A Conversation Between Jesus and Aristotle

A. Ham, recording the conversation that took place seventeen weeks before you are reading the report, sat down between two infamous figures. The first figure, Jesus of Nazareth, also known as “the Christ.” The second, a famous philosopher by the name of Aristotle, mentee of the infamous Plato. Plato declined an interview with Ham. As Ham pulled out her recorder, it was the philosopher who began their discussion. 

[Begin recording] 

A: Jesus the Nazarene. I’ve heard much about you. 

J: From Socrates, I’m sure. I understand he is the mentor of your mentor. 

Aristotle gives a tight smile. 

A: Yes. I’m curious, how does man reach Telos in existence, and are virtues important to you? 

J: Telos. You’re asking how man finds the fulfilling purpose of His life? We find fulfillment not in who we are nor what we do, but in doing what is loving for others. 

A: The grand purpose of life is to serve our community? 

J: To serve anyone. 

A: Anyone? I understand you were persecuted by not only Rome, but your own religious leaders. Would you serve them too? 

J: Yes. I died for them. 

A: For them? 

J: I died for anyone who would repent of their ways and believe in me. 

Aristotle scoffs. 

J: What about you? What would you say is a man’s purpose? 

A: Fulfilling one’s potential. When man reaches his full potential of wisdom, moral integrity, and contemplation, he finds himself fulfilled. 

J: But what if man can’t know everything? What if he is unable in his own ability to do right by others? What if his integrity fails? 

Aristotle harrumphs and doesn’t offer a reply. 

J: Ah. I see I’ve struck a nerve. Let’s change the subject, shall we? You asked about virtue and the role it plays in life. I’d love to hear your thoughts. 

A: I’d say it’s simple, that there are certain rules man should apply to his own life in order to get along with his fellow man. He must strive for the golden mean, that sweet spot between being too timid and too bold in his character. Man must apply practical wisdom to what he does. He needs to learn how to better his character through trial and error. 

J: That’s a lot for one man to do. 

Aristotle shrugs. 

A: No one said life would be easy. Perhaps striving to be virtuous is the cross each man must bear, if you’ll pardon my metaphor. 

Jesus laughs. 

J: Bearing the cross of being virtuous leaves fewer splinters. What I’m hearing you say is that it is man’s responsibility to become right according to the standard of man. May I ask a question? 

Aristotle nods his approval. 

J: How does a man discover what virtue is? How is he able to define it? 

A: By experience. A man witnesses his neighbor steal from someone. His neighbor is then confronted about what he did and is forced to pay for his crime. From watching this, he learns it is wrong to take that which is not his. Or the man may think to himself, “How would I feel if I were the one stolen from,” and knows if it were him, he’d have felt cheated. 

J: But why? Why does he have this inner knowledge? 

A: Perhaps it is just a part of being human. Perhaps each of us learn as we’re children what right and wrong is through the lives of those around us. 

Jesus nods thoughtfully. 

J: Not to disagree, but I’d say these virtues... that is, our inner knowledge of right and wrong, are instilled in us by God. After all, no one but He has the right to define what is good. Yes, we can learn virtue through experience, but we learn them better through God’s law and Word. 

A: You mean these letters from your prophets and... What is it you call them? Apostles? 

J: Yes, but not just these. God’s Word is alive and breathing. 

A: You say that like this “word” is a person. 

Jesus smiles. 

J: Yes. 

Aristotle turns to A. Ham, looking peeved. 

A: I think we’re done here. 

Aristotle exits. 

[End of recording]