek philosophy and accustomed to thinking about
morals and religion in such terms. St. Paul, who was willing to be all things to all men, so that
some might be saved, would have found many ideas and principles of Greek philosophy helpful
in approaching Gentiles and Hellenized Jews with the message of Christianity.

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The writers of the Gospels, too, show every sign of being well-educated Greek-speakers, who
might easily have been familiar with elements of Greek philosophy.

Jesus himself probably spoke Greek, and may have lived in the large community of Greek-
speaking Jews of Alexandria during his childhood, where he might have come into contact with
Greek learning.

Therefore, for such practicing Christians as may feel inspired to plunge into Greek philosophy to
further their Bible study, below is a list of suggested primary texts sufficient to give one a good
understanding of the subject.

Diogenes Lartius (180 240 AD), Lives of Eminent Philosophers selections.

Perhaps the best single resource on the lives of ancient Greek philosophers. Much better than
modern texts! The main chapters (Lives) of interest are as follows:

Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Zeno of Citium (Stoic school)
Epicurus (Epicurean school)
Diogenes (Cynic school)
Pyrrho (Sceptic school)

Plato (428 347 BC), selected dialogues, in suggested reading order shown

It is widely believed today that St. Paul was influenced by Stoic thought. However, many of the
ideas present in Stoicism are found earlier in Platos writings. Stoicism, in fact, could be
considered a branch of Platonism.

Charmides (an easy introduction to the writing of the greatest Greek philosopher)
Apology (background on the historical Socrates)
Phaedo (Socrates final conversations before his execution)
Symposium (On love)
Phaedrus (includes Platos famous chariot myth)
Republic (contrary to common opinion, this is not a literal treatise on civil politics, but an
inspired allegory for the governance of ones soul; the subtitle is On the Righteous Man.)

Aristotle (384 322 BC)

Nicomachean Ethics

Cicero (106 43 BC)

In Cicero (a Roman who wrote about Greek philosophy) we see a kind of humanism emerging
that is almost Christian. Also, Cicero transmits to us the philosophical ideas of Posidonius of

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Apamea (c. 135 c. 51 BC) and Panaetius of Rhodes (c. 185 c. 110 BC), whose versions of
Stoicism would have likely influenced St. Paul and his contemporaries.

On Ends (De finibus)

On Moral Duties (De officiis)

Seneca (Seneca the Younger; c. 4 BC 65 AD), selections

Seneca was the brother of Gallio, proconsul of Achaea, who handled St. Pauls case in Corinth.
Its remotely possible that St. Paul met Seneca in Rome, or that among his contacts in Caesars
household were some who knew Seneca well.

On Anger (De ira) (dedicated to Gallio)

On Providence (De providentia)
On Tranquility of Mind (De tranquillitate animi)

As an example of later Stoicism, one might read either Epictetus or Marcus Aurelius.

Epictetus (55 135 AD)

Discourses (a short work; c. 108 AD)

Enchiridion (c. 125 AD)

Marcus Aurelius (121 180 AD)

Meditations

Finally mention should be made of the great Platonic-Jewish exegete, Philo of Alexandria (c.
20 BC 50 AD). The three books of Allegorical Interpretation supply an introduction to his
sublime thought. In some ways Philo is the most relevant of all these philosophers for
Christians, but as his writing style is somewhat difficult, its perhaps better to first gain a solid
foothold in Greek philosophy by reading the other authors.

John Uebersax
www.john-uebersax.com
1st draft: 28 Nov 2017 (sorry for any typos)

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