In the year 399 B.C., a seventy-year-old Socrates stood in the court of ancient Athens to defend himself against the charges of corrupting the city’s youth and professing to a disbelief in the ancestral gods.  Almost 500 years later, the battle-scarred apostle Paul stood outside the same city and defended the God of heaven and the Christian religion against the idolatrous Stoics and Epicureans.

Socrates spoke in his own defense; Paul spoke out in defense of one greater than himself.  (Acts 17:24-31.)

Socrates drew from his own wisdom; Paul spoke by inspiration of God.  (1 Corinthians 2:13; Galatians 1:11,12.)

Socrates appealed merely to the minds of men; Paul appealed to their minds and souls.  (Acts 17:30,31; Matthew 16:26.)

Socrates was an admitted agnostic; Paul was sure in his conviction concerning the Redeemer.  (2 Timothy 1:12.)

Socrates is remembered still for his words of wisdom pertaining to men; Paul is remembered for his words of inspiration pertaining to God.  (Acts 17:30.)

Socrates came speaking the wisdom of men; Paul proclaimed the wisdom of God.  (1 Corinthians 2:1,2.)

Which of these two has done more for the eternal welfare of mankind:  God, through Paul, or philosophy through Socrates?