Of all the ancient philosophers, three have stood the passing of time, bringing encouragement, wisdom, and help to generations. Of course, we are talking about Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. It is thanks to Plato that we have access to Socrates’ words. Words that are full of wisdom, wit, and outright humor at times. Plato recorded Socrates’ words through dialogues. These are a series of conversations, speeches, and discussions. They give us a glimpse of what Socrates and the people around him thought about the world. They also reflect on virtue, religion, and civil duty.
One such set of dialogues comes from the final stages of Socrates’ life. The title of this dialogue is “Phaedo,” who was one of his disciples. As Socrates grew in popularity in Ancient Greece, his rivals denounced him before the Athenian court around 399 BC. The result of said trial (I wholly recommend reading Socrates’ defense before the Athenians) was the death penalty for Socrates.
Phaedo then deals with the last hours and conversations that Socrates had in this life. It holds snippets of wisdom and discussions about human nature and existence. It also explores the afterlife and virtue, as well as many other interesting subjects. Yet, for us today, one thing stands out. It is found at the very end, when the poison that Socrates was made to drink begins to reach its final stages. Those who were with him aim to record his final words, words that most would assume to be his last wisdom being passed down to the next generations. Instead, Socrates mentions the fact that he still owes a chicken sacrifice to the Greek god of medicine, Asclepius.
Smarter people than I have given many interpretations to these final words. I am not here to reinvent the wheel. Rather, I offer some insight into the significance of the words for us today. Throughout most of the dialogue, a recurring theme is the existence of an afterlife. If it exists, what does it look like? Socrates and his disciples discuss the matter, but one thing that is clear to the reader is the fact that Socrates is hopeful about the afterlife. He is aware of the fact that virtue and goodness are important. He also believes that they are necessary to enjoy a better afterlife.
The kicker comes when he utters those words. Why would he make an offering to Asclepius when he knows that the poison he has taken will soon have its full effect? I believe that this is his final lesson to everyone. Make your soul right with God. If we were to look four hundred years ahead from the death of Socrates, we would find a man addressing a crowd near the site of his death. This man would stand and proclaim that the Athenian ignorance concerning the afterlife had come to an end. He would declare that God was calling all men to repentance. God made this call based on the works of the man he appointed to judge the living and the dead. The worries of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle have not disappeared from our world. People are still searching for answers. Answers which only Jesus Christ can provide.
We should read Phaedo and all the other treatises about Socrates. They are insightful, interesting, and full of wisdom. The god of medicine received the offering because, to Socrates, death was the ultimate healing, a release from the body’s prison. Yet even in confidence, he honors ritual, hinting at humility before the unknown. Socrates’ final offering to Asclepius reveals his uncertainty about the afterlife—an uncertainty Paul resolves four centuries later by proclaiming resurrection through Christ, freeing us from pagan sacrifices.
Blogs and articles on Church history, history, theology, and classical education.
Teach Garcia 
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