CHAPTER XIII 



THE PROBLEM OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST 



In Studying the relation of heredity to the 

 various social and theological problems we come 

 quickly to the inquiry, How do you account for 

 Jesus Christ ? Laying aside speculation, and con- 

 sidering only facts which are uncontested by all 

 who grant the historical accuracy of the Gospels, 

 how is the phenomenal life and career of Jesus of 

 Nazareth to be explained ? To make some sug- 

 gestions toward an answer to this question is the 

 object of this chapter. 



It will be well briefly to recall a few of the 

 replies which have been given to our inquiry. 

 Some writers have been satisfied to say, He was 

 a unique spiritual genius. Genius can never be 

 accounted for by heredity, and the problem in no 

 way differs from that which we face when asked 

 to account for Dante, Luther, Goethe, Shake- 

 speare, and Shelley. Men of genius are always 

 outside all categories. They are what the biolo- 

 gists would call " sports." 



Another class satisfy themselves and attempt to 

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