MOCKS: Teacher of wisdom – Jesus clearly made moral preachings

Question 1

For

Answer 1

• The story of the lost/prodigal son – teaching about forgiveness and that we are never truly lost.
• The sermon on the mount, especially the beatitudes – turn the other cheek etc.
• Some argue this shows he was just a teacher of wisdom.

Question 2

COunter

Answer 2

• C. S. Lewis’ ‘trilemma’
• Lewis said Jesus was either a Liar, a Lunatic or the Lord – these are the only three options – you can’t believe he was only a teacher of wisdom – you have to think he was also the son of God.
• This is because Jesus claimed to forgive sins done to others. Only God has the moral right to do that.
• So, Jesus can’t only be a teacher of ‘morality’ or ‘wisdom’ as it’s not moral or wise to forgive sins unless you are God (the Lord).
• The only other options are to think Jesus was either a liar (claiming to forgive sins when he doesn’t have that right) or a lunatic (deluded about having the right to forgive sins).
• Jesus is either both God and a teacher of wisdom/morality or neither.

Question 3

Evaluation

Answer 3

Craig doesn’t agree with Lewis’ argument for Jesus’ divinity.
It could be that Jesus was just genuinely deluded about being the son of God & the messiah. This wouldn’t make him completely insane, nor a liar.

So Lewis makes a false trilemma.
Craig’s argument is successful because it’s clearly possible for people to be deluded or confused about specific issues of fact while remaining morally virtuous and rational overall. E.g. Aristotle believed that slavery was morally acceptable because he thought some peoples were so barbaric that slavery is their natural good – their telos. But overall Aristotle was virtuous and rational.

So Jesus could have been genuinely deluded about being the messiah and son of God, and yet still been a virtuous good teacher of wisdom and morality. Lewis is wrong to think that option unavailable.