Existentialism is a philosophical movement that gained popularity in the mid-20th century through the work of Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Albert Camus, among others. At its core, existentialism asserts that human beings have complete freedom and responsibility to give meaning to their own lives. This runs counter to deterministic philosophies that claim meaning comes prepackaged from sources like religion, society, or nature.
While the Bible does not explicitly discuss existentialism, as it arose long after the biblical texts were written, it does offer perspectives on major existentialist themes like meaning, freedom, and responsibility. From an existentialist view, the Bible could be seen as presenting a deterministic philosophy at odds with radical freedom. However, a closer look reveals nuance in the biblical texts that leaves room for significant human choice, akin to existentialist thought.
Freedom and Responsibility
A core tenet of existentialism is that “existence precedes essence.” This means people are free to choose who they become through their actions, as opposed to having a predetermined essence or nature. Jean-Paul Sartre claimed this freedom meant humans are “condemned to be free.” With radical freedom comes great responsibility for the meaning individuals create through choices and actions.
The Bible depicts human beings as having moral freedom and responsibility. After creating Adam and Eve, God gives them a choice to obey or disobey his command about eating fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:16-17). The rest of the Bible story shows the consequences of their disobedience, implying they had freedom to do otherwise.
Throughout the Old Testament, God commands the Israelites to follow his laws. The ability to choose whether or not to obey these commands implies freedom. When the Israelites worship idols and break covenant with God, the prophets hold them responsible and call them to repentance (see Ezekiel 18). The people are not depicted as bound to sin by external forces, but as having the capability to change their actions.
The New Testament also shows people responding freely to Jesus’ call to follow him. And Jesus holds individuals personally responsible for how they exercise that freedom, as seen in his warnings about the consequences of unrepentance (Matthew 11:20-24).
So while the Bible presents obedience to God’s commands as the proper use of freedom, it does not exclude human choice. People are called to align their wills with God’s, not act as mindless pawns. The existentialist focus on freedom and responsibility finds echoes in the biblical narrative.
Meaning of Life
Existentialists contend it is up to each person to determine life’s meaning for themselves in the face of an absurd, meaningless universe. There is no predefined essence that gives human existence purpose. Biblical Christianity agrees meaning is not found in the physical universe alone, which is fallen and imperfect. But it locates life’s meaning in relationship with a loving, personal God who created the universe with intent and order.
The Bible depicts God as inviting human beings into this ordered creation and grand narrative that gives significance to their lives. After creating mankind, God gives them the cultural mandate to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28). This provides a baseline of purpose coming not from within the individual, but from the Creator.
The biblical narrative continues by showing how God partners with key figures like Abraham, Moses, David, and the prophets to cultivate his relationship with mankind. Jesus then comes as the ultimate revelation of God’s love and rescue plan for creation. He invites people into an abundant life of knowing God here and now, which also secures eternal life in the kingdom of heaven (John 17:3). This provides the ultimate meaning that transcends finite earthly existence.
So in contrast to existentialism, the Bible presents human life as meaningful because it is part of a larger story authored by a personal, loving God who created mankind for relationship with himself. Meaning originates from outside the individual by the Creator’s design.
Despair and Anxiety
Because existence has no intrinsic meaning, existentialists like Sartre see the human condition as plagued by despair, angst, and anxiety. These feelings result from the overwhelm of radical freedom and responsibility to choose one’s essence. The Bible validates these same feelings of anguish as part of the human experience living in a fallen, imperfect world corrupted by sin. Ecclesiastes depicts the despair and monotony that results from seeking life’s purpose apart from God, which the author calls “meaningless” and “a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14, 2:11).
Yet the Bible differs from existentialism in offering hope of rescue from despair. The antidote is having a restored relationship with God, one’s source of identity and meaning. King David describes crying out to God in the depths of anguish, and God lifting him “out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire” (Psalm 40:2). The Apostle Paul echoes this hope of being delivered from despair through faith in Christ (Romans 7:24-25).
So while the Bible validates feelings of angst and despair as part of the human condition in a fallen world, it parts ways with existentialism by offering the hope of salvation through relationship with God. Despair does not have to be humanity’s final sentence.
Morality
With no intrinsic meaning to human life, existentialists contend there are also no objective moral values. Individuals must determine morality for themselves. Biblical Christianity agrees there is no objective secular moral code outside of God. The Bible depicts the fallen human heart as corrupt and deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). Even morally upright characters like King David commit grievous sins showing mankind’s bent toward evil apart from God.
However, Christianity bases objective morality in the nature and commands of a holy God. The Bible presents the Ten Commandments and other moral laws as flowing from God’s righteous character. They are for human well-being, not arbitrary restrictions. Jesus later summarizes the objective moral standard in his two great commandments to love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39). Love fulfills the intent behind the Old Testament laws.
So the Bible parts ways with existentialism by rooting morality in the character of God, not subjective choices. Biblical morality flows from God’s desire to cultivate human flourishing in relationship with him.
Individualism vs. Community
Freedom and responsibility in existentialism focus heavily on the individual determining meaning for their own life. While the Bible upholds human dignity and choice, it places greater emphasis on individuals fulfilling purpose in the context of community. The Ten Commandments include responsibilities to family, neighbors and society. Ecclesiastes depicts the futility of isolation: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
The New Testament shows believers living out faith together in the nascent church. The “one another” commands emphasize reciprocity and interdependence within the body of Christ (Romans 12:10, Galatians 5:13). So while the Bible upholds the importance of personal morality and choice, it places individual meaning making in the context of community. Life is not solely a solo project.
Finding Meaning
In an absurd universe where objective meaning does not intrinsically exist, the existentialist quest for meaning can feel like a hopeless task. The Bible offers a counter perspective. It depicts meaning, morality, and purpose as rooted in God’s nature and design for human flourishing. While people have real freedom and responsibility, they are invited into a larger story and community that lends existence meaning. A relationship with the personal God revealed in the biblical narrative provides the metaphysical basis for purpose that existentialism lacks.
With its narratives of anguish and grace, moral struggle and redemption, the Bible aligns with existentialism in honest portrayal of the human condition. But Scripture guides seekers beyond despair to hope in a God of love who offers rescued relationship that infuses life with meaning. The Bible offers connection to the transcendent source existentialists long for but cannot find in the isolated self. At the intersection of angst and grace, God reaches down to lift human eyes toward a larger horizon. The Christian hope salvages meaning from the furnace of despair and reflects light to illuminate the path home.