EXAMINING THIS SPECIAL PERSON CALLED JESUS CHRIST
Most biblical and modern secular scholars as well as historians are in broad agreement that Jesus as a historical figure is not in dispute. Although debate is still continuing, the various arguments casting doubt on the authenticity of Christ's existence, constituting the so-called Christ myth theory, from Strauss onwards have largely been discredited.
So, the main question that remains is: if Jesus was a real person in history and had allegedly claimed or been worshiped as the Son of God, how should we judge C S Lewis' trilemma?
What is the trilemma?
In brief, the trilemma can be summarized as the "Liar, Lunatic, or Lord" argument. It states that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and this leaves us with only 3 possibilities:
C S Lewis used his trilemma to appeal to people who are already believers and who accept the accuracy of the bible to convince them that since Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, it is not logical to call him merely a great moral teacher. He stated that the believer is compelled to choose between Jesus being either a liar, a lunatic or the Son of God; and between these 3 options, he argued that since Jesus' behavior was not consistent with being a liar or a lunatic, being the Son of God is the most probable conclusion.
Josh McDowell's use of the trilemma
After believing that he had established the reliability of the Bible, McDowell used the trilemma as an additional logical proof of the Christian religion to compel Christian belief.
Is the trilemma compelling?
For it to be compelling, it needs to satisfy the 10 conditions below. My personal judgement on each of these conditions are indicated as
+ = probable
- = improbable
? = needs more evidence
?? = we may never know
1. Jesus, as an actual person, existed in history. + (there are good historical evidence of Jesus' existence)
2. The bible is a factually reliable document. It must accurately record the existence of a real person called Jesus Christ, his behavior, his words and his miracles. - (few people believe in the literal truth of the bible any more)
3. Jesus must be found to have unequivocally claimed to be the Son of God. - (there are doubts that Jesus directly claimed that he is the Son of God)
4. Only an insane person can have the false belief that he himself is God. - (a person suffering from schizophrenia may have delusions, but a deluded person may not be insane)
5. Jesus was not insane. ? (psychiatric illnesses can be subtle)
6. A great moral teacher would not lie. - (a lack of personal truthfulness does not preclude the ability to conduct moral instruction)
7. Jesus was, in fact, a great moral teacher. + (no historical evidence pointing to the contrary)
8. Given the circumstances, the Liar, Lunatic and Lord possibilities are the only ones. - (these are obviously false choices as there are unlimited possibilities)
9. The trilemma is not self-contradicted or in itself not a circular argument. - (the trilemma presented 3 false choices precisely because it wanted us to reject the highly unlikely 'Liar' and 'Lunatic" possibilities)
10. Jesus' existence, character, actual words and actions are not a mystery. ?? (we may never know the true character of Jesus)
Conclusion
The trilemma does not stand.
Most biblical and modern secular scholars as well as historians are in broad agreement that Jesus as a historical figure is not in dispute. Although debate is still continuing, the various arguments casting doubt on the authenticity of Christ's existence, constituting the so-called Christ myth theory, from Strauss onwards have largely been discredited.
So, the main question that remains is: if Jesus was a real person in history and had allegedly claimed or been worshiped as the Son of God, how should we judge C S Lewis' trilemma?
What is the trilemma?
In brief, the trilemma can be summarized as the "Liar, Lunatic, or Lord" argument. It states that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and this leaves us with only 3 possibilities:
- Liar: Jesus knew that he was not the Son of God, but yet, he said he was.
- Lunatic: Jesus said he was the Son of God because he was mistaken.
- Lord: Jesus said he was the Son of God because that was the truth.
C S Lewis used his trilemma to appeal to people who are already believers and who accept the accuracy of the bible to convince them that since Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, it is not logical to call him merely a great moral teacher. He stated that the believer is compelled to choose between Jesus being either a liar, a lunatic or the Son of God; and between these 3 options, he argued that since Jesus' behavior was not consistent with being a liar or a lunatic, being the Son of God is the most probable conclusion.
Josh McDowell's use of the trilemma
After believing that he had established the reliability of the Bible, McDowell used the trilemma as an additional logical proof of the Christian religion to compel Christian belief.
Is the trilemma compelling?
For it to be compelling, it needs to satisfy the 10 conditions below. My personal judgement on each of these conditions are indicated as
+ = probable
- = improbable
? = needs more evidence
?? = we may never know
1. Jesus, as an actual person, existed in history. + (there are good historical evidence of Jesus' existence)
2. The bible is a factually reliable document. It must accurately record the existence of a real person called Jesus Christ, his behavior, his words and his miracles. - (few people believe in the literal truth of the bible any more)
3. Jesus must be found to have unequivocally claimed to be the Son of God. - (there are doubts that Jesus directly claimed that he is the Son of God)
4. Only an insane person can have the false belief that he himself is God. - (a person suffering from schizophrenia may have delusions, but a deluded person may not be insane)
5. Jesus was not insane. ? (psychiatric illnesses can be subtle)
6. A great moral teacher would not lie. - (a lack of personal truthfulness does not preclude the ability to conduct moral instruction)
7. Jesus was, in fact, a great moral teacher. + (no historical evidence pointing to the contrary)
8. Given the circumstances, the Liar, Lunatic and Lord possibilities are the only ones. - (these are obviously false choices as there are unlimited possibilities)
9. The trilemma is not self-contradicted or in itself not a circular argument. - (the trilemma presented 3 false choices precisely because it wanted us to reject the highly unlikely 'Liar' and 'Lunatic" possibilities)
10. Jesus' existence, character, actual words and actions are not a mystery. ?? (we may never know the true character of Jesus)
Conclusion
The trilemma does not stand.
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