TLDR;
This video analyzes the intelligence of Jesus as portrayed in the Gospels, comparing it to how intelligent characters are written in fiction. It introduces a framework for evaluating intelligence in fictional characters, distinguishing between "high-effort" and "low-effort" intelligence. The video argues that Jesus consistently displays high-effort intelligence, which is unusual given the Gospels' inherent "excuse" for low-effort intelligence due to Jesus's divinity. This analysis suggests that the Gospels are more likely to be reliable accounts of an intelligent individual rather than purely fictional narratives.
- The framework distinguishes between well-written and poorly-written intelligent characters based on whether the audience understands why their solutions work.
- Jesus's intelligence in the Gospels is characterized as "excused high-effort intelligence," a rare combination.
- The argument suggests that the Gospels' portrayal of Jesus's intelligence lends credibility to their reliability.
Intelligent Characters in Fiction [1:07]
When writing an intelligent character, it's important to present them with difficult problems that lack obvious solutions. The effectiveness of an intelligent character is determined by whether the audience understands why their solution works. "High-effort intelligence" involves crafting non-obvious solutions that the audience can understand in retrospect, while "low-effort intelligence" relies on random solutions justified by the character's supposed brilliance. A trick to using low-effort intelligence is to provide an excuse, such as the character being a super genius, as to why others can't understand their solutions.
Types of Intelligence [5:22]
Jesus doesn't fit neatly into the framework of high-effort, low-effort, or excused low-effort intelligence. As God, Jesus has an inherent excuse for any solution, but he consistently displays high-effort intelligence. Examples include his response to the Pharisees about paying taxes to Caesar, where he avoids the trap by subtly reframing their question and prompting deeper contemplation. Another example is when Jesus heals a man with a shriveled hand on the Sabbath, he poses a question that traps the Pharisees into being unable to object to him.
Examples of High-Effort Intelligence [9:19]
The Gospels provide examples of Jesus displaying high-effort intelligence, such as his response to the Pharisees about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus asks whose image is on the coins, and when they say Caesar's, he says, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's." This response avoids the trap and prompts deeper contemplation. Another example is when Jesus decides to heal a man with a shriveled hand on the Sabbath. Before healing the man, Jesus asks, "Is it lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath? To save life or to destroy it?" This question traps the Pharisees into being unable to object to him.
Jesus's Intelligence in the Gospel of John [11:56]
High-effort intelligence appears less frequently in the Gospel of John, which focuses more on Jesus's divinity. However, examples still exist, such as in John 6, where Jesus responds to a crowd seeking more food by declaring, "I am the bread of life," forcing them to engage with spiritual truths. This instance demonstrates Jesus's ability to redirect a materialistic crowd toward spiritual matters.
Apologetic Significance [15:12]
The analysis of Jesus's intelligence suggests that the Gospels are more likely to be reliable accounts. If the Gospels were primarily fictional, one would expect Jesus to have excused low-effort intelligence, which is easier to write. However, the consistent display of high-effort intelligence indicates a true portrayal of a very intelligent person. This argument supports the reliability of the Gospels, as demonstrating the reliability of one part of a gospel increases confidence in the gospel overall.
