Careful Analysis of Objections to the Swoon Theory: Objection #3 (Blood and Water)

Bradley Bowen | April 2, 2024

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 #3 against the Swoon Theory.

ANALYSIS OF OBJECTION #3

Objection #3 is the second of four objections that are based on passages from the Gospel of John:

OBJECTION #3: BLOOD AND WATER

Here is Kreeft and Tacelli’s third objection against the Swoon Theory:

John, an eyewitness, certified that he saw blood and water come from Jesus’ pierced heart (Jn 19:34-35). This shows that Jesus’ lungs had collapsed and he had died of asphyxiation. Any medical expert can vouch for this.
(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.

1. [John, an eyewitness], – a historical claim.

2. [John…certified that he saw blood and water come from Jesus’ pierced heart] – a historical /medical claim.

(Jn 19:34-35). – a passage from the Gospel of John given as evidence in support of the above two historical claims.

3. [According to the Gospel of John (19:34-35), claim (1) is true.] – evidence given to support claim (1)

4. [According to the Gospel of John (19:34-35), claim (2) is true.] – evidence given to support claim (2)

This shows that – this is an inference indicator phrase indicating that claims (1) and (2) are premises in support of claim (5) and claim (6).

5. [Jesus’ lungs had collapsed] – a historical/medical claim.

and – a logical connective word (might be unnecessary because we can treat the conjuncts as separate claims).

6. [he had died of asphyxiation.] – a historical/medical claim.

7. [Any medical expert can vouch for this.] – a medical claim in support of inferences to claims (5) and (6).

CLARIFICATION STEPS

I will now take the various specific statements identified above and clarify each of them:

1. [John, an eyewitness,]

=>1a. John the son of Zebedee (one of Jesus’ twelve disciples) was an eyewitness to the crucifixion of Jesus.

2. [John…certified that he saw blood and water come from Jesus’ pierced heart] – the Gospel passage actually says Jesus’ “side” was pierced

=>2a. John the son of Zebedee (one of Jesus’ twelve disciples) certified that he saw blood and water come from Jesus’ pierced side immediately after one of the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear while Jesus was still on the cross.

3. [According to the Gospel of John (19:34-35), claim (1) is true.]

=>3a. According to the Gospel of John (19:34-35), John the son of Zebedee (one of Jesus’ twelve disciples) was an eyewitness to the crucifixion of Jesus.

4. [According to the Gospel of John (19:34-35), claim (2) is true.]

=>4a. According to the Gospel of John (19:34-35), John the son of Zebedee (one of Jesus’ twelve disciples) certified that he saw blood and water come from Jesus’ pierced side immediately after one of the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear while Jesus was still on the cross.

5. [Jesus’ lungs had collapsed]

=>5a. Jesus’ lungs had collapsed before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

6. [he had died of asphyxiation.]

=>6a. Jesus had died of asphyxiation before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

7. [Any medical expert can vouch for this.]

=>7a. Any medical expert can vouch for the claim that: IF a Roman soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear while Jesus was still on the cross, and blood and water immediately came from the spear wound in Jesus’ side, THEN Jesus’ lungs had collapsed and Jesus had died before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

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 two historical claims that are each based on a passage from the Gospel of John. Each of the inferences from the passage in the Gospel of John 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 first couple of historical claims are a sub-argument for an unstated claim/premise:

1a. John the son of Zebedee (one of Jesus’ twelve disciples) was an eyewitness to the crucifixion of Jesus.

2a. John the son of Zebedee (one of Jesus’ twelve disciples) certified that he saw blood and water come from Jesus’ pierced side immediately after one of the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear while Jesus was still on the cross.

THEREFORE:

C. Blood and water came from Jesus’ pierced side immediately after one of the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear while Jesus was still on the cross.

Statement (7a) appears to be a reason for a key unstated claim/premise:

7a. Any medical expert can vouch for the claim that: IF a Roman soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear while Jesus was still on the cross, and blood and water immediately came from the spear wound in Jesus’ side, THEN Jesus’ lungs had collapsed and Jesus had died before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

THEREFORE:

D. IF a Roman soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear while Jesus was still on the cross, and blood and water immediately came from the spear wound in Jesus’ side, THEN Jesus’ lungs had collapsed and Jesus had died before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

Statement (D) can be combined with statement (C) to provide a sub-argument for claims (5a) and (6a):

C. Blood and water came from Jesus’ pierced side immediately after one of the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear while Jesus was still on the cross.

THEREFORE:

5a. Jesus’ lungs had collapsed before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

AND

6a. Jesus had died of asphyxiation before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

From statements (5a) and (6a) we can quickly reason our way to the ultimate conclusion:

5a. Jesus’ lungs had collapsed before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

6a. Jesus had died of asphyxiation before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

E. IF Jesus’ lungs had collapsed while Jesus was still on the cross and Jesus had died of asphyxiation while Jesus was still on the cross, then Jesus died while he was still on the cross.

THEREFORE:

F. Jesus died while he was still on the cross.

G. IF Jesus died while he was still on the cross, THEN the Swoon Theory is FALSE.

THEREFORE:

A. The Swoon Theory is FALSE.

DIAGRAMMING THE ARGUMENT

I will now diagram the various inferences and sub-arguments that make up the full argument.

5a. Jesus’ lungs had collapsed before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

6a. Jesus had died of asphyxiation before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

E. IF Jesus’ lungs had collapsed while Jesus was still on the cross and Jesus had died of asphyxiation while Jesus was still on the cross, then Jesus died while he was still on the cross.

THEREFORE:

F. Jesus died while he was still on the cross.

G. IF Jesus died while he was still on the cross, THEN the Swoon Theory is FALSE.

THEREFORE:

A. The Swoon Theory is FALSE.

THEREFORE:

C. Blood and water came from Jesus’ pierced side immediately after one of the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear while Jesus was still on the cross.

THEREFORE:

5a. Jesus’ lungs had collapsed before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

AND

6a. Jesus had died of asphyxiation before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

3a. According to the Gospel of John (19:34-35), John the son of Zebedee (one of Jesus’ twelve disciples) was an eyewitness to the crucifixion of Jesus.

B. The Gospel of John provides a historically reliable and accurate account of the life of Jesus, including his crucifixion.

THEREFORE:

1a. John the son of Zebedee (one of Jesus’ twelve disciples) was an eyewitness to the crucifixion of Jesus.

THEREFORE:

C. Blood and water came from Jesus’ pierced side immediately after one of the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear while Jesus was still on the cross.

SUB-ARGUMENT FOR PREMISE (2A)

4a. According to the Gospel of John (19:34-35), John the son of Zebedee (one of Jesus’ twelve disciples) certified that he saw blood and water come from Jesus’ pierced side immediately after one of the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear while Jesus was still on the cross.

B. The Gospel of John provides a historically reliable and accurate account of the life of Jesus, including his crucifixion.

THEREFORE:

Based on the above careful argument analysis, I produced an argument diagram of this objection that includes seven explicit claims, and seven assumed or unstated claims, arranged in seven inferences or sub-arguments:

SEVEN STATED CLAIMS

1a. John the son of Zebedee (one of Jesus’ twelve disciples) was an eyewitness to the crucifixion of Jesus.

3a. According to the Gospel of John (19:34-35), John the son of Zebedee (one of Jesus’ twelve disciples) was an eyewitness to the crucifixion of Jesus.

5a. Jesus’ lungs had collapsed before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

6a. Jesus had died of asphyxiation before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

SEVEN 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. Blood and water came from Jesus’ pierced side immediately after one of the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear while Jesus was still on the cross.

E. IF Jesus’ lungs had collapsed while Jesus was still on the cross and Jesus had died of asphyxiation while Jesus was still on the cross, then Jesus died while he was still on the cross.

F. Jesus died while he was still on the cross.

G. IF Jesus died while he was still on the cross, THEN the Swoon Theory is FALSE.

THE CORE ARGUMENT OF OBJECTION #3

Typically, the core or heart of an argument is located in the ﬁnal inference or ﬁnal sub-argument of the overall argument. However, in the case of the argument for Objection #3, I see the core argument as located more in the middle of the reasoning, not at the end. The ﬁnal inference or sub-argument of Objection #3 is straightforward and unproblematic. So, any potential problems with the argument are located further back in the chain of reasoning.

Here is the diagram of what I take to be the core argument of Objection #3:

STATED PREMISES

5a. Jesus’ lungs had collapsed before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

6a. Jesus had died of asphyxiation before his side was pierced with a spear, while Jesus was still on the cross.

UNSTATED PREMISES

C. Blood and water came from Jesus’ pierced side immediately after one of the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear while Jesus was still on the cross.

EVALUATION OF OBJECTION #3

For my careful evaluation of Objection #3, see these blog posts on The Secular Frontier:

Kreeft’s Case Against the Swoon Theory – Part 6: Premise (D) of Objection #3

Kreeft’s Case Against the Swoon Theory – Part 7: Premise (C) of Objection #3