Defending Philosophy Biblically—part 2

Defending Philosophy Biblically—part 2

So let us consider philosophy’s mention in the Bible.   Philosophia is used only once in the New Testament in Colossians 2:8 and is translated philosophy in the AV; philosophos is also only used once in acts 17:18 and is translated philosophers in the AV; sophos is used 23 times and is translated wise, wiser, wise men, and wise man in the AV. The word wise (sophos), as it is used in the Bible, means having knowledge, and good judgment, and wisdom when it is referring to men and “all wise” when it refers to God.  The English word wisdom is used about 55 times in the AV New Testament.  The word wisdom is found in 266 verses in the AV Old and New Testaments combined.  The exact number of references is not important, but it is important that the Bible speaks so often of wisdom. 

It seems logical to deduce that there is much support in the Bible for a Christian musician basing his or her systematic beliefs about the nature and value of the whole of music on wisdom found both in and out of the Bible.  Much of the wisdom concerning music and musicing may be found in the Bible.  However, I do not claim to believe in *sola scriptura as the only source of wisdom concerning music philosophy.  I do however believe in sola scriptura in the sense that Scripture alone is the authoritative rule of faith and practice and that what the Bible does teach us about music is authoritative.