Is It My Problem?

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.

Acts 17:16-17 (English Standard Version)

What is the role of christians in society? This question has been a key piece of theological discussion for centuries in all corners of Christendom. Well-meaning, well-educated believers fall on sides of this issue, and so I will not attempt to outline all the points here. The purpose of this mini-essay, and the essays going forward, will be to provide Biblical thought around the development of a technology that I believe will fundamentally change the way we interact with the world around us. In this regard, there is no better passage to turn to than Paul in Athens.

F. F. Bruce writes in his commentary on Acts, “Although Athens had long since lost the political eminence which was hers in an earlier day, she continued to represent the highest level of culture attained in classical antiquity. In philosophy, too, she occupied the leading place.”1 After journeying through Thessalonica and Berea earlier in the chapter, Paul now finds himself in the premier location for philosophical thought in the ancient world. While Rome served as the center of political power at the time, Athens was the place for education and philosophy. Leading Roman aristocrats often hired, or enslaved, greek speaking tutors for their children in Rome.2 The world of higher learning was dominated by Greece, and the center of that culture was Athens.

What does Paul do in this cultured city? As we read in the verses above, and in the rest of the passage, Paul speaks with the educated members of Athenian society. Paul’s sermon on the Areopagus is heavily cited in apologetics circles, and rightfully so as it is an excellent example of both evangelism and apologetic discussion. For our purposes, we’ll look a little earlier. Verse 16 tells us what Paul sees in the city. The city of Athens is full of idols, and this sight provokes Paul to action. What action does he take? Does he stand on the street corner and preach condemnation? Does he recoil in fear from the academics around him? Does he only interact with those of a similar belief system to his own?

Based on this passage, and the rest of Paul’s life, Paul’s view of his own role in society was simple; it was his role to share the gospel, and spread Christ to the gentile nations. Relevant to our discussion here however, Paul was not uneducated or incapable in philosophical discussion. Bruce notes that the primary schools of philosophy in Athens were the Stoics and the Epicureans, each with their own unique perspective on the world.3 Paul is capable of holding what appear to be extended conversations with these philosophically minded people, and his sermon in the Areopagus would have been basically viewed as a public philosophy lecture by the locals.4 Paul’s concern for Athenian society in verse 16 inspires him to the action of evangelism through societal debate in the following verses.

It is now that we reach the title question. Why should christians care about AI? I contend people of faith should care about AI because it is and will continue to be a force in our society. Just like Paul was well enough versed in Epicurean and Stoic philosophy to discuss them at length, believers must be capable of engaging on topics of today from a Biblical perspective. We have a duty to evangelize because it is commanded and because we ought to desire the best for those around us. Part of that process involves engaging in conversation with those we are led to reach.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul writes “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe” (1 Cor. 1:21). No matter how wise the unsaved think they are, they will never find God or the wisdom He alone provides without God’s work. The wisdom of God is only accessible to those who believe in Him. Since we as believers possess the only wisdom worth having, and the only path to a restored relationship with God and thus access to that wisdom, shouldn’t we play a role in the societies in which we live? Shouldn’t we desire to involve ourselves in the important societal discussions of our day? Christians ought to care about AI, not primarily because of it’s benefits to us, but because it is an important discussion happening around us, and people are looking for answers that only God’s wisdom can provide.

Alongside this essay, there is another introductory essay on what AI is in 2025, with the goal of laying the groundwork going forward. The future articles in this series will further explore the specifics of the interaction between Biblical faith and the rise of Artificial Intelligence, the ways in which AI has already impacted our lives, and the ways in which it will impact our lives in the future. I hope you come along for the ride as these topics are explored.