Here I want to address the false dilemma created by C.S. Lewis’s famous “Trilemma” argument—often summed up as: Jesus is either a Liar, a Lunatic, or the Lord.
It’s a false dilemma because there are more possibilities than just those three. One obvious option Lewis overlooks is that the New Testament may be, in large part, legendary.
The Logic Behind the Trilemma
Lewis challenges the popular notion that Jesus was merely a great moral teacher. He argues that, based on the radical claims Jesus made—especially about being divine (assuming the New Testament is accurate)—there are only three logical possibilities:
– Liar: If Jesus knowingly made false claims about being God, then he was deliberately deceiving people. That would make him morally corrupt, not a great teacher.
– Lunatic: If Jesus truly believed he was God but was mistaken, then he was delusional—on par with someone who thinks they’re a poached egg, as Lewis colorfully puts it.
– Lord: If Jesus’s claims were true, then he is who he said he was—the Son of God—and deserves worship.
Lewis concludes: “He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
Criticisms and Counterpoints
While compelling to many, critics argue that Lewis’s trilemma is a false dilemma—it oversimplifies the possibilities. For example:
– Most scholars doubt whether the historical Jesus explicitly claimed divinity in the way Lewis assumes.
– Others suggest alternative interpretations: Jesus could have been misunderstood, mythologized, or misrepresented by later followers.
Once you’ve engaged in textual and historical criticism—and examined the contradictions within the gospels—it becomes difficult to accept a univocal account. In other words, there are competing ideas about what Jesus might have said, should have said, and actually said.
As Thomas Moore rightly points out, “As scholars have pointed out for over a century, the four Gospels are riddled with the interpretations, biases and agendas of their editors.” In other words, they should be read as propaganda, not history.
The challenge is that it’s hard to disentangle which parts are authentic and which are later additions. But if you follow the chronological development of the gospels, it appears that the portrayal of Jesus’s divinity evolved over time. Initially, he may have claimed to be no more than the Messiah. Over the decades, his status was elevated—culminating in the Council of Nicaea, where he was officially declared divine.
Conclusion
My view is that the Jesus of the gospels is largely legendary. That makes Lewis’s three choices a false dilemma. Jesus may have been revered as a spiritual master, but not as God incarnate. Which means the original followers of Jesus were the Ebionites , who traced their origins to the Jerusalem Church led by James, the brother of Jesus.
Jay N. Forrest
Rev. Dr. Jay N. Forrest, D.Min., is an independent scholar, interfaith hermit, and author specializing in comparative religious studies, scriptural translation, and contemplative practice. A retired ordained minister and certified meditation teacher with decades of ministry experience, he has produced rigorous translations of key selections from the Pali Canon and Greek New Testament, blending historical-critical methods with insights from Eastern and Western traditions. His scholarship explores the intersections of early Christian texts, Sufi mysticism, and perennial philosophy, offering fresh hermeneutical perspectives on transformative spirituality. Dr. Forrest’s publications, including works on Buddhism, Christianity , and Zentheism, establish him as a distinctive voice in bridging theological erudition and lived devotion for contemporary seekers. Grounded in extensive academic training, his contributions illuminate scriptural foundations and mystical encounters across faiths.