Christianity and the Platonists

Christianity and the Platonists

Augustine wrote his book Confessions during a time when Philosophers and great thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Crito, and Virgil are teaching their findings. Augustine is confused about classical learning and the new Christian teachings, which he now believes. The great city of Rome had recently changed from a city of polytheistic views to a Christian city under Constantine’s rule. In chapter 9, Augustine compares the Platonists, a category of classical learning, with the Christian beliefs and teachings as well as explaining how truth can be perverted.

Platonist teachings believe that there is a God and in the beginning God was there. Platonists believe that God created everything. Platonists teach that the Bible is from God. The Platonists do not believe in Christ and they do not accept Christ as the Messiah. The Platonists thought of Jesus as a wise man, but not of the same substance as God.

Augustine criticizes classical learning because the people who are taught by Platonist teachings are prideful people who are not thankful that Christ died for them and never realized what Christ was teaching them. They do not accept the truth even though God has given them a path to follow. They view themselves as brilliant and wise when Christian teachings value humility. It is the meek who are better learned. People should be humble and forgiving because “the meek will He guide in judgment; and the meek will He teach His way” (Psalm 24:9). The ultimate goal of both Platonists and Christians is to live God like and have their immoral soul to go to heaven.

The Platonists taught of idols made of gold that were worshiped. The idols were made from gold that was given to the Hebrews on the exodus from Egypt. They had been given the gold as gifts. The Hebrews melted the gold and formed an idol and praised it as the God that led them out of Egypt. God gave them the gold in hopes that they would use it to worship him not to...