What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?: Part II

The mind of the unbeliever is distinctly different from the mind of the believer. The mind of the unbeliever is at enmity with Christ. Furthermore, the unbeliever's mind is foolish and deceived (Romans 1:21ff.). In Colossians 1:21, the apostle Paul describes the unbeliever has being "alienated and hostile in mind." Thus, the unbeliever is not capable of upholding God's greatest commandment, which is to "and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30, NASB, 1995 Update).

Thus, the unbeliever despises both the wisdom and instruction of God (See Proverbs 1:7 and Romans 3:18). Hence, the unbeliever is incapable of realizing any of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are found in Christ (Colossians 2:3).

The philosophy of this world is not only deceptive, but is also hopeless. The apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 4:17-18 that the unbelievers walk "in the futility of their mind, being darkened in
in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart" (NASB, 1995 Update).

The wisdom of God is nothing like the wisdom of this world! Read First Corinthians 1:18-31:

"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.' Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the  foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of b the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, 'Let him who boasts , boast in the Lord'" (NASB, 1995 Update).

Part III will examine the common objections raised by some believers against the use of philosophy.