Reformedish

9 Responses to Is Jesus Actually Smart?

1. Daniel October 7, 2012 at 7:26 pm

   I have some mixed emotions about the Jesus is a genius argument. On one hand I’ve seen charts that show Jesus as possessing the highest IQ (does one possess an IQ?) in the history of humanity. He certainly seemed to be on another level than those he conversed with. But, was it his intelligence shining through? More so, it seems that it was the authority Jesus spoke with that made him stand out.

   What gives me pause about the Jesus=super genius argument is Isaiah 53, where it says that “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
   nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind,..” To me, it seems that arguing that Jesus in his humanity was super human pushes him too far toward the transcendent God, rather than the God-man with us. So, I’m wary of the argument.when it is based on his earthly deeds.

   But, your point is well taken. We ought to see Jesus as eternal creator God, and not just friend or exemplar. Jesus is so much more than anything we can possibly imagine. The fullness of God has been manifest and made known to us through Jesus. Jesus deserves our trust and devotion

   Reply
2. Derek Rishmawy October 7, 2012 at 8:14 pm

   Thanks for the comment, Daniel. I think Willard’s point is that part of Jesus’ authority comes from the fact that he can speak as the author of reality–he really knows what it’s about–he’s smart. Jesus wasn’t just guessing about things.

   As for Isaiah 53, I don’t think that it’s specifically speaking to this issue. Nothing in the text speaks to Jesus’ intelligence. What’s more, Luke 2 portrays the very human child growing in wisdom and being recognized for that fact as he debates with the scholars in the Temple. Just as there is no denial of Solomon’s humanity when the Scriptures say that God gave him wisdom beyond all others before or after (1 Kings 3), there is no necessary denial of Jesus’ humanity in saying that David’s greater Son, was at least as wise as Solomon, because he possessed the Spirit of God without reserve. It’s not that Jesus was super-human, but that he was fully human, tapping into the wisdom of the eternal God in a way unparalleled before or since.

   Thanks again for stopping by to comment.

   Reply
3. mark January 5, 2013 at 2:39 pm

   Doesn’t a person actually have to be observed and tested before giving the results of a test. What did jesus really do for mankind? Nothing… there are some that will say “He died for your sins.” That is all well and good I guess but that hardly makes him a genius. Sir Isaac Newton and Leibniz have my vote because they actually contributed something to society, and there is actual proof that they existed(The bible isn’t proof). For those asking for proof, just look at any calculus textbook and you will see both Newton’s and Leibniz’s name in the text. Were it not for Newton we wouldn’t be in space nor would we have the advanced toys that we have today. Tesla is another man that needs mentions.

   Reply
   • Derek Rishmawy January 5, 2013 at 2:59 pm

     Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Mark, I think this is one of those agree to disagree moments. The author of the original quote is assuming traditional Christian doctrine about the person of Christ and is writing to Christians who presumably do the same. His intent is then to point out how foolish it is to say you think he’s God, Lord, etc. and then ignore his wisdom when it comes to the practicalities of living your life.

     On some of the other comments:
     1. There is proof that Jesus existed. There isn’t a single NT scholar, classicist, or ancient historian of repute who denies his existence as a historical figure. http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2012/12/24/3660194.htm
     If you want more than this short article, I could easily point you to larger ones or tomes full of historical argumentation.
     2. Newton was a pretty smart guy and he believed in Jesus–even to the point of writing commentaries on Scripture and the fulfillment of prophecy. Leibniz was a believer as well–at least a deist. Something to think about.

     Once again, thanks for dropping by.

     Reply
     • Mark January 16, 2013 at 10:48 am

       Send the article links I would be happy to look them over. As for Newton and Leibniz, my point has nothing to do with their beliefs but their actual documented and well know accomplishments to the world of academia and advancements of the natural understanding of the world. Taking their accomplishments and saying because they believed in a deity therefore makes that deity real is reaching. Leibniz and newton accomplished things but that doesn’t equate to Jesus being the smartest man alive.

       Why no love for Tesla?? :/
     • Derek Rishmawy January 16, 2013 at 10:59 am

       Mark,

       A couple of points:
       1. Pointing out Newton and Leibniz’s belief in a deity isn’t evidence in strict sense, either for God’s existence or for Jesus being the smartest man alive. It is an observation worth recognizing. If these two men, whom you deem worthy of great respect for their intellectual achievements, respected and believed something, it might give you reason to stop and investigate it.
       2. I don’t know much about Tesla.
       3. This first link is a decent article by Craig Blomberg on what a historian can show to be true about Jesus of Nazareth. http://www.henrycenter.org/files/blomberg.pdf
       He’s also author of a much larger book on the historical reliability of the Gospels worth checking out.
       Also, here is a much longer article on the historicity of the Gospels and the Resurrection. http://www.lydiamcgrew.com/Resurrectionarticlesinglefile.pdf

       I can vouch for the first, but the second I’ve skimmed. Beyond that are a number of books that I can suggest, if you’d like.

       Have a good one!
4. Skeptic Griggsy January 17, 2013 at 6:13 am

   Why would rational people accept the uncorroborated writings of uncorroborated writers? Legends arise rapidly at times as the sighting of Elvis post-mortem attests. So what about the women? This is misdirection. Contradictions abound, and rationalizations thereof cannot instantiate them as both true.
   No, Hume is right! No Amazing Randi investigated the miracles to vouchsafe them! He, thus begs no question, just wanting attested evidence, not mere say-so’s of possibly mistaken witnesses.
   No one can instantiate any contemporaneous miracles! Faith- healing is a hoax.
   Credulity cannot instantiate God!
   Study Robert J. Fogelin’s ” A Defense of Hume on Miracles”

   Reply
   • Derek Rishmawy January 17, 2013 at 8:41 am

     Hey bro,

     Thanks for dropping by and commenting. I appreciate your concerns about the historical reliability of the NT texts. I’ve become convinced that most of the “contradictions” allegations of “uncorroborated writers” can and have been answered multiple times and that the documents we have are generally reliable. You can see Craig Blomberg’s work on the subject of the Historical Reliability of the Gospels, or Richard Bauckham’s Jesus and the Eyewitnesses. Also, N.T. Wright’s work on the Resurrection of the Son of God.

     As for Hume, God bless him, I just think he was wrong and I think he’s been shown to be wrong multiple times. C.S. Lewis did a decent job of it in his work “Miracles” and I know many philosophers have dealt with his reasoning at various points since. William Lane Craig for one.

     Anyways, I think you missed the point of the post. It’s not really an argument for those who don’t believe in him to believe, but rather for people who already do believe in him to start living like they do. Kinda like a family conversation.

     Well, have a good one.

     D

     Reply
5. Skeptic Griggsy January 17, 2013 at 6:14 am

   Reblogged this on Skeptic Griggsy.

   Reply

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