What Scripture says
The New Testament makes exclusive claims about Jesus:
- “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, ESV).
- “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
- “There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
- “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12).
These claims are framed in a context of God’s love for the whole world: “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16). God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).
What the evidence says
Interpretation
Three positions
Christians have taken three broad positions on other religions:
| View | What it says | Example supporters |
|---|---|---|
| Exclusivism | Salvation comes through Christ, and requires conscious faith in him | Most evangelicals, historically most Protestants |
| Inclusivism | Salvation comes only through Christ, but some may be saved by him without knowing him explicitly | C. S. Lewis, Clark Pinnock; Catholic teaching since Vatican II |
| Pluralism | Many religions are valid paths to God | John Hick; outside historic Christianity |
Both exclusivists and inclusivists agree with the New Testament that Jesus is the only way. They differ on whether a person must know about him to be saved by him. Pluralism rejects the New Testament claim itself.
Why the New Testament claims this
The exclusive claim follows from what the New Testament says about Jesus:
- If Jesus is God incarnate (see 6.4, 8.1), then knowing God is bound up with knowing him: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
- If humanity’s problem is sin, and Jesus’ death deals with sin (see 8.3), then the solution is found in him, not in human effort.
- If Jesus rose from the dead (see 7.9), his claims carry unique weight.
Philosophy
Isn’t it arrogant?
Many people feel it is arrogant to say only one religion is true. Responses:
- Every view is exclusive. The claim that “all religions are equally valid” excludes every religion that disagrees, including Christianity, Islam and Judaism, each of which claims to be true (see 1.7).
- Truth isn’t arrogance. If Jesus is who he claimed, saying so isn’t arrogant, any more than a doctor is arrogant for recommending the only effective treatment.
- Grace, not merit. Christianity claims salvation is a gift, not an achievement (Ephesians 2:8–9). Christians don’t claim to be better than others, only to have received something undeserved.
What about those who never hear?
This is a separate question, and Christians differ on the details (see 1.9). Scripture says God judges justly (Genesis 18:25) and according to the light people had (Romans 1–2).
Context
The New Testament’s exclusive claims were made in a pluralistic world. The Roman Empire had many gods, and new ones were added easily. Christians were persecuted precisely because they wouldn’t add Jesus to the list, but proclaimed him as the one Lord (1 Corinthians 8:5–6).
Where they meet
The New Testament plainly claims that Jesus is the only way to God. Christians differ on how this applies to people who never hear of him.
What’s still open
The fate of those who never hear (see 1.9).
Bottom line
That’s what the New Testament plainly claims (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). This is rated Settled.