Was Jesus God [Paperback]

One of the world's leading philosophers and a staunch defender of religious faith, Richard Swinburne argues compellingly that if there is a God, then the main doctrines which the Christian Church teaches about God are very probably true. In particular, he shows that there is strong philosophical support for the belief that Jesus, while remaining God, acquired a human nature and lived on earth for thirty years as a human being. In virtue of his omnipotence and perfect goodness, the author shows, God must be a Trinity, live a human life in order to share our suffering, and found a church which would enable him to tell all humans about this. It is also quite probable that he would provide his human life as atonement for our wrongdoing, teach us how we should live, and tell us his plans for our future after death. Among founders of religions, Jesus uniquely satisfies the requirement of living the sort of human life which God would need to have lived.

Introduction
PART 1 God Loves Us
1. God
2. God is Love
3. God shared our human nature
4. God atoned for our wrongdoing
5. God taught us how to live
6. God offers us Heaven
PART 2 God shows us that He loves us
7. The Life and Teaching of Jesus
8. The Resurrection of Jesus
9. Provisional Conclusion
10. The Church
11. The Bible
12. Final Conclusion
Index

Richard Swinburnewas Professor of Philosophy at the University of Keele, Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion, University of Oxford, and Fellow of the British Academy.