Journal: Journal for Baptist Theology & Ministry
Volume: JBTM 21:1 (Spring 2024)
Article: Defending The Handmaid: How Theology Needs Philosophy
Author: Richard G. Howe

Defending The Handmaid: How Theology Needs Philosophy

Richard G. Howe

Richard G. Howe is Provost and Norman L. Geisler Chair of Christian Apologetics at Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, NC.

Some of this material was presented at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Defend Conference (2018 plenary, 2023 breakout). It has indeed been an honor and a privilege to be a part of this conference over the past few years. I cannot thank Dr. Bob Stewart enough for allowing me to be a part of the tremendous ministry he has had at NOBTS. Dr. Stewart is not only an accomplished philosopher and apologist, but also a Christlike and virtuous human being. Thanks, Bob, for allowing God to touch my life through you!

Prolegomena

Studying Philosophy

My experiences as a graduate and doctoral student of philosophy as well as a professor of philosophy and apologetics have given me opportunities to view a range of attitudes among my Christian friends regarding philosophy. Some were curious what one could do with a degree in philosophy, perhaps stemming from innocence about exactly what philosophy was. Others recounted their own unpleasant experience slogging through a philosophy class in college. Still other reactions ranged from suspicion (isn’t philosophy the problem?) to outright hostility (philosophy is definitely an enemy!). Why would a seminary, designed to prepare men and women for ministry, need to have philosophy in any of its curricula? What need is there for this handmaid?1

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Isn’t Philosophy An Enemy?

These latter reactions are undoubtedly the same at heart. More than once I was reminded of the Apostle Paul’s warning in Col 2:8. where he tells us to “beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”2 After all, one might say, what else might one make of Paul’s admonition? According to them Paul is warning that philosophy is at the root of many of the ideas opposed to Christianity. Clearly, he is telling us to stay away from it.

Let us grant, for the sake of argument, that the common interpretation of this passage is correct.3 Even given this interpretation,

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I take a cue from a physician friend of mine. As a specialist in infectious diseases, he sounds the alarm about the dangers of such diseases. Being that these diseases are quite dangerous to health and even life itself, th...