Mankind has a history rich in philosophical thought and debate. Philosophy can be defined as an activity people undertake when they seek to understand fundamental truths about themselves, the world in which they live, and how they relate to the world and to each other.
As an academic discipline, philosophy can be categorized into the fields of 1) metaphysics (the study of existential topics, truth, God and free will), 2) epistemology (the study of knowledge itself), 3) ethics (the study of morality), and 4) logic (the analysis of reasoning).
Philosophy can be applied to such topics as law, religion, culture, science, literature, language and arts, among others. Understanding philosophical differences between people better equips us to approach intercultural challenges empathetically and objectively.
The term philosophy is derived from the Greek language and literally means “love of wisdom.” It constitutes critical and comprehensive thought at the highest level humans can achieve. Philosophy is the quest for wisdom. The ultimate goal of philosophical study is to enrich understanding through the development of intellect so students of philosophy can realize their full human potential.
Each of us has our own unique perspective that is the culmination of the culture we live in, the way we were raised and the external influences of education, and experience. Our worldview then, is generated by our experience in civilization. However, knowledge is not limited to the world.
The Concept Of A Creator
When it comes to our Creator, who holds the cosmos together, the appreciation of His persona vastly exceeds any worldly perception. Our finite minds cannot fully grasp an infinite God. Since God is spirit (John 4:24), He is beyond our physical experiential perspective. Mankind has only scratched the surface when it comes to comprehending the intellect of God, yet God has given us a glimpse into who He is. Deuteronomy 29:29 declares, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed to us belong to us and to our children forever,”.
In the fortieth chapter of Isaiah, the prophet conveys the wisdom of God in a profound declaration. In verses 13-14, we read, “Who has understood the mind of the Lord or instructed Him as His counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the right way? Who was it that taught Him knowledge or showed Him the path of understanding?”
Later, in Isaiah 55:8-9, we are given God’s own words: “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.'”
Proverbs 9:10 teaches, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” And in the Good News Translation, Psalm 25:12 reads, “Those who have reverence for the Lord will learn from Him the path they should follow.”
Just as a good philosopher takes into account the perspectives of others, so does a wise person seek to comprehend God’s perspective. God is not an impersonal force or some abstract deity as pantheism would have us believe. He has revealed Himself in the pages of the Bible. He is alive and eternal (Jeremiah 10:10). He has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is God
Furthermore, God has taken the necessary steps to demonstrate to humanity that He fully understands our perspective. He incarnated as Jesus of Nazareth two thousand years ago and lived among the poor and less fortunate of Judea. The Creator subjected Himself to the very creation that is subject to Him. That in itself is beyond the limits of our imagination, indicating an ingenuity we can only superficially envision as similar to a cartoonist entering into their cartoon, thereby bringing the animation to life.
In doing so, God empathetically demonstrated He is perfectly just. The writer of Hebrews explains in the fourth chapter, verses 14-15, “Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.”
In Colossians 1:15-17, Paul shares this profound truth about Jesus: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
Since an omnipotent invisible God has proved incomprehensible to humanity, we can learn from Christ Jesus the personal characteristics of God. Even for the Israelites who experienced the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, the parting of the Red Sea and witnessed the power of the Lord in the cloud at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 13,14 and 20), a complete comprehension of God escaped them.
In Jesus Christ we have the fullness of God exemplified in bodily form (Colossians 2:9-10). It is through Jesus, then, that we can ascertain what God is like and who God really is. By studying the gospels we gain insight into the mannerisms and characteristics of our Creator through the teachings and actions of Jesus of Nazareth.
A Posture Of Humility
Jesus assumed a posture of humility. In Philippians 2:6-8, Paul illustrates the humble nature of Jesus in that even though He was God, He remained obedient to His mission by not disrespecting the laws of nature that He Himself imposed upon humanity. In doing so, He became the epitome of what all believers ought to aspire to be.
In Matthew’s gospel, in chapter 11, verses 28-30, Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
In 1 John 4:16, the disciple writes, “God is love.” And in his gospel (John 3:16) we learn, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” If you can imagine the most altruistic act ever in the history of humanity, God has exceeded it infinitely in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Knowing the inclinations of the human heart to gravitate towards sin, God took it upon Himself to reconcile sinners to their Creator. Paul says in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God is incomprehensible, yet comprehensible. Paul alludes to this in 1 Corinthians 2: 6-7, “We do, however speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
In verse fourteen he adds, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Comprehending the mind of God and the mystery of His divine plan for humanity is contingent upon trusting His word over our own. It requires submission to the Holy Spirit and surrendering the throne of our hearts to Him and Him alone.
It means understanding the convergence of the spiritual realm and the physical realm that has witnessed the creation event, the fall of man, a history of rebellion and our need for redemption through the brilliant strategy of the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We must resist the temptation to impose our presuppositions upon the philosophy of God since He is outside of the constraints of our existence. Paul provides insight into man’s inability to fully grasp the mind of God in 1 Corinthians 13:12, and explains that when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
The philosophy of God is difficult to fathom. It is a monumental challenge for minds subject to the limitations of a three dimensional worldview to perceive the metaphysical. Trusting the divine requires faith on our part. A faith that is focused on seeking God with all our hearts (Jeremiah 29:13) and a faith with the resolve to stand firm through adversity (Matthew 24:13). The writer of Hebrews declares in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance of what we do not see.”
Yet Jesus simplified the path to God (Matthew 18:3). Jesus Christ is the only pathway to God and salvation is found in Him alone (Acts 4:12). If you can comprehend Jesus you can comprehend God. The philosophy of Jesus is the philosophy of God.
