Careful Analysis of Objections Against the Swoon Theory: Objection #2 (Break Their Legs)
WHERE WE ARE
Careful argument evaluation is the heart and soul of critical thinking. But in order to do a careful evaluation of an argument, one must first have a clear understanding of the argument that is to be evaluated. Careful argument analysis is usually required in order to obtain a clear understanding of an argument, so having the knowledge, skills, and desire to do careful argument analysis is crucial to being a critical thinker.
I have carefully evaluated nine objections against the Swoon Theory, objections put forward by Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli in Chapter 8 of their Handbook of Christian Apologetics. I arrived at the conclusion that all nine objections FAIL, and thus that their case against the Swoon Theory FAILS, and their case for the resurrection of Jesus FAILS. But in order to be in a position to do this, I had to first do a careful argument analysis of each objection (each objection constitutes an argument against the Swoon Theory).
In this post I will walk through my process of careful argument analysis, step-by-step, showing how the sausage gets made. The process of careful argument analysis that I use here can be applied to almost any text or speech that contains an argument or arguments. This post will focus on Objection #2 against the Swoon Theory.
ANALYSIS OF OBJECTION #2
I am starting with Objection #2 because it is the first of four objections that are based on passages from the Gospel of John:
OBJECTION #2: BREAK THEIR LEGS
Here is Kreeft and Tacelli’s second argument against the Swoon Theory:
The fact that the Roman soldier did not break Jesus’ legs, as he did to the other two crucified criminals (Jn 19:31-33), means that the soldier was sure Jesus was dead. Breaking the legs hastened the death so that the corpse could be taken down before the sabbath (v. 31).
(HCA, p. 183)
IDENTIFICATION STEPS
I will now analyze the above-quoted argument, identifying the various specific statements that make up the argument and some of the inferences made in the argument:
The fact that – a premise indicator phrase
1. [the Roman soldier did not break Jesus’ legs], – a historical claim
2. [as he did to the other two crucified criminals] – another historical claim
(Jn 19:31-33) – notation similar to a footnote, giving a reference to a biblical passage as evidence for a claim or claims
3. [According to the Gospel of John (Jn 19:31-33), claim (1) is true.] – evidence given to support claim (1)
4. [According to the Gospel of John (Jn 19:31-33), claim (2) is true.] – evidence given to support claim (2)
means that – an inference indicator showing that claim (5) is inferred from claims (1) and (2)
5. [the soldier was sure Jesus was dead.] – a conclusion supported by claims (1) and (2)
6. [Breaking the legs hastened the death so that the corpse could be taken down before the sabbath] – an additional historical claim that works together with (1) and (2) to support (5)
(v. 31). – a verse reference from the Gospel of John given as evidence in support of claim (6)
7. [According to the Gospel of John (Jn 19:31), claim (6) is true.]
CLARIFICATION STEPS
I will now take the various specific statements identified above and clarify each of them:
1. [the Roman soldier did not break Jesus’ legs],
=>1a. The Roman soldiers did NOT break Jesus’ legs while Jesus was still on the cross.
2. [as he did to the other two crucified criminals]
=>2a. The Roman soldiers DID break the legs of the other two crucified criminals while they were still on the cross.
3. [According to the Gospel of John (19:31-33), claim (1) is true.]
=>3a. According to the Gospel of John (19:31-33), the Roman soldiers did NOT break Jesus’ legs while Jesus was still on the cross.
4. [According to the Gospel of John (19:31-33), claim (2) is true.]
=>4a. According to the Gospel of John (19:31-33), the Roman soldiers DID break the legs of the two other crucified criminals while they were still on the cross.
means that => THEREFORE:
5. [the soldier was sure Jesus was dead.]
=>5a. The Roman soldiers were sure Jesus was dead while Jesus was still on the cross.
6. [Breaking the legs hastened the death so that the corpse could be taken down before the sabbath]
=>6a. Breaking the legs of a crucified person hastened the death so that the corpse could be taken down from the cross before the Sabbath.
7. [According to the Gospel of John (Jn 19:31), claim (6) is true.]
=>7a. According to the Gospel of John (19:31), breaking the legs of a crucified person hastened death so that the corpse could be taken down from the cross before the Sabbath.
FILL IN STEPS
I will now take the above-clarified statements and inferences and make explicit any unstated claims or assumptions that are important for understanding the logic of this argument.
The ultimate conclusion of the argument is left unstated by Kreeft and Tacelli:
A. The Swoon Theory is FALSE.
There are three historical claims that are each based on a passage from the Gospel of John. Each of those inferences involves an unstated assumption/premise:
B. The Gospel of John provides a historically reliable and accurate account of the life of Jesus, including his crucifixion.
The reasoning that gets us from premise (5a) to the ultimate conclusion (A) is left unstated, but it seems fairly clear that Kreeft and Tacelli had in mind the following chain of reasoning:
5a. The Roman soldiers were sure Jesus was dead while Jesus was still on the cross.
C. IF the Roman soldiers were sure Jesus was dead while Jesus was still on the cross, THEN Jesus died while Jesus was still on the cross.
D. IF Jesus died while Jesus was still on the cross, THEN the Swoon Theory is FALSE.
THEREFORE:
A. The Swoon Theory is FALSE.
If we add premise (E) to the historical premise (1a), we can infer the key historical premise by a modus ponens inference:
E. IF the Roman soldiers did NOT break Jesus’ legs while Jesus was still on the cross, THEN the Roman soldiers were sure Jesus was dead while Jesus was still on the cross.
1a. The Roman soldiers did NOT break Jesus’ legs while Jesus was still on the cross.
THEREFORE:
5a. The Roman soldiers were sure Jesus was dead while Jesus was still on the cross.
DIAGRAMMING THE ARGUMENT
I will now diagram the various inferences and sub-arguments that make up the full argument:
1a. The Roman soldiers did NOT break Jesus’ legs while Jesus was still on the cross.
2a. The Roman soldiers DID break the legs of the other two crucified criminals while they were still on the cross.
3a. According to the Gospel of John (19:31-33), the Roman soldiers did NOT break Jesus’ legs while Jesus was still on the cross.
4a. According to the Gospel of John (19:31-33), the Roman soldiers DID break the legs of the two other crucified criminals while they were still on the cross.
6a. Breaking the legs of a crucified person hastened the death so that the corpse could be taken down from the cross before the sabbath.
7a. According to the Gospel of John (19:31), breaking the legs of a crucified person hastened death so that the corpse could be taken down from the cross before the Sabbath.
B. The Gospel of John provides a historically reliable and accurate account of the life of Jesus, including his crucifixion.
5a. The Roman soldiers were sure Jesus was dead while Jesus was still on the cross.
C. IF the Roman soldiers were sure Jesus was dead while Jesus was still on the cross, THEN Jesus died while Jesus was still on the cross.
D. IF Jesus died while Jesus was still on the cross, THEN the Swoon Theory is FALSE.
THEREFORE:
A. The Swoon Theory is FALSE.
2a. The Roman soldiers DID break the legs of the other two crucified criminals while they were still on the cross.
6a. Breaking the legs of a crucified person hastened the death so that the corpse could be taken down from the cross before the sabbath.
THEREFORE:
E. IF the Roman soldiers did NOT break Jesus’ legs while Jesus was still on the cross, THEN the Roman soldiers were sure Jesus was dead while Jesus was still on the cross.
1a. The Roman soldiers did NOT break Jesus’ legs while Jesus was still on the cross.
THEREFORE:
5a. The Roman soldiers were sure Jesus was dead while Jesus was still on the cross.
Based on the above careful argument analysis, I produced an argument diagram of this objection that includes seven explicit claims, and five assumed or unstated claims, arranged in six inferences or sub-arguments:
SEVEN STATED CLAIMS
1a. The Roman soldiers did NOT break Jesus’ legs while Jesus was still on the cross.
2a. The Roman soldiers DID break the legs of the other two crucified criminals while they were still on the cross.
3a. According to the Gospel of John (19:31-33), the Roman soldiers did NOT break Jesus’ legs while Jesus was still on the cross.
4a. According to the Gospel of John (19:31-33), the Roman soldiers DID break the legs of the two other crucified criminals while they were still on the cross.
5a. The Roman soldiers were sure Jesus was dead while Jesus was still on the cross.
6a. Breaking the legs of a crucified person hastened the death so that the corpse could be taken down from the cross before the Sabbath.
7a. According to the Gospel of John (19:31), breaking the legs of a crucified person hastened death so that the corpse could be taken down from the cross before the Sabbath.
FIVE UNSTATED CLAIMS
A. The Swoon Theory is FALSE.
B. The Gospel of John provides a historically reliable and accurate account of the life of Jesus, including his crucifixion.
C. IF the Roman soldiers were sure Jesus was dead while Jesus was still on the cross, THEN Jesus died while Jesus was still on the cross.
D. IF Jesus died while Jesus was still on the cross, THEN the Swoon Theory is FALSE.
E. IF the Roman soldiers did NOT break Jesus’ legs while Jesus was still on the cross, THEN the Roman soldiers were sure Jesus was dead while Jesus was still on the cross.
THE CORE ARGUMENT OF OBJECTION #2
Here is what I take to be the core argument of Objection #2 against the Swoon Theory:
5a. The Roman soldiers were sure Jesus was dead while Jesus was still on the cross.
C. IF the Roman soldiers were sure Jesus was dead while Jesus was still on the cross, THEN Jesus died while Jesus was still on the cross.
D. IF Jesus died while Jesus was still on the cross, THEN the Swoon Theory is FALSE.
THEREFORE:
A. The Swoon Theory is FALSE.
The logic of this core argument is fine, so the only significant question here is whether the premises are true or false (or probably true or probably false).
EVALUATION OF OBJECTION #2
For my careful evaluation of Objection #2, see these posts on The Secular Frontier: