Confucius and the Bible – Compared & Contrasted

By Dr. Henry Wong Meng Yeong | Thursday August 4, 2016

After a hiatus of almost two years, a new blog is born, exploring the nexus between Confucian thought and the Bible.

I owe my knowledge in Confucius teachings and precepts to my beloved father who instructed me as a child and I was made to recite and write the classics from memory. This blog is a tribute to him, an expression of my deep gratitude for his having spent many patient hours teaching and explaining to a child the meaning and applications of the priceless classics. Admittedly, I did not fully appreciate its meaning till adulthood. Fortunately, what one learns as a child is never forgotten or lost.

Continuing this theme, a dear friend from my days in London and who is an ardent follower of my blog, Danny Stupple suggested comparing and contrasting Confucius thoughts with Biblical revelations. Are there indeed similarities between the two or are traditional Confucian values in conflict with Biblical teachings?

At first glance one would be mistaken to think that this is a comparison of two religions. It is not. Let me explain.

Confucius when asked by his disciples to comment on religious matters remarked that if one cannot serve man, how can one even serve spirits. He did not allude to spiritual matters nor did he make any claims to be God. The teachings of Confucius are therefore irreligious.

The bible is a compilation of 66 books all pointing to one man whose name is Jesus. It was penned by over 40 authors who did not know each other over a span of two thousand years. The teachings of the Bible are not also not about religion but instead it is about a relationship with God as exemplified by Jesus.

With this short introduction, I thank you for joining me on this journey of exploration.