Early Christian Views on Socrates and Greek Philosophy

Justin Martyr, Hortatory Address to the Greeks Direct teaching

...sophy among them, how can those who lack true knowledge be worthy of the name of philosophy? For if Socrates, who is deemed the wisest of your wise men and even acknowledged by your oracle, as you claim, saying, "Of all men Socrates is the wisest"—if he admits that he knows nothing, how did those who came after him claim to understand even heavenly things? Socrates said he was called wise because, while others pretended to know what they did not, he did not hesitate to confess his ignorance. He said, "I seem to myself to be wisest by this little particular, that what I do not know, I do not suppose I know." Let no one think Socrates was pretending to be ignorant, even though he often used irony in his dialogues. His final words in his apology, spoken as he was being led to prison, show that he was sincerely admitting his ignorance: "But now it is time to go away, I indeed to die, but you to live. And which of us goes to the better state is known only to God." Socrates, having spoken these last words in the Areopagus, went to the prison, leaving the knowledge of hidden things to God alone; but those who followed him, though they cannot comprehend even earthly things, claim to und

Justin Martyr, Hortatory Address to the Greeks Direct teaching

For if Socrates, the wisest of your wise men, to whom even your oracle, as you yourselves say, bears witness, saying, “Of all men Socrates is the wisest”—if he confesses that he knows nothing, how did those who came after him profess to know even things heavenly?

Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Direct teaching

After him Socrates held the first place in philosophy, who was pronounced most wise even by the oracle, because he confessed that he knew one thing only — namely, that he knew nothing.

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Supporting witness

In like manner Socrates, condemned by the decision of his fellow citizens, suffered capital punishment: have his discussions on morals, on virtues, and on duties been rendered vain, because he was unjustly hurried from life?

Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Supporting witness

and the Athenians condemned Socrates to death. But as they were none the worse in respect of virtue because of the opinion of the multitude, so neither does the undiscriminating calumny of some persons cast any shade upon us as regards rectitude of life, for with God we stand in good repute.

Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness

In fact, for this very thing Socrates was condemned to death, that he overthrew the worship of the gods.

Minucius Felix, Octavius Supporting witness

However, if you have a desire to philosophize, let any one of you who is sufficiently great, imitate, if he can, Socrates the prince of wisdom.

Justin Martyr, Hortatory Address to the Greeks Supporting witness

For Socrates was the teacher of Plato, and Plato of Aristotle.

Tertullian, Ad Nationes Supporting witness

Socrates, he said, was the wisest of men.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

...he Creator and Teacher of all things. That is, they love the knowledge of the Son of God. Among the Greeks, philosophers are those who take up arguments about virtue. Philosophy, then, consists of those teachings found in each sect—I mean the sects of philosophy—that cannot be disproved, together with a corresponding way of life, gathered into one selection. These were stolen from the God-given grace of the Barbarians and adorned with Greek speech. For some things they borrowed, and other things they misunderstood. In the case of other things, what they spoke because they were moved, they have not yet fully worked out. And other things came by human guesswork and reasoning, in which they also stumble. And they think that they have perfectly found the truth. But as we understand them, they have found it only partially. So they know nothing more than this world. And it is just like geometry, which deals with measures and magnitudes and forms by drawing on flat surfaces. And just as painting seems to take in the whole field of view in the scenes represented. But it gives a false description of the view, according to the rules of the art, using the signs that result from the inciden

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

...self is not the cause of the ship being pulled, but only together with the others. In the same way, philosophy, which is the search for truth, helps us understand the truth. It is not the cause of understanding by itself, but a cause along with other things, and a co-worker. Perhaps it may also be called a joint-cause. And just as several virtues are causes of one person’s happiness, and just as the sun, fire, a bath, and clothing all help one person become warm, so also truth is one, yet many things help in the search for it. But its discovery is through the Son. If we think carefully, virtue is one in its power. But when it appears in different matters, it is called prudence in some cases, temperance in others, and in others courage or righteousness. By the same comparison, truth is one, yet in geometry there is the truth of geometry, in music the truth of music, and in the right philosophy there will be Hellenic truth. But the only true and secure truth, which cannot be overthrown, is that in which we are taught by the Son of God. In the same way, we say that a drachma is one and the same coin. But when it is given to the shipmaster, it is called fare; to the tax collector, t

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

Galatians 3:24 Philosophy, therefore, was a preparation, paving the way for him who is perfected in Christ.

Minucius Felix, Octavius Supporting witness

I have set forth the opinions of almost all the philosophers whose more illustrious glory is that they pointed out that there is one God, although with many names. So that anyone might think either that Christians are now philosophers, or that philosophers were already Christians then. But if the world is governed by providence, and directed by the will of one God, the antiquity of unskilled people ought not, however delighted and charmed with its own fables, to carry us away into the mistake of mutual agreement, when it is rebutted by the opinions of its own philosophers, who are supported by the authority both of reason and of antiquity. For our ancestors had such an easy faith in falsehoods that they rashly believed even other monstrosities as marvelous wonders: a manifold Scylla, a Chimera of many forms, and a Hydra rising again from its auspicious wounds, and Centaurs, horses entwined with their riders. And whatever Report was allowed to feign, they were entirely willing to listen to. Why should I mention those old wives' fables, that men were changed from men into birds and beasts, and from men into trees and flowers? If these things had happened at all, they would happen aga

Hippolytus, Connection to Isaiah 1:16 Background

Beloved, see how the prophet predicted the washing of baptism. For the person who comes to the washing of regeneration with faith, renounces the devil, joins himself to Christ, denies the enemy, confesses that Christ is God, puts off the bondage and puts on the adoption is the one who emerges from the baptism “as bright as the sun,”

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

...n he gives the title of wise to the tragic poets, it is not because of his philosophy that he holds Socrates up for honor, or because of his love of truth and virtue. It is poor praise for Socrates to say that he prefers him to men who compete on the stage for a small reward, and who by their performances stir the audience at one time to tears and grief, and at another to improper laughter, for that is the purpose of satyric drama. And perhaps he called Socrates the wisest of all men not so much because of his philosophy, but because of the sacrifices he offered to him and to the other demons. For it seems that demons care more, in giving out their favors, for the sacrifices offered to them than for deeds of virtue. So Homer, the best of the poets, who describes what usually happened, when he wanted to show us what most moved the demons to answer the wishes of those who prayed to them, brings in Chryses. For with a few garlands and the thigh pieces of bulls and goats, Chryses obtained an answer to his prayers concerning his daughter Chryseis, so that the Greeks were driven by a plague to give her back to him. And I remember reading in the book of a certain Pythagorean, who was w

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

However, let us see what he learned from Socrates. Socrates had completely rejected natural philosophy and turned to questions about virtue and duty. So I do not doubt that he taught his listeners the rules of justice. Therefore, while Plato was being taught by Socrates, he noticed that the power of justice consists in equality, since all are born in an equal condition. Therefore, he says, they should have nothing private or personal. Instead, so that they may be equal, as the rule of justice requires, they should hold all things in common. This can be tolerated, as long as it seems to be said about money. But I could show in many ways how impossible and how unjust this is. Still, let us allow that it is possible. For suppose that all are wise and despise money. Then what did that community lead him to? Marriages also, he says, ought to be held in common, so that many men may crowd together like dogs around the same woman, and the one who is stronger may succeed in getting her. Or, if they are patient as philosophers, they may wait their turns, as in a brothel. Oh, the wonderful equality of Plato! Where, then, is the virtue of chastity? Where is marital faithfulness? And if you tak

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

...he part of a wise man, but rather of a rash and foolish man. Therefore, if nothing can be known, as Socrates taught, or ought to be guessed, as Zeno taught, philosophy is completely removed. Why should I say that it is not only overthrown by these two, who were the chief leaders of philosophy, but by all of them, so that it now appears to have long ago destroyed itself by its own weapons? Philosophy has been divided into many sects, and they all hold different opinions. In which of them do we place the truth? It certainly cannot be in all of them. Let us point out one. It then follows that all the others will be without wisdom. Let us go through them one by one. In the same way, whatever we give to one we will take away from the others. For each sect overturns all the others in order to establish itself and its own teachings. Nor does it allow wisdom to any other sect, lest it should admit that it is itself foolish. But as it takes wisdom away from others, so all the others take it away from that sect. For those who accuse it of folly are still philosophers. Whatever sect you praise and declare to be true, philosophers condemn as false. Shall we therefore believe the one that pr

Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Direct teaching

Therefore, after covering the teachings of all the wise men among the Greeks in four books, and the doctrines put forward by the founders of heresies in five books, we will now present the doctrine of the truth in one book. First, we have given a summary of the views held by each group. For the Greek dogmatists divided philosophy into three parts, and in this way they developed their speculative systems over time. Some called their system Natural Philosophy, others Moral Philosophy, and others Dialectical Philosophy. The ancient thinkers who called their study Natural Philosophy were the ones mentioned in Book 1. And the account they gave was as follows. Some said that all things came from one thing, while others said they came from more than one thing. Of those who said that all things came from one thing, some said they came from something without qualities, while others said they came from something with qualities. Among those who said all things came from something with qualities, some said they came from fire, some from air, some from water, and some from earth. Among those who said that the universe came from more than one thing, some said it came from countable quantities, b

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

... Greek rather than a barbarian; and finally, because he was an Athenian and was born in the time of Socrates. It is impossible to say how much great blindness and error are produced by ignorance of the truth. I would fully argue that nothing more foolish was ever said in human affairs. It is as if, if he had been born a barbarian, or a woman, or even an ass, he would still be the same Plato, and not that very being which had been brought into existence. But he clearly believed Pythagoras, who said that souls passed from the bodies of men into the bodies of other animals, so that he might keep men from feeding on animals. This is both foolish and impossible. It is foolish because there was no need to bring souls that had long existed into new bodies, when the same Maker who had once made the first souls was always able to make new ones. It is impossible because a soul endowed with right reason can no more change the nature of its condition than fire can rush downward or, like a river, pour its flame sideways. Therefore, that wise man imagined that the soul then in Plato might be shut up in some other animal, and yet have the feelings of a man, so that it could understand and grie

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

...e we to say about Pythagoras? He tells a very great number of wonders. In a general assembly of the Greeks, he showed his ivory thigh and claimed that he recognized the shield he had worn when he was Euphorbus. He is also said to have appeared on the same day in two different cities. And someone who says that what is told about Plato and Socrates belongs to the marvelous will mention the story of the swan that was recommended to Socrates while he was asleep, and of the master saying, when he met the young man, “This, then, was the swan!” No, he will also put among prodigies the third eye that Plato saw that he himself possessed. But those who are ill-disposed, and who want to speak evil of what has happened to people raised above the crowd, will never lack opportunities for slanderous accusations. Such people will mock even the demon of Socrates as a fiction. So then, when we tell the history of Jesus, we are not telling marvels, nor have His true disciples recorded any such stories about Him. Yet this Celsus, who claims universal knowledge and quotes many sayings of Plato, is, I think, intentionally silent about the statement concerning the Son of God that is found in Plato’s E

Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Direct teaching

Among the moral philosophers are Socrates, the pupil of Archelaus the natural philosopher, and Plato, the pupil of Socrates. This thinker combined three systems of philosophy.

Justin Martyr, Hortatory Address to the Greeks Direct teaching

I find it necessary to consider the times in which your philosophers lived so you can see that the period that produced them for you is very recent and short. This will help you recognize the antiquity of Moses. To avoid being overly detailed, I believe the following will suffice: Socrates was the teacher of Plato, and Plato taught Aristotle. These men thrived during the time of Philip and Alexander of Macedon, when the Athenian orators also flourished, as the Philippics of Demosthenes clearly show. Those who have recounted the deeds of Alexander clearly prove that during his reign, Aristotle was associated with him. With all available evidence, it is clear that the history of Moses is much older than all non-religious histories. Moreover, it's important for you to understand that nothing was accurately recorded by the Greeks before the era of the Olympiads, and there is no ancient work detailing any actions of the Greeks or Barbarians. Before that period, there existed only the history of the prophet Moses, which he wrote in Hebrew by divine inspiration. The Greek alphabet was not yet in use, as language experts inform us, saying that Cadmus first brought the letters from Phoenici

Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness

(Socrates) himself left no writings after him. Plato, however, taking notes of all his (lectures on) wisdom, established a school, combining together natural, ethical, (and) logical (philosophy).

Gregory Thaumaturgus, Oration to Origen Supporting witness

...ds. This, at least, has been the kind of philosophy shown by our noble, very eloquent, and critical Greeks. Whatever any one of them happened to take up at the beginning, moved by one impulse or another, that alone he declares to be the truth. He thinks that everything else taught by other philosophers is merely error and foolishness. Yet he does not prove his own positions by argument any better than all the others defend their own teachings. His only object is not to have to give up or change his opinions, whether by force or by persuasion. For, if one may speak the truth, he has nothing but a kind of irrational impulse toward these philosophical doctrines. And he has no other standard for what he imagines to be true than, incredible as it may sound, blind chance. And so each person becomes attached to the views he first fell in with and is, as it were, chained by them. He is no longer able to pay attention to other views, even if someone else has something of his own to present on every subject with a proof of the truth, and even if he has arguments to show how false the teachings of his opponents are. For helplessly and thoughtlessly, and as if waiting for some lucky acciden

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

Let us, however, see what it was that he learned from Socrates, who, having entirely rejected natural philosophy, betook himself to inquiries about virtue and duty.

Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness

wherefore, inasmuch as we have adequately gone in review through the tenets of physical speculators, it seems to remain that we now turn to Socrates and Plato, who gave special preference to moral philosophy.