φιλόσοφος (philosophos)
philosophos
philosopher
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun philosophos refers to a person devoted to wisdom or learning, specifically one who investigates the causes of things and seeks the highest good. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Acts 17:18, where it describes the group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers who encountered Paul in Athens.
The word combines philēō ("to love") and sophia ("wisdom"), literally meaning "lover of wisdom." This etymology highlights that being a philosophos was not merely about knowing facts, but about a committed pursuit of understanding the fundamental nature of reality. The sources note its use in the Septuagint for wise men or magicians, showing a broader ancient context for the term.
Translators render it simply as "philosopher," capturing the role of these thinkers as intellectual explorers who debated with Paul about his message concerning Jesus and the resurrection. The term distinguishes those engaged in philosophical discourse from other groups present in the marketplace.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word philosophos describes those who love wisdom and seek to understand the world's deepest truths. In Acts 17:18, Paul meets these thinkers in Athens. They debate him about Jesus and the resurrection. This shows that faith and reason can meet in honest conversation.
For your life, this means you do not have to choose between intellect and belief. You can question, learn, and seek understanding while trusting God. The ancient search for wisdom finds its full meaning in Christ. Let your own pursuit of truth lead you closer to Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- philosophers1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- φιλοσόφων1×
Key Verses
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Acts 17:18
Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign deities,” because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
This is the only New Testament occurrence, where Paul engages Epicurean and Stoic thinkers who question his message about Jesus and the resurrection.