Selected Fathers of Church about Ancient Philosophy (part II)

Abstract

Christian theology often is called Christianized philosophy. However, in the early centuries of Christianity, its writers did not refer to ancient philosophy positively. For them, philosophy was a relic of paganism and its teachings were treated as vain and empty views. The first Christian writers had to confront philosophy and so many of them wrote about it either critically or positively. The Apostle Paul first came into contact with philosophers during his stay in Athens. Apologists then went on to write about the ancient philosophers and the Fathers of the Church drew inspiration from their thought as well. In their opinion, theology and philosophy differed from each other like truth from belief. Revealed in Scripture, the knowledge of God is truth, because it was proclaimed by the Prophets and Apostles, who were inspired of the Holy Spirit. They did not speak from themselves, but it was God who spoke through them. Philosophers, however trusted their own reason when they were seeking knowledge about the beginning of time, about truth, about God etc. Since the first century, Christian theology and philosophy saw this bond of “mutual understanding” that has united them to this day.