What Is Biblical Metaphysics? The Ultimate Explanation of Reality
Big Idea: God is the Ultimate Explanation for Everything that Exists
What is prime reality? That’s the age-old question people have grappled with for thousands of years. Today, I’m going to explain how a biblical view of metaphysics provides a satisfying answer and solves two fundamental philosophical problems that other worldviews simply cannot.
What Is Really Real?
When we ask, "What is really real?" we’re digging into the heart of philosophy. Socrates famously said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” The Bible affirms this pursuit: “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge” (Proverbs 18:15).
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that explores “prime reality”—the nature of what is truly real. It looks beyond the physical world we see, asking whether there’s more to existence than just material stuff. For example, your smartphone may show you a picture on its screen, but there’s a whole network and system of circuitry behind that image.
In a similar way, reality has layers beyond what we can see. However, only 4% of Americans hold a biblical worldview, which makes it hard for many of our neighbors to grasp this concept. That’s why it’s vital for us as Christians to understand what the Bible teaches about metaphysics—it will help us think biblically about all aspects of life.
Two Puzzles Metaphysics Must Solve
Before we dive into what the Bible says, let’s lay out two philosophical problems that any adequate view of metaphysics must address:
The One and the Many
Mind vs. Matter
The Problem of the One and the Many
The first puzzle is known as The One and the Many. This is one of the most ancient problems in philosophy. It deals with whether reality is ultimately a unity or a plurality and how these two relate to one another.
We see unity in the world: All apples share certain characteristics that make them apples. There’s a category of “appleness.” Similarly, there’s unity in humanity; we all belong to the human race.
Yet, there is also diversity. Not all apples are identical; each is unique. Likewise, every human being has distinct traits and characteristics. An adequate theory of metaphysics must account for both unity and diversity. The question then becomes: Which is primary, unity or diversity?
How a society answers this question affects how it views the rights of individuals versus the needs of the community. If it prioritizes unity, the collective might take precedence over individual rights. If it emphasizes diversity, the focus might shift towards personal freedom at the expense of community cohesion.
The Problem of Mind vs. Matter
The second puzzle is Mind vs. Matter. Here’s the question: Which came first? We recognize that mind, or consciousness, exists. But where does it come from? Is our consciousness just a byproduct of the material world? Are we simply “meat computers” who only think we are conscious?
Alternatively, could the material world be the result of a mind? And if so, whose mind? This puzzle has huge implications for how we view human dignity and the value of persons. If matter is primary, then people are nothing more than advanced animals or complex molecules. But if mind is primary, then there’s a personal, purposeful foundation to reality.
How the Biblical Worldview Solves These Puzzles
According to the Bible, both of these puzzles are solved by God. God is prime reality—the ultimate foundation of all that exists. He is the Creator, sovereign over all creation. He is not part of the universe but transcends it, yet He interacts with His creation.
The Problem of the One and the Many Solved
In God, we find both unity and diversity perfectly balanced.
Unity: The Bible teaches that there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4). He is the only God, as Isaiah 44:6b affirms: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.”
Diversity: God is also three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each Person is distinct, yet they share the same divine nature. This is seen in Matthew 28:19, where Jesus commands baptism “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Here, the three Persons share one name, signifying unity in diversity.
The biblical teaching on the Trinity shows that unity and diversity are equally ultimate. This has practical implications for society, providing a basis for balancing individual rights with community solidarity.
The Problem of Mind vs. Matter Solved
The Bible presents God as a personal being, not a force. God thinks, acts, speaks, and loves. He is the source of consciousness and personality.
Mind Is Primary: Before the physical world existed, God was there (John 1:1). The material world was created by God, who is a personal, conscious being. This means that mind, or personality, is primary. The universe is not merely a collection of material particles but the purposeful creation of a personal God.
This truth has profound implications. Human beings, created in the image of God, have greater value than the impersonal material world. We reflect God’s personality and consciousness, setting us apart from the rest of creation.
How Jesus Ties Christian Metaphysics Together
Jesus Christ exemplifies the biblical solution to these puzzles. In Jesus, we see unity and diversity balanced perfectly.
One and the Many: Jesus is one Person with two natures—divine and human. This is called the hypostatic union. He is both the Creator and part of His creation (John 1:3).
Mind vs. Matter: Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God (John 1:1). He existed before the material world and entered it through the incarnation. When God raised Jesus from the dead, it validated Jesus’ teachings and His claim to be “I Am” (John 8:58).
In Jesus, we find the perfect unity of mind and matter. This confirms that mind is primary, and that we, as personal beings, have inherent dignity and worth because God Himself took on human nature in Christ.
Conclusion
The biblical view of metaphysics provides the ultimate answer to the questions of what is truly real. In God, we find both unity and diversity. In Christ, we see the union of mind and matter. This worldview gives us a consistent, satisfying explanation of reality that no other worldview can match.
In the next article, we’ll compare and contrast this biblical view with four non-Christian worldviews to see how they measure up. Stay tuned!
Disclaimer:
This article was generated by AI and is based on lessons written by Joel Settecase for a forthcoming Biblical Worldview curriculum. While the content has been adapted for clarity and accessibility, the original teachings and insights reflect the author's intent to provide a biblical perspective on key issues related to faith and worldview.