Perennial Lives | Stoics, Saints, and Sages
The Perennial Lives series explores the life and philosophy of 12 figures (one per week), from Socrates (470—399 BC) to St. Thomas Aquinas (1225—1274). To assist us in our journey, we’ll turn to resources like Lives of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laertius, along with more recent works like Examined Lives by James Miller, Socrates’ Children by Peter Kreeft, and finally, Lives of the Stoics by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.
Today’s meditation is Part IV of our Perennial Lives series — The Art of Living: From Socrates to Aquinas. Previously, we discussed The Art of Living: From Socrates to Aquinas (Part I), How to Live — Like Socrates (Part II), and The Life and Philosophy of Confucius (Part III).
The Wisdom of Jesus
What comes to mind when you read the words — The Wisdom of Jesus? Is there a particular parable or teaching you think of? If so, how might applying that lesson align with living a good life? In his book Jesus the Great Philosopher, author Jonathan Pennington (a previous podcast guest) quotes the Polish theologian Darius Karlowicz,
“The task of all philosophy, including Christian philosophy, is the therapy of souls who have been led astray by the demands of the passions and false pictures of happiness.”
According to Pennington, “Christianity is a philosophy of happiness.” But “Happiness” and “Christianity” are not related in our minds. The same could be said for “Christianity” and “philosophy.” But the philosophical tradition of seeking happiness, writes Pennington, and the Christian faith are all deeply interwoven like strands of one tapestry. As Saint Augustine stressed in the fourth century, “No one has any right to philosophize except with a view to happiness.”
In Socrates’ Children, the writer and philosopher Peter Kreeft explains that it is usually forgotten that Jesus was also a philosopher. For Jesus answers the four most fundamental questions of all philosophers: the question of metaphysics, the question of anthropology, the question of epistemology, and the question of ethics.
Kreeft writes,
Buddhists believe that Buddha was a philosopher too, writes Kreeft, a wise man and a lover of wisdom, but also something more than a philosopher, for the whole point of his teaching was the transcendence of ordinary rational consciousness into “enlightenment.” In a similar way, Christians believe Jesus was a perfect and complete man, and therefore a wise man and a lover of wisdom, and a philosopher, but also that he was much more than that: that he was and is the end and object of all philosophy, the Logos or Mind or inner Word of God become man.
Like Socrates, the Buddha, Epictetus (and many others), Jesus did not write anything down. He taught in parables; therefore, to understand the wisdom of Jesus — one must explore the wisdom of parables.
The Wisdom of Parables
Throughout much of human history, lessons were passed down to generations through the oral tradition. Many of the parables known today have existed for thousands of years. In her book Short Stories by Jesus, Amy-Jill Levine explains that “Jesus taught in parables because they serve as keys that can unlock the mysteries we face by helping us ask the right questions: how to live in community; how to determine what ultimately matters; how to live the life that God wants us to live.”
These parables are remembered to this day not simply because they are in the Christian canon but because they continue to provoke, challenge, and inspire. Today’s meditation offers three well-known parables by Jesus, along with artwork inspired by them.
1. The Good Samaritan
Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"
He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."
He said to him, "You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live."
But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"
— Luke 10:25–29
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Jesus answered, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the host, and said to him, 'Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.' Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?"
He said, "He who showed mercy on him."
Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
— Luke 10:30–37
2. Jesus and the Adulteress
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, sir." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again."
— John 8:3-11
Note: Although this is not precisely a parable from Jesus, there is a profound lesson in the story.
3. The Parable of the Prodigal Son
“There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
— Luke 15:11–32
Final Thoughts
As with our meditations on Socrates and Confucius, we have merely scratched the surface of the wisdom of Jesus. In my view, the wisdom of Jesus is available and valuable regardless of your views on religion. Jesus’s parables, if we take them seriously not as answers but as invitations, can help inform our lives.
As with any of the lives we’ll explore, you might not find everything useful. However, we are wise to remember the words of Seneca here, “Go into the enemy’s camp. Open your eyes and mind to what they’re doing. Use what you learn.” There is no question that there is something to learn in every wisdom tradition. The question is whether or not we will “open our eyes and minds” and utilize that wisdom in daily life!
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Thank you for reading; I hope you found something useful.
Until next time, be wise and be well,
P.S. Feel free to comment, ask questions, or make suggestions!
Love this! Such great excerpts! You are so well read!