The Figure of Christ According to Władysław Witwicki and Bertrand Russell

Abstract

Władysław Witwicki translated the Gospels of Matthew and Mark and provided them with extensive commentary. This commentary, included in the book The Good News According to Matthew and Mark (1959), presents a psychological portrait of Jesus Christ, based on the Gospel of Matthew. According to Witwicki, the content of this Gospel suggests that Christ treated people instrumentally, was cold and ruthless towards them, demanded their complete submission, and was at times impulsive. Witwicki argues that while Jesus was a great man, he was also an egocentric figure seeking power and glory, primarily concerned with people's recognition of his divine dignity. A similar critique of Christ's character can be found in Bertrand Russell’s famous essay Why I Am Not a Christian (1927). Russell highlights some themes present in Witwicki’s analysis, such as Christ’s angry statements against those who do not acknowledge him as the Messiah. The arguments of Witwicki and Russell seem persuasive if one adopts their rational stance. However, the difficulties they raise may be countered if viewed from the perspective of Christian exegesis. These two perspectives are fundamentally different, as the exegetical approach requires accepting religious assumptions.