The Fight For Truth

As I urged you when I went into

Macedonia––remain in Ephesus that you

may charge some that they teach no

other doctrine, nor give heed to fables

and endless genealogies, which cause

disputes rather than godly edification

which is in faith.

Now the purpose of the commandment is love

from a pure heart, from a good conscience,

and from sincere faith, from which some,

having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk,

desiring to be teachers of the law,

understanding neither what they say

nor the things which they affirm.

1Timothy 1:3–7

            The birth of Christianity came when many philosophies had taken root and grew in many of the writings of men such as Philo (20 BC - 50 AD), known also as Philo of Alexandria and as Philo Judeaus, was a Hellenized Jewish philosopher born in Alexandria, Egypt. Philo included in his philosophy both Greek wisdom and Hebrew religion, which he sought to fuse and harmonize by means of the art of allegory that he had learned from the Stoics. His work was not accepted by contemporary Judaism. Philo quoted with frequency the work of Greek poets and was acquainted with Greek philosophers to whom he was devoted. He was influenced by Pythagorism and Stoicism, and much by Plato. Neoplatonism began in earnest in Alexandria, Egypt and the influence of this Greek philosophy influenced some who claimed to be Christian. Christianity spread into the Greek world and some men were educated in Greek philosophy and included parts of that philosophy into their ethics and theology. It must be noted that in Alexandria, Egypt became the center for such emulsification of Greek philosophy with Christianity. Stoicism which made cause for some men to become adherents to a life free from passion, to be calm, unmoved by the necessities of life and there was formed what we term as; Desert Fathers, monasteries abounded and men cloistered themselves from the world. On the other hand Epicureanism flourished as people threw of the shackles that bound them to live a moral life and lived a life from such hindrances to live a life of luxury. Platoism, both in its truest form and in Neoplatonism abounded as men such as Philo attempted to blend Judaism with Greek philosophy. This was the world in which our Savior Jesus Christ entered into and faced and it would be what His disciples fought as they spread the gospel into a world that was so imbibed with Greek culture. While Greek culture was everywhere in the world, especially the Western world there was also a new power, Rome, who had included into their philosophy much of Grecian thought, even to include, although renamed, Greek gods. In the midst of all this syllogism and attempt to syncretize Greek philosophy with Christian philosophy and ethics there was a need to preserve Christian doctrine from such heresies that were born from such attempt to blend two contradictory philosophies.

            Platoism, or Greek philosophy held as most important the state and the need to do whatever to preserve the state. Rome was an adherent to such thinking and the state was of the primary importance. To preserve the state there must be a religion that holds the state together, a primary religion, yet a person may have other gods, as the Greek had taught. Added to the problem the Church faced was the influx of people that had the background of learning of Grecian philosophy and ethics. These people tended to carry with them into the Church their old ideas. At first Christianity was in the thinking of the Roman state just another form of Judaism which had legal status. Then, when Christians would not adhere to bow down to the primary god of Rome and when Judaism denounced Christianity then the Christians faced legal threat. Christianity faced legal threat and philosophical threat that need to be addressed and true Christian doctrine upheld. In addressing these problems some overzealous men developed particular interpretations to ward off the evil that the Church was presented with either real or fancied. Many overzealous approach to this problem led to heresy and this resulted in schisms and new sects.

            This problem of the influence of Platoism, and Neoplatonism led to certain translations by men in Alexandria that allowed this Grecian philosophy to mandate how they interpreted the writings of the Apostles. They did this by excluding verses that did not align with their philosophy which determined their theology. One such translation by the Alexandrian school was the Codex Sinaiticus. This translation and a few others ( I will not address the critical aspect of translations at this time) is one of the foundations for several current Bibles; viz. NIV, ESV, and others. This problem has affected the current Church which must be addressed and will be in future blogs. I will examine some of the current beliefs that are present in some Churches and practices and compare them with Scripture, Scripture that has the support of thousands of manuscripts. As the early writers, from the Apostles to other men such as Tertullian, fought to maintain true Biblical doctrine, we today must look at what is being taught in the Churches to see whether or not they are true or part and parcel of heretical teachings, especially since our world is and has been so influenced by pagan philosophers.

            We seek the truth for ourselves, but even more so for our progeny, our friends who may be involved in Churches that seem Scriptural, yet are not. It is Authentic Biblical Faith we desire.

If you will not hear, and if

            You will not take it to heart,

To give glory to My name, says

            The LORD of hosts,

I will send a curse upon you,

            And I will curse your blessings.

Yes, I have cursed them already,

            Because you d not take it to heart.

                                    Malachi 2:2

God requires obedience, not sacrifice

Richard L. Crumb