Athens and Jerusalem: Philosophy, Theology, and the Mind of Christ

by Gerald L. Bray

A journey through the tangled history of philosophy and theology

Trace the history of Western thoughtEngage in modern theological debatesGrasp the influence of philosophy on theologyIs theology incomprehensible without philosophy? Is philosophy merely human folly? Most take a middle ground, believing that the two can be reconciled.

In Athens and Jerusalem, Gerald Bray shows how history has been shaped by a myriad of attempts to relate philosophy and theology. Bray’s tour spans from the early church to the present, pointing out impacts on the church, academy, and society. Athens and Jerusalem offers a lively and accessible chronicle of the relationship between philosophy and theology and how we can think about both today.

Genres: Philosophy, Theology

376 pages, Hardcover

Published March 26, 2025

About the author

Gerald L. Bray (Ph.D., University of Paris--Sorbonne) is director of research for the Latimer Trust, based in London, and a research professor at Samford University, teaching in the Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. A priest of the Church of England, Bray has also edited the post-Reformation Anglican canons. He has edited several volumes of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture and Ancient Christian Texts, as well as volume one of the Ancient Christian Doctrine series, all for IVP Academic. General EditorTimothy George (Th.D., Harvard University) is a renowned Reformation historian and author of Theology of the Reformers, as well as many other theological and historical works. He is founding dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University and an executive editor of Christianity Today.

Reviews

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t particularly love this one. Bray is surely knowledgeable, and the book is readable, but it wasn’t as advertised. Rather than an exploration of the intersection between theology and philosophy, it was more of a survey of western thought. I also happened to disagree with a number of his conclusions.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: An in-depth survey of the parallel histories of philosophical tradition and Christian theology and their interactions.

I should lead off by saying that this book turned out to be something different than I’d expected. Instead of a critical analysis of the influences of philosophy on Christianity, this turn out to be more of a historical survey of both traditions, their differing perspectives, and interactions. That said, the survey offered by Bray is a highly readable one spanning the time from Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle down to the present.

Bray accomplishes that by a chronological history that begins first in Athens and the rise of the Greek philosophers followed by a history of Jerusalem and the Abrahamic faith of the Jews. Then Bray traces the intersection of both Jews and Christians with the Greek philosophers, first in Alexandria, and then with Origin. Following this, Bray describes the period from 313 to late medieval times as Jerusalem triumphant. Theological controversy demanded the systematic rigor of philosophy to clarify matters of doctrine. The high point of harmonizing philosophy and theology came with Thomas Aquinas.

The rediscovery of philosophical works in the Renaissance resulted in the rise of Neoplatonism and an increasing focus on human reason. For Protestants, Hobbes and Locke offered a kind of creed for civil society that opened the way for the secular, separated state. The longest chapter in the work treats the thinkers of the Enlightenment with its focus on rationalism. Often, this resulted in challenging Christian theological conviction. Some of examples of this are found in the works of Rousseau, Voltaire, Hegel, Marx, and Darwin. In addition, philosophers like Jeremy Bentham and john Stuart Mill promoted a pragmatic secularism.

So, we finally arrive at the present. Both biological and cosmological discoveries have led to a renewed openness of some to theism. In addition, Bray notes metaphysical premises that parallel theological convictions including an orderly and rational universe and the human ability to understand it, contingency, and more. However Bray seems more cautious than some when it comes to reconciling the two. He notes a basic difference of perspective. Theology begins with and focuses on God. Philosophy begins with human reason and lacks a fixed point of reference. He’s not without hope however and notes the work of Christians in philosophy.

What Bray offers is a highly readable yet in-depth survey of the history of the interaction of Christianity and philosophy. Summaries at the end of each chapter distill the main points of his survey yet further. We don’t get an in-depth critical analysis of the church councils and how philosophical considerations played into the debates and formulations. Nor do we study the synthesis of philosophy and theology in Aquinas and subsequent Catholic tradition. Some may also object to his summary treatment of philosophers.

What I would suggest is that this is a great first work to read, overviewing the landscape of the history. Of course, the interested student will want to zoom in on particular periods and people. It would have been helpful to have more in-depth bibliographies for each chapter rather than the brief “For Further Reading” at the conclusion. However, any student who has learned basic research methods can figure this out. This also makes a good reference work for pastors who need historical context if discussing a particular philosopher.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Athens and Jerusalem, Gerald L. Bray takes you on a tour through philosophy, theology, and the mind of Christ.



Scripture VS Speculation

This study provides an overview of the relationship between philosophy (Athens) and theology (Jerusalem), showing how they interact but also differ from each other. It is an ambitious book that succeeds not only in informing a lay reader like me, but also in sparking genuine interest.


I was most eager to read about Plato and Aristotle and to learn how they viewed knowledge and the natural sciences. I saw how a fundamental understanding of Scripture undergirds Jewish and Christian theology, in contrast to philosophical speculation.



The God of the Bible

The book takes a dramatic turn when it details the Enlightenment of the 1700s and how Europe shifted from being religious to increasingly secular. Christianity came under attack from figures such as Kierkegaard, Darwin, and Nietzsche.


I was especially moved by the discussion of how modern philosophy approaches truth through the lenses of science, language, and logic. The book concludes by anchoring the Christian faith in the God of the Bible—and this, it argues, will always be at odds with human philosophy.



Answers and Anticipation

The Christian can take comfort in knowing that answers are available, as our Creator leads us to them. The Christian faith does not limit or blind us, but rather enables us to see things as they truly are.


After reading this academic yet approachable book, I am more convinced than ever that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Though the world continues to deny Him, I can rest in hope and joyfully anticipate His return.


I received a media copy of Athens and Jerusalem and this is my honest review.

[Joel Wentz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a mixed reaction to this one. There are some great chapters, especially early in the book. A few of the later chapters are a bit muddled, though, and I was frustrated by some of the simplistic glosses on profound philosophical thinkers and ideas in the enlightenment era. This one leans a bit too far in the summary-synthesis mode for me, but I still appreciated some of his overviews.

Video review: https://youtu.be/MOu5lPaPmkA