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A Tale of Two Gods: Why C.S. Lewis's Famous Argument Falls Apart with John Dominic Crossan

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Jan 28, 2026

Guest

John Dominic Crossan

John Dominic Crossan, renowned New Testament scholar who studies the historical Jesus, challenges C.S. Lewis by positing two rival claimants to divinity: Caesar and Jesus. He contrasts imperial power and imagery with Jesus’ persuasive, justice-centered message. The talk examines Actium, Augustan propaganda, competing titles like Savior and Lord, and modern parallels about violence, peace, and sustainability.

01:28:53

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INSIGHT

Two Competing Programs Of Divinity

John Dominic Crossan frames history as a contest between two incarnated programs: Caesar's violent victory and Jesus' nonviolent persuasion.
He argues that the gap between these two figures determines whether human civilization pursues peace by domination or by distributive justice.

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INSIGHT

Limits Of Lewis's Trilemma

Crossan revisits C.S. Lewis's trilemma (Lord, Lunatic, Liar) and challenges its logic when there are competing divine claimants.
He insists if two contemporaries claim divinity, rational logic can't force a single verdict; faith choices shape allegiance.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Imagining Rome's 20-Year Civil War

Crossan asks listeners to imagine 20 years of brutal Roman civil war and the relief Octavian's victory brought.
He uses that imagining to show why Romans accepted a living ruler as divine after prolonged chaos.

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A Tale of Two Gods: Visual Framing

05:01 • 35sec

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Caesar as Divine Power

05:36 • 2min

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Jesus as Persuasive Authority

08:06 • 2min

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Critique of C.S. Lewis's Trilemma

09:42 • 3min

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Two Gods: Caesar vs. Christ Stakes

12:22 • 4min

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How Caesar Became Divine

16:10 • 4min

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Roman Civil Wars: Historical Context

20:32 • 1min

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Battle of Actium: Logistics and Outcome

21:47 • 12min

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Propaganda After Actium

33:52 • 4min

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Augustan Coinage and Imagery

37:45 • 6min

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Nicopolis and the Sacred Battle Tent

43:54 • 10min

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Living Divinity: A New Imperial Theology

54:06 • 3min

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Comparing Titles: Augustus and Messiah

Theological and Evolutionary Challenge

01:04:26 • 53sec

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Imperial Indirection and Public Theology

01:05:19 • 4min

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Jesus' Message: Love Your Enemies

01:09:31 • 5min

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Invitation to Lent Class & Q&A

01:14:11 • 27sec

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Audience Questions: Lewis and Jesus' Identity

01:14:38 • 5min

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Gospel Sources and Historical Method

01:19:41 • 3min

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Modern Parallels: Power and Civilization

• Mentioned in 63 episodes

The Lion, The witch and the Wardrobe

C.S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a portal fantasy novel that follows the story of four English siblings - Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy - who are evacuated to the countryside during World War II. While exploring the large, old house of Professor Kirke, Lucy discovers a wardrobe that serves as a portal to the land of Narnia. In Narnia, they encounter various magical creatures and the evil White Witch, who has cast a spell to keep Narnia in perpetual winter. The siblings soon learn that they are part of an ancient prophecy to save Narnia, aided by the lion Aslan. The story is an allegory of Christianity, with Aslan's sacrifice and resurrection mirroring the story of Jesus Christ. The novel also incorporates elements from Germanic, classical Greek and Roman, and Celtic mythology.

#40

• Mentioned in 253 episodes

Mere Christianity

C.S. Lewis

In 'Mere Christianity', C.S. Lewis argues for the existence of God and defends Christian theology. The book is divided into four parts: the first argues for the existence of God based on the 'law of human nature'; the second defends Christian theology, including the 'Liar, lunatic, or Lord' trilemma regarding Jesus Christ; the third explores Christian ethics, including the cardinal and theological virtues; and the fourth discusses the Christian conception of God, particularly the Holy Trinity. Lewis also addresses topics such as free will, morality, sexual ethics, and the institution of marriage. The book is known for its clear and logical presentation of Christian apologetics and has been praised for its straightforward and humorous writing style.

In this preview for our upcoming Lent class, Jesus in Galilee, John Dominic Crossan dives into what he calls "A Tale of Two Gods"—Caesar and Christ. He takes on C.S. Lewis's famous trilemma (Lord, Lunatic, or Liar) and asks the question Lewis never considered: what if there were two contemporary claimants to divinity? Because there were. Before Jesus ever showed up, Caesar Augustus was already being called Son of God, Savior of the World, and Lord. Dom walks us through the Battle of Actium and how Octavian's victory became the foundation for a theology of peace through violent victory—and then sets that against the Jesus movement's counter-claim: peace through distributive justice. It's not just ancient history either; as our live audience pointed out, we're watching the "normalcy of civilization" play out in real time right now. The big question Dom leaves us with is whether our species is sustainable if we keep betting on escalatory violence. Heavy stuff, but exactly the kind of thing we'll be unpacking together throughout Lent. Hope you'll join us at CrossanClass.com—lectures drop soon, and we'll have live Q&As throughout Lent.

You can WATCH the lecture and see all the slides on YouTube.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Join us at Theology Beer Camp, October 8-10, in Kansas City!⁠

⁠UPCOMING ONLINE LENT CLASS: Jesus in Galilee w/ John Dominic Crossan⁠⁠⁠

What can we actually know about Jesus of Nazareth? And, what difference does it make?

⁠⁠⁠This Lenten class ⁠⁠⁠begins where all of Dr. John Dominic Crossan's has work begins: with history. What was actually happening in Galilee in the 20s CE? What did Herod Antipas' transformation of the "Sea of Galilee" into the commercial "Sea of Tiberias" mean for peasant fishing communities? Why did Jesus emerge from John's baptism movement proclaiming God's Rule through parables—and what made that medium so perfectly suited to that message? Only by understanding what Jesus' parables meant then can we wrestle with what they might demand of us now.

⁠⁠⁠The class is donation-based, including 0, so join, get info, and join up here.⁠⁠

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