Here’s What Napoleon Really Said About Jesus
Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769, and died on May 5, 1821. He is remembered as one of the greatest military leaders in history. His name is often mentioned alongside famous emperors like Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. In just over ten years, Napoleon went from being an unknown junior artillery officer to becoming the “Emperor of the French.” He crowned himself Emperor in 1804, and within three years, he had almost complete control over Europe.
Towards the end of his life, he was in exile on the island of St. Helena. The exiled Napoleon talked to one of his generals and good friends about who Jesus Christ is. Numerous accounts exist of Napoleon making these and similar remarks about Jesus and Christianity. These quotes in this article can be found in full in John S. Abbott’s 1855 book, “The History of Napoleon Bonaparte.”
Christianity Compared To Other Religions
“Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires and the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is between Christianity and other religions the distance of infinity.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
Empires
“Alexander, Cæsar, Charlemagne and myself founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon sheer force. Jesus Christ alone founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men will die for Him. In every other existence but that of Christ how many imperfections!” – Napoleon Bonaparte
Majestic And Simple
“From the first day to the last He is the same; majestic and simple; infinitely firm and infinitely gentle. He proposes to our faith a series of mysteries and commands with authority that we should believe them, giving no other reason than those tremendous words, ‘I am God.’” – Napoleon Bonaparte.
Other gods
Referring to other so-called gods worshipped by humanity, Napoleon said: “Nothing announces them divine. On the contrary, there are numerous resemblances between them and myself, foibles and errors which ally them to me and to humanity.”
Christ’s Astonishing Nature
He continued, saying, “It is not so with Christ. Everything in Him astonishes me. His spirit overawes me, and his will confounds me. Between Him and whoever else in the world, there is no possible term of comparison.”
Christ’s Uniqueness
“He is truly a being by Himself. His ideas and His sentiments, the truths which He announces, His manner of convincing, are not explained either by human organization of by the nature of things.” – Napoleon Bonaparte.
The Bible’s Unique Grandeur
“The Bible contains a complete series of acts and of historical men to explain time and eternity, such as no other religion has to offer. If it is not the true religion, one is very excusable in being deceived; for everything in it is grand and worthy of God.” – Napoleon Bonaparte.
Christ Unmatched In History
“I search in vain in history to find the similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the Gospel. Neither history, nor humanity, nor the ages, nor nature can offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.” – Napoleon Bonaparte.
Happiness Of Christians
“The more I consider the Gospel, the more I am assured that there is nothing there which is not beyond the march of events and above the human mind. Even the impious themselves have never dared to deny the sublimity of the Gospel, which inspires them with a sort of compulsory veneration. What happiness that Book procures for those who believe it!” – Napoleon Bonaparte
Living Power Of The Gospel
“The Gospel possesses a secret virtue, a mysterious efficacy, a warmth which penetrates and soothes the heart. One finds in meditating upon it that which one experiences in contemplating the heavens. The Gospel is not a book, it is a living being with an action, a power which invades everything that opposes its extension.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
The Bible’s Beauty
He continued to speak of the Bible, saying, “Nowhere is to be found such a series of beautiful ideas, admirable moral maxims which defile like the battalions of a celestial army, and which produce in our soul the same emotion which one experiences in contemplating the infinite expanse of the skies, resplendent in a summer’s night with all the brilliance of the stars.”
A Guide
“Not only is our mind absorbed, it is controlled, and the soul can never go astray with this book for its guide. Once master of our spirit, the faithful Gospel loves us. God even is our friend, our father, and truly our God.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
The Church’s Endurance
Napoleon said, “Nations pass away, thrones crumble, but the Church remains.” What do you think about Napoleon’s thoughts on Jesus Christ? Do you agree or disagree?
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