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The Historic Faith
Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses About Aristotle

Early Christians did not treat Aristotle as a Christian authority; they usually used him as a pagan philosopher to explain, criticize, or compare with Christian teaching. Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Tatian, Origen, Hippolytus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Arnobius, Minucius Felix, and Lactantius all mention Aristotle, mostly on logic, the soul, providence, or God.

Some writers admired his learning or used his ideas as background, but several also said he was wrong on providence, the immortality of the soul, or the nature of God. The evidence is broad across the 2nd and 3rd centuries, but it is mixed because the references are often polemical and not a single shared Christian verdict. There is strong evidence that early Christians knew Aristotle well and debated him, but thin evidence that they saw him as a guide for Christian faith.

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Key Passages

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19 references

Supporting Passages

Acts 17:11 primary

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

No Aristotle content.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Generic Bible philosophy warning; not Aristotle-specific.

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

No Aristotle content.

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

No Aristotle content.

Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

No Aristotle content.

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

No Aristotle content.