Athens and Jerusalem: Philosophy, Theology, and the Mind of Christ
A journey through the tangled history of philosophy and theology
Is theology incomprehensible without philosophy? Is philosophy merely human folly?
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.
Praise for Athens and Jerusalem
In this daring study Gerald Bray paints on a wide canvas—nothing less than the entire Christian tradition—as he traces the subtle connections and stark differences between faith and reason, philosophy and theology, human learning and divine wisdom. Well conceived and well written, this book encourages us to think, and teaches us how.
—Timothy George, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University
Bray presents the complex range of ways that pagan philosophy (‘Athens’) has been variously engaged within Christian theology (‘Jerusalem’), from the pre-Christian era to post-Christian New Atheism. With a disarmingly clear style, Bray skips across the Western world-map and throughout the centuries. Highly recommended for ambitious lay study, college students, and clergy alike. Two thumbs up!
—Kathryn Greene-McCreight, priest affiliate, Christ Church New Haven, Connecticut
In the midst of modern attempts at retrieving the Christian tradition’s exegetical and theological heritage, a deeper understanding of the variegated philosophical and contextual worlds of our forebears is sorely needed. Athens and Jerusalem helps to fill this gap in classic Gerald Bray form: by drawing together swaths of lofty ideas and historical characters into a readable, coherent, and enjoyable narrative. The result is a book that both summarizes prevailing narratives while also challenging them.
—Brandon D. Smith, chair of the Hobbs School of Theology and Ministry and associate professor of theology and early Christianity, Oklahoma Baptist University; cofounder of the Center for Baptist Renewal
Gerald Bray’s book provides an impressive, integrative historical overview of the relationship between theology and philosophy. Bray displays a good deal of self-discipline by not getting bogged down by rabbit trails and unnecessary details. And while readers may disagree here or there, the larger project is impressive. The book’s good pace and flow and sufficient depth provide a valuable survey on the important question about the relationship between Athens and Jerusalem.
—Paul Copan, Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics, Palm Beach Atlantic University; author of A Little Book for New Philosophers and coauthor of An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking in the Way of Wisdom
- A Tale of Two Cities
- Athens
- Jerusalem
- Athens Meets Jerusalem
- Jerusalem Triumphant
- The Revenge of Athens
- War—and Peace?
- The Two Cities Today
- Where Do We Go from Here?
- Title: Athens and Jerusalem: Philosophy, Theology, and the Mind of Christ
- Author: Gerald Bray
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Publication Date: 2025
- Pages: 376
- Format: Logos Digital, Hardcover
- Trim Size: 6x9
- ISBN: 9781683597728
Dr. Gerald Bray is Research Professor of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, AL, and Distinguished Professor of Theology at Knox Theological Seminary, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
He was born and raised in Montreal, Canada, where he did his undergraduate work at McGill University. He completed his doctoral studies at the Sorbonne in Paris and went on to study theology in Cambridge. In 1978 he was ordained in the Church of England and served a parish in London for two years before going on to teach at Oak Hill College in London. He has been at Beeson since 1993.
Dr. Bray is the editor of the Anglican journal Churchman and has published a number of books, including the award-winning Biblical Interpretation: Past and Present (InterVarsity Press, 1996), Yours Is the Kingdom: A Systematic Theology of the Lord's Prayer(InterVarsity Press, 2007), God Is Love (Crossway, 2012), and his most recent work, God Has Spoken: A History of Christian Theology (Crossway, 2014).
Dr. Bray speaks several languages fluently. He has lived in Germany, Greece, and Russia, and he has taught in several European countries and Australia. He can often be found in one of the archives of the Church of England, researching parts of its history, on which he has also published a number of important works. He is also an avid swimmer and cyclist.