Is the Bible concerned with happiness and human flourishing? Does Jesus speak to a whole-life philosophy? In the book Jesus the Great Philosopher, Dr. Jonathan T. Pennington aims to revive the neglected identity of Christ as philosopher and Christianity as a way of life. The story of the Scripture is God’s good plan of redemption throughout human history. As Christians, we are called to give glory to God through our lives. To do this, we must follow Christ as our perfect, sinless example. Christ spoke to how to live life in such a way to glorify God and to promote happiness and human flourishing.
“The biblical story of brokenness and sin explains why human universally long for shalom [peace, contentment, happiness], for a whole and meaningful life. As a result, the arc of the whole story of Israel is one of hope – certain hope for a coming age when God will return, bring justice, and establish peace throughout his marred creation and in his distorted creatures.”
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Dr. Pennington shows his depth of knowledge in human philosophies through his eclectic quotes from Aristotle to Deadpool, and philosophies from Epicureans to My Little Pony. He doesn’t just write as an academic, but includes jokes, personality and real-life applications into his writing. It provides for n entertaining and educational read. He points outs the cynical nature and irrelevance modern philosophy while pointing to a better truth. As Steve Martin observes in a 1970s stand-up routine, when you study philosophy in college, “you remember just enough to screw you up for the rest of your life.” Ancient philosophers were not as focused on abstract thought experiments as they were on the good life. They were concerned with the whole-person and societal flourishing in four areas: metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and politics. In today’s post-truth, individualistic society in the West, the Good Life is reduced to temporary pleasures and preoccupations. Still, people long for the good life, even if they can seem to find it or define it.
When we follow human thought down to today, the differing philosophies of life-happiness are myriad and over-whelming. Is it a keto diet, CrossFit, entrenching into “Make America Great Again” values, finding inner peace through hot yoga, daily journaling, making sure you “pay it forward” every day, etc., ect., ect.? There are simply too many choices, like the menu at Cheesecake Factory. It can feel paralyzing.
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While human philosophies of life have some value and truth in them, they are incomplete and deficient. As the truer and better Adam and our perfect model, Christ’s philosophy alone is whole, complete, and truly true. He stands outside of human thought and knowledge and his all-seeing perspective allows for a complete philosophy of life that truly does lead to happiness and human flourishing. The paradox of the Christian good life is that it also involves suffering, discouragement, and loss. Only through faith in Christ can we have hope in the midst of the struggle of life.
“The Good Life is not referring to the lives of the rich and famous as revealed in a tabloid or expose show. The Good Life refers to the habits of practiced wisdom that produce in the human soul deep and lasting flourishing.”
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While this book is more academic in nature, it is helpful for most Christians. If it were up to me, this should be mandatory reading for all philosophy 101 classes. I think this will mostly benefit Christians that apply Scripture to life, Seminary students, Pastors, elders, and group leaders. I was skeptical when I first saw the book, Jesus the Great Philosopher. The title does isn’t something that piqued my interest. It wasn’t until I saw that it was written by Dr. Pennington that I became intrigued. Within the introduction of the book, it became clear that this book is practical as well as deep. As a biblical counselor, it provided a different lens to view Scripture through. Counselees are looking for the Good Life whether they know it or not. Scripture provides for the only truth to make sense of this life through hope, faith, relationship in a lost and broken world.
“The story of Israel from creation through the prophets casts a vision of the possibility of deep flourishing even in the midst of inevitable loss and suffering.”
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Jesus the Great Philosopher: Rediscovering the Way to a Whole, Meaningful, and Flourishing Life By Jonathan T. Pennington |
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. The opinions I express are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.