Continuing the study on Eternal Verities (Eternal Truths) -
I'm going to copy parts of a thought paper and we're going to delve into more about what I was talking about yesterday, the Godhead and eternal truths. I'll interject it with my own thoughts and probably end up breaking it up into digestable pieces, meaning give it bit by bit so it's not overwhelming and gives us time to think about what's being presented. If you're reading this you'll have access to the internet and as such it's easy to check various facts such as the meaning of Greek and Hebrew words. Don't hesitate to take time to check things for yourself. We are accountable for what we can do and that means seeking the knowledge where we can. In our time we live in something called the 'Information Age' and it is. Information is right at our fingertips and we have to avail ourselves of it.
May God bless us as we seek to understand more fully His will, His way, the truths that we need to know and believe as this world becomes more and more deceptive.
*******
Zechariah 6:12-13 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: Even he shall build the temple of the Lord: and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne: and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
The literal Hebrew reads that "the counsel of peace shall be between the Two of Them." It was "through our Lord Jesus Christ" that man could be once more at peace with God. (Rom. 5:1) He, as the great High Priest, sits upon His "throne of grace" (Heb. 4:15-16), at "the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Heb. 1:3) It is in this context that the Sonship motif is set. Observe closely Hebrews 5:5-6
**Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ**
**Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Christ glorified not Himself to be made an high priest; but He who said unto Him, Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee. As He saith also in another place, Thou art a priest forever after the Order of Melchisedec.**
**Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high**
**Heb 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. Heb 5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.**
The "Sonship" came to Christ in the same way that the High Priesthood came to Him - by the calling and decree of God. This calling is emphasized in the context of Hebrews 1. The rhetorical question is asked - "For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?" (1:5) The first question is drawn from Psalms 2:7, and the second from II Samuel 7:14.
The Messianic second Psalm speaks of Christ by three titles or offices: the "Anointed" One (ver. 2); the "King" (ver. 6); and the "Son" (ver. 7). He who became the Anointed One (Messiah), and the Son, and who will come as King of kings, emanated from times eternal as the Logos. It is clearly stated in language that should not be misanderstood by anyone, that the "Sonship" was by "decree." Peter set forth to Cornelius that He who is "Lord of all" was "anointed ... with the Holy Spirit and with power" at His baptism. (Acts 10:36-38) While He is now a priest upon His throne, He anticipates His return as King of kings and Lord of lords. (Rev. 19:16) In this prophetic picture of Revelation, He is called "the Word (Gr. Logos) of God."
**Act 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) Act 10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; Act 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.**
**Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.**
When one reviews the second quotation from II Samuel 7:14 in context, he can see, if he has eyes to see, that it is a literal promise made to David concerning Solomon. No stretch of the imagination can perceive of Solomon as having been "conceived" or "generated" by God. It was a commitment by God to David to make his son, Solomon, His son. Paul, recognizing this as an apt illustration of the relationship of the Logos to God in the redemptive process, lifted it from context and applied it to the "Sonship" of Jesus Christ.
In this same setting of Hebrews 1 there is another word, firstbegotten (prwtotokoV ), which has been misrepresented so that its true meaning is misunderstood. The same word is used of Christ in Colossians 1:15, 18 - "first born (prwtotokoV) of every creature" and "the firstborn (prwtotokoV ) from the dead." One has but to review the record of the Old Testament to know that Jesus was not the first to have been resurrected from the dead. (II Kings 4:34,36) The Gospels tell of the Widow of Nain whose son was restored to her, and the resurrection of Lazarus. What then is the force of this word? Paul states it clearly - "that in all things, He might have the pre-eminence." (Col. 1:18) This concept of "pre-eminence" is the force used in Heb. 1:6. The One coming into the world is so pre-eminent that God instructs the angels of Heaven - "Let all the angels of God worship Him." Even though a Babe in Bethlehem's manger, He is God manifest in the flesh, to be the pre-eminent One of humanity, to stand at the head of the fallen race, the Second Adam.
To this same Son by decree, pre-eminent in every way, God speaks - "Thy throne, 0 God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." (Heb. 1:8) He "forever" will be as He "ever" has been, the I AM. He "laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of His hands." (v.10)
Romans 9:4-5 My kinsmen according to the flesh: who are Israelites; ... and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God, blessed for ever. Amen.
In these verses, Paul is contrasting the origin of the Messiah - from the "flesh" of Israel, yet God in that flesh. Some have attempted to make this merely a doxology to God - "Blessed be God" - instead of Christ as God "over all ... blessed forever." The word, euloghtoV (blessed) follows the word, qeoV (God). Alford in commenting on this verse writes - "Without one exception in Hebrew or Greek, whenever an ascription of blessing is found, the predicate euloghtoV precedes the name of God." (Vol.11, p.405) In Romans 9:5, it follows, therefore cannot be interpreted as a blessing on God.
**Rom 9:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.**
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at anytime; the only begotten Son; which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.
This verse is the final verse of the preface to John's gospel, which is recognized as one of the last, if not the last book written of the books in the New Testament. Textual evidence is divided as to whether this verse should read - "only begotten Son" or "only begotten God." It must be understood, which ever reading is chosen, that John is writing from his viewpoint in time. He is saying that He who had declared Him in the flesh (verse 14), was then, at the time of the writing, in the "bosom of the Father."
The Greek word, monogenhV , is translated by two words in the KJV, "only begotten." This is a faulty translation and thus a false interpretation is drawn by those promoting the neo-Gnosticism.
In analyzing this word, we will first give every reference in the New Testament where this word is used and how it is translated in each verse:
Luke 7:12- the only son of his mother,
8:42- For he had only one daughter,
9:35 - for he is my only child.
John 1:14 - as of the only begotten of the Father,
1:18 - the only begotten Son, which is
3:16 - his only begotten Son, that whosoever
3:18 - of the only begotten Son of God.
Heb. 11:17- offered up his only begotten (son),
I John 4:9 - God sent his only begotten Son
A careful comparison of the use of monogenhV in the New Testament indicates that only John uses the word in reference to Jesus. To translate it as "only begotten" places the Scriptures in error as seen by its use in Hebrews 11:17. Isaac was not the "only begotten" son of Abraham; but he was uniquely begotten, a son of promise by the intervention of God. The Greek word, monogenhV is from two words meaning "only" and "kind," thus could be translated "only (one) of a kind," or unique.
The translation "only begotten" in John's Gospel and First Epistle, originated with the Fathers of the Roman Catholic Church. It entered early English translations of the Bible through the influence of the Latin Vulgate, the official Bible of the Roman Church. Various Old Latin manuscripts which preceded the Vulgate read, "only" rather than "only begotten." The idea that Christ "was born of the Father before all creation" appears first in the writings of Origen, about A.D. 230. Arius, about one hundred years later, was the first to use gegennemenon, the correct Greek word for "begotten" if used in reference to Christ to affirm that He was "begotten of God before all ages." This Greek word is never used in the Bible in reference to the pre-incarnate Christ. "The idea that Christ was 'begotten' by the Father at some time in eternity past is altogether foreign to the Scriptures."
TO BE CONTINUED.
I keep saying it and I keep meaning it, this is a very deep study and bears reading and re-reading. Little nuances, subtle and yet meaning so much are things we need to pay attention to. When light can be shed on deception; when the Greek and Hebrew interpretations can be clarified we really need to obtain the knowledge and use the new understanding as God would have us. It's so interesting to note that words such as 'only begotten' have been misinterpreted. Part of me wants to deny it, because I've only known the verses as such. But in light of the true meaning... 'only (one) of a kind, or unique' we have to realize that we aren't limiting Christ as a God, existence. He was in the beginning with God, we know this. However we know too that He took on flesh and became, Immanuel, God with us.
Just because I want to do it, I'm going to use the real translation in that tiny list of verses above.
Luke 7:12- the only son of his mother, (No change)
8:42- For he had only one daughter,(No change)
9:35 - for he is my only child.(No change)
John 1:14 - as of the only ONE of the Father,(changed)
1:18 - the UNIQUE Son, which is (changed)
3:16 - his UNIQUE Son, that whosoever (changed)
3:18 - of the Unique Son of God.(changed)
Heb. 11:17- offered up his UNIQUE (son),(changed)
I John 4:9 - God sent his UNIQUE Son(changed)
Do the changed verses lose any of their power? No. Unique holds it's own as describing God's Son, unique.
Dictonary Def-
unique (y¡-nêk´) adjective
1. Being the only one of its kind
2. Without an equal or equivalent; unparalleled.
Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary
If anything it gives the context more power, more meaning.
May God bless and keep us in Him, through the power of the Holy Spirit, by the grace and mercy of His Unique Son, in their love.
Amen.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Eternal Verities 5A
Continuing the study on Eternal Verities (Eternal Truths) -
I'm going to copy parts of a thought paper and we're going to delve into more about what I was talking about yesterday, the Godhead and eternal truths. I'll interject it with my own thoughts and probably end up breaking it up into digestable pieces, meaning give it bit by bit so it's not overwhelming and gives us time to think about what's being presented. If you're reading this you'll have access to the internet and as such it's easy to check various facts such as the meaning of Greek and Hebrew words. Don't hesitate to take time to check things for yourself. We are accountable for what we can do and that means seeking the knowledge where we can. In our time we live in something called the 'Information Age' and it is. Information is right at our fingertips and we have to avail ourselves of it.
May God bless us as we seek to understand more fully His will, His way, the truths that we need to know and believe as this world becomes more and more deceptive.
*******
Exodus 3:13-14 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is His name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM; and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel , I AM hath sent me unto you.
The Hebrew word translated, "I AM" is the imperfect form of the verb, hahyah, "to be." Most of us have names which are classified as nouns. Not so the name chosen by God to designate Himself.
Further the verb is in the imperfect tense denoting unfinished action. Gesenius suggests in his Lexicon that the meaning of "I Am that I Am" is that God "will never be other than the same" and is. (p.384)
In other words, by this name God designates Himself as eternal and immutable. This word is the root for the name Jehovah. Jesus in His humanity claimed this name for Himself. (John 8:58)
A comparison of various verses in Revelation (1:10-11,17-18; 22:12-13 with 1:8) indicates that both He who liveth and was dead but is alive forevermore, has the same designation as "the Almighty." This reinforces the Hebrew Shema that the Gods of Israelis is one Jehovah. Gesenius observes in his discussion of the Hebrew word, Yehowah that "several ancient writers" relate "that the God of the Hebews was called IAW." (ibid.) ["I am Alpha and Omega"]
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a child is given . . . and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible, following closely the Hebrew, renders the titles of the prophesied God-man, as: "Wondeful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Mighty God." The expression, "the Father of Eternity" is the best that human language can find to express the eternal pre-existence of the Logos.
Eternalness is an attribute of Deity, and thus "eternity" is synonymous with God, and not a creation of God.
It is the "time" frame of God's ever-existence which the human mind, limited as it is by time as we know it, cannot comprehend.
The same thought is given in Micah 5:2 where the Messianic prophecy, revealing the place of the birth of the Coming One, describes His "goings forth" as being "from everlasting." The word translated "everlasting" (gohlahm) is the same word used in Psalm 90:2 - "From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."
Again, the eternalness of God cannot be limited because of the limitations of human language and thought to express or comprehend what "everlasting" really is. He who has existed from all eternity comes forth in time from that incomprehensible reality.
Zechariah 6:12-13 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: Even he shall build the temple of the Lord: and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne: and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
*******
My thoughts-
Can you ever imagine a time when you were not? Of course you can't *remember* that time. To yourself you always were and it's only history that tells us otherwise. It's only pictures that bring to life a world before ours. Books bring the past to us. Our imaginations fill in a lot of gaps. Most of us can't remember our own first word, our own first step, we start to remember things on an average of about age 4-5 years old. This isn't to say there aren't some who remember earlier, and some who don't start to have self awareness memories until later in their lives. We know we aren't from forever. We have a beginning at conception, an introduction to the world at birth, and a life after birth that eventually will end up in our deaths. We watch people die, maybe not literally, but we live under the shadow of death always. Our great grandparents pass away, then our grandparents and eventually our parents in the natural progression of normal aging without the exceptions of which there are many. When someone we know dies, we begin to comprehend that our life too will end some day. We will cease to have breath in our bodies, a heart beating in our chests, our life on earth will end. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know I'm sure. What I'm emphasizing is that God is ever- God always was, God is, and God always will be, He is infinite we are finite. Jesus in His Spirit form has been with God infinitely, taking on flesh to live and die among us and He lay in the grave three days before rising from the dead. He then had yet to ascend to His Father after rising from the dead. And now Jesus lives infinitely with flesh that has been glorified by God and made new as all who will one day be with Him will have.
We are studying to comprend the truths of the Godhead and we will continue to do so. May God continue to bless us as we learn, relearn, and forever seek to learn.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord, our Savior, our Redeemer now and forever. In His love always!
Amen.
I'm going to copy parts of a thought paper and we're going to delve into more about what I was talking about yesterday, the Godhead and eternal truths. I'll interject it with my own thoughts and probably end up breaking it up into digestable pieces, meaning give it bit by bit so it's not overwhelming and gives us time to think about what's being presented. If you're reading this you'll have access to the internet and as such it's easy to check various facts such as the meaning of Greek and Hebrew words. Don't hesitate to take time to check things for yourself. We are accountable for what we can do and that means seeking the knowledge where we can. In our time we live in something called the 'Information Age' and it is. Information is right at our fingertips and we have to avail ourselves of it.
May God bless us as we seek to understand more fully His will, His way, the truths that we need to know and believe as this world becomes more and more deceptive.
*******
Exodus 3:13-14 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is His name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM; and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel , I AM hath sent me unto you.
The Hebrew word translated, "I AM" is the imperfect form of the verb, hahyah, "to be." Most of us have names which are classified as nouns. Not so the name chosen by God to designate Himself.
Further the verb is in the imperfect tense denoting unfinished action. Gesenius suggests in his Lexicon that the meaning of "I Am that I Am" is that God "will never be other than the same" and is. (p.384)
In other words, by this name God designates Himself as eternal and immutable. This word is the root for the name Jehovah. Jesus in His humanity claimed this name for Himself. (John 8:58)
A comparison of various verses in Revelation (1:10-11,17-18; 22:12-13 with 1:8) indicates that both He who liveth and was dead but is alive forevermore, has the same designation as "the Almighty." This reinforces the Hebrew Shema that the Gods of Israelis is one Jehovah. Gesenius observes in his discussion of the Hebrew word, Yehowah that "several ancient writers" relate "that the God of the Hebews was called IAW." (ibid.) ["I am Alpha and Omega"]
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a child is given . . . and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible, following closely the Hebrew, renders the titles of the prophesied God-man, as: "Wondeful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Mighty God." The expression, "the Father of Eternity" is the best that human language can find to express the eternal pre-existence of the Logos.
Eternalness is an attribute of Deity, and thus "eternity" is synonymous with God, and not a creation of God.
It is the "time" frame of God's ever-existence which the human mind, limited as it is by time as we know it, cannot comprehend.
The same thought is given in Micah 5:2 where the Messianic prophecy, revealing the place of the birth of the Coming One, describes His "goings forth" as being "from everlasting." The word translated "everlasting" (gohlahm) is the same word used in Psalm 90:2 - "From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."
Again, the eternalness of God cannot be limited because of the limitations of human language and thought to express or comprehend what "everlasting" really is. He who has existed from all eternity comes forth in time from that incomprehensible reality.
Zechariah 6:12-13 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: Even he shall build the temple of the Lord: and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne: and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
*******
My thoughts-
Can you ever imagine a time when you were not? Of course you can't *remember* that time. To yourself you always were and it's only history that tells us otherwise. It's only pictures that bring to life a world before ours. Books bring the past to us. Our imaginations fill in a lot of gaps. Most of us can't remember our own first word, our own first step, we start to remember things on an average of about age 4-5 years old. This isn't to say there aren't some who remember earlier, and some who don't start to have self awareness memories until later in their lives. We know we aren't from forever. We have a beginning at conception, an introduction to the world at birth, and a life after birth that eventually will end up in our deaths. We watch people die, maybe not literally, but we live under the shadow of death always. Our great grandparents pass away, then our grandparents and eventually our parents in the natural progression of normal aging without the exceptions of which there are many. When someone we know dies, we begin to comprehend that our life too will end some day. We will cease to have breath in our bodies, a heart beating in our chests, our life on earth will end. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know I'm sure. What I'm emphasizing is that God is ever- God always was, God is, and God always will be, He is infinite we are finite. Jesus in His Spirit form has been with God infinitely, taking on flesh to live and die among us and He lay in the grave three days before rising from the dead. He then had yet to ascend to His Father after rising from the dead. And now Jesus lives infinitely with flesh that has been glorified by God and made new as all who will one day be with Him will have.
We are studying to comprend the truths of the Godhead and we will continue to do so. May God continue to bless us as we learn, relearn, and forever seek to learn.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord, our Savior, our Redeemer now and forever. In His love always!
Amen.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Eternal Verities 4A
Continuing the study on Eternal Verities (Eternal Truths) -
I'm going to copy parts of a thought paper and we're going to delve into more about what I was talking about yesterday, the Godhead and eternal truths. I'll interject it with my own thoughts and probably end up breaking it up into digestable pieces, meaning give it bit by bit so it's not overwhelming and gives us time to think about what's being presented. If you're reading this you'll have access to the internet and as such it's easy to check various facts such as the meaning of Greek and Hebrew words. Don't hesitate to take time to check things for yourself. We are accountable for what we can do and that means seeking the knowledge where we can. In our time we live in something called the 'Information Age' and it is. Information is right at our fingertips and we have to avail ourselves of it.
May God bless us as we seek to understand more fully His will, His way, the truths that we need to know and believe as this world becomes more and more deceptive.
*******
John 1:1-3 In beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with the God, and God was the Logos. The same was in beginning with the God. All things through Him came into being, and without Him came into being not even one [thing] which has come into being. (Greek, literal translation)
(((Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Standard translation.))))
The Gospel of John was among the last books of the New Testament to be written, if not the last one. In the first eighteen verses of his Gospel, John gives a prologue, setting forth data of what was prior to the Incarnation, as well as what happened at the Incarnation.
From these verses, we can observe the following data:
1) There were Two Beings - the Logos (the Word) and God.
2) The Logos was of the same essence as God. He was as much God as God Himself. "God was the Logos."
((IMPORTANT)) --> The article is used to denote separate Beings; and omitted when defining the nature of the Logos.
((NOTE- Article definition-
4. Grammar. Any of a class of words used to signal nouns and to specify their application. In English, the indefinite articles are a and an and the definite article is the.
Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary))
Conclusions which can be drawn:
1) Since "God" is defined as "Spirit" (John 4:24 - no article, literally, "God is Spirit"), then the Logos was as God, also "Spirit."
We are "flesh" in our reality; God is "spirit" in His reality.
Paul could use the word, "form" to designate both the reality of God, and the reality of man. (Phil. 2:6,7)
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men
2) The Logos created all things in conjunction "with the God." Paul states that "God ... created all things by Jesus Christ." (Eph. 3:9)
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ
3) In John 1:1-2, the word "was" (hn ) is used 4x. This is in the Greek imperfect tense and denotes continuous action in past time. John is simply saying that there never was a time when the Logos was not.
p 4 -- Genesis 1:1-2, 26 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ... And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. ... And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
The Hebrew for "God" in these verses is Elohim, plural in form.
It is used with singular verbs and adjectives, and thus perceived as the "pluralis majesticus" or majestic plural.
However, in verse 26, the Elohim concur in "Let us." The question arises - How do you obtain a singular force from a plural word?
Here is where the Shema of Israel enters the picture.
It reads - "Hear, O Israel: The Lord God our God is one Lord." (Deut 6:4)
The key word is the compound word (two words), Elohenu - "Gods" and the suffix, a plural pronoun, "our."
"The masculine plural [In this case Elohim] has before all suffixes the ending ay. ...
But certain modifications in the form of this ending take place, due to the character of the following consonants: ...
b. The original form ay is contracted to e before all plural Have no hebrew alphabet suffixes." (Elements of Hebrew, Wm. R. Harper, p.144)
This is the case in the Shema of Israel. Thus it reads literally, "Jehovah, our Gods is one Jehovah."
The word for "one" (Echad) expresses oneness in duality.
The word appears in Genesis 1:5 - "There was evening; there was morning, day one (echad)"
It is also used in Genesis 2:24 - "They [two] shall be one (echad) flesh."
This simply implies that both the Logos and God of John 1:1-3 are one Jehovah.
Let us return now to the text in Genesis 1:2 - "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."
The Hebrew word translated, "moved" is merahepheth - brooded. Gesenius in his lexicon, observes that this word in the Piel Hebrew form (as used here) implies "to cherish one's young, to brood over, as the eagle its young (Deut 32:11) ... of the Spirit of God as thus brooding over and vivifying the chaotic mass of earth. Gen. 1:2" (p.976)
Does this suggest the conclusion that the Spirit of God which "vivified" the mass at creation is the Logos of John 1:1-3, by which nothing was created except by Him?
***
My thoughts--
The preceding calls for reading and re-reading until understanding comes- at least for me. I'm no scholar of Hebrew, I'm not even very adept at English grammar. I'm not always the brightest bulb in the bunch especially when it comes to these types of studies however I know that God would have us at least try and comprehend what is being said because knowledge of truth comes in many ways and we shouldn't believe that we can pick and choose what we learn, but learn all we can. Do I fully understand it all, no, but I'm trying, I'm praying for understanding and trusting in the Lord that I will be able to understand all that is necessary for me to understand.
It's hard for us to imagine Jesus as just Spirit. Even after He rose from the dead it was in the flesh- Thomas doubted and he was told to touch Jesus and see for himself the reality of Jesus' form.
Joh 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
Joh 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Joh 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Joh 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Joh 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
And Mary who saw him--
Joh 20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Joh 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Jesus as simply an ethereal being isn't something we easily believe, or rather comprehend. Jesus as spirit form before He became flesh isn't something we dwell on as a rule. Yet to be with God in the beginning, to create all things He had to be Spirit form. It's not a long stretch at all to be curious as to whether or not the Spirit that moved over the deep was in fact Jesus in Spirit form, is it? Or do we simple need to believe that it was the Holy Spirit, this Spirit, 'The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee'
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Yes, this is a complex and very thought provoking study and that's just what is intended. We need to think, to study hard, to delve deep into the Bible.
I won't pretend to understand it all, or ask you to comprehend it all but if you do that is wonderful. I will continue this study until the article is completed and hope that full understand comes to me, to all of us. If not we just have to keep studying and of course leave to God the things that we don't fully know.
May God bless us and keep us in Him Always.
By the grace and the mercy of our Lord and our Savior, now and forever.
In His love.
Amen.
I'm going to copy parts of a thought paper and we're going to delve into more about what I was talking about yesterday, the Godhead and eternal truths. I'll interject it with my own thoughts and probably end up breaking it up into digestable pieces, meaning give it bit by bit so it's not overwhelming and gives us time to think about what's being presented. If you're reading this you'll have access to the internet and as such it's easy to check various facts such as the meaning of Greek and Hebrew words. Don't hesitate to take time to check things for yourself. We are accountable for what we can do and that means seeking the knowledge where we can. In our time we live in something called the 'Information Age' and it is. Information is right at our fingertips and we have to avail ourselves of it.
May God bless us as we seek to understand more fully His will, His way, the truths that we need to know and believe as this world becomes more and more deceptive.
*******
John 1:1-3 In beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with the God, and God was the Logos. The same was in beginning with the God. All things through Him came into being, and without Him came into being not even one [thing] which has come into being. (Greek, literal translation)
(((Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Standard translation.))))
The Gospel of John was among the last books of the New Testament to be written, if not the last one. In the first eighteen verses of his Gospel, John gives a prologue, setting forth data of what was prior to the Incarnation, as well as what happened at the Incarnation.
From these verses, we can observe the following data:
1) There were Two Beings - the Logos (the Word) and God.
2) The Logos was of the same essence as God. He was as much God as God Himself. "God was the Logos."
((IMPORTANT)) --> The article is used to denote separate Beings; and omitted when defining the nature of the Logos.
((NOTE- Article definition-
4. Grammar. Any of a class of words used to signal nouns and to specify their application. In English, the indefinite articles are a and an and the definite article is the.
Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary))
Conclusions which can be drawn:
1) Since "God" is defined as "Spirit" (John 4:24 - no article, literally, "God is Spirit"), then the Logos was as God, also "Spirit."
We are "flesh" in our reality; God is "spirit" in His reality.
Paul could use the word, "form" to designate both the reality of God, and the reality of man. (Phil. 2:6,7)
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men
2) The Logos created all things in conjunction "with the God." Paul states that "God ... created all things by Jesus Christ." (Eph. 3:9)
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ
3) In John 1:1-2, the word "was" (hn ) is used 4x. This is in the Greek imperfect tense and denotes continuous action in past time. John is simply saying that there never was a time when the Logos was not.
p 4 -- Genesis 1:1-2, 26 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ... And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. ... And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
The Hebrew for "God" in these verses is Elohim, plural in form.
It is used with singular verbs and adjectives, and thus perceived as the "pluralis majesticus" or majestic plural.
However, in verse 26, the Elohim concur in "Let us." The question arises - How do you obtain a singular force from a plural word?
Here is where the Shema of Israel enters the picture.
It reads - "Hear, O Israel: The Lord God our God is one Lord." (Deut 6:4)
The key word is the compound word (two words), Elohenu - "Gods" and the suffix, a plural pronoun, "our."
"The masculine plural [In this case Elohim] has before all suffixes the ending ay. ...
But certain modifications in the form of this ending take place, due to the character of the following consonants: ...
b. The original form ay is contracted to e before all plural Have no hebrew alphabet suffixes." (Elements of Hebrew, Wm. R. Harper, p.144)
This is the case in the Shema of Israel. Thus it reads literally, "Jehovah, our Gods is one Jehovah."
The word for "one" (Echad) expresses oneness in duality.
The word appears in Genesis 1:5 - "There was evening; there was morning, day one (echad)"
It is also used in Genesis 2:24 - "They [two] shall be one (echad) flesh."
This simply implies that both the Logos and God of John 1:1-3 are one Jehovah.
Let us return now to the text in Genesis 1:2 - "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."
The Hebrew word translated, "moved" is merahepheth - brooded. Gesenius in his lexicon, observes that this word in the Piel Hebrew form (as used here) implies "to cherish one's young, to brood over, as the eagle its young (Deut 32:11) ... of the Spirit of God as thus brooding over and vivifying the chaotic mass of earth. Gen. 1:2" (p.976)
Does this suggest the conclusion that the Spirit of God which "vivified" the mass at creation is the Logos of John 1:1-3, by which nothing was created except by Him?
***
My thoughts--
The preceding calls for reading and re-reading until understanding comes- at least for me. I'm no scholar of Hebrew, I'm not even very adept at English grammar. I'm not always the brightest bulb in the bunch especially when it comes to these types of studies however I know that God would have us at least try and comprehend what is being said because knowledge of truth comes in many ways and we shouldn't believe that we can pick and choose what we learn, but learn all we can. Do I fully understand it all, no, but I'm trying, I'm praying for understanding and trusting in the Lord that I will be able to understand all that is necessary for me to understand.
It's hard for us to imagine Jesus as just Spirit. Even after He rose from the dead it was in the flesh- Thomas doubted and he was told to touch Jesus and see for himself the reality of Jesus' form.
Joh 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
Joh 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Joh 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Joh 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Joh 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
And Mary who saw him--
Joh 20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Joh 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Jesus as simply an ethereal being isn't something we easily believe, or rather comprehend. Jesus as spirit form before He became flesh isn't something we dwell on as a rule. Yet to be with God in the beginning, to create all things He had to be Spirit form. It's not a long stretch at all to be curious as to whether or not the Spirit that moved over the deep was in fact Jesus in Spirit form, is it? Or do we simple need to believe that it was the Holy Spirit, this Spirit, 'The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee'
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Yes, this is a complex and very thought provoking study and that's just what is intended. We need to think, to study hard, to delve deep into the Bible.
I won't pretend to understand it all, or ask you to comprehend it all but if you do that is wonderful. I will continue this study until the article is completed and hope that full understand comes to me, to all of us. If not we just have to keep studying and of course leave to God the things that we don't fully know.
May God bless us and keep us in Him Always.
By the grace and the mercy of our Lord and our Savior, now and forever.
In His love.
Amen.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Eternal Verities 3A
Continuing the study on Eternal Verities (Eternal Truths) -
I'm going to copy parts of a thought paper and we're going to delve into more about what I was talking about yesterday, the Godhead and eternal truths. I'll interject it with my own thoughts and probably end up breaking it up into digestable pieces, meaning give it bit by bit so it's not overwhelming and gives us time to think about what's being presented. If you're reading this you'll have access to the internet and as such it's easy to check various facts such as the meaning of Greek and Hebrew words. Don't hesitate to take time to check things for yourself. We are accountable for what we can do and that means seeking the knowledge where we can. In our time we live in something called the 'Information Age' and it is. Information is right at our fingertips and we have to avail ourselves of it.
May God bless us as we seek to understand more fully His will, His way, the truths that we need to know and believe as this world becomes more and more deceptive.
******* RECAP -
1998 Jan -- XXXI -- 1(98) WWN
The Eternal Verities - Part 1 -- THE GODHEAD -- The great divide between two eternities; the great divide in time, and in the chronological reckoning of time, was the Incarnation.
However, had there been no God, there would have been no Incarnation; and if no Incarnation, there would have been no atonement; and if no atonement, no Intercessor. Thus the "eternal verities" - the Godhead, the Incarnation, and the Atonement - are inseparably linked as a chain connecting and reconnecting earth with Heaven, and Heaven with earth.
As we study the Godhead, we shall note various verses of Scripture and seek to exegetically analyze them. Having done so, we shall draw certain conclusions, and where there is apparent mystery in reconciling the revelation, we shall leave it as a mystery until other texts which we will consider illuminates that mystery. It will be a progressive study with the sole objective to comprehend truth as far as a mortal can.
Luke 1:35 The angel [Gabriel] answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy [One] which shall be borne of thee shall be called the Son of God.
{The word, "thing" is not in the Greek text, and we have substituted the word, "One" inasmuch as the word, "holy" is an adjective, and requires an object to modify. The word, "Spirit" could just as well be substituted. Such usage is found in the Writings. See 4BC:1147}
This text reveals the following data: 1) To speak "after the manner of men," the Holy Spirit was
paternally related to Jesus Christ; thus the Holy Spirit pre-existed Bethlehem.
2) The "Holy One" born of Mary "shall be called the Son of God." Twice Gabriel reiterated this fact. In Luke 1:32, he declared that this Holy One "shall be called the Son of the Highest." Gabriel, who had "firsthand" information of relationships involving God, did not say, "was" or "is" the Son of God, but "shall be" called the Son of God.
3) There was to be conceived in the womb of Mary a unique Being, never before known in the Universe from all eternity - a God-man. Yet this unique Being inherits eternity through the Eternal Spirit. He had a pre-existence in Spirit, and now would become "flesh."
*******
Now follow closely the conclusions which this data permits one to draw:
1) The Holy Spirit existed prior to Bethlehem as the "Eternal Spirit." (See also Heb.9:14)
2) Jesus "had a beginning at Bethlehem." (Note the name designation of "Jesus," the God-man, begins at Bethlehem)
3) With God as a "given" factor, you have Two Beings - God and the Eternal Spirit - before Bethlehem, and Three Beings - God, the Eternal Spirit, and Jesus - after.
One further factor to the "mystery" - He who had a beginning at Bethlehem as a unique Being, Jesus, of Him it could be prophesied that His "goings forth [were] from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2).
My thoughts--
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Can there be any doubt whatsoever about the eternal Spirit - the Holy Spirit existing prior to Bethlehem? There was a Spirit that moved over the face of the waters --Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. The Holy Spirit and God the Father existed and we know Jesus was there at the beginning and by Him were all things made. Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Yet it was decided that God would take on flesh and when that happened the result was the birth of Jesus- Emmanuel Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Jesus wasn't born before Bethlehem. The God in the flesh was not born until that baby came forth and then Jesus- God lived with us. He truly was a new creation - created by God.
Truly the mystery that we are delving into something that has to leave us in complete awe. We can't relate things the same way we do to ourselves if we do we are trying to bring God down to our level. God the Father, God the Spirit, God the Son - to say they are just one Being would be wrong when it is so obvious they are not. They are one in their beliefs. And the mystery of their all knowing, all being, is bound up in the wondrous fact that they are Gods. Their ways are not our ways.
Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
May God continue to bless us and keep us as we study as we are able and find the understanding He would have us understand. Yes, His ways are past our finding out, but He will teach us all we need to know. Comprehending the majesty of our amazing God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, and God the Son is something we need to do so we are not deceived because Satan would deceive us all in any way that He can, mixing truth with just enough error to lead people to Him and away from God, away from Salvation.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by His righteousness, by His love, His forgiveness now and forever in Him.
Amen.
I'm going to copy parts of a thought paper and we're going to delve into more about what I was talking about yesterday, the Godhead and eternal truths. I'll interject it with my own thoughts and probably end up breaking it up into digestable pieces, meaning give it bit by bit so it's not overwhelming and gives us time to think about what's being presented. If you're reading this you'll have access to the internet and as such it's easy to check various facts such as the meaning of Greek and Hebrew words. Don't hesitate to take time to check things for yourself. We are accountable for what we can do and that means seeking the knowledge where we can. In our time we live in something called the 'Information Age' and it is. Information is right at our fingertips and we have to avail ourselves of it.
May God bless us as we seek to understand more fully His will, His way, the truths that we need to know and believe as this world becomes more and more deceptive.
******* RECAP -
1998 Jan -- XXXI -- 1(98) WWN
The Eternal Verities - Part 1 -- THE GODHEAD -- The great divide between two eternities; the great divide in time, and in the chronological reckoning of time, was the Incarnation.
However, had there been no God, there would have been no Incarnation; and if no Incarnation, there would have been no atonement; and if no atonement, no Intercessor. Thus the "eternal verities" - the Godhead, the Incarnation, and the Atonement - are inseparably linked as a chain connecting and reconnecting earth with Heaven, and Heaven with earth.
As we study the Godhead, we shall note various verses of Scripture and seek to exegetically analyze them. Having done so, we shall draw certain conclusions, and where there is apparent mystery in reconciling the revelation, we shall leave it as a mystery until other texts which we will consider illuminates that mystery. It will be a progressive study with the sole objective to comprehend truth as far as a mortal can.
Luke 1:35 The angel [Gabriel] answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy [One] which shall be borne of thee shall be called the Son of God.
{The word, "thing" is not in the Greek text, and we have substituted the word, "One" inasmuch as the word, "holy" is an adjective, and requires an object to modify. The word, "Spirit" could just as well be substituted. Such usage is found in the Writings. See 4BC:1147}
This text reveals the following data: 1) To speak "after the manner of men," the Holy Spirit was
paternally related to Jesus Christ; thus the Holy Spirit pre-existed Bethlehem.
2) The "Holy One" born of Mary "shall be called the Son of God." Twice Gabriel reiterated this fact. In Luke 1:32, he declared that this Holy One "shall be called the Son of the Highest." Gabriel, who had "firsthand" information of relationships involving God, did not say, "was" or "is" the Son of God, but "shall be" called the Son of God.
3) There was to be conceived in the womb of Mary a unique Being, never before known in the Universe from all eternity - a God-man. Yet this unique Being inherits eternity through the Eternal Spirit. He had a pre-existence in Spirit, and now would become "flesh."
*******
Now follow closely the conclusions which this data permits one to draw:
1) The Holy Spirit existed prior to Bethlehem as the "Eternal Spirit." (See also Heb.9:14)
2) Jesus "had a beginning at Bethlehem." (Note the name designation of "Jesus," the God-man, begins at Bethlehem)
3) With God as a "given" factor, you have Two Beings - God and the Eternal Spirit - before Bethlehem, and Three Beings - God, the Eternal Spirit, and Jesus - after.
One further factor to the "mystery" - He who had a beginning at Bethlehem as a unique Being, Jesus, of Him it could be prophesied that His "goings forth [were] from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2).
My thoughts--
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Can there be any doubt whatsoever about the eternal Spirit - the Holy Spirit existing prior to Bethlehem? There was a Spirit that moved over the face of the waters --Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. The Holy Spirit and God the Father existed and we know Jesus was there at the beginning and by Him were all things made. Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Yet it was decided that God would take on flesh and when that happened the result was the birth of Jesus- Emmanuel Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Jesus wasn't born before Bethlehem. The God in the flesh was not born until that baby came forth and then Jesus- God lived with us. He truly was a new creation - created by God.
Truly the mystery that we are delving into something that has to leave us in complete awe. We can't relate things the same way we do to ourselves if we do we are trying to bring God down to our level. God the Father, God the Spirit, God the Son - to say they are just one Being would be wrong when it is so obvious they are not. They are one in their beliefs. And the mystery of their all knowing, all being, is bound up in the wondrous fact that they are Gods. Their ways are not our ways.
Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
May God continue to bless us and keep us as we study as we are able and find the understanding He would have us understand. Yes, His ways are past our finding out, but He will teach us all we need to know. Comprehending the majesty of our amazing God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, and God the Son is something we need to do so we are not deceived because Satan would deceive us all in any way that He can, mixing truth with just enough error to lead people to Him and away from God, away from Salvation.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by His righteousness, by His love, His forgiveness now and forever in Him.
Amen.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Eternal Verities 2A
For today's study I'm going to copy parts of a thought paper and we're going to delve into more about what I was talking about yesterday, the Godhead and eternal truths. I'll interject it with my own thoughts and probably end up breaking it up into digestable pieces, meaning give it bit by bit so it's not overwhelming and gives us time to think about what's being presented. If you're reading this you'll have access to the internet and as such it's easy to check various facts such as the meaning of Greek and Hebrew words. Don't hesitate to take time to check things for yourself. We are accountable for what we can do and that means seeking the knowledge where we can. In our time we live in something called the 'Information Age' and it is. Information is right at our fingertips and we have to avail ourselves of it.
May God bless us as we seek to understand more fully His will, His way, the truths that we need to know and believe as this world becomes more and more deceptive.
***
3/14/10
1998 Jan -- XXXI -- 1(98) WWN
The Eternal Verities - Part 1 -- THE GODHEAD -- The great divide between two eternities; the great divide in time, and in the chronological reckoning of time, was the Incarnation.
3/15/10
Yesterday we talked a bit about the 'great divide in time' being the birth of Christ. Almost universally we use this time reference most people without nitpicking at it at all, but accepting it at our great time divider. Life before our Savior's birth and life after our Savior's birth. Amazing and wonderful.
Let's continue with the thought paper.
'THE GODHEAD -- The great divide between two eternities; the great divide in time, and in the chronological reckoning of time, was the Incarnation.
However, had there been no God, there would have been no Incarnation; and if no Incarnation, there would have been no atonement; and if no atonement, no Intercessor. Thus the "eternal verities" - the Godhead, the Incarnation, and the Atonement - are inseparably linked as a chain connecting and reconnecting earth with Heaven, and Heaven with earth.'
*******
My thoughts- there really is no arguing with this at all. The truth of it is undeniable. Without a God there is no God to become incarnate-
Dictionary Def- 1. a. Invested with bodily nature and form: an incarnate spirit. b. Embodied in human form
Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary
A God had to become incarnate, a spirit form of a God chose to embody a human form. Without a God there could have been no incarnation, without the incarnation, no atonement. We need atonement to be made one with God again because we began estranged to Him through sinning. The only thing that can bring us back to that - at - one - ment is the Intercessor- the incarnate God in human form - Jesus Christ our Savior.
*******
Let's continue with the thought paper.
As we study the Godhead, we shall note various verses of Scripture and seek to exegetically analyze them. Having done so, we shall draw certain conclusions, and where there is apparent mystery in reconciling the revelation, we shall leave it as a mystery until other texts which we will consider illuminates that mystery. It will be a progressive study with the sole objective to comprehend truth as far as a mortal can.
Luke 1:35 The angel [Gabriel] answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy [One] which shall be borne of thee shall be called the Son of God.
{The word, "thing" is not in the Greek text, and we have substituted the word, "One" inasmuch as the word, "holy" is an adjective, and requires an object to modify. The word, "Spirit" could just as well be substituted. Such usage is found in the Writings. See 4BC:1147}
This text reveals the following data:
1) To speak "after the manner of men," the Holy Spirit was paternally related to Jesus Christ; thus the Holy Spirit pre-existed Bethlehem.
2) The "Holy One" born of Mary "shall be called the Son of God." Twice Gabriel reiterated this fact. In Luke 1:32, he declared that this Holy One "shall be called the Son of the Highest." Gabriel, who had "firsthand" information of relationships involving God, did not say, "was" or "is" the Son of God, but "shall be" called the Son of God.
3) There was to be conceived in the womb of Mary a unique Being, never before known in the Universe from all eternity - a God-man. Yet this unique Being inherits eternity through the Eternal Spirit. He had a pre-existence in Spirit, and now would become "flesh."
*******
My thoughts-
Let's really get what this is saying to us. An exegetical study is what?
exegesis (èk´se-jê´sîs) noun
plural exegeses (-sêz)
Critical explanation or analysis, especially of a text.
Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary
As it's been explained to me, exegesis is letting a text speak for itself- letting the analysis say what it will without reading anything EXTRA into a test that isn't there. When we deal with language translations it becomes necessary to revert to the original language and render from that the meaning, the grammar, the form all of it is different as it is translated. It'd be foolhardy for us to believe that every translation is exact because it isn't and where we have the know-how to find out the literal translations and recognize where things have been supplied and such we should do so- not just believe it doesn't matter. We are accountable for our knowledge, for our ability to study and learn. I'm not a scholar in Hebrew, nor Greek but I recognize others who are and I do have the ability to use the Internet to help me compare what they are saying to true translations in different languages. So as the author of the thought paper says- we need to study to understand as much as we are able and leave the mysteries to God until things unfold so we have understanding.
'Luke 1:35 The angel [Gabriel] answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy [One] which shall be borne of thee shall be called the Son of God.
{The word, "thing" is not in the Greek text, and we have substituted the word, "One" inasmuch as the word, "holy" is an adjective, and requires an object to modify. The word, "Spirit" could just as well be substituted. Such usage is found in the Writings. See 4BC:1147}'
The KJV does say 'also that holy thing' but as explained satisfactorily- the word 'thing' is a supplied word, the word 'thing' does not actually exist in the Greek text. Holy being an adjective needs an object to modify as adjectives do, however the choice of the object to modify could be something other than 'thing' it could be 'one' or 'spirit'. The Writings spoken of here aren't something I'm going to be too concerned with, wanting to use the Bible and the Bible only. Those who believe in the Writings can use it as a reinforcement of the truth, but those who don't wish to really don't have to as the Bible speaks for itself. The reason we are seeking understanding of this supplied word is because the idea of God before being incarnate as a 'thing' doesn't necessarily sit well. Holy 'One', Holy 'Spirit' these are more likely words for the God who took on flesh and Jesus was a God with God in the beginning. A God who became the 'Son of God'.
'This text reveals the following data:
1) To speak "after the manner of men," the Holy Spirit was paternally related to Jesus Christ; thus the Holy Spirit pre-existed Bethlehem.
2) The "Holy One" born of Mary "shall be called the Son of God." Twice Gabriel reiterated this fact. In Luke 1:32, he declared that this Holy One "shall be called the Son of the Highest." Gabriel, who had "firsthand" information of relationships involving God, did not say, "was" or "is" the Son of God, but "shall be" called the Son of God.
3) There was to be conceived in the womb of Mary a unique Being, never before known in the Universe from all eternity - a God-man. Yet this unique Being inherits eternity through the Eternal Spirit. He had a pre-existence in Spirit, and now would become "flesh."
'
The Holy Spirit came upon Mary, the power of the Highest overshadowed Her. Mary knew no man and therefore understood that she could no be with child without a man. The promise of the Holy Spirit fulfilling the role in a miraculous manner and the power of the Highest would overshadow Mary was the role a man would normally play but this was NO normal conception. The Holy Spirit was paternally related to Jesus of this there is no doubt. Mary was the maternal relation, the Holy Spirit the paternal relation. Those who try to explain that the Holy Spirit didn't exist before Bethlehem would have trouble explaining this verse.
Luke 1:32-
Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David
Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
We know it was the angel Gabriel - Luk 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, Luk 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
Twice Gabriel did say the child born of Mary 'shall be called', 'shall be called' the shall be is indicative of future tense not present. When a woman gets pregnant people ask what are you going to name the baby, very seldom if ever do they say what is the baby's name as if it's a given. Of course nowadays with ultrasounds and the ability to know the baby's sex prior to birth does have people naming the child before birth yet sometimes there is that little tidbit of doubt where the ultrasound could be wrong and people will pick out names for both sexes- just in case. God incarnate was to be called the Son of God. It's plain fact that Mary wasn't told that the child in her womb *is* the Son of God, but rather *shall be called* the Son of God. A minute distinction but one that must be noted. Spirit would take on flesh. The Spirit form of who would become the Son of God existed before conception.
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
God was manifest in the flesh.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
I'm going to stop here for now and we'll recap tomorrow before continuing. These truths are important to realize and while they might seem simple and obvious and something that doesn't bear repeating or reviewing, they do. The pre-exisitence of Jesus was in spirit form. God is spirit so it could be nothing else. God took on flesh, yet it wasn't God the Father who took on flesh, it was God taking on flesh to become known as the Son of God. The Holy Spirit was to come over Mary, the power of the Highest overshadow her and the result was the conception and ultimate birth of the Son of God. Such an amazing mysterious act, eternal spirit taking on flesh in a miracle.
More tomorrow.
May God continue to bless us as we study His Word, as we speak to understand more fully His truths. Please, open our hearts and minds to all that is You now and forever. By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Amen.
May God bless us as we seek to understand more fully His will, His way, the truths that we need to know and believe as this world becomes more and more deceptive.
***
3/14/10
1998 Jan -- XXXI -- 1(98) WWN
The Eternal Verities - Part 1 -- THE GODHEAD -- The great divide between two eternities; the great divide in time, and in the chronological reckoning of time, was the Incarnation.
3/15/10
Yesterday we talked a bit about the 'great divide in time' being the birth of Christ. Almost universally we use this time reference most people without nitpicking at it at all, but accepting it at our great time divider. Life before our Savior's birth and life after our Savior's birth. Amazing and wonderful.
Let's continue with the thought paper.
'THE GODHEAD -- The great divide between two eternities; the great divide in time, and in the chronological reckoning of time, was the Incarnation.
However, had there been no God, there would have been no Incarnation; and if no Incarnation, there would have been no atonement; and if no atonement, no Intercessor. Thus the "eternal verities" - the Godhead, the Incarnation, and the Atonement - are inseparably linked as a chain connecting and reconnecting earth with Heaven, and Heaven with earth.'
*******
My thoughts- there really is no arguing with this at all. The truth of it is undeniable. Without a God there is no God to become incarnate-
Dictionary Def- 1. a. Invested with bodily nature and form: an incarnate spirit. b. Embodied in human form
Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary
A God had to become incarnate, a spirit form of a God chose to embody a human form. Without a God there could have been no incarnation, without the incarnation, no atonement. We need atonement to be made one with God again because we began estranged to Him through sinning. The only thing that can bring us back to that - at - one - ment is the Intercessor- the incarnate God in human form - Jesus Christ our Savior.
*******
Let's continue with the thought paper.
As we study the Godhead, we shall note various verses of Scripture and seek to exegetically analyze them. Having done so, we shall draw certain conclusions, and where there is apparent mystery in reconciling the revelation, we shall leave it as a mystery until other texts which we will consider illuminates that mystery. It will be a progressive study with the sole objective to comprehend truth as far as a mortal can.
Luke 1:35 The angel [Gabriel] answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy [One] which shall be borne of thee shall be called the Son of God.
{The word, "thing" is not in the Greek text, and we have substituted the word, "One" inasmuch as the word, "holy" is an adjective, and requires an object to modify. The word, "Spirit" could just as well be substituted. Such usage is found in the Writings. See 4BC:1147}
This text reveals the following data:
1) To speak "after the manner of men," the Holy Spirit was paternally related to Jesus Christ; thus the Holy Spirit pre-existed Bethlehem.
2) The "Holy One" born of Mary "shall be called the Son of God." Twice Gabriel reiterated this fact. In Luke 1:32, he declared that this Holy One "shall be called the Son of the Highest." Gabriel, who had "firsthand" information of relationships involving God, did not say, "was" or "is" the Son of God, but "shall be" called the Son of God.
3) There was to be conceived in the womb of Mary a unique Being, never before known in the Universe from all eternity - a God-man. Yet this unique Being inherits eternity through the Eternal Spirit. He had a pre-existence in Spirit, and now would become "flesh."
*******
My thoughts-
Let's really get what this is saying to us. An exegetical study is what?
exegesis (èk´se-jê´sîs) noun
plural exegeses (-sêz)
Critical explanation or analysis, especially of a text.
Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary
As it's been explained to me, exegesis is letting a text speak for itself- letting the analysis say what it will without reading anything EXTRA into a test that isn't there. When we deal with language translations it becomes necessary to revert to the original language and render from that the meaning, the grammar, the form all of it is different as it is translated. It'd be foolhardy for us to believe that every translation is exact because it isn't and where we have the know-how to find out the literal translations and recognize where things have been supplied and such we should do so- not just believe it doesn't matter. We are accountable for our knowledge, for our ability to study and learn. I'm not a scholar in Hebrew, nor Greek but I recognize others who are and I do have the ability to use the Internet to help me compare what they are saying to true translations in different languages. So as the author of the thought paper says- we need to study to understand as much as we are able and leave the mysteries to God until things unfold so we have understanding.
'Luke 1:35 The angel [Gabriel] answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy [One] which shall be borne of thee shall be called the Son of God.
{The word, "thing" is not in the Greek text, and we have substituted the word, "One" inasmuch as the word, "holy" is an adjective, and requires an object to modify. The word, "Spirit" could just as well be substituted. Such usage is found in the Writings. See 4BC:1147}'
The KJV does say 'also that holy thing' but as explained satisfactorily- the word 'thing' is a supplied word, the word 'thing' does not actually exist in the Greek text. Holy being an adjective needs an object to modify as adjectives do, however the choice of the object to modify could be something other than 'thing' it could be 'one' or 'spirit'. The Writings spoken of here aren't something I'm going to be too concerned with, wanting to use the Bible and the Bible only. Those who believe in the Writings can use it as a reinforcement of the truth, but those who don't wish to really don't have to as the Bible speaks for itself. The reason we are seeking understanding of this supplied word is because the idea of God before being incarnate as a 'thing' doesn't necessarily sit well. Holy 'One', Holy 'Spirit' these are more likely words for the God who took on flesh and Jesus was a God with God in the beginning. A God who became the 'Son of God'.
'This text reveals the following data:
1) To speak "after the manner of men," the Holy Spirit was paternally related to Jesus Christ; thus the Holy Spirit pre-existed Bethlehem.
2) The "Holy One" born of Mary "shall be called the Son of God." Twice Gabriel reiterated this fact. In Luke 1:32, he declared that this Holy One "shall be called the Son of the Highest." Gabriel, who had "firsthand" information of relationships involving God, did not say, "was" or "is" the Son of God, but "shall be" called the Son of God.
3) There was to be conceived in the womb of Mary a unique Being, never before known in the Universe from all eternity - a God-man. Yet this unique Being inherits eternity through the Eternal Spirit. He had a pre-existence in Spirit, and now would become "flesh."
'
The Holy Spirit came upon Mary, the power of the Highest overshadowed Her. Mary knew no man and therefore understood that she could no be with child without a man. The promise of the Holy Spirit fulfilling the role in a miraculous manner and the power of the Highest would overshadow Mary was the role a man would normally play but this was NO normal conception. The Holy Spirit was paternally related to Jesus of this there is no doubt. Mary was the maternal relation, the Holy Spirit the paternal relation. Those who try to explain that the Holy Spirit didn't exist before Bethlehem would have trouble explaining this verse.
Luke 1:32-
Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David
Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
We know it was the angel Gabriel - Luk 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, Luk 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
Twice Gabriel did say the child born of Mary 'shall be called', 'shall be called' the shall be is indicative of future tense not present. When a woman gets pregnant people ask what are you going to name the baby, very seldom if ever do they say what is the baby's name as if it's a given. Of course nowadays with ultrasounds and the ability to know the baby's sex prior to birth does have people naming the child before birth yet sometimes there is that little tidbit of doubt where the ultrasound could be wrong and people will pick out names for both sexes- just in case. God incarnate was to be called the Son of God. It's plain fact that Mary wasn't told that the child in her womb *is* the Son of God, but rather *shall be called* the Son of God. A minute distinction but one that must be noted. Spirit would take on flesh. The Spirit form of who would become the Son of God existed before conception.
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
God was manifest in the flesh.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
I'm going to stop here for now and we'll recap tomorrow before continuing. These truths are important to realize and while they might seem simple and obvious and something that doesn't bear repeating or reviewing, they do. The pre-exisitence of Jesus was in spirit form. God is spirit so it could be nothing else. God took on flesh, yet it wasn't God the Father who took on flesh, it was God taking on flesh to become known as the Son of God. The Holy Spirit was to come over Mary, the power of the Highest overshadow her and the result was the conception and ultimate birth of the Son of God. Such an amazing mysterious act, eternal spirit taking on flesh in a miracle.
More tomorrow.
May God continue to bless us as we study His Word, as we speak to understand more fully His truths. Please, open our hearts and minds to all that is You now and forever. By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Amen.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Eternal Verities 1A
For today's study I'm going to copy a thought paper and we're going to delve into more about the what I was talking about yesterday, the Godhead and eternal truths. I'll intersperse it with my own thoughts and probably end up breaking it up into digestable pieces, meaning give it bit by bit so it's not overwhelming and gives us time to think about what's being presented. If you're reading this you'll have access to the internet and as such it's easy to check various facts such as the meaning of Greek and Hebrew words. Don't hesitate to take time to check things for yourself. We are accountable for what we can do and that means seeking the knowledge where we can. In our time we live in something called the 'Information Age' and it is. Information is right at our fingertips and we have to avail ourselves of it.
May God bless us as we seek to understand more fully His will, His way, the truths that we need to know and believe as this world becomes more and more deceptive.
*******
1998 Jan -- XXXI -- 1(98) WWN
The Eternal Verities - Part 1 -- THE GODHEAD -- The great divide between two eternities; the great divide in time, and in the chronological reckoning of time, was the Incarnation.
(((My thoughts- It's so true isn't it? BC and AD. It's no mistake that time has been divided this way.
*Before Christ (abbreviated as BC or B.C.) are designations used to label years in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The calendar era to which they refer is based on the traditionally reckoned year of the conception or birth of Jesus, with AD denoting years after the start of this epoch, and BC denoting years before the start of this epoch.
*Anno Domini (abbreviated as AD or A.D., sometimes found in the irregular form Anno Domine) The term Anno Domini is Medieval Latin, translated as In the year of (the/Our) Lord.[1][2]:782 It is sometimes specified more fully as Anno Domini Nostri Iesu (Jesu) Christi ("In the Year of Our Lord Jesus Christ").
*The Gregorian calendar, and the year numbering system associated with it, is the calendar system with the most widespread use in the world today. For decades, it has been the unofficial global standard, recognized by international institutions such as the United Nations and the Universal Postal Union. It is also a basis of scholarly dating - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anno_Domini
Jesus' birth, the incarnation divided time- no other birth in all of history has had such impact, NONE. We are reminded daily of living in the years after the birth of Christ. Everytime we write a date we are aware on some level of this. Talk about having a reminder to all of Jesus. The next time you have to write the date, or have reason to note the year you are actually noting the number of years since Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, the Son of man, the Son of God was born. Amazing.
Because I want to keep these studies very compact and something for us to leave thinking about and contemplating I'm really going to break up the study into small parts, very small parts because it's just easier to digest that way. So let's consider this one bite in our study and we'll take another bite tomorrow. For now let's savor the knowledge that most of us knew but don't often think about. AD and BC the Incarnation, the birth of the Son of God dividing our timeline.
May God bless us as we study, may the Lord enlighten us as we so need to be enlightened. By the grace and mercy of our Lord, our Savior in His love forever.
Amen.
May God bless us as we seek to understand more fully His will, His way, the truths that we need to know and believe as this world becomes more and more deceptive.
*******
1998 Jan -- XXXI -- 1(98) WWN
The Eternal Verities - Part 1 -- THE GODHEAD -- The great divide between two eternities; the great divide in time, and in the chronological reckoning of time, was the Incarnation.
(((My thoughts- It's so true isn't it? BC and AD. It's no mistake that time has been divided this way.
*Before Christ (abbreviated as BC or B.C.) are designations used to label years in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The calendar era to which they refer is based on the traditionally reckoned year of the conception or birth of Jesus, with AD denoting years after the start of this epoch, and BC denoting years before the start of this epoch.
*Anno Domini (abbreviated as AD or A.D., sometimes found in the irregular form Anno Domine) The term Anno Domini is Medieval Latin, translated as In the year of (the/Our) Lord.[1][2]:782 It is sometimes specified more fully as Anno Domini Nostri Iesu (Jesu) Christi ("In the Year of Our Lord Jesus Christ").
*The Gregorian calendar, and the year numbering system associated with it, is the calendar system with the most widespread use in the world today. For decades, it has been the unofficial global standard, recognized by international institutions such as the United Nations and the Universal Postal Union. It is also a basis of scholarly dating - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anno_Domini
Jesus' birth, the incarnation divided time- no other birth in all of history has had such impact, NONE. We are reminded daily of living in the years after the birth of Christ. Everytime we write a date we are aware on some level of this. Talk about having a reminder to all of Jesus. The next time you have to write the date, or have reason to note the year you are actually noting the number of years since Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, the Son of man, the Son of God was born. Amazing.
Because I want to keep these studies very compact and something for us to leave thinking about and contemplating I'm really going to break up the study into small parts, very small parts because it's just easier to digest that way. So let's consider this one bite in our study and we'll take another bite tomorrow. For now let's savor the knowledge that most of us knew but don't often think about. AD and BC the Incarnation, the birth of the Son of God dividing our timeline.
May God bless us as we study, may the Lord enlighten us as we so need to be enlightened. By the grace and mercy of our Lord, our Savior in His love forever.
Amen.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Deep Things of God
We say God created heaven and earth and imply that He did it alone. We don't imply that Jesus was there with Him though we know Biblically He was in the beginning with God and all things were created by Him. Joh 1:1 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.'
When we talk of worshipping our Creator with think singular and yet it's a falsehood- a Biblical falsehood. There were TWO in the beginning. By TWO all things were created. God said - Gen 1:26 'And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...'
'Let us' Us. We don't use the word 'us' when we're talking singular. 'Us' implies more than one.
Dictionary- us (ùs) pronoun
The objective case of we
God- (Encyclopedia)
In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, God is conceived primarily in terms of transcendence, personality, and unity. The Hebrew Scriptures present God as creator, and the created world is a product of God's will. Human beings are made in God's image. Thus, the Hebrew understanding of God is anthropomorphic (humanoid). God's primary attributes are righteousness, justice, mercy, truth, and faithfulness.
Christianity began as a Jewish sect, incorporating the Hebrew God and Jewish Scriptures. Jesus Christ was probably considered a prophet of God, but by the end of the 1st century, Christians viewed him as a divine being (see Christology). Although Christian theology speaks of the three "persons" of the Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, these are not persons in the literal sense, but three manifestations of one God.
Encarta® 98 Desk Encyclopedia
*
That bit up there on God where it says Christian theology speaks of the 'three 'persons' of the Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- these are not persons in the literal sense, but three MANIFESTATIONS of ONE GOD'. It's not true! We are so caught up in the ONE God that deeper thought into the whole Trinitarian issue seems wrong, yet when is the studying to know the truth ever wrong? Three manifestations of ONE God? That denies them the right to their individual Godhood. It does. They say' God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and then they cap it off by saying stuff like 'NOT persons in the literal sense, but manifestations of ONE God'. Even as people we can have one common belief, one common goal but that does not strip us of our literal individual selves- yet we want to strip God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit of their literal individuality. We want to call them One God, three in One as if they are a mixture so combined they can never and have never and will never be separate Gods but one spirit-being posing as three manifestations - different manifestations for different situations. If they weren't separate literally why have an 'us' at all in the beginning when creation was underway? Jeremiah has this to say-
Jer 10:10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
Jer 10:11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
Jer 10:12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
Notice... 'the gods' plural that have not made the heaven and earth, even they shall perish. There are gods - plural that made the heaven and earth, but there are many more false gods who had no hand whatsoever in creation. If we do not agree that literal God the Father and literal God who become Jesus our Lord and Savior who eventually took on flesh becoming God with us Immanual, created all things but rather believe that ONE literal God created all things we are worshipping a false belief of God and it's so deceptive it's frightening.
To strip the Godhood from any of the three by rolling them up into one God, is wrong. They are one in purpose, one in belief, one in the unity of their ideals, their thoughts, their desires this is undeniable. But when Jesus said- John 10:30 'I and my Father are one.' And this- John 10:38 'But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.' Did He mean they were literally One Being? No, He couldn't have or how else could He also say this- Mark 15:34 'And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' How could He be forsaken by Himself if He were literally One God with God, and not literally another being of His own, another God being, not one lesser than God at all. He was equal with God in all ways even though He'd taken on the flesh of humanity and chose to live in a state where He could be tempted and feel the fullness of the tempting power of Satan towards humanity. Php 2:5 'Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God' He was God with us and He was always a separate being, a separate God from God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.
It takes a lot of thinking to really comprehend all this and understand there is a danger in believing the 'Trinity' as it was formulated by the Roman Catholic Church long, long ago and heldfast to by Protestantism because we can't deny God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit, and if you say you're not because the way you understand it all just incorporates them all into one in the same way they meant us to understand it all- ask yourself if this is really true-- 'Although Christian theology speaks of the three "persons" of the Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, these are not persons in the literal sense, but three manifestations of one God.', and is that how you truly believe? Do you truly believe in ONE God, if so then you deny Jesus as God, you deny the Holy Spirit as God in their own right.
This is a whole lot to take in and a whole lot to think about and truthfully a whole lot more I need to understand. I will be studying this and praying for enlightment so that I may know only the truth. I don't want to get caught up in deception just because it's something held common as a belief by most people. The counterfiet mimics the truth so closely it's hardly discernible and I pray for understanding, for wisdom. May God bless us all as we continue to study and do more than surface study but delve deeply into the deep things of God.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ now and forever through His righteousness and not our own, through His perfect forgiveness and His cleansing blood.
Amen.
When we talk of worshipping our Creator with think singular and yet it's a falsehood- a Biblical falsehood. There were TWO in the beginning. By TWO all things were created. God said - Gen 1:26 'And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...'
'Let us' Us. We don't use the word 'us' when we're talking singular. 'Us' implies more than one.
Dictionary- us (ùs) pronoun
The objective case of we
God- (Encyclopedia)
In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, God is conceived primarily in terms of transcendence, personality, and unity. The Hebrew Scriptures present God as creator, and the created world is a product of God's will. Human beings are made in God's image. Thus, the Hebrew understanding of God is anthropomorphic (humanoid). God's primary attributes are righteousness, justice, mercy, truth, and faithfulness.
Christianity began as a Jewish sect, incorporating the Hebrew God and Jewish Scriptures. Jesus Christ was probably considered a prophet of God, but by the end of the 1st century, Christians viewed him as a divine being (see Christology). Although Christian theology speaks of the three "persons" of the Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, these are not persons in the literal sense, but three manifestations of one God.
Encarta® 98 Desk Encyclopedia
*
That bit up there on God where it says Christian theology speaks of the 'three 'persons' of the Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- these are not persons in the literal sense, but three MANIFESTATIONS of ONE GOD'. It's not true! We are so caught up in the ONE God that deeper thought into the whole Trinitarian issue seems wrong, yet when is the studying to know the truth ever wrong? Three manifestations of ONE God? That denies them the right to their individual Godhood. It does. They say' God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and then they cap it off by saying stuff like 'NOT persons in the literal sense, but manifestations of ONE God'. Even as people we can have one common belief, one common goal but that does not strip us of our literal individual selves- yet we want to strip God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit of their literal individuality. We want to call them One God, three in One as if they are a mixture so combined they can never and have never and will never be separate Gods but one spirit-being posing as three manifestations - different manifestations for different situations. If they weren't separate literally why have an 'us' at all in the beginning when creation was underway? Jeremiah has this to say-
Jer 10:10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
Jer 10:11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
Jer 10:12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
Notice... 'the gods' plural that have not made the heaven and earth, even they shall perish. There are gods - plural that made the heaven and earth, but there are many more false gods who had no hand whatsoever in creation. If we do not agree that literal God the Father and literal God who become Jesus our Lord and Savior who eventually took on flesh becoming God with us Immanual, created all things but rather believe that ONE literal God created all things we are worshipping a false belief of God and it's so deceptive it's frightening.
To strip the Godhood from any of the three by rolling them up into one God, is wrong. They are one in purpose, one in belief, one in the unity of their ideals, their thoughts, their desires this is undeniable. But when Jesus said- John 10:30 'I and my Father are one.' And this- John 10:38 'But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.' Did He mean they were literally One Being? No, He couldn't have or how else could He also say this- Mark 15:34 'And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' How could He be forsaken by Himself if He were literally One God with God, and not literally another being of His own, another God being, not one lesser than God at all. He was equal with God in all ways even though He'd taken on the flesh of humanity and chose to live in a state where He could be tempted and feel the fullness of the tempting power of Satan towards humanity. Php 2:5 'Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God' He was God with us and He was always a separate being, a separate God from God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.
It takes a lot of thinking to really comprehend all this and understand there is a danger in believing the 'Trinity' as it was formulated by the Roman Catholic Church long, long ago and heldfast to by Protestantism because we can't deny God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit, and if you say you're not because the way you understand it all just incorporates them all into one in the same way they meant us to understand it all- ask yourself if this is really true-- 'Although Christian theology speaks of the three "persons" of the Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, these are not persons in the literal sense, but three manifestations of one God.', and is that how you truly believe? Do you truly believe in ONE God, if so then you deny Jesus as God, you deny the Holy Spirit as God in their own right.
This is a whole lot to take in and a whole lot to think about and truthfully a whole lot more I need to understand. I will be studying this and praying for enlightment so that I may know only the truth. I don't want to get caught up in deception just because it's something held common as a belief by most people. The counterfiet mimics the truth so closely it's hardly discernible and I pray for understanding, for wisdom. May God bless us all as we continue to study and do more than surface study but delve deeply into the deep things of God.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ now and forever through His righteousness and not our own, through His perfect forgiveness and His cleansing blood.
Amen.
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