Of Men and Mantles: Kierkegaard on the Difference between a Genius and an Apostle

Authors

John S. Tanner

Keywords

Mormon studies, Kierkegaard, apostleship

Abstract

I was once asked to introduce Elder Neal A. Maxwell to a group of BYU English majors. This assignment caused me some concern. I feared that my audience might be inclined to revere Elder Maxwell for the wrong reasons, or at least for secondary reasons—namely, for his considerable gifts as a writer rather than for his apostolic authority. So rather than rehearse Elder Maxwell's résumé, I decided to frame my introduction with insights borrowed from a remarkable essay by Søren Kierkeaard entitled "The Difference between a Genius and an Apostle." In it, Kierkegaard emphasizes that human genius does not confer genuine religious authority. Thus, to honor an Apostle like Paul as a profound thinker or notable stylist is to miss the point. Paul's brilliance is no more relevant to his real claim on us than is his skill as a tentmaker.

Recommended Citation

Tanner, John S. (2001) "Of Men and Mantles: Kierkegaard on the Difference between a Genius and an Apostle," BYU Studies Quarterly: Vol. 40: Iss. 2, Article 7.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol40/iss2/7