Does anyone think that Jesus was inspired by Socrates?

Answer 1

No. He was certainly special (how special others will surely tell you) but he was a man of his time and place as well.
Because,
He was a Jew who grew up in a small town in a time immediately following a time when a Hellenist sacrificed a pig on the Jewish Temple's altar.
He would have thought himself very generous even to tolerate Hellenists. He spoke Aramaic primarily, but was capable of greeting Greeks, as in the marketplace. Greek was the English of the time, the universal language. Yet he was a Jew who kept Jewish custom except when he was making a point. Notice the surprise these instances engendered among his people.
He was deeply religious with a religious upbringing including yearly temple visits and Hebrew study.
Finally, in his humanness he was ignorant of Greek Philosophy. having had a Synagogue training and never attended school in Athens or ever even traveled beyond the traditional boundaries of Israel.
This is as groundless as saying that Jesus was a Hindu or a Buddhist. Not possible.

Answer 2

The only parallel that, in my opinion, can be drawn between the two is their stoic attitudes. Greek philosophy in GENERAL had an influence on Jewish society during and prior to Jesus' time (after Alexander the Great), which may explain in part the big differences between the old and new testaments. God is not perfect or omnibenevolent in the OT, and you find no stoic Socrates or Jesus characters there either. Those are, quite arguably at least, later developments.

Also, just because Jesus never left the Holy Land doesn't mean he wasn't exposed, directly or indirectly, to Greek Philosophy. I think most scholars would agree that he in fact was. Socrates specifically though...

Socrates used question and answer, and at least tried to appear unassuming. Jesus claimed divine revelation and lectured with parables. So yeah, general stoicism is all I can think of.

Answer 3

No human being (NO ONE) can ever be "perfect" in the strict sense of the term, because at the minimum they are subject to birth and death which themselves are imperfections (response to pathfinder's argument).

The teachings of Jesus contain some valuable lessons, but it is not known whether Jesus derived inspiration from Socrates who lived before him.There are several timeless truths that are common to the preachings of many thinker and sages over the millenia. It is possible for some of the Jesus' preachings to be common with that of Socrates, but the cause-effect theory has not been established.

Answer 4

It's amazing they both have very impressive lives and deaths. If anyone's interested a good story of Socrates' life there is one written by Plato of course, in a compilation book called :Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo. Amazing book about a brilliant man.

Answer 5

probably not. The Judeo-Christian tradition, mind you, has been EXTENSIVELY influenced by Plato et al. But as for the historical Jesus himself (who we know nothing about since the gospel accounts aren't reliable historical documents), probably not. I think IF he knew of socrates, he would have admired him. But Jesus was a Jew through and through.

Answer 6

To my knowledge no scholar has ever suggested that Jesus drew inspiration from Socrates.

There is no scriptural evidence to draw a link between the two.

Answer 7

u have to tell us why do u think that and then may be we can elaborate more on ur opinion. for me, i had never thought about that but it is possible but anything is possible so i need some good arguements to convince me

Answer 8

i like the idea - thank-you

(i am inspired by both of them.)

Answer 9

I doubt that Jesus, who is God, can get inspiration from an imprefect human whom He created.

Answer 10

no read the bible he insired them