logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2024
9m 23s

Bonus Snap Cast Q & A - Was Plato a Chr...

Pastor Jeremy R McCandless
About this episode

Send us a Text Message.

ubscribe here to receive my new church history podcast every few weeks at.
https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

For an ad-free version of the podcast plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month and also help keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free  for listeners everywhere at;
patreon.com/JeremyMcCandless

This Podcast is Hosted at;
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Episode Notes:

In this episode, I answer a question I received on my YouTube channel this week  "Was Plato a Christian and did he have any authority from God to override the Old Testament revelation of God?"

Key Points:

  1. Historical Context:
    • Plato was a classical Greek philosopher who lived around 350 years before the birth of Christ. His teachings were firmly rooted in Greek philosophy, focusing on metaphysics, ethics, and epistemology. He lived and died long before the formation of the New Testament canon and the establishment of Christianity.
  2. Christian Doctrine of Revelation:
    • In Christianity, divine revelation is believed to be delivered through the Scriptures—both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is considered the inspired word of God, revealing God's will, character, and plans for humanity. The New Testament, through the person and work of Jesus Christ, is seen as the fulfilment and continuation of this revelation.
  3. Authority of Scripture:
    • Most Christians hold that the Bible, comprising both the Old and New Testaments, is the ultimate and complete revelation from God. Any authority to interpret or override biblical revelation is believed to come from God himself, not from human philosophers.
  4. Jesus Christ as the Ultimate Revelation:
    • According to Hebrews 1:1-2, God's ultimate revelation to humanity is through Jesus Christ: "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe."
  5. Plato's Influence and Limitations:
    • Plato may have influenced the intellectual environment that facilitated the spread of the gospel, especially through the Greek language and logical approaches. However, this influence does not equate to divine inspiration or authority. Plato's ideas, while sometimes seen as compatible with Christian thought, are part of secular philosophy rather than the divine narrative of the Bible.
  6. Conclusion:
    • From an Evangelical and Christian Biblical perspective, Plato was a significant philosopher but not a Christian. He did not possess any divine authority to alter the revelation given in the Old Testament. The authority to reveal God's will is believed to rest solely with those who were divinely inspired to write the Scriptures—the prophets, apostles, and Christ himself.

Please reach out with any comments or further question and I will tray and answer through these occasional short bonus "Snapcast", episodes

Support the Show.


Jeremy McCandless is creating podcasts and devotional resources | Patreon

Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Up next
Today
Turning Problems into Opportunities. (2 Cor 6: 1-10)
Send us a textHave you ever noticed how God often hides His greatest opportunities inside what look like impossible situations? Paul reminds us that what we see as hardship and accusation, God often turns into moments of His greatest work.Remember—the wisdom of this world fades, ... Show More
29m 32s
Yesterday
Watching God Work (2 Cor 5: 18-21)
Send us a textEpisode Notes PageHave you ever wished you could see God at work — like the disciples did when Jesus turned water into wine or fed thousands with loaves and fish? The good news is, you can. In this episode, we explore Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians on the ministry ... Show More
29m 2s
Oct 7
What Really Motivates You? (2 Cor 5: 11-18).
Send us a textEpisode Notes PageWhat drives you — comfort, convenience, recognition? Or the love of Christ?In this episode, we dive into Paul’s challenge in 2 Corinthians 5 and discover the only motivation strong enough to sustain us through trials, disappointments, and the deman ... Show More
28m 57s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 17
Jesus as King; God's Ultimate Plan
When you’re young, there are probably things you’re sure would never happen to you, or things you’re sure you or friends would never do. But usually, as we get older, we begin to wonder whether there’s any rhyme or reason to life. Scientifically, they now say life is chaotic, tha ... Show More
49m 40s
May 2024
Christianity as a Strange Religion? (with Nijay Gupta)
What made the first Christians so different from their surrounding culture?  How did their worship differ from the way the average Roman citizen viewed the gods?  Why did the early church view themselves as a family and why is that so significant?  We’ll discuss these questions a ... Show More
29m 55s
Mar 2023
The Bible and Cultural Critique (with Christopher Watkin)
How does the Bible guide us in applying its truths to our culture?  Of course the Bible applies to our individual lives, but the Bible is also a rich resource for critique of any culture.  Join Scott and Sean with their guest, British philosopher Chris Watkin for a fascinating jo ... Show More
28m 25s
Jan 2025
The Lord We Can Know
Jesus Christ did not come to start a new religion. He didn’t come to start the best religion. He came to end religion. Every religion has its extremists. Religion causes an enormous amount of conflict and strife in this world. What are we going to do about it? To embrace Jesus Ch ... Show More
41m 19s
May 2024
143 Malachi: My Messenger, Part 7: Malachi as the Middle, Part 2
Link to James Bejon's article on Substack: https://jamesbejon.substack.com/p/jesus-genealogies We move forward with the GOAL of knowing Christ! This week we continue a mini-series on the book of Malachi, the final book of the Old Testament. With our Transcendent GOD – Being, Trut ... Show More
22m 29s
Oct 7
The Gospel Is Jesus Christ
Friends, in our second reading this Sunday, Paul writes to Timothy, “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my gospel.” The Gospel is not the ethical teachings of Jesus or the doctrinal teachings of Saint Paul; the Gospel is Jesus himself. And ... Show More
14m 55s
Sep 12
Jesus as Prophet (Part 2)
Many people today think of Christianity as a set of beliefs you take up, something you decide upon. But the Bible says Christianity is something that comes upon you. It’s not something you pick up—it’s something that picks you up. Jesus Christ is not a passive Savior. Jesus is no ... Show More
54m 23s
Jul 2
If the Bible Was Written by Humans, Does that Change Its Reliability?
How the Bible Was Formed Q+R (E5) — What is the relationship between the written word of the Bible and Jesus as the Word at the beginning of creation? How do we reconcile the Bible’s editing process with Scriptures that forbid adding or taking away from God’s word? And what shoul ... Show More
1h 2m
Sep 10
Jesus as Prophet (Part 1)
By saying Jesus is a prophet, we mean he is a revealer. He communicates truth. He’s the revealer of who God is and what his will is. As a prophet, Jesus comes and speaks to you and to me for God. Even though Jesus is far more than a prophet, he is a prophet. And the fact that Jes ... Show More
48 m
Dec 2024
Is Jesus For Non-Christians, Too?
Most Christians would likely agree that Jesus and the Gospels provide us with guidance for how we should be living our lives. People of non-Christian faith traditions, or those with no religious belief at all, might have a somewhat different response...but our guest today, Dr. Am ... Show More
36m 32s