The Two Tests: The Supernatural Claims of Christianity Tried by Two of Its Own Rules

In Short

This work serves as a methodical examination of Christian supernatural claims, specifically testing them against the Bible’s own internal evidence and historical consistency. Rather than attacking faith with external cynicism, the author adopts the tools of traditional apologetics to scrutinize the miraculous birth, the nature of prophecy, and the resurrection of Jesus. By highlighting profound discrepancies between the gospel narratives and the conflicting testimony of the apostles, the book argues that the traditional Christian framework fails to withstand its own standards of evidence, ultimately advocating for a life focused on human progress rather than metaphysical dogma.

The Story

The inquiry begins with a personal acknowledgment: the author recognizes that for many, the Christian faith is a source of profound emotional and moral security. This security is often bolstered by the intellectual labor of theologians who have historically insisted that the truth of the Gospel must be tested by objective, rational evidence—independent of sentiment. The book accepts this challenge, proposing to treat the Old and New Testaments as the primary and infallible sources of evidence, setting aside modern critical theories about authorship or interpolation to work directly within the framework accepted by believers.

The argument proceeds by dismantling the supernatural credentials of Jesus. The author meticulously examines the narratives surrounding Jesus’ birth, noting the silence of the gospel writers regarding events that should, logically, have been common knowledge. When comparing the accounts of the Nativity, the author points out that the miraculous visitations and prophecies cited by Luke are often omitted or contradicted by Matthew, Mark, and John. Furthermore, the author situates these miraculous claims within the context of contemporary Gentile mythology, arguing that the concept of a deity fathering a mortal child was a common pagan trope, rather than a uniquely Jewish manifestation.

The investigation then pivots to the role of Satan and the nature of the Jewish deity. By analyzing Hebrew terminology, the author contends that the modern Christian conception of a personal, adversarial devil is a later invention, absent from the older Mosaic tradition. This leads to a broader critique of the “curse” of sin. The author poses a sharp dilemma: if Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and reverse the suffering of humanity, why do death, pain, and toil continue unabated? The author concludes that the Christian doctrine of an eternally triumphant devil—who continues to reign over the majority of mankind—renders the promise of a redeemed world logically void.

The climax of the inquiry is the examination of the Resurrection and the Ascension. Here, the author highlights the chaotic divergence in the gospel accounts of Jesus’ post-mortem appearances. By comparing the records of the eleven, the testimony of Paul, and the silence of John and Matthew regarding the Ascension, the author illustrates a lack of consensus that would be inadmissible in any standard historical inquiry. The book concludes that when the evidence is weighed with "hardihood of abstract intelligence," the supernatural structure collapses. However, the author does not leave the reader in a void. Instead, the final chapters redirect the reader’s focus toward the tangible world—to the study of natural law, the alleviation of human misery, and the cultivation of wisdom within the span of a mortal life.

How It Unfolds

The mandate for inquiry The author establishes that faith should not fear the light of evidence, even if that light leads to uncomfortable conclusions. He adopts the perspective of a believer who seeks to test the validity of the Gospel by the very logic prescribed by traditional Christian apologists.

The critique of supernatural origins The narrative shifts to the birth of Jesus, comparing the accounts in the gospels to identify internal contradictions. The author demonstrates that the miraculous elements of the Nativity align more closely with pagan legends than with the established Mosaic history of the Old Testament.

The problem of the adversary The text analyzes the evolution of the concept of Satan, arguing that the figure is a misinterpretation of Hebrew terminology. This section challenges the efficacy of Jesus’ mission, suggesting that the continued existence of earthly suffering contradicts the claim that he conquered the works of the devil.

The conflict of apostolic testimony The author examines the resurrection accounts, noting that the gospel writers present inconsistent timelines and locations for Jesus’ appearances. By highlighting that key witnesses omit central events like the Ascension, the author argues that the historical foundation of the faith is critically fractured.

The turn toward secular humanism The work concludes by suggesting that the collapse of supernatural hope is not a tragedy, but a liberation. The author maintains that human effort, scientific understanding, and moral cooperation provide a more reliable and fulfilling basis for existence than the expectation of a future life.

The People

The book is framed by the tension between two types of thinkers. Dr. Chalmers represents the traditional Christian apologist; he is a man of "mighty intellect" who insists that truth must be pursued with "hardihood of abstract and unfeeling intelligence," even if that truth demands the sacrifice of one’s dearest beliefs. The author aligns himself with this rigorous ideal, positioning himself as the one who finally carries out the task Chalmers proposed.

Jesus remains the central object of the investigation. In the eyes of the author, the traditional depiction of Jesus as a supernatural redeemer is constantly obstructed by the gospel writers’ own inconsistent testimonies. The author does not attack the moral character of the man but instead focuses on the "supernatural credentials" assigned to him by others, which the author finds lacking in historical verification.

The Disciples and the Evangelists (Luke, Matthew, John, and Paul) act as the primary sources whose conflicting accounts drive the investigation. They are presented as men whose attempts to build a coherent narrative of a miracle-working savior result in mutually exclusive stories. By the end of the book, these figures have been transformed from inspired witnesses into participants in a centuries-long tradition of narrative divergence, leaving the reader to decide which, if any, version of the events can be trusted.

In Its Own Voice

The author highlights the necessity of separating emotional attachment from objective analysis:

"He should separate the exercises of the understanding from the tendencies of the fancy or of the heart."

In examining the nature of the gospels, the author addresses the claim of divine revelation versus human observation:

"If any one holds that the gospels record, either in whole or in part, facts which the writers did not see, or were not told of, but which were specially revealed to their spirit by a God of truth, as having occurred, he claims more for them than they do for themselves."

What It's Really About

At its core, the book is an argument for the supremacy of historical and logical consistency over the comfort of traditional dogma. It explores the tension between the desire for an eternal, supernatural hope and the reality of a world governed by observable, natural laws. The central question is whether a belief system can survive when it is forced to reconcile its miraculous claims with the conflicting, often contradictory, records of its own founders. It is a treatise on the "hardihood" required to let go of inherited beliefs once those beliefs are revealed to be logically untenable, suggesting that the true value of human existence lies in the finite, material world rather than the promise of a heavenly hereafter.

Why Read It Today

This book is a challenging, intellectual companion for anyone grappling with the transition from faith to a more secular, evidence-based worldview. Readers who appreciate the meticulous, 19th-century style of critical analysis—where every scriptural reference is pored over with surgical precision—will find much to admire. The tone is consistently calm and deliberate, avoiding the aggressive polemics that often define modern debates on religion.

However, the reader should be prepared for the dense, Victorian-era prose and the author’s tendency to engage in extensive, line-by-line deconstruction of biblical genealogies and minor textual discrepancies. The book assumes a high level of familiarity with the King James Version and the structure of the gospels; the lack of modern critical context (such as archaeological or literary-critical studies) makes it feel very much like a product of its time. Despite these hurdles, what remains with the reader is the author's surprising, almost gentle, transition from the wreckage of his theological certainty to a robust, hopeful focus on human progress. It is a testament to the idea that losing one’s faith in the supernatural does not necessarily mean losing one’s capacity for reverence or moral purpose.