Jesus The Great Philosopher – Review

Jonathan T. Pennington’s book Jesus The Great Philosopher explains that ancient philosophy taught people how to think and live to be happy and flourish, as seen in books like Plato’s Republic and Aristotle’s Ethics and Politics. The author contends that while Christianity should be viewed as a religion in that it deals with man’s relationship with God, it is also “a philosophy of happiness.” (205)

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Pennington explains that ancient Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle explored the big philosophical questions of what is reality (metaphysics), how we know what we know (epistemology), what is good (ethics), and how to order society for happiness (politics). He shows how the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, provides thick answers to these philosophical questions, and intentionally so. Moreover, ancient art and the Bible reveal that Jesus was considered to be not only the Messiah, the Son of God, the LORD, and the Savior, but also a philosopher.

A lapse in serious thinking about the ultimate philosophical questions and the philosophy of Christianity has led to confusion about what is necessary to think and live well.

Pennington cites texts like John 10:10 and the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) as evidence that Jesus was a philosopher of happiness. He also describes the importance of emotions and relationships, explains ancient philosophical views that affect Western civilization today, and discusses how Christianity provides emotional renewal and relational restoration between God and man and between people. The author also helpfully discusses biblical disciplines like reflection and prayer.

The book is a page-turner and suitable for high school students, even if they are unfamiliar with Greek philosophy. It is a helpful introduction to Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, the primary philosophical questions, and the philosophy of the Bible.

Here are a few short videos from the author about the book.