WHERE WE ARE

The Christian apologists Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli presented nine objections against the Swoon Theory in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics (published in 1994). I have carefully analyzed those nine objections and then carefully evaluated them. I concluded that each of those nine objections against the Swoon Theory FAIL. So, Kreeft and Tacelli FAILED to refute the Swoon Theory. Because their case for the resurrection of Jesus required them to refute the Swoon Theory, their case for the resurrection in Chapter 8 of Handbook of Christian Apologetics also FAILS.

I am in the process of carefully analyzing and evaluating six more objections against the Swoon Theory, objections from other Christian apologists besides Kreeft and Tacelli.

In this current post, I will carefully analyze an objection against the Swoon Theory by the Christian apologists Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell (Josh’s son), one of the six objections that does not correspond to any of the nine objections presented by Kreeft and Tacelli in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics.

OBJECTION #14 (LAST WORDS)

In their book Evidence for the Resurrection, the Christian apologists Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell present several objections against the Swoon Theory. Ten of their objections are reasons supporting the claim that Jesus died during his crucifixion. The fourth of those ten reasons does not correspond to any of the nine objections against the Swoon Theory presented by Kreeft and Tacelli:

(4) Jesus said he was in the act of dying while on the cross: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). John renders that he “gave up his spirit” (John 19:30).
(Evidence for the Resurrection, by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell, p.223)

IDENTIFICATION STEPS

I will now identify the explicitly stated claims in this argument by Josh and Sean McDowell.

1. [Jesus said he was in the act of dying while on the cross]
: – this colon indicates that a reason for the previous claim is about to be stated:

2. [Jesus said…while on the cross: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”]

(Luke 23:46) – this is a biblical reference to a passage in the Gospel of Luke which is being given as evidence for claim (2):

3. [According to the Gospel of Luke (Luke 23:46), statement (2) is true.]

4. [John renders that he “gave up his spirit” (John 19:30).]

CLARIFICATION STEPS

I will now clarify the explicitly stated claims that I identified above.

1. [Jesus said he was in the act of dying while on the cross] – The phrase “in the act of dying” is odd and UNCLEAR, so I will simplify this statement a bit:
=>1a. Jesus said that he was right at the point of dying while Jesus was on the cross.

2. [Jesus said…while on the cross: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”] – this is clearly intended to be a quotation of the words of Jesus from the cross:
=>2a. Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” while Jesus was on the cross.

3. [According to the Gospel of Luke (Luke 23:46), statement (2) is true.] – I will clarify this claim by spelling out the contents of statement (2):
=>3a. According to the Gospel of Luke (Luke 23:46), Jesus said “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” while Jesus was on the cross.

4. [John renders that he “gave up his spirit” (John 19:30).] The phrase “John renders that he” is odd and a bit UNCLEAR, so I will make the wording simpler and clearer:
=>4a. According to the Gospel of John (John 19:30), Jesus gave up his spirit while Jesus was on the cross. The phrase “gave up his spirit” is NOT a clear factual claim, but is an unverifiable metaphysical claim. However, it would be reasonable to infer that the underlying observation (if this was an eyewitness report) would be that Jesus STOPPED BREATHING while on the cross: =>4b. According to the Gospel of John (John 19:30), Jesus stopped breathing while Jesus was on the cross.

FILL IN STEPS

I will now make explicit any unstated assumptions or claims that are important to understanding this argument.

Statement (1a) appears to be a sub-conclusion supported by the other statements. However, (1a) says NOTHING about the Swoon Theory. So, the conclusion of this argument is left UNSTATED. One of the two following claims is most likely the intended conclusion:

A. The Swoon Theory is clearly false.

B. It is very probable that the Swoon Theory is false.

This argument seems fairly weak, so conclusion (A) seems too strong. Assuming that the intended conclusion is (B), we can construct a key argument of Objection #14:

1a. Jesus said that he was right at the point of dying while Jesus was on the cross.

C. IF Jesus said that he was right at the point of dying while Jesus was on the cross, THEN it is very probable that Jesus was right at the point of dying while Jesus was on the cross.

THEREFORE:

D. It is very probable that Jesus was right at the point of dying while Jesus was on the cross.

From statement (D) we can form a final sub-argument to arrive at the desired conclusion:

E. IF it is very probable that Jesus was right at the point of dying while Jesus was on the cross, THEN it is very probable that the Swoon Theory is false.

D. It is very probable that Jesus was right at the point of dying while Jesus was on the cross.

THEREFORE:

B. It is very probable that the Swoon Theory is false.

We have determined how to get from premise (1a) to the ultimate conclusion (B). But what about the other explicitly stated claims besides (1a)? As I mentioned previously, the other explicitly stated claims appear to be in support of premise (1a). Statement (2a) is given as a reason for believing (1a):

2a. Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” while Jesus was on the cross.

THEREFORE:

1a. Jesus said that he was right at the point of dying while Jesus was on the cross.

Statement (3a) is given as a reason for believing (2a), but there is also an unstated assumption in that reasoning:

3a. According to the Gospel of Luke (Luke 23:46), Jesus said “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” while Jesus was on the cross.

F. The Gospel of Luke provides an accurate and reliable historical account of the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus.

THEREFORE:

2a. Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” while Jesus was on the cross.

What about statement (4b)? What role does that claim have in this argument?

It appears that statement (4b) is NOT a relevant or good reason for believing premise (1a). The following inference is invalid and does not make sense:

4b. According to the Gospel of John (John 19:30), Jesus stopped breathing while Jesus was on the cross.

THEREFORE:

1a. Jesus said that he was right at the point of dying while Jesus was on the cross.

The problem is that (1a) is about what Jesus SAID while Jesus was on the cross, but (4b) is NOT about what Jesus SAID while he was on the cross. Statement (4b) does not appear to support premise (1a).

However, a line of reasoning can be constructed from (4b) to the conclusion (B) that is similar to the line of reasoning that we have constructed to go from (3a) to conclusion (B):

4b. According to the Gospel of John (John 19:30), Jesus stopped breathing while Jesus was on the cross.

G. The Gospel of John provides an accurate and reliable historical account of the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus.

THEREFORE:

H. It is very probable that Jesus stopped breathing while Jesus was on the cross.

I. IF it is very probable that Jesus stopped breathing while Jesus was on the cross, THEN it is very probable that Jesus died while Jesus was on the cross.

J. IF it is very probable that Jesus died while Jesus was on the cross, THEN it is very probable that the Swoon Theory is false.

THEREFORE:

B. It is very probable that the Swoon Theory is false.

So, it appears that there are two different lines of reasoning given in support of the ultimate conclusion (B).

DIAGRAMMING THE ARGUMENT CONSITUTING OBJECTION #14

I will now create a diagram that shows the logical structure of Objection #14 (Last Words).

EXPLICITLY STATED CLAIMS IN OBJECTION #14

1a. Jesus said that he was right at the point of dying while Jesus was on the cross.

2a. Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” while Jesus was on the cross.

3a. According to the Gospel of Luke (Luke 23:46), Jesus said “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” while Jesus was on the cross.

4b. According to the Gospel of John (John 19:30), Jesus stopped breathing while Jesus was on the cross.

UNSTATED ASSUMPTIONS/CLAIMS IN OBJECTION #14

B. It is very probable that the Swoon Theory is false.

C. IF Jesus said that he was right at the point of dying while Jesus was on the cross, THEN it is very probable that Jesus was right at the point of dying while Jesus was on the cross.

D. It is very probable that Jesus was right at the point of dying while Jesus was on the cross.

E. IF it is very probable that Jesus was right at the point of dying while Jesus was on the cross, THEN it is very probable that the Swoon Theory is false.

F. The Gospel of Luke provides an accurate and reliable historical account of the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus.

G. The Gospel of John provides an accurate and reliable historical account of the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus.

H. It is very probable that Jesus stopped breathing while Jesus was on the cross.

I. IF it is very probable that Jesus stopped breathing while Jesus was on the cross, THEN it is very probable that Jesus died while Jesus was on the cross.

J. IF it is very probable that Jesus died while Jesus was on the cross, THEN it is very probable that the Swoon Theory is false.