– DEITY OF JESUS –
By: General James Green
NEVER THOUGHT I would ever have to prove the deity of Jesus Christ to those who call themselves “Christian.” This debate is common between Muslims and Christians, but for believers in Christ this shouldn’t be debated, for Christianity is built upon His deity.
The JW’s
WE’RE ALL FAMILIAR with the Jehovah’s Witnesses (the Watch Tower people), a.k.a., the JW’s. It’s founder, Charles T. Russell, actually founded “Zion’s Watch Tower” in 1879. In 1896 the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society was founded. C.T.R. died in 1916, but his false teachings are with us until now.
This article is not about him, nor his society, but I merely want to start out with the JW’s spin on the deity of Christ-I’m going into this study with the hope to defend this doctrine that Christianity is founded upon.
Following are 7 quotes taken from their doctrinal beliefs: (see Kingdom of the Cults p. 47)
The JW’s, in Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 5, p. 55 state: “…our Lord Jesus Christ is A GOD…still the omitted voice of the Scriptures must emphatically assert that there is but one Almighty God, the Father of all.” In The Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 47 we read: “…The true scriptures speak of God’s Son, The Word, as ‘a god’. He is a ‘mighty god,’ but not ‘the Almighty God, who is Jehovah’-Isa. 9:6.” The first quote was by C.T.R. himself, the second quote is one of the doctrines of the JW’s.
The following will be 3 quotes by C.T.R. followed by the doctrines of the JW’s:
“Our Redeemer existed as a spirit being before he was made flesh and dwelt amongst men. At that time, as well as subsequently, he was properly known as ‘a god-a mighty one” (Ibid, Vol. 5, p. 84); “…The Logos (Christ) himself was ‘the beginning of the creation of God”” (Ibid. Vol. 5, p. 86);
“As chief of the angels and next to the Father, he (Christ) was known as the Archangel, whose name, Michael, signifies, ‘Who as God’ or ‘God’s Representative”” (Ibid. Vol. 5, p. 84);
Following are JW’s Doctrines:
“At the time of his beginning of life he was created by the everlasting God, Jehovah, without the aid or instrumentality of any other. In other words, he was the first and the direct creation of Jehovah God…He was the start of God’s creative work. He was not an incarnation in flesh but was flesh, a human Son of God, a perfect man, no longer a spirit, although having a spiritual or heavenly past and background” (The Kingdom Is at Hand, pp. 46, 47, 49);
“This One was not Jehovah God, but was existing in the form of God…he was a spirit person…he was a mighty one although not Almighty as Jehovah God is;…he was a God, but not the Almighty God, who is Jehovah” (Let God Be True, pp. 34, 35);
“Being the only begotten Son of God,…the Word would be a prince among all other creatures.
In this office he (Christ) bore another name in heaven, which name is ‘Michael’…other names were given to the Son in course of time” (The Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 49).
These quotes are typical of those who do not believe that Jesus is God. In order to silence those who claim that there is no such thing as the “Trinity,” as the JW’s love to do, we would have to double this article!
To say that Jehovah God (singular) is all there is, is to deny the Holy Spirit and the Son as being deity also. One of the greatest doctrines of Scriptures is that of the “Triune Godhead” (I don’t use the Word “Trinity” too often myself, I prefer “Triune” or “Tri-Unity”). Tes theotetos =Triune God head = the nature of God Himself = Deity.
I DO NOT Believe…
THERE ARE “3 GODS IN ONE,” I believe that there are 3 Persons (with a capital “P”) all of the same Substance, Co-equal, Co-existent, and Co-eternal. All one has to do to see this is read Gen. 1:26; 11:7; 6:8 (I have other articles on this already). But this article is not about the Tri-Unity, but about Jesus Christ the Lord. But any serious Bible student that studies the texts / contexts of all the passages found concerning the Tri-Unity will find the Truth. “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord” (or, “The Lord is One”), is pitted against the doctrine of the Trinity or Tri-Unity. But the Hebrew language shows no contradiction (by the way, C.T.R. did not know either Greek nor Hebrew, he had to admit this under court oath, see our two tracts reproduced at the end of this article). But let me take a moment of your time to give the definition of the term Echod (Heb. for “One”). Echod in Heb. does not denote absolute unity in many places in the O.T., and often it definitely denotes “Composite Unity,” which argues for the Tri-Unity of the Deity. Echod in certain passages denotes “many” not just “one” (like in Matt. 1; see Num. 13:23 – “Cluster of grapes” = in Heb. “Eschol Echod”). There are many passages that prove “One” is “Composite unity.”
Now To JESUS THE SON
THE IMPECCABILITY OF CHRIST:
ALLOW ME TO BUILD UP to this grand study by recalling your attention to the Counsel of Chalcedon which met in AD 45, to formulate the faith of the Church respecting the person of Christ, and declared Him, “to be acknowledged in 2 natures, inconfusedly, unchangeable, indivisible, inseparably; the distinction of the natures being in no wise taken away by the “union,” but rather, the property of each nature-divine / human-being preserved, and concurring in “One Person” and “One Subsistence,” not parted or divided into 2 persons.
I made the mistake of pointing out to my readers, years ago, that on the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus and the Christ were manifested, which I pointed out that the “Christ” (deity) was revealed (see Matt. 17:1-9). I could not really explain in theological terms (without violating the CC doctrine of faith!) that the human-man Jesus and the Divine Christ were being revealed there.
It says that Jesus, “was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as snow” (v. 2). I said that the Christ was revealed. My critics said that Jesus and Christ can’t be as 2. Whatever! Now, while I’m on this particular point, let me address one of our brothers who wrote us lately that he no longer believes that Jesus is God or is divine, only human. He quoted v. 9 for us: “… Tell the vision to no man…” His proof text is that this Matt. 17 account was merely a “vision”; thus, not a reality. This, of course, puts this once Christian brother into the camp of the unbelievers (like the JW’s and Muslims etc.).
DIVINE CONFIRMATION 17:1-8
GRANT IT, THERE ARE NUMEROUS THEORIES as to the origin and meaning of this account. Some regard this as an epiphany story which had no origin other than the imagination of early Christians and was told to express the doctrine of Jesus’ divinity. That it DOES!!
What we have here is a.) a theophanic vision (vv. 2, 3) and b.) a voice from Heaven like the bath qol of Jewish tradition (v. 5).
Harold Riesenfeld, a historian / investigator, traced all the ancient motifs and allusions in his Jesus Transfigure (Copenhagen: Ejnar Munksgoard, 1947), which contains a full bibliography. According to Riesenfeld, this Matthew 17 story is fundamentally “historical” and relates a vision of the enthronement of Jesus as Messiah and High Priest, which Peter and the 2 others beheld.
Others believe that the Transfiguration is, instead, a foreshadowing of the Parousia, or the second coming, of Christ in glory, as in 2 Peter 1:13-18 and the Apocalypse of Peter. Toynbee, in his study of History, remarks that it furnishes the example of the “withdrawal and-return” motif.
Just a Vision?
SO SOME BELIEVE. But visions can be real too! The RSV uses the word “shone” (KJV = “shine”) which no doubt echoes that of the Mt. Sinai story, which implies the “divine light.” Was that a mere vision or a reality?, Moses’ face shone like a light? The “bright cloud” (v. 5) echoes that of the Shekinah, or cloud of God’s glory, whence came the Divine voice.
Transfigured
THIS WORD (Gk. μεтεμорwen) is found also in Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18. Paul uses a related noun in Philippians 2:6, 7, when he says that Jesus, who originally existed in the nature or form (μopon) of God, took upon Himself the nature of a slave.
Moses’ face, if you recall, also “shone” after he had conversed with God (Ex. 34:29-35).
Philo, (in his Moses II. 51, p. 288) explained Moses’ vision as a preparation for immortality: “God changed his body into a mind-substance like the radiance of the sun; could not we believe that Jesus was transformed or glorified, or at least, His true (divine) nature was disclosed and a promise of His future glory was given?” I can and do believe this! BAThis idea is further developed in 2 Corinthians 3:18, where those who behold the “glorified” Christ are metamorphosed into the same glory. I have just written a very long article on the “immortality” of the body (the soul / spirit of the believer already possessing it) in which I mention 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:5. This was no mere “vision” without a “reality.”
The “voice” (v. 5) echoes the “voice” out of the Shekinah cloud at Jesus’ baptism.
If this “vision” was not a reality, why did Peter write, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Pet. 1:16). Verse 17 recalls Matt. 17:5: “While He yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him’.” 2 Pet. 1:17 says: “For He (Jesus) received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’.”
Not only did the vision have substance, the voice was real, for Peter follows up in v. 18 with, “And this voice which came from Heaven we heard (not imagined), when we were with Him in the Holy Mount.” So, since the “voice” was real and audible, the “vision” was also real, not just an imagination of some sort.
The Lord is That Spirit
SECOND CORINTHIANS 3:17 reads, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” Paul goes on to say…”(we) are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (v. 18).
Jesus is Lord! Jesus is God! Jesus was both human and divine, not just human as our fallen-from-grace brother now tells us.
All these things I have thus written, backed from Sacred Scriptures, are reminders that Jesus is Christ and Lord (deity): God has entered our world in Him. Our nature therefore may be transfigured, after our own kind, in Christ, a fact which Paul proclaims: For “We…are changed”-it is the very word “transfigured”-as we gaze on Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).
That “vision” proved that the fulness of the Godhead, which dwelt bodily in Christ shone through Jesus’ human nature. There it was-“Divinity,” which Peter had before confessed (Matt. 16:16= “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God”).
“Hear Ye Him”
WHAT DID GOD MEAN by those words (v. 5)? There were Moses and Elias (Elijah) with Jesus, but God told the 3 to hear Jesus only. The “old” covenant had passed, the “new” was now invested in His Son, Jesus the Christ, who would be the atonement for the sins of fallen man. No mere human Jesus could take away the sins of the world. Jesus, the divine Christ, was the living sacrifice.
You see, the O.T. prophets had prophesied about Jesus, now God is confirming it (the “voice” out of the cloud). Jesus was the Way, the Truth, the Life!…no man can come unto the Father but by and thru Jesus the divine one. This “voice” (v. 5) refers to the prediction in Deuteronomy 18:15: “The LORD Thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee,…unto Him ye shall hearken.”
The time had come for God’s people to go no more to the law (represented by Moses), nor to the prophets (represented by Elijah), but to seek the coming Messiah; for behold, He Is Come hear and obey Him!
MOSES-JESUS
BEFORE WE CONTINUE, let me briefly bring up Moses who appeared with Elijah (Matt. 17:3). In case we miss the implication presented in verse 3, let us stop and ponder the ministry of Moses (who represented the O.T. Law), and why God spoke “This is My beloved Son…hear ye Him” (v. 5, speaking of Jesus). Let us compare the two: Pharaoh, when Moses was born had ordered the death of all the Hebrew boy babies; Herod, a new Pharaoh (in Jesus’ birth day), arranges for the death of all children aged 2 and under in the region (you know the story). Joseph, Jesus’ father (not biological father, for Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit) takes his wife (Mary) and child (Jesus) to Egypt; on their return, they go, not back to Bethlehem, but to Nazareth, in Galilee (“Jesus of Nazareth”).
Joseph’s fidelity keeps Matt. 2 from being read as a Jewish / Gentile dichotomy. Remember, the original Joseph (see Gen. cpt. 39-) also SAVED his family by bringing them to Egypt (see Gen. 45). Jesus will go through the waters of baptism (baptized by John), as the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea, after God raised up Moses (the O.T. Savior); Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness (the Holy Spirit leading Him there!), as did the Israelites in the wilderness, God’s covenant people (Ex. 6:4); Jesus ascended a mountain to deliver a Law, as did Moses on Sinai. So, Moses was the O.T. Savior of God’s racial Israelite people; Jesus was (and is) the N.T. Savior of God’s new Israel people, made up of both redeemed Jews and redeemed Gentiles. Hence, we go from the shadow to the substance. Moses was a mere man, an anointed man. But Jesus was / is both human and divine in one. It is foolish to think that God would have a mere human (Jesus) to be Shepherd over His born-again believers. NO! He has Jesus, who is God, as Chief Shepherd.
Tell No Man / Tell The Vision to NO Man
MATTHEW 17:9, as already stated, is up for debate. But what happened upon that mountain was no meaningless vision, it was full of realities. It baffles men why Jesus forbade the 3 from telling what they saw (v. 9). We might ask why He forbade His disciples in Matthew 16:20 from telling that He WAS Christ. Some manuscripts use the words, “He strictly charged them,” “He severely charged them.” It is interesting that 54 mss omit “Jesus,” but only have “Christ.” It is omitted by the Syriac, later Persic, later Arabic, Slavonic, 6 copies of the Itala, and several of the fathers.
Going back to vss. 15-19, we get the context of vs. 20-“Thou art the Christ” (v. 16). Jesus wanted His true identity postponed until His resurrection and ascension.
Jesus did not want the “vision” told (Matt. 17:9), I believe, because He was about to ABOLISH the whole ceremonial law, putting many out of “religious” jobs! This He did too.
This emblematic transaction on the mountain also proves the reality of spirits and the immortality of the soul (I have just completed a 125 page handwritten article defending this). Also, the resurrection was a reality; Moses and Elijah were there.
Jesus was about to abolish the Mosaic institutions and fulfill the O.T. prophesies / predictions relative to the person, nature, sufferings, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Christ. He was about to establish a N.T. Covenant Ekklesia, life-bringing, and life-giving Gospel; the old Jewish racial covenant and mediatorship was about to END! He was about to become the Living Lamb of God sacrificed for the sin of ALL (not just the Calvinistic “elect”)… becoming the Mediator between God and man. This, He did! So, no mere man could accomplish this-Jesus could (God in flesh, Jn. 1:14).
1 John 5:20
“And we [have seen and] know [positively] that the Son of God has [actually] come to this world and has given us understanding and insight [progressively] to perceive (recognize) and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true-in His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). This [Man] is the true God and Life eternal” (Amp.).
The reason that Jesus Christ (God in flesh) came to earth was to reveal Himself as Savior (for us to understand this), to let men know Him personally thru a born-again experience. The word “understanding” (Gk. diavolav) is unusual, suggesting a “right reason” with respect to which the Gentiles are said to be “darkened” (Eph. 4:18). By it, we are able to know “Him who is true,” God as He truly is, not only this, but we can be in Him,… “in His Son Jesus Christ,” i.e., it is because we are in The Son, that we are also in the Father.
The King James Version (KJV), by adding the word “even,” implies that “Him that is true” now refers to Christ. This, therefore, leads to the view that the following words, “This is the true God,” refer also to Christ Jesus. This gives one of the most EXPLICIT statements in the N.T. of the deity of Christ. As already stated, theological controversy is ongoing about this. Even the natural sense of v. 20 and the characteristic thought of this epistle and the Gospel preclude this interpretation.
Jesus Christ is God the Son.
So, here, and elsewhere, states the fact of the coming of Jesus the Christ, God in human flesh. John tells us in 1:1, 2 about the supreme realities of eternal life and fellowship with God the Son and God the Father. 1 John 1:1, 2 are the same as John 1:2. Some call this epistle an august exordium, taking the reader into the secrets of the divine counsels and the sharing of the divine life.
GOD IN CHRIST-REALITY
THOSE WHO REFUSE TO BELIEVE that Christ was not / is not divine, we pity you. All atheisms / skepticisms break themselves against the eternal REALITY of the universe-in Christ, the eternal has invaded time, and ultimate REALITY has disclosed itself for human eyes to see and mortal ears to hear and physical hands to touch (v. 1). The Christian message is verified in objective history as well as in subjective experience.
If Jesus was mere man/human, ONLY, He could never give men eternal life. Verse 2 of 1 Jn. 1 states, “For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.” As stated in other writings, eternal life consists of both timelessness and quality. Christ had this in Himself before coming into earth’s time, now He shares it with those who believe on Him (one must, of course, repent of his/her sins and ask /receive forgiveness). “Eternal” means both here, and now, and also in the future. “Eternal life” can be experienced in this life NOW! Expositors often interpret “eternal life” as “future immortality,” but this is misleading. We have immortality of soul / spirit when born-again. The body receives immortality after the resurrection. So, “eternal life” is both qualitative and quantitative.
“I AM”
“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).
Here Jesus / YAHshua was expressing the eternality of His being and the oneness with the Father whose very name, YAHveh, comes from the root verb HAYAH which means “I AM.”
Just what are these unbelievers going to do with Jn. 8:58? But go back to v. 56 please: “Your father “Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad” (ref. is Gen. 17:17). “My day?” This eschatological day has dawned with the coming of the Son of man, but what about Abraham’s day (verse 57)? If we believe John 1:1, 2, 18, yes! The incarnate Logos is speaking. As in John 10:31, the Jews were wroth with what Jesus said.
Abraham Saw
HE SAW THIS DAY especially when Jehovah appeared to him in a human form (Gen. 18:2, 17) which many believe to have been a manifestation of the Lord Jesus.
Calmet’s literal translation reads: “I am from all eternity. I have existed before all ages. You consider in me only the person who speaks to you, and who has appeared to you within a particular time. But besides this human nature, which ye think ye know, there is in me a Divine and eternal nature. Both, united, subsist together in my person. Abraham knew how to distinguish them. He adored me as his God; and desired me as his Savior. He has seen me in my eternity, and he predicted my coming into the world.”
Another old timer (Bishop Pearce) speaks: “What Jesus says here (Jn. 8:58) relates to his existence antecedent to Abraham’s days, and not to his having been the Christ appointed and foretold before that time; for, if Jesus had meant this, the answer would not have been a pertinent one. He might have been appointed and foretold for the Christ; but if he had not had an existence before Abraham’s days, neither could he have seen Abraham, nor could Abraham have seen him…” These quotes are up for thought.
Colossians 2:9
“FOR IN HIM DWELLETH ALL THE FULNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY.”
“Divinity,” “Godhead” (Gk. Beóтns)
Let’s start in 1:19-“For it pleased the Father that in Him (Jesus Christ) should all fulness dwell.” Scholars debate this verse’s construction, whether the phrase “πᾶν τὸ πληρωμα” is to be taken as the subject of the main verb or as the subject of the infinitive. The RSV reflects the former, the KJV, the latter.
Whether it reads, “God was pleased…” or “it was His Will…” doesn’t matter- the main issue is that Jesus Christ was both human and Divine. In either case, we must still ask what is meant by “the dwelling of the fullness of God in Christ”: the Father’s immanence?”
There is no doubt in my mind (and I’m no theologian) that a cosmic redemption is being effected through Christ Jesus the Christ through whom creation took shape becomes the incarnate Christ, the very Christ of human history, who creates the new spiritual community / Israel / Tribe / Nation / Ekklesia. Revelation 21:1 tells us that a new Heaven and earth will come forth out of the disordered old Heaven and earth; the universe itself, will be brought back to Him as its center and goal (1 Cor. 15:27, 28).
Christ’s redemptive work / action is in the life of redeemed man, not in the physical universe alone. The redemptive love of God! Tell me, how can a mere human, Jesus, have v.16 said of Him? “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist” (Col. 1:16, 17).
BACK TO 2:9
CHRIST IN HIS HUMAN INCARNATION (bodily, v. 9) has fully revealed the moral nature and the loving heart of His Father, and by His spiritual presence imparts the power to live a life of moral rectitude in obedience towards God and a desire to see the lost redeemed.
GODHEAD
THIS WORD APPEARS 3 times in the AV.-Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:20; Col. 2:9.
Acts 17:29 says, “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.” The KJV uses “Godhead,” the TCNT uses “Deity,” the Knox Translation uses “divine nature,” etc. Lightfoot (on Col. 2:9) expresses the difference between 0εIÓTηS and θεότης – thus, θειότης is the quality; θεότης, the essence of God. Anyway we view it, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are Divine: Divine Personalities, Divine natures and properties. In Jesus, the Christ, dwells the same attributes, essence, Personality, properties as the Father and the Spirit.
The Latin versions were forced to use “divinitos” for both words. English theologians prefer to speak of the “deity” rather than of the “Divinity” of Christ, since the former word alone gives Him the FULL Personality of God. The English versions from Wycliffe to the 1611 AV make no distinction, but use “Godhead” at both places, except that the Rhem. version has “Divinitie” in Rom. 1:20.
In modern English, the word “Godhead” is mostly confined to a neuter sense, as if it were the proper translation of Tò ecîov, and of that alone. In older English, it was a synonym for “divinity,” which was not distinguished, as it is scarcely distinguished yet, from “Deity.” and
Bearer of Deity – “Great God”
CHRIST JESUS WAS / is the Bearer of the divine office in earth. It is hard to misunderstand John 1:1 where Christ/Logos is God: He is God for believers. He is the true God (1 Jn. 5:20) and eternal life.
Titus 2:13 calls Jesus Christ “the great God.” “Great” is applied to God in the N.T. only here, but does appear in Ps., Isa., and later writings.
I did some digging into Titus 2:13 and found that it (“Great”) is common in secular Gk. as an epithet of “gods” or “kings,” and means “powerful.” One scholar (Eston’s Pastoral Epistles, p. 95) states: “Great’ as an attribute of deity belongs rather to Oriental than Gk. religious terminology, and it was largely used in Gk. to describe oriental gods (see Acts 19:28, 34).”
So, the Greek of “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” is ambiguous and therefore capable of being interpreted as referring to two persons rather one and translated as in the RSV mg., “the great God and our Savior” (so says Moffatt, Scott, Jeremias etc.). It is preferable, however, to suppose with most scholars, commentators etc., both ancient and modern, that both epithets refer to Jesus.
Gk. language scholars point out that this text is the natural construction in Gk. of two nouns following one article (“the”). Also, the language in Titus is obviously framed in reaction to that of the emperor cult and of the mystery religions, i.e., Ptolemy = “Savior and god;” Antiochus and Julius Caesar=”god manifest;” Osiris = “lord and savior.” Today (2012) the U.S. Prez is jokingly called “Emperor Obama” (and I’m sure he sees himself as such!).
In common usage, the compound epithet meant only one deity, not two. Therefore, it should not be surprising that a late Christian writer should speak of Jesus in the same twofold fashion, claiming for Him the divine titles which others ascribed to their false gods.
I also want to point out that the O.T. uses words like, “to redeem us,” “to purify for Himself a people of His own,” ascribed to Yahweh, which terms are ascribed to Jesus (Titus 2:14). So, identity of function prompts identity in name. Also, which Jewish apocalyptic speaks now of the appearing of God, now of the Messiah, the two are never thought of as appearing simultaneously…and in the N.T. it is ALWAYS the appearing of Christ which is expected, not God the Father (see 2 Thess. 2:8; 1 Tim. 6:14, 15; 2 Tim. 4:1; 1 Pet. 4:13 etc.). Therefore, dear readers, we can accept the translation, “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” as being one and the same! (Note: On the early use of “God” for “Jesus” see A.C. McGiffent, The God of the Early Christians, 1924, pp. 41-88).
Prof. Fred D. Gealy and Prof. Morgan P. Noyes makes note of Titus 2:13, 14 where they claim these two verses are of liturgical origin, a citation from Gk.-Christian hymn or creed, therefore it is certainly true that Hellenistic Christians could speak of Christ as “our great God” without any sense of impropriety or without meaning to substitute Christ the Son for God the Father. They point out that for certain purposes God and Christ were thought of as ONE and the same; for other purposes they were distinct and different. This makes sense, for God the Father, and God the Son are both God / deity / divine, (see Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 11, p. 539, 540).
Dr. Adam Clarke (1832, Vol. 6)
CLARKE SAYS Titus 2:13 is literally translated: “And the appearing of the glory of the great God, even our Savior Jesus Christ.” This makes it even clearer. Dr. Clarke makes note of an Essay On The Gk. Article, by H.S. Boyd, Esq., appended to the notes in the Epistle to the Ephesians, where both the structure and doctrine of this passage are explained at large. I personally have not obtained this info (yet!).
JESUS, NO DIFFERENT?
I’M STILL ADDRESSING ONE BROTHER who of late (Oct., 2012) had denied the deity of Christ, placing Jesus on the same level as a mere teacher, but not God. He spent too much time on the internet, looking at stuff that is anti-Christ and unBiblical; and not enough time in his Bible.
Pray tell me how a mere man, even a “good” man can redeem the lost / damned / pagan etc.? Titus 2:14 says that Jesus (who IS God!) “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us (the lost sinners) from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” If we say that Jesus was merely a good moral man / teacher/prophet, how can He redeem the sinner? By what means? Well, v. 14 tells us how, Jesus, God in human form, gave Himself (His life = physical) as a ransom. A whole lost world? Yep! Only God is capable of this.
So, Titus 2:13 attributes the term “Thĕŏs” to Christ. The two attributes are thus linked by the concluding ἡμῶν, so that they both refer to Christ. On the other hand, and I will mention now, in 2 Peter 1:1, as in 2 Thessalonians 1:12, the above Gk. word, ἡμῶν, separates the attributes.
God is “love” in all His will and work (even in His judgments/punishments). Love is not a deity, but the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit / Ghost are. He wants His children to be “lights of love” in a darkened world, hence, we present Jesus the Christ, “In Him was/is life; and the life was/is the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness…” (Jn. 1:4, 5). Mere humanity never can reflect such LIGHT, only Deity.
God With Us
“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” (Matt. 1:23).
Emmanuel = “God with us,” (ref., Isa. 7:14). God the Father brought the encounter between the Heavenly and earthly, between the divine and demonic, between the finite and the infinite, time and eternity…all by Emmanuel! Jesus the Christ was to become the antithesis between spirituality and carnality, between natural and supernatural, between men’s words and Logos Word, between philosophy and theology, between the possible and impossible, between life and death, power and weakness, wealth (spiritual riches) and poverty, Emmanuel, i.e., “God with us” became the New World / Israel Ruler and the Protector of the same.
Hebrew Name / English Name
I’M NOT ONE TO RELY TOTALLY UPON EITHER THE HEBREW OR GREEK, but the following is worthy of noting. Since God can understand all languages, it is rather foolish to read the O.T./N.T. in their original languages, since English is the most understood. Some make a big deal over names, but translating a Heb. / Gk. name into English does not always distort the original name. This is my belief. Of course there are those who purposely mislead the readers in doing so.
The essence of the ONENESS of the Almighty is deeply ingrained in the heart of every child of Israel. Almost every Jew from ancient times, until now, has learned and recited this sacred Scripture-prayer and affirmation of their Jewish heritage called in Hebrew, Shema. Since the hiding of the memorial-name, Jews have recited the Shema with “Adonai” or “Lord.” “Shema Israel! Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai ‘echad!”-“Hear O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” (Deut. 6:4). However this great declaration was originally recited by Moses and Israel in proclaiming YAHveh’s memorial-name. YAHveh “Shema Israel! Eloheinu, YAHveh ‘echad.”-“Hear, O Israel! YAHveh is our God, YAHveh is ONE!”
The word “God,” Elohim, is actually the plural of the singular form El; e.g., in Exodus 20:3 the word “gods” is Elohim. The Hebrew word for “one” is ‘echad. The word literally means “united” or “unity.” This word does not necessarily mean singular, but is also used to express a compound unity such as in Genesis 2:24, where Moses wrote regarding Adam and Eve becoming “one flesh.” Thus, “God,” in the Shema, is spoken of as a compound unity or as unity of Being-the “Oneness” of “God” shown in His Name, YAHveh.
The Most High, the great I AM, emphasizes this eternal oneness through the prophet Isaiah:
“For I am YAHveh your God, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, YOUR SAVIOR;…I, even I, am YAHveh; and THERE IS NO SAVIOR BESIDES ME. It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed…you are My witnesses,” declares YAHveh, “And I am God. Even from eternity I am He…” (Isa. 43:3, 11-13) 2
“Thus says YAHveh, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, YAHveh of hosts: ‘I AM THE FIRST AND I AM THE LAST, And there is no God besides Me” (Isa. 44:6).
Note the striking similarity of YAHveh’s proclamation through Isaiah to YAHshua’s words recorded by John in the book of Revelation: “I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST” (Rev. 1:17 and 22:13). By this proclamation, it is established beyond doubt, that YAHveh and YAHshua are ONE.
The undermining of this vital truth is magnified as we look at two important foundational New Testament Scriptures. The most beloved confession of faith for those who seek salvation has undergone a noteworthy change by replacing YAHveh’s name with the Greek translation of the title “Lord” (kyrios). Over the centuries of Gentile Christianity, it has been rendered, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9, NIV). In truth, however, the original was the confession that “YAHshua is YAHveh.”
Note HAYAH, the Hebrew root verb for I AM, is the root of the divine name YAHveh.
Alpha and Omega
“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Rev. 1:8).
Here we find Jesus called “The Almighty.” Some believe the speaker is God, not the Son. We find this same phrase in Rev. 21:6, where again He calls Himself the A/O. In this same text the title is quite naturally equated with “the beginning and the end.” But, as we dig deeper we find in 22:13 that Jesus calls Himself “The Alpha Omega,” “Beginning / end,” “first / last.” Isaiah 44:6 declares, “I am the first, and I am the last,…” (see Genesis Rabbah 81:2 also).
“I AM He”
IN REVELATIONS 1:17, 18 we find Jesus saying, “I am the first and last” and “I am He that liveth…” the Both God and the Son are as one-divine.
Again, in 2:8 we find “the first and the last,” an appellation announced by Christ.
Jewish Pub. Society
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14).
The JPS has: “Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the almah shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14, JPS, 1917). I don’t have to remind my readers that the Jews deny Jesus as both Messiah and God. They call us Christians blasphemous for saying that God in human flesh was is Jesus. “Messiah” was a well known word to the Jews, still is. But there are Scriptures where “Messiah” is called “God,” who He is worshipped, a literal and physical manifestation of God the Father.
Isa. 7:14 uses the name Immanuel, which comes from the Heb. roots “Im,” which is translated “with” and from the root “El” which is one of the names of God. The titles “mighty God,” “everlasting Father” in Isa. 9:6 are revealing. Let’s take a look at these titles now. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6).
The lofty titles / names and qualities of the divinely endowed king are four. Actually, the comma between “wonderful” and “counselor” (KJV) is not necessarily a mistake, “wonderful counselor” is correct. I only want to deal with “mighty God” and “Everlasting Father” here. (Note: the JPS have, “For unto us a child is born, a son is given unto us; and the government is upon his shoulder; and his name is called Pele-joez-El gibbor-abi-ad- sar-shalom”). And let’s not make this “son” out to be king Hezekiah of Judah as do the Jews. The English translation of the Heb. JPS is: “Wonderful in counsel is God the Mighty, The Everlasting Father, the ruler of Peace.”
“El Gibbor”—”Mighty God”
THE KEY POINT OF CONTENTION between Christian and rabbinical scholars is the identity of the one called “Mighty God.” When we examine the name in question, “El Gibbor,” we find that it is a compound term. The word אדֹ “El” is found thirteen additional times in the book of Isaiah. Twelve times the word אדֹ is translated by the Jewish Publication Society as “God” and once as “Lord.”
Furthermore, in Isaiah 46:9 the word “El,” אדֹ is used as an absolute reference to Jehovah God.
“Remember the former things of old: That I am God (אדֹ) and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me” (Isaiah 46:9, JPS, 1917).
In this passage God, אדֹ, tells of his ability to declare the beginning from the end, that is, of his existence outside of time and space. Clearly, the prophet Isaiah attached the highest possible meaning to the word אדֹ, a meaning no one could seriously apply to a mere mortal, such as king Hezekiah.
Finally, the exact title “El Gibbor” is found in Isaiah 10:21 and is unashamedly translated as “the Mighty God” in the 1985 edition of the JPS Bible.
“A remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the Mighty God (El Gibbor).”
The identity of the person in this passage was not doubted by the ancient rabbis. Ancient, and even some modern Hebrew scholars believe that the person spoken of is the Messiah.
In another fascinating commentary, the Targum of Isaiah, we find the following statement regarding this passage:
“His name has been called from old, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, he who lives forever, the Anointed One (Messiah), in whose days peace shall increase upon us.”
Clearly, the redactor of the ancient Targum of Isaiah associated the Messiah with the one to be called Mighty God, Everlasting Father.
The clear Messianic application of Isaiah 9:6 (9:5 Hebrew Bible) coupled with the fact that the title “El Gibbor” is a definite and common reference to the eternal God of Israel, is powerful evidence that, in some supernatural way, the Messiah would be a physical manifestation of God!
I like one translation where “Everlasting Father” is called “time’s Father” or “Father of time;” Jesus is responsible for the N.T. children of God (in earth’s time), He is not “God the Father” as in Eternity.
In Eternity, Before Time
JESUS DECLARED THAT HE LIVED in eternity past (if I may use such a phrase), prior to the creation of the world: “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Jn. 1:1-3, 14 tells us that Jesus was the Creator of all things. What mere man can claim that?
Back To John’s Account
Q. WHAT WAS St. John’s purpose for penning his Gospel?
A. “So that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (Jn. 20:31).
So, dear unbelievers, it’s no surprise, then, that the deity of Christ and belief in Him emerge as two major thesis in his Gospel.
“Unlike Matthew and Luke, John did not record the birth of Jesus. Rather, he began with Jesus’ eternal, preexistent relationship with God the Father. He is the Creator. Sustainer. Eternal source of light and life (1:1-4).
John arranged the events and discourses in his Gospel to show his readers that Jesus is the Messiah-God’s Son. For example, John’s series of miracles, sometimes called the ‘Book of Signs’ (2:1-12:50), emphasize His divine power and divinely appointed role.
Also revealing Christ’s deity are the many ‘I am’ statements John weaves throughout the Gospel: ‘1 am the bread of life’ (6:35); ‘I am the Light of the world’ (8:12); ‘I am’ (v. 58); ‘I am the door of the sheep’ (10:7, 9); ‘I am the good shepherd’ (vv. 11, 14); ‘I am the resurrection and the life’ (11:25); ‘1 am the way, and the truth, and the life’ (14:6); ‘1 am the true vine’ (15:1, 5). God used the name ‘I am’ for Himself, remember, when he told Moses how to respond when the Israelites asked who had sent him: ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you” (Exod. 3:14). So when Jesus uses the phrase ‘I AM,’ He’s not only telling who sent Him; He’s saying that He is God Himself.
Belief in Christ
ONLY IN JESUS CHRIST, the God-man, can salvation be found. That’s why John stresses the need to his readers to believe in Christ.
The key word in the Gospel of John is ‘believe’ (pisteuo), which occurs 98 times… [It] is frequently used in the present tense and in participial forms. Apparently John wanted to stress an active, continuous, and vital trust in Jesus.
Those who ‘believe in His name’ (1:12) become children of God. After turning water to wine in Cana, Jesus’ disciples ‘believed in Him’ (2:11). Jesus told Nicodemus that the Son of Man must be lifted up, ‘so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life’ (3:15). Many Samaritans ‘believed in Him’ after He spoke with the woman at the well (4:39). So did the royal official and his whole household when his son was healed (v. 53), as well as the blind man healed by Jesus (9:38).” -Charles Swindoll, God’s Masterwork, Vol. 4, 1982
So Far…
WE’VE LEARNED that the Christ existed before time (Jn. 1:1-5, 8:58; 17:5, 24). Paul spoke of Him as existing before all things and as the Creator and Upholder of all things (Col. 1:15-18; Heb. 1:1-3, 8; 2:10). God the Father created all things by and through Him (Eph. 3:9) and the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2).
So far, we’ve learned that the Christ has divine names and titles ascribed to Him, some of which we’ve already looked into. Let me put forth all that I can find in the Bible:
Divine Attributes
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:5-11).
No one can doubt what is said here of Jesus Christ-unless one is a reprobate! Jesus Christ has always been deity by nature, equal with the Father (“one”) before, during, and after His earthly time (see again Jn. 1:1; 8:58; 17:24; Col. 1:15, 17; Mk. 1:11 etc.).
Jesus was both human and deity in one body; He was / is “one” with the Father and the Holy Ghost, as we’ve seen at His baptism. Mark 1:11, 12 prove the tri-unity. We’re not speaking of 3 Gods, but ONE, for in Scripture “God” is revealed as ONE essence existing in 3 distinct persons-all share a common divine nature: Father, Son, Holy Spirit (see Matt. 3:16, 17; 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Pet. 1:2 and Jude 20, 21). Thus God is singular (i.e., a “unity”) in one sense and plural (i.e., 3) in another. God’s Word declares that God is ONE being-a perfect unity of ONE nature, substance, and essence (see Duet. 6:4; Mk. 12:29; Gal. 3:20). Of the persons in the Godhead, none is God without the others, and each with the others is God.
So, the ONE God exists in a plurality of three identifiable, distinct, though not separate, persons. The three are not three gods (as Muslims believe we teach) or three parts or expressions of God, but are three divine persons, true and eternal.
Both the Son and Holy Ghost possess attributes which can only be true of God (Gen. 1:2; Isa. 61:1; Jn. 1:1, 14; 5:18; 14:16; 16:8, 13; 20:28; Acts 5:3, 4; Rom. 8:2, 26, 27; 1 Cor. 2:10, 11; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 9:14-study these out!).
Let’s settle it here and now: None of the tri-unity were ever made or created (as the JW’s claim), but each exists equal in essential being, attributes, power, and glory. Don’t you think it’s time to serve them??
This ONE God existing in three divine persons made possible from all eternity reciprocal love, communion, the exercise of divine attributes, mutual communion in knowledge, and interrelationship within the godhead (see Jn. 10:15; 11:27; 17:24; 1 Cor. 2:10).
I have already written on Philippians 2:5-11 in other articles, so no need to go deep into it again. But one feature needs to be pointed out: 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.”
The Gk. for this phrase literally says He (Christ) “emptied Himself” i.e., laid aside His heavenly glory (see Jn. 17:4), position (Jn. 5:30; Heb. 5:8), riches (no, not gold and silver that men lust for, kill for, and die for!!) (2 Cor. 8:9), rights (no, not constitutional civil rights!) (Lk. 22:27; Mt. 20:28), and the use of His divine attributes (Jn. 5:19; 8:28; 14:10). This “emptying Himself” meant not only a voluntary restraint on His divine capacities and privileges, but also an acceptance of suffering and death on the cross…FOR US!!! Don’t you think He is worthy of serving??
The taking “upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in likeness of men” (v. 7b) we can look at Mark 13:32; Lk. 2:40-52; Rom. 8:3; 2 Cor. 8:9; Heb. 2:7, 14. Here is the mystery that mere men can’t grasp: although He remained FULLY DIVINE, Christ took on a FULLY HUMAN nature…with its problems like men of today, yet without sin (He, Jesus the babe, was not conceived by human seed, He only had a human nature / body.
So, who else but God (in flesh) could have been the perfect redeemer, by Himself stepping into human flesh?
Divine Offices
Creator: We find in Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16; and Heb. 1:1-3, Jesus as “Creator;”
Mediator: Look up 1 Tim. 2:4, 5; Heb. 8:6;
Church Head: Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:16-24;
Savior: 2 Pet. 3:2;
Judge: 2 Tim. 4:1;
Preserver: Heb. 1:1-3;
Giver of Life: Jn. 10:28; 17:2;
Lord and Christ: Acts 2:36;
Resurrection and Life: Jn. 11:25.
We can’t miss the CONNECTION – Jesus Christ is God! He is Deity! He is equal to the Father as to divinity (Zech. 13:7; Jn. 5:17-23; 10:30-38; 17:10 etc.).
Divine Character
I REALIZE ALL THESE SCRIPTURES may get monotonous to most, but we can’t just pick and choose a few texts out of context to make our little doctrinal belief system-we’ve got to take ALL!
All mere men are sinners by nature; Christ came to liberate the whole human race. The Kingdom of Christ is the messianic reign of the Holy Ghost in the hearts of born-again believers. Sinners can’t liberate themselves, for they are in captivity of sin (Ps. 51:5; Eph. 3:1-3; Rom. 5:12-21 etc.).
The Kingdom of Christ / God subsists side-by-side with the kingdoms of this evil / fallen world-UNDER CONTROL of Satan (yet God is over him!). As one pastor aptly wrote, “The simultaneous coexisting of these two opposites on earth during the whole course of this present Messianic age serves to accommodate the underlying nature of God-given human free moral agency” (Pastor Gary Cutler, The Lord’s Coming Herald, Vol. 22, No. 2, 2012).
Why would any of you want to serve a false God when Jesus Christ is the Living God?, righteous (Isa. 53: 11; Heb. 1:9), faithful (Isa. 11:5; 1 Thess. 5:24), true (Jn. 1:14; 14:6), forgiving (Lk. 23:34), humble (Phil. 2:5-11), self-denying (2 Cor. 8:9), loving (Jn. 15:13; 3:16), benevolent (Acts 10:38), compassionate (Matt. 15:32), just (Jn. 5:30), guileless (1 Pet. 2:22), sinless (2 Cor. 5:21), spotless (1 Pet. 1:19), innocent (Matt. 27:4), harmless (Heb. 7:26), obedient (Jn. 2:17), long-suffering (1 Tim. 1:16), patient (Isa. 53:7), meek (Matt. 11:29), lowly (Matt. 111:29), merciful (Heb. 2:17) etc., etc.. Tell me, what other god has these characteristics ascribed to them?
Now or Future?
SOME POOR SOULS BELIEVE that the Kingdom of Christ / God is still in the future. NO! The KOC/ KOG is HERE NOW!!…in the possibilities of grace (not race!), thru full salvation (not limited as some teach!), that full salvation is available to ALL, I mean ALL, NOW! Sadly, many “Christians” deny the fullness of redemption that is inherent in the new Covenant-the old being passed away, by works (not that we new covenant believers do not believe in or perform “works,” but these follow salvation).
“Works” are Ascribed to Him
JOHN 1:3; COLOSSIANS 1:15-18; Hebrews 1:1-3, 10; John 5:19-23 and Revelations 3:14 are a few Scriptures where “works” are ascribed to Jesus Christ the Lord. And, if we are in Him, we too, will do “good works,” not to be seen and heard of men, but of God. And one of our “works” is to evangelize the world (Matt. 28:19, 20), which we have personally been doing since 1971-we have been to many, many foreign nations as well as here in the USA (now considered one of the world’s most urgent mission fields!! How has it come to this? By most “Christians” sitting on their butts in some dull and lifeless church playing church!!).
America has FAILED to do the works of God (I mean as the Holy Spirit leads/directs). Oh, no, we’ve got Kingdom and Queendom builders amassing vast riches unto themselves…letting the lambs/ sheep be devoured by wolves (other than themselves!!)
The modern Church, here in the West, is sick and slimy; FEEBLE!…unable to have any sort of lasting influence upon their surrounding societies, except BAD influences. Hence, the FORCES of HELL have come in like marauding, odiferous demons to infiltrate and dominate-Hello America!!
Worship
THE BIBLE GIVES AMPLE PROOF that divine worship was given to Christ Jesus (see Matt. 4:9, 10; 14:33; 28:9; Lk. 24:52; Jn. 5:23; 14:14; Acts 7:59; Rom. 10:9-13; Heb. 1:6; Phil. 2:10, 11; Rev. 5:12-14).
Christians are meant to worship Him, but all has changed-most churchites worship (first and foremost) themselves, their church denominations etc., stuff and things (usually all from Communist china!) wealth, health, food, drugs, drink, sex, blah, blah.
Look around American “Christian,” see the ebullience heaped upon both secular and religious super-stores-it truly is SICKENING!! False worship to false gods / goddesses causes the WRATH of God to come – Hello America! All this IDOLATRY is ad Nauseam. organizations and denominations have such profundity in this area, mere “lip” service is rendered to the crucified / risen / glorified Christ.
Angels and men, in Scripture, both, worship Him (Jesus Christ), but they both refuse all such worship themselves (Acts 10:25, 26; Heb. 1:6; Rev. 22:8, 9 etc.). Not so in today’s reprobate / apostate / Hell-bound church. Oh, no, we MUST PRAISE the mega-church gurus, the Jezebelian female wives, pastors, authors, singers / swingers etc..
The inevitable chain of events is BAD to WORSE! Now we have homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders, queers…all part of today’s churchianity. The New Way Forward? HA! The old WAY down (to the pit!).
Antinomian apostasy is in, and biblical Christianity is out. Frankly, religious men/women hardly, if ever, turn from their false doctrines, their whoredoms in order to get back on the straight and narrow. The “Christian” church has now been “Canaanized.”
Thanks for listening to my soap-box sermon.