Jesus The Great Philosopher

Jesus The Great Philosopher provides a helpful introduction to ancient Greek philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, and the big philosophical domains they explored. The domains are what reality is (metaphysics), how we know what we know (epistemology), what is good (ethics), and how to order society for happiness (politics).

They sought to identify and show how to think and live to become happy and flourish.

Jonathan T. Pennington contends that while Christianity should certainly be viewed as a religion in that it deals with man’s relationship with God, it is also “a philosophy of happiness” (205).

The author shows that the Bible provides thick answers to metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, and political questions, and intentionally so.

Moreover, ancient art and the Bible reveal that Jesus was not only considered to be the Messiah, the Son of God, the LORD, and the Savior, but also a philosopher. 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.

The book explains the importance of emotions and relationships, examines ancient philosophical views that continue to 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 author believes that a lapse in serious reflection on ultimate philosophical questions and on the philosophy of Christianity has led to confusion about what’s necessary to think and live well.

The book is a page-turner and suitable for high school students, even if they are unfamiliar with Greek philosophy. Also, it’s a great 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.