----- Original Message -----
From:
Roger
To: Craig
Subject: Re: DaVinci Code - The Truth about the Deity of Christ
Craig-
I know that you have been on this theme of the non deity of Jesus
for awhile. I am sorry but I have not read all that you have written, so
really I am unsure what you mean with the last piece on DaVinci Code. But
just so that I am sure of what you are saying, is it that you think Jesus was
not divine? In other words you deny that Jesus "and the Father are
one" as it is recorded in John 10:30 and many other scriptural verses
showing Jesus as divine? By this theological position would you not have
difficulty with the doctrine of the Resurrection? And what about the
Virgin Birth? And was Jesus just a good teacher as so many claim without
the element of divine purpose for Redemption? Speak to me old
friend. This is very important.
Rog
Hi Rog!
Forgive my inability to communicate clearly. I feel like I have failed you my dear
friend, and I’m at a loss for words. Since you have difficulty digesting the more lengthy, detailed
explanations, (which I prefer), below I have attempted to reconfigure my reply
so that there is no room for misunderstanding.
You asked five basic questions in your email. I broke these questions down into a numbered
format 1 thru 5. Your question first,
followed by what Scripture says about Jesus, his identity, his resurrection,
the virgin birth, etc, (as it relates to each of your questions), which are
followed by my brief summary explanations.
1. ROGER: Is it that you
think Jesus was not divine?
JESUS: John 17: 3 “Father… this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. New King James Version
CRAIG: By using the term ‘divine’ I assume you
mean ‘God; the Supreme Deity or Divinity.’
Jesus says the Father is the “only true God” (i.e. the ‘only true
Divinity’). Jesus identifies the
“FATHER” as the “ONLY” true “God” (i.e. Divinity). Therefore, I believe what Jesus says is true; the Father alone IS
God.
Furthermore, In John 17:3, Jesus follows up his statement about
the Father as being “the only true God” by using in his prayer (to God) the
simple conjunction “and” to separate his (Jesus’) identity as being
distinct from that of the Father. To
insure that this distinction cannot be misconstrued or misinterpreted, Jesus
says, “…AND Jesus
Christ whom You (the Father, the only true Divinity) have sent.”
CRAIG’S CONCLUSION: There is one
true God… the Father. Jesus Christ is
“sent” by the one true God.
2. ROGER: In other words
you deny that Jesus "and the Father are one" as it is recorded in
John 10:30 and many other scriptural verses showing Jesus as divine?
CRAIG: Rog, you failed to list any of the passages
akin to John 10:30; I looked up a few, and John chapter 17 is perhaps the most
familiar, so I started there.
JESUS: John 17:21-23
“… that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me,
and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may
believe that You sent Me. 22 And
the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be
one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made
perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent
Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. New King James Version
CRAIG: I have never
said that I ‘deny’ that Jesus and the Father are ‘one.’ John 17:21-23 is a parallel scripture
passage that aligns with John 10:30 because it describes the meaning of the
phrase ‘I and the Father are one."’
Notice how Jesus prays TO the Father about his disciples saying, ‘that they (his
followers) may be one just as We are one.”
Jesus says his disciples are to become “one” in the exact same way
he is “one” with his Father (i.e. “just as We are one”). The PURPOSE of Jesus being ‘one’ with the
Father, is so that we as his brethren are able to be made “perfect (complete)
in one” body, so that “the world may know that the Father (God) has “SENT” His
son Jesus and has “loved them” (his disciples) just as his Father “loved” him
(the man Jesus). However, the strict,
orthodox religious people did not like this message; they were jealous of
Jesus, and we see proof of this in what Christ tell the Pharisees in John 8:40.
John 8:39-40 Jesus said, “If you were truly Abraham's children,
then you would do the works of Abraham follow his example, do as Abraham
did. 40 But now instead you are wanting
and seeking to kill me, a Man
who has told you the truth, which I have heard from God. This is not the way Abraham
acted.” Amplified Bible
CRAIG’S CONCLUSION: Jesus says
that he is a “man” who has told you the truth. As to his identity, Jesus does not leave any
room for doubt Rog, because he follows up with this phrase, “who has told you
the truth,” with these very human words, “… which I have heard from God.” Now, I ask you, is this the ‘Divine’ part of
Jesus that is claiming to have ‘heard’ the truth from God?’ How do you explain this Roger? Do you simply skim over the verse? I conclude that the phrase Jesus uses in
John 10:30 and elsewhere is not his affirmation about being ‘divine’ but
rather, applies to Jesus’ relationship of love and obedience to the Father’s
will.
CRAIG: Below I have
included the entire CONTEXT of John 10:30 “I and the Father are one.” The scriptures are not intended to pit one
verse against another, but are meant to be read as one narrative. The original scriptures have no chapters and
verses; Bible publishers added these strictly for study reference purposes.
John 10:22-30 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place
at Jerusalem; 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the
portico of Solomon. 24 The Jews
therefore gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will you
keep us in suspense? If you are the
Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus
answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in my Father's name, these bear witness of me. 26 But you do
not believe, because you are not of my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they
shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father,
who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
30 I and the
Father are one.” 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone
Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I showed
you many good works from
the Father; for which of them are you stoning me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, “For a good work
we do not stone you, but for blasphemy; and because you, BEING A MAN, make yourself out to be God.”
(the Greek text for ‘God’ = Theón & is an anarthrous noun).” 34 Jesus answered them, “Has it not been
written in your Law, “I said, ‘you are gods (theoí)’?” 35 “If He (Yahweh) called them (Old
Testament judges & rulers) gods (theoús), to whom the word of God came (and
the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you (Jews) say of him (Christ Jesus), whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ BECAUSE I SAID, ‘I AM THE SON OF GOD?’ New American
Standard Bible - Updated Edition
CRAIG: The Pharisees press Jesus to reveal his
true identity as the Messiah saying, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Jesus’ reply to
their pressing inquiry includes these words, “…the works that I do in my
Father's name.” You allege that
Jesus’ words in John 10:30 are his claim to being “divine.”
You say that I do not believe Jesus and the Father are ‘one’
because I don’t say this is referring to Jesus’ divinity. However, if you agree there is only ONE TRUE
God, the Father, which is what Jesus himself said in John 17:3, then you’ll
have to explain your interpretation of John 10:30 in light of what Jesus says
in John 10:29, “My
Father, who has given
them to me, is
greater than all.”
If Jesus is claiming divinity in verse 30, is he denying divinity
in verse 29? If he is claiming divinity
in verse 30, then WHY does he say that the “FATHER” is “GREATER” than all? Are there TWO divinities in verse 29?
The Jews FALSELY ACCUSE Jesus of claiming divinity in their
statement, “For a good work we do not stone you, but for blasphemy; and because
you, BEING A MAN, make yourself out to be God.” The Jews clearly know Jesus is a “MAN” but
they falsely accuse him of a personal claim to divinity. Does Jesus deny divinity? What is his reply? In John 10:36 Jesus said in response to their false accusations,
“Do you (Jews) say of
him (Christ Jesus), whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ BECAUSE I SAID, ‘I AM THE SON OF GOD?’
CRAIG’S CONCLUSION: Jesus clearly states the meaning of his
words, ‘I and the Father are one’ in verse 36 by identifying himself with these
words, “‘I AM THE SON
OF GOD.’ Therefore, I conclude with Jesus, that he is
the Son of God.
3. ROGER: By this
theological position would you not have difficulty with the doctrine of the
Resurrection?
CRAIG: I do not have difficulty with the
doctrine of the Resurrection; in fact, my views harmonize with Scripture, and
without adding extra-biblical language or verbiage to the text in order to
explain its meaning.
JESUS: Romans 6:9-11 For we know that since
Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has
mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the
life he lives, he lives
to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. New International Version
Acts 2:22-24 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by
God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also
know — 23 Him, being delivered by the
determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands,
have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not
possible that He should be held by it. New King James Version
Acts 2:31-32 “… concerning the resurrection of the Christ …this Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. (also see Acts 3:15, Acts
3:26, Acts 4:10, Acts 5:30-31, Acts 10:39-40, Acts 13:29-30, Acts 13:33). New
King James Version
CRAIG: Romans 6:9-11 says Christ was a man whose death he died to
sin once for all; but the life he (the MAN Christ Jesus) lives, he lives TO God. My Bible says that we as disciples of
Christ are to, in the
same way, as Christ died
to sin, to count ourselves
dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:4 Christ was raised from the dead through the
glory of the Father.
Acts 5:30-31 “The
God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31 He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. New American Standard
Bible - Updated Edition
Acts 10:38 God
anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and with power,
who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. New King James Version
Romans 6:4 Christ
was raised from the dead
through the glory of
the Father. New American Standard Bible
CRAIG’S CONCLUSION: ‘The God of our fathers raised up Jesus’ means the only true God that Jesus also
prayed to in John 17:3. This is the
same God of the Old Testament ‘fathers’ of Israel. He is the only ‘divine’ Father and God that I see in
Scripture. Note also, the same God that
‘raised Jesus’ also “exalted Jesus.’
You cannot have one person of divinity exalting another person of
divinity, can you? That is
polytheism. Furthermore, the Father IS
the only “true” God, and He exalted Jesus to HIS right hand (i.e. place of
authority) as a “Prince” and as a “Savior.”
It was this same God, the Father, who exalted Jesus, so that Jesus
could grant “repentance” to Israel, AND “forgiveness” of sins to all who
believe. Pretty basic.
One final thought on the resurrection. When doubting Thomas saw the Lord Jesus resurrected in the flesh,
in John 20:28 he said, “My Lord and my God.”
This typical mistranslation should read, “My Lord and my King.” Otherwise, John 20:17 makes no sense
whatsoever; because Jesus said he had not yet ascended to his own God.
John 20:16-18
Jesus said to her, "Mary!"
She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!” (This means, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'" 18 Mary
Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord,"
and that He had said these things to her. New American Standard Bible - Updated
Edition
Once you realize the Greek word theós is properly translated as
‘magistrate or king’, it reconciles many New Testament scripture verses
formerly attributing deity (i.e. divinity’)to Jesus.
4. ROGER: And what about
the Virgin Birth?
JESUS:
Matthew 1:18-2:2 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as
follows. When His mother
Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the
Holy Spirit. 19 And
Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her,
desired to put her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold,
an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of
David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in
her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 And she will bear a
Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people
from their sins." 22 Now
all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might
be fulfilled, saying, 23
‘Behold, the virgin
shall be with child, and
shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which translated means, "God with us." 24 And Joseph arose from his
sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took her as his
wife, 25 and kept her a
virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. Matthew 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in
Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east
arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and
have come to worship Him.” New American
Standard Bible
CRAIG: I’m not sure what the virgin birth has
to do with this subject, because the virgin birth is a testament to Jesus’
humanity. If you are referring to his
name ‘Immanuel’ which means ‘God with us’ as proof of his divinity, then you
are saying that God the Father, the only true God, was born as an infant
son? Rog, many men in the Bible have
names that attribute deity to them; consider the following names and their word
meanings that all describe them with divine attributes. Shall we also make these men divine?
Elimelech, my God is king
Eliphal, a miracle of God
Eliphalet, the God of deliverance
Elisha, salvation of God
Elishua, God is my salvation
Eliah, God the Lord
Elijah, God the Lord, the strong Lord
Elihu,he is my God himself
Elidad, beloved of God
Eliathah, thou art my God
Eliakim, resurrection of God
Jehoshaphat, the Lord is judge
Jehudijah, the praise of the Lord
Jezneel, seed of God
Jeremiah, exaltation of the Lord
Isaiah, the salvation of the Lord
Jehoiada, knowledge of the Lord
5. ROGER: And was Jesus
just a good teacher as so many claim without the element of divine purpose for
Redemption?
JESUS: Mark 10:17-18
And as He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Jesus and knelt before
Him, and began asking Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal
life?” 18 And Jesus said to him,
"Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” New American Standard Bible
Luke 18:18-19 And a certain ruler questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” New American
Standard Bible
CRAIG’S CONCLUSION: Jesus did not
allow the rich ruler to even refer to him as “God teacher.” Jesus denied any claim to divinity here by
answering the Jewish ruler with these words, of which there can be no
uncertainty whatsoever, ““Why do you call me good?
No one is good except God alone.”
Well, there you have it my brother. I have answered each and every one of your questions, from each
and every passage that mentions the topics you were interested in. I hope you are willing to do some honest
searching of Scripture, by laying aside whatever doctrinal prejudices you may
have, disregarding man’s traditions in favor of the authority of Scripture as
the inspired word of God, by which we reprove, correct, and instruct each
pother in righteousness.
Love you brother,
Craigo
The Bible
Answer Stand Ministry
1 Peter 3:15 Always
be ready to give reasonable justification to anyone who asks you for an
explanation of the hope that is within you,
but do it considerately and courteously.
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