By Nneka Okumazie
There have been all kinds of kingdoms and empires through history. They had their languages, architecture, education, entertainment, wise men, gods, magicians, etc.
Some prominent ones were ancient Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greek and Roman. There were others around them that got to the peak of power – at some point.
Different kingdoms represent different strides to history. But the Greeks seem to be the most prominent in terms of knowledge – diverging towards science, math, philosophy, astronomy, etc.
The Greeks were so influential that it took many centuries to match and exceed their prowess.
But the Greeks had help, and historical advantage.
It is unlikely that all the knowledge put forth by them were originally conceptualized. There were lots of direct and indirect contributions to what they did. There were loose references as well as lost ones.
It was said that some of the math and astronomy [knowledge] of the Greeks came from Babylon and ancient Egypt. Some also said it could have come from other kingdoms, near or far, before their time.
However, one of the major philosophers, Socrates was thought to be a sophist, but he refuted.
Sophists were more or less itinerant teachers of wisdom, excellence, possibly motivational speakers, etc.
They would have used logic, metaphors, observations, etc. in showing their value. Some taught math, other subjects, but wisdom – was their flashpoint.
It is possible to separate sophistry from mainline philosophy, but the eminence of philosophy in that era would probably not have been possible without [several disguised] additions from sophistry.
Sophists liked to charge fees. The philosopher hated them for it. They liked to advice leaders. It is possible some liked pomp, bombast and were ostentatious.
Maybe the philosophers didn’t follow their style, but there are links between many of the schools of thought in those early philosophy and Greek sophistry.
But where did their sophistry come from?
King Solomon of the United Kingdom of Israel reportedly died around 500 years before the prominence of leading Greek sophist, Protagoras.
There were reports of sophists two hundred years before that time in Greece.
But before that time too, where could their sophistry have come from?
King Solomon was an extraordinary class wise man. He taught. He probably wrote much. He displayed wisdom and had rare intellect.
He received gifts. He had visitors. He had all kind of wives and concubines from all kinds of cultures and worship.
The Book of Proverbs has lots of wisdom, lots of philosophy, lots of psychology, sociology, metaphor, superior logic, etc.
There would have been other biographers of Solomon among his women, or their relatives who came from other places.
There would also have been lots of frequent trips between Israel and other places, for people who wanted their people or place to emulate that kind of diverse success.
Some of the wisdom would have been adapted to take advantage, or for other unintended purposes.
The mention of God in his sayings may have been changed to gods – or one of, when taken to other places.
But it is very likely that Greece from, or after the time of King Solomon benefitted greatly from his knowledge.
Assuming Israel remained together after his death, or assuming he died much later without turning away from the Lord, there probably would have been external kings after him to refer to his greatness.
Scholarship would probably have made references to him – saying the Great King Solomon, of Israel.
But he didn’t end so great [in perfect heart with the Lord] neither did the Kingdom stand subsequently, so there were probably no incentives to give him credit, outside of Jewish – and Christianity history.
Alexander the Great tutored [from age 13 – 16] by Aristotle, conquered Israel during his reign, many centuries after King Solomon, when sophistry, philosophy, science, etc. were already established in Greece.
It is unlikely [the rulers] would not have known or heard about King Solomon or Israel, even if wars or conflicts of that era may be direct, indirect, strategic or stochastic.
Sophists – in general – were so similar to Solomon that it would have been impossible for them to succeed without the influence of Solomon.
A few hundred years between existences interlinks knowledge beyond any doubts. There so many contemporaneous knowledge that were established from actions or writing five centuries ago.
Those saying it now may not know, or acknowledge, or somethings may be lost from the recent people they read or heard, but knowledge gets passed on, even faster, especially one that strikes certain people of certain interest in a society.
So, if Greek sophistry – and by extension, their philosophy came from Solomon, or Israel, isn’t that additional evidence that God, a spirit, exists?
Ancient Greeks are highly regarded in modern science, but maybe they were also deficient in major citations, outside their people.
Maybe they were so interested in their individual or group influence that they needed to be seen as starters, or obsessed with delivering new and original knowledge.
There were lots of ancient Greek historians referenced and famous at that time, but they mostly wrote about wars, their gods, and other places like Egypt – with story in the scriptures. It doesn’t seem their historians sought the [source of knowledge] for Greek philosophy or sophistry, outside Greece.
There were lots of Roman era writings that referenced the Greeks properly.
What else could the Greeks have benefited for advantage to their civilization that we may never know?
It is important to also see how the world works, or has been from the Greeks.
Same way certain prominent scientists – of recent centuries, would have been inspired by the church, the sparks of wisdom and magnificence of heaven but turned against as they started achieving glory.
There were some Greek sophists that were atheists – probably to their own gods, or maybe to Jehovah.
It was also said that some Greek playwrights or poets mocked the gods of the Greeks, so Plato wanted, or wished they’d be banished, or censored.
So, scholars or people of knowledge have direct and indirect sources they respect, or were inspired by or from, or sources they also come to hate, or antagonize.
And just like science has succeeded for years in criticizing Christianity, conspiracy theory has come against science and technology to bring down its progress faster than can be anticipated.
Conspiracy theories and propaganda are common everywhere, but with advances, there are now many credible conspiracy theories, showing reports, evidence, of people or places in a situation that seem convincing and believable, but are an absolute sham – able to inflict unprecedented damage.
Science has evidence that the world existed outside Bible history, but modern science was inspired by the Greeks whose philosophy and sophistry was far inspired by King Solomon, son of another King, a man after God, the creator’s, heart.
Science and technology people around the world are yet to understand the problem they have with conspiracy theories. It may seem like nothing, but the wave of conspiracy theories that is ahead is more dangerous than any witnessed disasters or diseases in history.
Already, there’s a pandemic, some people and leaders saying it’s a hoax are instigating rebellion against caution. The consequences cannot be estimated for now. Still, worse conspiracy theories are ahead.
There are all kinds of psychology problems around the world, and people who need Christianity are against it because of what some atheist said. Atheist, atheists, limited by what they can see, think, understand or how long they can live, said God, the King of kings, did not create this world.
The greatest philosophy is likely the philosophy of death – which everyone or anything ends.
Jesus, the Saviour, already conquered – death and hell.
Everything may seem important, but the valuable treasures are true love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.
[Isaiah 40:28, Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding.]