I haven’t posted in a while. I’ve been so busy with school and other bits and pieces of writing and life. Among other things, I’ve been applying for honors programs at colleges and waiting on scholarship results. One application required that I write an essay, questioning “What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?” after the ancient philosopher Tertullian.
I’ve been thinking about the concept a lot. Below are my thoughts.
The question of philosophy and faith has been prevalent through the centuries. Many famous philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle lacked faith, and yet they still produced ingenious theories and ideas. Meanwhile, Christian philosophers were lesser known and lesser studied. Tertullian no doubt saw this issue and sought to answer it for himself. In his “Prescription against Heretics,” he famously wrote, “After Jesus we have no need of speculation, after the Gospel no need of research.” In Tertullian’s opinion, Athens has nothing to do with Jerusalem. Learning should not be mingled with faith.
I could not disagree more.
Education and faith cannot be separated any more than human existence and God can be divided. Those who try will only go so far, as the Greeks who could not reconcile infinite numbers without faith in an infinite God.
While education is the pursuit of truth, the Gospel is the ultimate truth. Good education, as Athens wished to provide, ought to find the truth and therefore the Gospel of Jerusalem in every area of life. The two are inseparable.
Furthermore, pursuit of the truth uncovers more about God. Studying astronomy, God’s children marvel at the expanse of creation and therefore His majesty. Surveying the stories of history reveal the faithfulness and sovereignty of God to take care of Christians and grow them, even through tough situations. Contemplating incomprehensible philosophical concepts displays the finite nature of human thought and accordingly the omniscience of God. In essence, educational pursuit of Biblical truth leads scholars to not only understand their world, but also their God. It brings them to their knees as they recognize His beauty and power beside their own ugliness and incompetence.
Through this education, students will learn how better to honor and glorify their Creator. They will learn how to defend their faith against people who would denigrate it and who have long ago exchanged the truth of God for a lie. Education which focuses on the Lord will help believers to share the good news of the Gospel everywhere they go.
Today, society seeks to separate Biblical truth with educational fact. In doing so, they lose sight of the whole point of education. If learning is not a road to real truth, it can only be a path to spiritual ignorance.
Wonderful insights Ella Rose! I definitely agree with you!
Thank you! 💗
I love this, Ella!! We studied Tertullian last semester and it is a very interesting perspective to consider, one with which I also disagree. I especially appreciate what you said about us dwelling on God’s omniscience and majesty through recognizing our own limitations and learning things we can never understand. With learning, the goal is not so much the final destination as it is the process and the way it changes us and transforms our understanding of the world and our limited knowledge about God. I love that idea that we will spend our entire lifetime just beginning to uncover the mysteries about God, and we will never understand His character, even in heaven. Yet the journey and the hard work is so worth it. Well done! 🙂
Amen and amen! You could’ve written this post for me! 😜
A very interesting topic – thanks for sharing! Wishing you all the best on your scholarship applications!!♥
Thank you Abby! ❣️