Philip was not looking for Jesus. Nor did he have a family connection to other followers of Jesus. But Jesus still found Philip and told him to “Follow me.” Immediately, Philip followed Jesus and began to tell others about Him. When Philip evangelized, he was factual and specific. He made no claims about Jesus other than what he knew to be true: “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Philip’s focus on Reason was a particular asset when interacting with Greeks. His skeptical style meshed well with their philosophical tendencies. But Philip also had trouble making the leap from logical to personal. He could sometimes miss the relationship on the other side of the argument, as Jesus once asked him, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?”

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Despite his impersonal style, though, Philip was welcoming and non-judgmental. When others balked at his testimony, he simply invited them to “Come and see” for themselves. In the same way, Philip often needed a welcoming nudge from others to bring him into community. Philip had a tendency to separate himself from others. But when he accepted invitations to interact, Philip was able to open himself to new Experiences and find a deeper connection to people who could strengthen his faith.

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If you are a Philosopher like Philip…

You are an inquisitive and analytical person. You are open to exploring new ideas and testing them with the tools of reason. You demand logical consistency from yourself and others, but you are always curious to hear new perspectives. You tackle the "big questions" about life and the universe, and others often look to you for insight. You are the type of disciple that skeptics come to for reassurance and challenge.

However, also like Philip, your objective and abstract tendencies may cause you to overlook the things in life that can't be explained with logic. You may have trouble believing that miracles are really possible. Or you may not always realize the importance and power of the loving relationships right in front of you. You may be reluctant to discuss your personal feelings, and this may prevent you from openly bringing others to Christ. To counteract these tendencies, you must open yourself to new Experiences that get you out of your head and into the world where life and love are happening.

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Role: The Philosopher

Primary Aspect: Reason (Bull)

Secondary Aspect: Experience (Lion)

Living Creature Symbol: Clawed Bull

 

Temperament: Introverted

Extroverted Counterpart: Philip the Evangelist

Female Counterpart: Photine (The Woman at the Well)

Complementary Disciples: Andrew, Nathanael, Thomas, James