Philosophy is fundamentally the study of truth. The disciple pursues questions and reasoning to make better sense of things like knowledge, reality, aesthetics, and ethics. Some Christians might have apprehensions about philosophy due to the misguided notion that it somehow circumvents or strives to overrule clear biblical teaching. Usually this is due to a misunderstanding of Colossians 2:8 which says, “Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.” The emphasis is not on philosophy as a whole but more so philosophy that was erroneous and deceitful.

The truth is that philosophy is necessary. C.S. Lewis once said that “to be ignorant and simple now—not to be able to meet the enemies on their own ground—would be to throw down our weapons, and to betray our uneducated brethren who have, under God, no defence but us against the intellectual attacks of the heathen. Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered.” In the final analysis it must be understood that philosophy is important to Christianity because it not only fosters a mature understanding of God but it serves to protect believers from the empty and deceitful philosophy of the world.