The Early Church Rejected Philosophy

Next Part The Pivotal Council of Nicaea

The first-century apostles rejected the idea of using philosophy to interpret Scripture: “None of the early Christian apologists [defenders of the faith] paid any attention to a doctrine like this” (Gods and the One God, Grant, ch. 12).

Note how one source best describes how the apostle Paul viewed philosophical reasoning: “Metaphysics [a branch of philosophy pertaining to origins, etc.] and speculative theories were valueless for Paul; he was conscious of a mighty power transforming his own life and filling him with joy, and that this power was identical with Jesus of Nazareth he knew. In all this Paul is the representative of that which is highest and best in early Christianity. Speculation and hyper spiritualization were ever tending to obscure this religious fact…” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed., vol. 6, p. 284).

In Colossians 2:8, Paul warns against absorbing philosophy, calling it a vain and worldly deceit: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

Paul goes on to condemn asceticism: “Wherefore if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh” (Col 2:20-23).

In I Timothy 6:20-21, Paul is even more direct: “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to your trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called which some professing have erred concerning the faith.” Here, the Greek word for “science” is Gnosis. Clearly, Paul condemns Gnosticism. And his example reflected the position of the first-century Church in condemning all philosophy in general.

The Gates of Nicaea

The first chapter of Romans describes the ancient philosophers, including Plato, and how they had rejected the true God and His divine authority, and engaged in vile personal conduct (Rom 1:18-32). Inspired by God, Paul describes their philosophical conclusions as being as much an abomination as their promiscuous perversions. Yet, the form of Christianity that came to dominate the religious scene during the third and fourth centuries exalted these philosophers’ opinions. Their human reasoning and speculation were viewed as a pillar of understanding, and were used to interpret Scripture.

The Council of Nicaea

In the early 300s A.D., during the time of the most severe persecutions against all who claimed to be Christian, the Roman armies proclaimed Constantine, their favourite general, as Caesar. Constantine had claimed victory after defeating Licinius in the Battle of Mulvian Bridge outside Rome.

Prior to that battle, Constantine was said to have had a vision: He claimed to have seen the first two letters of Christ’s name (in Greek, chi (X) and rho (P), and that he heard a voice tell him, “By this sign you will conquer.” Taking these as symbolic of God’s favour, Constantine felt indebted to Christianity for his victory—in spite of being a dedicated sun worshipper!

Immediately upon becoming emperor, he issued the Edict of Toleration, which made Christianity legal throughout the empire. This ended ten years of severe persecution against the true Church—but it also paved the way for the Catholic brand of Christianity to rise to pre-eminence in the Roman Empire (The History of the Church of God, Kelly, part 4).

Constantine recognized the political benefit of aligning with established Christianity. Not only did he credit it for establishing him as emperor, he understood its potential for serving as a means to unify the empire.

Yet, the Christianity of the Western empire was significantly different from that in the east and of the other sects in North Africa. Thus, Emperor Constantine took measures to “standardize” his new found ally (Ibid.).