The Bible Project Daily Podcast Bonus Snap Cast Q & A - Was Plato a Christian.
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Episode Notes:
In this episode, I answer a question I received on my YouTube channel this week "Was Plato a Christian and did he have any authority from God to override the Old Testament revelation of God?"
Key Points:
- Historical Context:
- Plato was a classical Greek philosopher who lived around 350 years before the birth of Christ. His teachings were firmly rooted in Greek philosophy, focusing on metaphysics, ethics, and epistemology. He lived and died long before the formation of the New Testament canon and the establishment of Christianity.
- Christian Doctrine of Revelation:
- In Christianity, divine revelation is believed to be delivered through the Scriptures—both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is considered the inspired word of God, revealing God's will, character, and plans for humanity. The New Testament, through the person and work of Jesus Christ, is seen as the fulfilment and continuation of this revelation.
- Authority of Scripture:
- Most Christians hold that the Bible, comprising both the Old and New Testaments, is the ultimate and complete revelation from God. Any authority to interpret or override biblical revelation is believed to come from God himself, not from human philosophers.
- Jesus Christ as the Ultimate Revelation:
- According to Hebrews 1:1-2, God's ultimate revelation to humanity is through Jesus Christ: "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe."
- Plato's Influence and Limitations:
- Plato may have influenced the intellectual environment that facilitated the spread of the gospel, especially through the Greek language and logical approaches. However, this influence does not equate to divine inspiration or authority. Plato's ideas, while sometimes seen as compatible with Christian thought, are part of secular philosophy rather than the divine narrative of the Bible.
- Conclusion:
- From an Evangelical and Christian Biblical perspective, Plato was a significant philosopher but not a Christian. He did not possess any divine authority to alter the revelation given in the Old Testament. The authority to reveal God's will is believed to rest solely with those who were divinely inspired to write the Scriptures—the prophets, apostles, and Christ himself.
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