Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Thomas Was Not Speaking Of Christ's Deity

When Thomas referred to Jesus as “My God” he was not speaking of his deity.

John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Thomas, a Jew, used a mode of expression common to the Old Testament. Angels are called God in Gen. 16:7 cf. vs 13. Often accredited representatives of God are referred to as “God”. Elohim translated “God” in many passages, refers to the judges of Israel in Psa. 82:1,6. Elohim is also translated Judges in Ex. 22:28.

Notice earlier in this chapter, Jesus told Mary, “I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God and your God.” (vs. 17) Since Jesus was ascending to his God, then clearly he could not himself “Very God”. This passage clearly does not speak of the deity of Christ.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Acts 2:34-36 Does Not Speak of Deity

In Acts 2:34-36, Peter quotes Ps 110:1 to establish Jesus’ status as lord. Many take this to mean that Peter is attempting to establish Jesus' deity and they point to Ps 110:1 as proof.

Psalms 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

In this passage Yahweh (3068) said to Adoni (113) "Sit thou at my right hand..."

This passage is obviously messianic and Adown, the second "Lord," speaks of Jesus. Those who say that Peter is establishing Jesus' deity, say that because the Hebrew word Adown (113) is used, it means deity. What these folks fail to take into account is that Adown (113) is a common word for lord and had David (The author of Ps 110.) expected the Messiah to be God, he would have used the closely related word Adonay (136) which speaks almost exclusively of deity. A word study of Adown (113) and Adonay (136) will support this.

Considering the above, one cannot use these passages to establish the deity of Jesus.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Two Witnesses

Deuteronomy 17:6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

It takes two witnesses to put a man to death!

Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

But at the mouth of two or three witnesses shall the matter be established.

Below are eight witnesses saying there is but one God or alludes to it and of those eight witnesses, two of them say that the one God is the Father. How then can Christ be deity?

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

Mark 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

My Father....is greater than all.

John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

If the Father is "greater than all," is not the Father then greater than the Son? How then can the Son be co-equal as in the doctrine of the Trinity?