The Nathan Jacobs Podcast Did Greek Philosophy Corrupt Christianity? On Greek, Jewish, and Christian Theologies
Jan 22, 2026
Delve into the intriguing debate about whether Greek philosophy corrupted Christianity. The discussion highlights the influence of German idealism and critiques the label of Church Fathers as Platonists. It contrasts ancient approaches to truth with modern nominalism while exploring the Hellenization of Judaism. Discover how distinctive Christian doctrines evolved and the integrity of martyrs like Justin Martyr. Ultimately, the host argues that early fathers preserved, rather than tainted, the faith taught in the New Testament.
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What The Hellenistic Captivity Claim Says
- The Hellenistic-capture thesis claims Greek converts syncretized and corrupted an original Hebrew Christianity.
- Nathan Jacobs calls this a long-standing narrative but says its basic premise needs careful scrutiny.
German Idealism Framed Religious Progress
- German idealism (Hegel, Lessing) framed history as educative progress and justified doctrinal development.
- That framework later produced both pro-development theologies and anti-religious critiques.
Two Divergent Uses Of Progress
- The Hegelian model produced two spin-offs: idealist-positive progress and skeptical-negative critique.
- Leftist Hegelians removed providence and used development to argue religion is human invention.
