Even of old the Christian world, so bitterly antagonistic to any ideas not specifically contained in their creeds and dogmas, made an exception in Socrates' case. They recognized his likeness to Christ. He was the example that a soul could be Christlike not through grace, but by nature. Erasmus said, 'Holy Socrates, pray for us.' To know him is a help to knowing Christ, and it is not hard to know him. We can see him quite clearly. Plato who drew his portrait, could not, of course, keep himself out of it, any more than Christ's recorders could, but at least magic did not dog Plato's footsteps as it did everyone's footsteps when the Gospels were written. In the fourth century B.C. Greeks had no leaning to marvels. Also in the centuries that followed no one founded a church on Socrates and built up around him a theology and hung creeds and ceremonials upon him. To see what he was we do not have to brush anything away except a bit of Plato. We can use him as a stepping stone to Christ, a first aid in realizing what Christ was.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Even the Christian world, usually hostile to new ideas, made an exception for Socrates, seeing him as Christ‑like by nature, not grace, and noting the lack of a church built around him.
- In plain terms
- Christians admired Socrates as a natural example of Christ‑like virtue, unlike other thinkers.
- What can you take from it?
- Socrates was uniquely respected for his innate moral likeness to Christ.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why was Socrates seen differently from other philosophers?
- How does natural virtue compare to grace?
Another view
The passage is dense and mixes many historical references, making it hard to parse.
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