What does Plato have to do with the Christian faith?

Quite a bit, it turns out. In ways that might surprise us, Christians throughout the history of the church and even today have inherited aspects of the ancient Greek philosophy of Plato, who was both Socrates's student and Aristotle's teacher.

To help us understand the influence of Platonic thought on the Christian faith, Louis Markos offers careful readings of some of Plato's best-known texts and then traces the ways that his work shaped the faith of some of Christianity's most beloved theologians, including Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine, Dante, and C. S. Lewis.

With Markos's guidance, readers can ascend to a true understanding of Plato's influence onthe faith.



Louis Markos (PhD, University of Michigan) is professor of English and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University, where he holds the Robert H. Ray Chair in Humanities. His many books include From Achilles to Christ: Why Christians Should Read the Pagan Classics, From Plato to Christ: How Platonic Thought Shaped the Christian Faith, The Myth Made Fact: Reading Greek and Roman Mythology through Christian Eyes, Apologetics for the 21st Century, Atheism on Trial, From Aristotle to Christ, and On the Shoulders of Hobbits: The Road to Virtue with Tolkien and Lewis.



Preface

A Note on Translation



Part I: Plato's Pre-Christian Vision

1. Socrates, the Sophists, and the Presocratics

2. Republic

3. The Myths: Part I

4. The Myths: Part II

5. Laws

6. Timaeus



Part II: Plato's Christian Legacy

7. The Rising Path

8. Origen's Musings

9. Plato in the East: The Three Gregorys

10. Plato in the West: Augustine, Boethius, and Dante

11. From Renaissance to Romanticism: Erasmus, Descartes, and Coleridge

12. C. S. Lewis's Christian Platonism



Conclusion: Plato the Sub-Creator

Bibliographical Essay

Scripture Index