Socrates and Jesus of Nazareth are very similar characters that can be both perceived as prophets from different perspectives. Socrates and Jesus were significant and powerful figures due to the divine strength they obtained (Wright 374). Socrates was told by an oracle that he was the wisest of men and, thus, he was determined to test this theory. Jesus, in turn, was empowered by such profound influence by God before he was born. Therefore, Jesus is examined from an explicitly religious perspective as received information from divine forces to accomplish His mission, which was a significant societal change. Socrates is analyzed from a philosophical standpoint, as his primary mission was to understand the meaning of life and its worth, and what aspects of life meant in of itself.
Both Socrates and Jesus Christ addressed a trial, wherein they had to establish the truthfulness of their teachings. Socrates confronted the judge about his societal contribution and general misconceptions about corrupting the youth and society: the council sentenced Socrates to death. Jesus was also given the opportunity to advocate for the benefits he brought to society in front of Pontius Pilate, who allowed the people and the rest of the government to crucify Jesus. Jesus and Socrates were considered a threat to society due to their uniqueness, and the knowledge they brought helped everyone understand the shortcomings within the established order and themselves (Wright 382). Socrates aimed to make people think about the purpose of society’s set of morals and virtues, while Jesus attempted to make people consider their beliefs through novel concepts of faith. Such values remain crucial in modern society and can be regarded as a threat because the well-educated nation is both a powerful and dangerous force for societal development.
Work Cited
Wright, Adam Z. “The Parables of Jesus and Socrates.” Christian Origins and the Establishment of the Early Jesus, edited by Stanley E. Porter and Andrew W. Pitts, Brill, 2018, pp. 373–389.