Christians often doubt whether studying philosophy has any value for our faith or is worth the danger of being used wrongly. After all, doesn’t the apostle Paul say, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy”?

Yet James Spiegel insists that rigorous philosophical study is actually crucial for following Paul’s counsel, for only when we understand philosophy well can we discern when its ideas are deceptive. After exploring the historical context of philosophy, he applies Christian inquiry to its main subject areas, explaining basic concepts and terms for those new to the subject. And in addition to newcomers, seasoned philosophers will also see how philosophy can enhance biblical faith and living.