Filled Philosophy; abridged

Introduction

This first passage that I want to talk about today is, in my opinion, the most eminent passage in the Bible concerning why faith should be sure. You probably have read the passage before as it stands in fame.

Acts 17:22–32 NASB95

So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. “For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ “Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this.”

Personal Experience

Most of you know that I was an atheist of the most obnoxious caliber for the great majority of my life. And while this isn’t the passage that played the most significant role in my conversion on the whole (that title belongs to the book of Ecclesiastes in its entirety, which I don’t have time to cover), this shorter passage contains much of the filled philosophy that fueled my submission to God.

But first, know this verse. It is one that held me captive during my hesitance toward this faith:

Colossians 2:8 NASB95

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

It was a rude verse that constantly harassed me from the back of my mind when I studied the Scriptures and reasoned internally with myself about God, especially when I did so again to Him. Philosophy according to the elementary principles of the world. Empty philosophy.

I don’t think the point of this verse is to say that philosophy is inherently wrong, as I once did; that would be in opposition to biblical teachings, particularly the ones of the Ketuvim.

Instead, it’s evident that this verse refers to philosophy void of God, the consummation of which is nothing. And so I want to talk about what I have coined to be filled philosophy and contrast it with this empty philosophy and how it has affected me.

Now think back to that phrase you heard—this phrase:

“TO AN UNKNOWN GOD, "

Which is perhaps better translated and sometimes is translated,

“TO THE UNKNOWN GOD, "

or even more literally,

“TO GOD—UNKNOWN”

Now, most of you probably have heard of Athens: the birthplace of democracy and the ancient locus for philosophy. And so it’s interesting to think that something as orthodox as this would be inscribed on one of their altars. Have you ever considered why this was signed on a altar in Athens? Athens, for all its diversity, was not a place of Christians and Jews and Zoroastrians and the likes. Well, I won’t speak surely because the Bible does not tell us flat-out. Athens was a place of many beliefs.

Now, notice that Paul doesn’t scorn them for this inscription—it being guided falsely to some strange god—as he often does and should the religious thoughts of the unregenerate, heathen, and pagan. Instead, he says something a bit strange.

“Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.”

And so Paul believed that they were, in fact, worshipping God. Not a little-g god, God almighty, who alone is wise and created all things.

And so this is when things began to make sense! Because God is self-evident, and we know this not merely by the words of His prophets, but by presence of morality and free will both of which presuppose God! And so passages that used to horrify me such as in Romans 1:18-32

Romans 1:18–32 NASB95

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

I remember thinking “I’m sorry Lord, but if You’re real, what the hell? How could you give people up to Your ‘unrighteousness’ just because they refused to acknowledge You? How could many of them even know anything about You?” This constant theme in the Bible, especially throughout the Nevi’im

Verses 18-19 are key here.

Romans 1:19–20 NASB95

because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

In the same way the some of the Athenian philosophers had reasoned about this almighty God, which, although they did not know, they knew was. And should they have been able and not reasoned, they would indeed have been without excuse.

I had been groping for God for some time then (This word ‘grope’ formally means to feel for in the dark) and so I found Him.

Before this I thought, as did many of the ancient Greeks, that philosophy was sufficient for setting up a system of morality and truth. thinking that its pit had a bottom, when, in fact, it was empty—it was without a floor. I became, as it said in verse 21, futile in my speculation, and my foolish heart was nearly darkened.

Abandoning all this, my zeal began to glow! How could I not have faith? What else is there to have faith in?

Post Script

[about twelve minutes should have passed by now, hand off to the other speaker, saying “what about your faith”; inquire with Maggie about what should be done with what I have said and how secondary speakers should be intertwined. As the title of the sermon suggests, this is not the full extent of my thoughts on this topic—”time constraint” doesn’t have that countable noun for no reason.]