THE PROBLEM OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST 26 1 



data for positive assertion, but so far as we know, 

 these brothers resembled one another in nothing. 

 To be sure, James became a Christian, and was 

 Bishop of Jerusalem, but his conception of Chris- 

 tianity was like that of the Baptist rather than like 

 that of Jesus. The argument becomes cumulative 

 when it is remembered that not only were Jesus 

 and James unlike, but that they were the most 

 alike of any of the family. This argument is sig- 

 nificant. Jesus, if such a figure may be allowed 

 in that Galilean household, was like a swan in a 

 brood of chickens ; or, better perhaps, like a prince 

 in a household of peasants. A study of the 

 family of Joseph and Mary, so far as it is known, 

 furnishes no clew to the personality of Jesus. It 

 only complicates the problem which we face when 

 we endeavour to account for Him as the consum- 

 mate flower of His family and His race. 



If we hold to the theory that He was the nat- 

 ural child of Joseph and Mary, the conclusion is 

 inevitable — either He was a genius, and to be 

 regarded as " sports " are regarded in biology, or 

 He is the result of atavism. According to the 

 theory of atavism, the characteristics of an indi- 

 vidual are not derived from his parents, but from 

 some remote ancestors. But here we get no light. 

 What marvellous spiritual prodigies may have 



