Originally posted by robbie carrobie
you know what i think of that text based on the ancient and more accurate rendering of it in the sahidic coptic text, let me state it for you
1. a. Hn te.houeite ne.f.shoop ngi p.shaje
1. b. Auw p.shaje ne.f.shoop n.nahrm p.noute
1. c. Auw ne.u.noute pe p.shaje 1
Literally, the Coptic says:
1. a. In the beginning existed the word
1. b. An ...[text shortened]... t sense was he exalted after his resurrection. in other words, what is the meaning of 'a god'.
Let us say then for the sake of argument that John 1:1 is not clear. Not that I believe that or that all other Greek scholars agree with you. But for the moment we will assume that John 1:1 is obscure.
You still have a considerable amount of evidence that it is proper to understand that the Bible intends to portray that though this man, was sent by the Father, prayed to the Father, obeyed the Father, petitioned the Father, died for the sake of the Father, was raised by the Father, and exalted by the Father, He was still God manifest in the flesh.
And the net effect of Russell and Arius's doctrine is a whole series of clever but failing attempts to insert a HUMAN idea more to their liking then what the Bible reveals.
John 1:1,14 is not the only criteria that informs this doctrine.
For the Arian it is one down and fifty to go. And the accumulated effect is that the Arian has created what the Apostle Paul called
"a system of error" (Eph. 4:14 - Darby, RcV)
And I would add that the pure word of God at times seems are problematic to traditional creedal thoughts of trinitarians also.
For the FULLNESS of the Godhead to dwell in Christ bodily as
Colossians 1:19; 2:9 states might be considered not particularly friendly to trinatarianism.
This is not ONE THIRD of the fullness dwells in Christ. This is not 33.3333 % of the fullness dwells in Christ. This is
]ALL THE FULLNESS dwells in Christ.
Are we going to say "Amen" or are we going to twist it to something more to human preference?
Likewise,
Isaiah 9:6 could be considered problematic to a creedal desire to maintain three SEPARATE persons in God. It steps on the trinitarian toes by stating that the Son given shall be called Eternal Father.
I know staunch evangelicals who immediately go to work to twist this passage. They say that that must be some OTHER Father beside the Father of the Father - Son - Holy Spirit of the New Testament.
They say "This must be the Father of creation."
Or "This must be the Father of Israel."
Or "This must be the Father of the age to come."
Or "This must be some other Father".
But the Bible has only one Divine and Eternal Father - God. So the Bible does not cut us any slack for our natural mind. And I don't care if it presents problems because Jesus was sent by the Father and prayed to the Father and was subject to the Father.
I refused to make the Eternal Father of
Isaiah 9:6 some OTHER Father Who is Eternal. There is only ONE - the Father of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit Triune God.
My point is that the word of God steps on everyone's toes somewhere. The peace of Christ though passes everyman's understanding. And His peace should arbitrate in our hearts.
The life right of eternal life is to to them who receive Him. It is not to them who can explain Him.
Salvation is to everyone who believes into Him. It is not to everyone who can explain Him.
The command of Jesus in John 20 was to
"Receive the Holy Spirit" It was not
"Figure out the Holy Spirit".
When we receive Him the light from God illuminates our inward being.
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now the question arises, that being the case, in what sense was the Word, Jesus Christ, with God, prior to his coming as man, and in what sense was he exalted after his resurrection. in other words, what is the meaning of 'a god'.
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We have debated about this very much already.
My decision is to receive Jesus as my God. I will not make Jesus into an archangel. I will not say that He is no longer a man. I will not say that He did not physically rise. And I will not say that there is no teaching of God the Son in the Bible.
To say that there is no God the Son in the Bible would be to directly contradict
Isaiah 9:6 and Hebrews 1:8 just to name two passages.
The Son given is Eternal God. That is why He is to be called that. And tthe throne of this God is forever and ever.
I also will not fall into polytheism teaching that there is a God Almighty and a Mighty God - two Gods. And I already proved to you that
Jehovah is called both.