Grace School of Theology

HOW TO IMPLEMENT A BIBLICAL PHILOSOPHY OF

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IN THE CHURCH

A Paper Presented to

Dr. Kenny Hodges, D. Min.

in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of

MS-860: Edification Programs in The Local Church

by

Joriel S. Asi

Lobo, Batangas, Philippines

May 10, 2022

 OUTLINE

HOW TO IMPLEMENT A BIBLICAL PHILOSOPHY OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

IN THE CHURCH

1A. Introduction

2A. Body

1B. Understanding a Biblical Philosophy of Christian Education

1C. What is philosophy and it becomes biblical?

2C. What are the characteristics of a biblical philosophy?

3C. What is education and how does it become Christian?

2B. Importance of a Biblical Philosophy of Christian Education

1C. Why should a local church need it?

2C. What is its scope and purpose?

3B. Implementation in a Local Church Setting

1C. Contextualization

2C. Curriculum Development

3A. Conclusion

ii
 HOW TO IMPLEMENT A BIBLICAL PHILOSOPHY OF
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IN THE CHURCH

Introduction

A person’s thoughts and actions are greatly affected by the philosophical views and

values he or she is holding on to. How he or she responds, reflects on things, reason out and re-

evaluates situations have inclination to his or her philosophical leanings. That is why it is of

great importance that the principles that he or she believes in are grounded in the truths that the

Bible is teaching.

Biblical philosophy plays a major role in church’s Christian education. It is the

framework that supports the teaching of Bible doctrines and principles as well as the application

of it to one’s life. Without the full understanding of it surely affects how a man views things and

lives his life. If biblical philosophy is essential to one’s life, then, it should also be the foundation

of Christian education.

Christian education is very important in a local church. It tells of the what, why and how

of teaching and as well as the importance of its application in life. Colossians 2:8 says “See to it

that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition,

according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” It should always be

rooted in the Bible so that people would not easily be swayed by the offers of this world that

keeps them from growing in their relationship with Jesus.

In this paper, the researcher will present what biblical philosophy is, what are its

characteristics and how it differs from other philosophies. The importance of biblical philosophy

of Christian education in the church will also be discussed together with the scope and purpose

of it. So, in understanding the biblical philosophy of education and its significance, the local

church will be able to implement it considering the context and program in applying it.

1
 2

Identification of a Biblical Philosophy of Christian Education

What is philosophy and how does it become biblical?

Philosophy literally means ‘love of wisdom’. It seeks to understand a thing. The

Philosophy Foundation defined it as "a way of thinking about certain subjects such as ethics,

thought, existence, time, meaning and value. That 'way of thinking' involves 4 Rs:

responsiveness, reflection, reason and re-evaluation. The aim is to deepen understanding.”1

philosophy stirs up thinking of foundational truths about life in general that facilitate on-going

understanding and relevance. It affects one’s thought and so one’s action. The way of living of a

person depends so much on the lenses of philosophy where he or she is looking at.

Philosophy has different branches. According to Matthew Lynch, “To understand the

foundations of educational philosophies, it’s necessary to first examine philosophy’s four main

branches. Understanding educational philosophy will contribute to the understanding of how

these foundations have given rise to what is commonly practiced and believed in the classroom

today. The four main branches of philosophy are metaphysics, epistemology, axiology, and

logic.”2 Respectively, it captures the broad area of reality, knowledge, values, and coherence. It

categorizes areas being considered and helps clearly identify which foundation of educational

philosophies one stands.

In order for the philosophy to become biblical, these all four branches should be based on

what the Bible stands for. Studying about the philosophy of Jonathan Edwards, Michael D.

Gibson writes, “unlike Swiss theologian Karl Barth, who believed that that which is

1
The Philosophy Foundation, “What is Philosophy?,” accessed May 10, 2022, https://www.philosophy-
foundation.org/what-is-philosophy.
2
Matthew Lynch, “What You Need to Know as an Educator: Understanding the 4 Main Branches of
Philosophy,” August 5, 2016, accessed May 10, 2022, https://www.theedadvocate.org/need-know-education-
understanding-4-main-branches-philosophy.
 3

philosophical is not Christian and that which is Christian is not philosophical,3 Edwards most

definitely sees a perfect harmony between Christian theology, doctrine, and philosophy.” 4 In

comparing the philosophy originated from the ancient Greece and its relation with the biblical

text, Mark Cauchi and Avron Kulak assert that, “the Bible has been an integral part of the history

of Western philosophy—a much longer period of time than the period in which it was not”5

There is therefore not only a possibility of biblical philosophy but a ‘perfect harmony’.

What are the characteristics of a biblical philosophy?

Biblical philosophy is very distinct from other kinds of philosophy. It addresses the

critical questions about Christian doctrines. It helps to understand the biblical doctrines such as

Trinity, incarnation and Christology, atonement and salvation, sin, original sin, and the Fall.

Christian thinkers have always drawn on philosophy to help answer these kinds of questions. 6 It

bridges the seemingly conflict between faith and reason. It will also defend the Christian faith

against apostasy and challenge the efforts that corrupts the world's ethics and morality.

Consequently, it strengthens one’s faith that promotes growing worship and service to the Lord.

The church as the body of Christ must be aware of educating the Christians in a way that

is biblically sound and philosophical in approach. These characteristics of biblical philosophy

3
Michael D. Gibson, “The Integrative Biblical Philosophy of Jonathan Edwards: Empiricism, God, Being,
and Postmillennialism.” The Westminster Theological Journal 64, no. 1 (Spr 2002): 151, accessed May 10, 2022,
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0001378035&site=ehost-live, quoting
from Karl Barth, Church Dogmatic I/l (trans. G. W. Bromiley; Edenburgh:T&T Clark,1951), 5.
4
Ibid.

5
Mark Cauchi, and Avron Kulak. “Biblical Philosophy: An Introduction.” Sophia 54, no. 4 (December
2015): 491, accessed May 10, 2022, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=
rfh&AN=ATLAi5IE210630000062&site=ehost-live.
6
William Wood, "Philosophy and Christian Theology", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring
2022 Edition), ed. Edward N. Zalta, October 15, 2021, accessed May 10, 2022,
https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2022/entries/christiantheology-philosophy/
 4

must be seen in a Christian education. It must be the church’s foundation in implementing the

ministry on Christian education.

What is education and how does it become Christian?

“Education has been generically described as follows: The activity of parents, teachers,

and schools with children, adolescents, and adults; The learning process that occurs in the

learner; The product of learning, that is, an education; The discipline of education, that is, the

formal study of the above three items”7 Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘Education’ as “the

field of study that deals mainly with methods of teaching and learning in schools.”8 Education

involves teaching activity, process or methods, and product of learning.

For the education to be Christian, its teachings, process and product must adhere to

biblical principles and methodologies. Education content must be based on biblical theology.

According to James R. Estep Jr., Michael J. Anthony, and Gregg R. Allison, for education to be

Christian, it requires passing the following criteria.

(1) Education in the church insists that both theology and social science theories be used

in concert to provide an adequate base for Christian education. (2) The level of integration

between theology and social science theory determines the degree of Christian

distinctiveness in church education, (3) There is a need for itemizing the benefits of

integration for Christian education and educators.9

7
James R. Estep Jr., Michael J. Anthony, and Gregg R. Allison, A Theology for Christian Education,
(Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2018), 20.

8
Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, s.v. “education,” accessed May 11, 2022, https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/education.

9
James R. Estep Jr., Michael J. Anthony, and Gregg R. Allison, A Theology for Christian Education,
(Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2018), 31.
 5

Christian education does not only adhere to the principles of the Bible, but in fact, the

Bible as the inspired Scripture is the basis of education for Christians. The Apostle Paul told

Timothy: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for

correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for

every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible is sufficient in everything the believer should

understand and learn to love and serve God and be disciplined to do every good work. As

Michael S. Lawson puts it, “a true philosophy of Christian education draws its lifeblood from the

Bible.”10

Importance of a Biblical Philosophy of Christian Education

Why should a local church need it?

God expects that the Christians grow in their relationship with him. That is to increase in

knowledge of Him and deepen the commitment to obey Him. Christians would be able to

respond in obedience when they believe or have faith. According to the apostle Paul, this will

only be possible when someone will educate them. In Romans 10:17 (NKJV) it says, “So then

faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” The hearing and believing is an

important aspect in order for faith to take place. The apostle Paul continues in verse 14, “How

then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him

of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” Learning is

necessary in knowing and following the Lord. This is where education comes in.

The maturity of the church and its ability to participate in God’s calling to fulfill the

Great Commission depends on how serious it is in taking Christian Education. The effectiveness

10
George Hillman and Sue Edwards, Invitation to Educational Ministry: Foundations of Transformative
Christian Education, (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2018), 67.
 6

of both evangelism and discipleship ministry hangs on how the church is being effective in

handling its Christian education. Because it is from the preaching and teaching of the Word of

God that the church was established, it is also in the same way that the church expanded and was

able to reproduce. Hillman and Edwards write, “Jesus founded his church on teaching and he

expects his followers to become students totally identified with him. The apostolic foundation

received specific instructions about their teaching responsibilities.”11 This is why when the early

church grew in Acts chapter 6, the apostles did not allow other tasks that arose in the church to

hinder the ministry of preaching the Word of God. Instead, they asked the church to choose

seven qualified members to be in charge of the table services. Since the task of the church

remains, the teaching and method it was founded and grew must be our model.

What is its scope and purpose?

As a volunteer chaplain in a Christian school in his place, the researcher was assigned to

interview each applicant who is willing to be part of the staff or faculty. He used to emphasize

that since the applicant is expecting to be part of the school, and because the school values Christ

above all, the applicant must submit not only in the academic program but most especially, to the

school's evangelism and discipleship programs that will surely address and affect his or her

personal and family life. This is because the goal of the school is for everyone to know Christ

and become His disciple.

If this could be a goal of a Christian school, it is all the more of the church. The scope of

Christian education of the church should cover all areas of life of a person. Though not

necessarily all at once. It should address the holistic being of a Christian – one’s soul, body and

11
George Hillman and Sue Edwards, Invitation to Educational Ministry: Foundations of Transformative
Christian Education, (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2018), 66.
 7

spirit, including finances, relationships, health, career, etc. Everything about a Christian must be

submitted and pleasing to God.

The purpose of Christian education is not merely to increase the knowledge of the

Christians. It is not just enabling every believer to recite verses or memorize a specific prayer. It

is far deeper and wider than that. It goes beyond physical and mental development all the way to

spiritual transformation towards perfect maturity - Christlikeness. As the Apostle Paul says in

Ephesian 4:13-14 (NKJV), “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the

Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we

should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by

the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting…” Estep Jr., Anthony, and

Allison write, “True spiritual transformation is far more than delivering content or measuring

behavior. Students need knowledge, but it is more a means rather than an end. The end is

discipleship, which requires the ability to understand a lesson and apply it to daily living.”12

Implementation in a Local Church Setting

Contextualization

Now that the information and importance of Biblical Philosophy of Christian

Education has been presented above, its applicability to the local church may become

contextually and culturally dependent. While the scope Christian education is encompassing and

its ultimate goal is Christlikeness, the local church must consider the level of maturity and the

relevant needs of its members. The interactions and relationships between teachers and students

must be considered as well in a way that suits the culture-sensitive approach of the local church.

12
James R. Estep Jr., Michael J. Anthony, and Gregg R. Allison, A Theology for Christian Education,
(Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2018), 26.
 8

It is of such importance that before introducing to the reader his proposed

education cycle process, George M. Hillman Jr. emphasized the two important things prior to

implementation of Christian education. These are the context of relationship13 and the Holy Spirit

and prayer14 foundation. Implementation does not require contextualization only where the

education is being brought to the level of the learners, but most importantly, that the Holy Spirit

leads the entire process where the learners are being brought to the level where the spiritual

things could only be revealed.

In the local church where the role of the Christian fathers in their respective

family has been neglected, the researcher noticed that members live their life in the church that is

not congruent with their life in the family and in the community. The desire to create a bible

study designed for fathers and adult men alike were discussed and prayed with one concerned

father in the church. The vision grew until many prayed for it and were involved in the

development of the program.

Curriculum Development

Education has three formats according to Estep Jr., Anthony, and Allison. Depending on

the process and purpose, it could be Institutional, Intentional, or Application. The Institutional

format usually takes the longest time to process. It requires predetermined objectives and the

application is not necessarily immediate. A Christian School or Academy is an example of

institutional education format. The Intentional format usually takes a short time only like

seminars, workshops, or training. This format requires an immediate application based on the

intent of the teaching activity. The Application format on the other hand has no definite time on

13
George Hillman and Sue Edwards, Invitation to Educational Ministry (Invitation to Theological
Studies) (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2018), 617.

14
Ibid., 616.
 9

its process because it depends on the intended length of experience. In this education format, the

application happens real time. A mission trip and immersion activities are examples of this

format. The learning process and application happens alternately.15

The clear understanding of each one of these is essential in implementing a Christian

education. However, they assert that “education in the church occurs on all three

levels…Christian education is not restricted to any one learning environment, and all these

learning environments can contribute to the spiritual growth of the individual when they are

intentionally used to guide and direct someone toward Christ.”16

In the development of Christian education’s program and curriculum, George M.

Hillman Jr.'s proposed educational cycle process would be very helpful to apply. Stages on this

process are; first, biblical principles, strategic planning, goals, objectives, program and curricula,

teaching methods and materials, organization and administration, evaluation, and last, revision.17

Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, God has been opening doors for

ministry in many places and in different fields like in education, government, workplaces and in

the community. But because of geographical challenges, it is not easy to reach and nurture

different groups of Christians in the villages.

One solution is to train professionals in order for them to help in some pastoral ministries.

In this case, the Application format of education may be applied through conducting a workshop.

The biblical principle will be coming from Matthew 28:18-21 to teach the group of young

15
James R. Estep Jr., Michael J. Anthony, and Gregg R. Allison, A Theology for Christian Education,
(Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2018), 22-23.
16
James R. Estep Jr., Michael J. Anthony, and Gregg R. Allison, A Theology for Christian Education,
(Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2018), 22-23.

17
George Hillman and Sue Edwards, Invitation to Educational Ministry (Invitation to Theological
Studies) (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2018) chap. 21, Kindle Edition.
 10

professionals about the Great Commission and from Genesis 2:15-17 to establish the biblical

basis of work and worship as their strategic status where they could serve God effectively.

Strategic planning may start with the enlisting prospect students and know them. Be clear

with the goal which should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. Set

specific objectives and programs which include activities that will meet all the objectives.

Materials and resources related to the workshop approach and topics will be collected. It could

be books, lectures, resource persons, etc. Organization and Administration is next where the

tasks will be assigned to the appropriate persons. Lastly, prepare evaluation tools and activities to

measure the success of meeting the intended outcome. Evaluation comes with the revision where

the recommended improvements may be applied in the next batch for the workshop. An

openness for revision to refine the program for better future use is very important to complete the

educational cycle process.

Conclusion

A philosophy, having a great impact in the life of a person, is worthy to be studied

and understood. In this paper, the researcher has focused on what a Biblical philosophy is and

why it is of so much value to the Christian education. Being anchored in the principles of the

bible, biblical philosophy of Christian education helps to distinguish the truth that will enable the

church to live life as God intends them to be such as honoring God, loving others and fulfilling

the great commission.

Having understood the importance of biblical philosophy of Christian

education, the church should be compelled to be serious about it. Evaluation of the current

situation of the church should be done to be able to see where they are and what they need to do

to fulfill their role. This assessment will help the church to implement it. The appropriate
 11

educational process should be clear and carefully done. To be effective in planning and

implementation, the church should contextualize the program based on the local setting.

However, it is through the full reliance on the work of the Holy Spirit that it will be truly

successful.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cauchi, Mark and Avron Kulak. “Biblical Philosophy: An Introduction.” Sophia 54, no. 4
(December 2015): 491-96, Accessed May 10, 2022.
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLAi5IE210630000
062&site=ehost-live.

Estep Jr., James R., Michael J. Anthony, and Gregg R. Allison. A Theology for Christian
Education. (Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2018).

Gibson, Michael D. “The Integrative Biblical Philosophy of Jonathan Edwards: Empiricism,

God, Being, and Postmillennialism.” The Westminster Theological Journal 64, no. 1 (Spr
2002): 151-61. Accessed May 10, 2022, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=
true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0001378035&site=ehost-live.

Hillman, George and Sue Edwards. Invitation to Educational Ministry: Foundations of

Transformative Christian Education, (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2018).

Lynch, Matthew. “What You Need to Know as an Educator: Understanding the 4 Main Branches
of Philosophy.” August 5, 2016. Accessed May 10, 2022.
https://www.theedadvocate.org/need-know-education-understanding-4-main-branches-
philosophy.

Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, s.v. “education,” Accessed May 11, 2022.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/education.

The Philosophy Foundation. “What is Philosophy?” Accessed May 10, 2022.

https://www.philosophy-foundation.org/what-is-philosophy.

Wood, William. "Philosophy and Christian Theology", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
(Spring 2022 Edition). ed. Edward N. Zalta. October 15, 2021. Accessed May 10, 2022.
https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2022/entries/christiantheology-philosophy/.