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In this episode Dr. Licona assumes that, as he argued last time, that the earliest Christians thought that “Jesus is God.” In this portion of his lecture he argues that this is explained by the historical Jesus claiming exactly that, which he says is suggested by certain New Testament texts.
At the start of this episode I turn to this scholarly debate to try to get some clarity about what it’s supposed to mean, according to Dr. Licona, to say that “Jesus is God.”
Dr. Licona gives a quick run through the earliest gospel, Mark, in order to find implications that “Jesus is God.” I rebut these, chapter by chapter, using information in Mark and in other roughly contemporary writings, the other New Testament gospels.
Dr. Licona seems to deploy, in part, arguments like these:
- Only God can walk on water.
- Jesus walked on water.
- Therefore, Jesus just is God. (1,2)
The argument is valid, but I argue on New Testament grounds that 1 is false.
Again, he argues:
- Only God can raise the dead by his own power.
- Jesus raised the dead by his own power.
- Therefore Jesus just is God. (1,2)
Again, the argument is valid (and notice that the implied conclusion is the numerical identity of Jesus with God – that’s what 1 and 2 imply). But I argue that we lack adequate reasons to agree with premise 2, so this argument should not persuade anyone.
I general, I highlight the New Testament evidence that the earliest Christians thought of Jesus as “a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.” (Luke 23:19)
Along the way Dr. Licona helpfully explains what genre biblical scholars think the gospels belong to and what their “Q” hypothesis is regarding the synoptic gospels.
What do you say? Has Dr. Licona shown that probably the historical Jesus thought that he was God? Why or why not?
Links for this episode:
podcast 326 – Dr. Licona’s historical case that Jesus considered himself to be God – Part 1
Dr. Licona’s page at Houston Baptist University
Dr. Licona’s ministry RisenJesus.com
Religion Soup: “Did Jesus Believe He Was Divine?” Michael Licona and Dale Martin
podcast 256 – Aaron Shelenberger, from trinitarian to unitarian – Part 3
podcast 255 – Aaron Shelenberger, from trinitarian to unitarian – Part 2
podcast 254 – Aaron Shelenberger, from trinitarian to unitarian – Part 1
podcast 13 – On Bauckham’s Bargain
podcast 214 – Has Bauckham clarified his “divine identity” theory? – Part 2
podcast 213 – Has Bauckham clarified his “divine identity” theory? – Part 1
podcast 307 – Two Readings of Mark – popular or esoteric? – Part 3
podcast 306 – Two Readings of Mark – popular or esoteric? – Part 2
podcast 305 – Two Readings of Mark – popular or esoteric? – Part 1
podcast 320 – Thoughts on my debate with Rogers about Mark – Part 2 – interpretive fails
podcast 319 – Thoughts on my debate with Rogers about Mark – Part 1 – culture clash
podcast 318 – Debate with Rogers – Does Mark teach that Jesus is God? – Part 2
podcast 317 – Debate with Rogers – Does Mark teach that Jesus is God? – Part 1
Does Mark teach that Jesus is God?
“Only God can forgive sins.” False.
France, The Gospel of Mark (The New International Greek Testament Commentary)
podcast 189 – The unfinished business of the Reformation
Charles Morgridge on Revelation 4-5
A letter from the Lord Jesus: About God and Me
This week’s thinking music is “Moon Shadow” by Little Glass Men.
Your review of Dr Licona teaching that Jesus is God was so helpful. I attend a trinitarian church. Your trinities podcast is a lifeline for me. Thank you so much Dale.
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