Category: Uncategorized
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Hebraic and Hellenistic Philosophy
In his book The Philosophy of Hebrew Scripture, Yoram Hazony invites readers to think beyond the reason-revelation dichotomy. Whereas the reason-revelation dichotomy may succeed in encapsulating the uniqueness of the New Testament, Hazony argues it is more difficult to make this distinction when applying the dichotomy to the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). This is because…
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Reason and Revelation
Philosophical reasoning is an essential tool used by theologians to develop and explain coherent theological concepts, principles, and doctrines. The classical tradition of philosophy remains the primary dialogue partner with theology in the domain of catechetics. And in the encyclical Fides et Ratio by John Paul II, faith and reason are like two wings on…
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Theism and Theodicy
To think about theism and theodicy is the equivalent of pondering God and the problem of evil. Theism is typically synonymous with belief in one God, as in monotheism. (The three major monotheistic religions are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.) More specifically, theism refers to belief in a personal-creator God who is both active in the…
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Philosophers and Theologians
From the Greek philosopher Plato, we have the Platonist tradition. From the Greek philosopher Aristotle, we have the Aristotelian tradition. The Christian philosopher-theologian Augustine drew from the works of Plato and Neoplatonism when writing his own works like Confessions and City of God. On the other hand, the Christian philosopher-theologian Thomas Aquinas drew from the…
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Apologetics and Catechesis – Part 2
As I stated earlier in Part 1, we are commissioned to make disciples of all nations and teach them what Jesus taught his disciples (Matthew 28:19 – 20), while simultaneously being prepared to make a reasonable defense to anyone regarding our own hope in Jesus (1 Peter 3:15). Whereas apologetics involves a defense of the…
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Apologetics and Catechesis – Part 1
After nearly three decades of both teaching and pastoral ministry, I can confidently state that apologetics and catechesis have a mutually beneficial relationship with one another. Where you have supportive apologetics, you also have better informed catechesis. And where you have informed catechesis, you also have an openness to apologetics. Afterall, we are commissioned to…
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Athens and Jerusalem
Toward the end of the second century, the theologian Tertullian asked, “What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem? What concord is there between the Academy and the Church?” In these questions from Tertullian, a display of Christian theological resistance to Greek philosophical influence is evident. But already in the first century, the Apostle Paul…
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Overview of Theology
Theology is the study and discussion of God. Christian theology is the study and discussion of God from a Christian perspective. The Greek word theos means “god.” The suffix, –ology, comes from the Greek term logos which can mean “word” or “discourse,” and logos is also the term for the etymology of the English word…
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Overview of Philosophy
The word philosophy means “the love of wisdom.” Philosophy is the combination of two Greek terms: phileo and sophos. Phileo is a Greek term for “love.” Sophos is the Greek term for “wisdom.” Socrates (469 – 399 BC) lived in ancient Greece and is considered to be the father of Western philosophy. Eastern sages like…
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Paul and the Philosophers
The Old Testament contains themes regarding Jesus and the resurrection which Paul explains and develops in the New Testament (Acts 17:1-15). During Paul’s missionary journey into Athens, he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and devout persons. He reasoned in the marketplace on a daily basis with the common people. Paul even reasoned with…