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Re: John 1:1 and the words of JESUS thruout that book!
@theMadJW posted:
Look- the Koine Greek language is far different to our own- so the safe bet is matching John's statement with what Jesus taught.
I draw conclusions about Trinitarian theology that are similar to yours in their core assertions, but I don't understand your refusal to-date to address directly the question @Pages has now posed to you on multiple occasions: In my words that question is this: The NWT translates the final clause of John 1.1 in a way that differs substantively from the translation proposed by most other English translations. Clearly NWT translators believed the Greek of that final clause should be translated, "and was a god" rather than "and the Word was God." Fine. Their choice. But what would the Greek at the end of John 1.1 have had to be in order for NWT translators to have translated it, "and the Word was God"? Do you know? Have NWT translators ever offered a response to that question? Surely NWT translators acknowledge that there DOES exist a collection of Greek words that is most accurately translated, "and the Word was God." What is that collection of words?
DISCLAIMER: I have no original language skills, so I can make no contribution to the discussion. But I remain curious about this issue and hope you will engage it directly.
Can you Answer?
Whom is the person that this scripture is speaking about?
"This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father and he will rule as King over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his Kingdom.” (Luke 1:32-33)
Billions of trinitarians around the world have no clue, here are some scriptural hints.
- “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the Angel of his Presence saved them" (Isaiah 63:9 ASV)
- "He was oppressed and he let himself be afflicted, But he would not open his mouth. He was brought like a sheep to the slaughter, Like a ewe that is silent before its shearers, And he would not open his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7)
- "And he was given a burial place with the wicked, And with the rich in his death, Although he had done no wrong And there was no deception in his mouth." (Isaiah 53:9)
- "I am sending an Angel ahead of you to guard you on the Way and to bring you into the place that I have prepared. Pay attention to him, and obey his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgressions, because My Name is in Him." (Exodus 23:20-21)
- Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying: “This is my Son, the one who has been chosen. Listen to him.” (Luke 9:35)
- "So he has become better than the angels to the extent that he has inherited a name (Hebrews 1:4)
- In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout for David a righteous sprout, and he will execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will reside in security. And this is what SHE will be called: Jehovah Is Our Righteousness. (Jeremiah 33:15-16)
- After this I saw another angel descending from heaven with great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory. (Rev 18:1)
The Jewish System of things reject to read (Isaiah Chapter 53) in Public. WHY?
- The suffering, death, and burial of Jehovah’s Servant (1-12)
- Sin of many carried by him (12)
- “Like a sheep to the slaughter” (7)
- Carries sicknesses and pains (4)
- Despised and avoided (3)
Whom is the Person called Son of David? (Matthew 21:19)
Whom is the Person Called the Son of the Most High? (Luke 1:32)
ANSWER: So the angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And look! you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus." (Luke 1:30-31)
Son of David - A phrase often applied to Jesus, emphasizing that he is the Heir of the Kingdom covenant that was to be fulfilled by someone in David’s lineage.—Mt 12:23; 21:9.
Re: An Admission of A Trinitarian
If we are willing to accept the two above points, please, CD Posters/readers and anti-trinitarian, we do find in Scripture many references to three persons in God.
There is NOTHING whatever in Scripture about "three persons in God". God is NOT a "multiple persons / multiple personalities" God.
Now, ancient religions holding to such "multiple God persons" ideas have all correctly considered that such "multiple God persons" are multiple Gods => polytheistic mythologies.
When thus influenced folks in the early church tried to introduce such "three God persons" ideas, they faced the insurmountable big hurdle that in Bible Scripture the truth that the true God is only a ONE PERSON God is too obvious and can't be removed or simply replaced. Their solution then was: We leave God is one, and we also make this God a "three person trinity God" and sweep any logical or reasonable arguments against our "holy trinity" dogma under the carpet by claims of it being a big mystery that the human mind just cannot really understand or explain. If someone asks how we then could have known that, we claim that we "just know by faith".
And millions of people have been duped and misled by such "wolves in sheep clothing"
Re: A Better Grasp of What JW's Offer You
And you totally dodged that Catholics are pagan worshippers.
Re: A Better Grasp of What JW's Offer You
Catholics worship idols of stone and wood, adorning them and kissing them. They even have idols of gargoyles that they claim are protectors of the Kingdom. I wonder what kingdom are they speaking of????
Catholics spurn the 10 commandments. "You must not make worthless gods for yourselves, and you must not set up a carved image or a sacred pillar for yourselves, and you must not put a stone figure in your land in order to bow down toward it; for I am Jehovah your God. You should keep my sabbaths and show reverence for my sanctuary. I am Jehovah." (Leviticus 26:1-2)
Re: Jesus ? "Not God" ? Savior ?
@Wolfgang wrote: Jesus was crucified and died ... God was not crucified nor can God die.
Phrase "nor can God die" could be qualified:
"All of God cannot die" Agree since if all of God could die, then God would cease to be God.
"None of God could die" Disagree due to God's Loving plan for the The Word (eternally being God while not being all of God) who humbled Himself (left Holy Heaven above) to live in Holy human body, which became the unblemished sacrifice that takes away sin of the world.
@Wolfgang wrote: God then raised Jesus from the dead ... God did not raise God (Himself) from the dead, nor did an alive God raise a dead God from the dead.
All of One God raised Jesus from the dead (only physical human body died). Two voices (of One God) were alive above (Father & Holy Spirit) while one voice (of God) was alive below (Jesus). Human speculation for "Shroud of Turin" is unclean spirits pressing cloth against body of Jesus trying to prevent resurrection, but God's Light burst forth that left three dimensional negative image in cloth.
- @Wolfgang wrote: Romans 5.15-17 - But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
Paul clarifies the first man, Adam, being from dust while the second man (Jesus Christ) is from heaven in 1 Corinthians 15:44-47 If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.
@Wolfgang wrote: Could the passage from Rom 5 be any more plain and clear in declaring that Jesus Christ was a man, a human being ...and NOT God??
Larger context of Romans 5 plainly declares Jesus Christ is Lord (v 11), Man (vv 15-17), and Lord (v 21). Contemporary synagogue usage: κύριος (Lord) = Adonai => יהוה (God). Only God gives Grace through righteousness for eternal life.
Hebrews 3:1-6 contrasts Moses being a faithful servant (man) in God's house while Jesus is God's Son over God's house, which is worthy of more honor. Please explain how God could make Jesus "the Father's Son" or "God's Son" while keeping clear distinction between God (Father) and Jesus Christ ?
@Wolfgang wrote: The truth of Scripture is in plain and clear view and very, very simple. And yet, certain theologies flat out contradict the simple and plain truth rather boldly and draw multitudes of followers after them with claims that they are teaching truth ... and millions are following them ... why? perhaps because they follow along by sort of "blind faith"???
Concur a number of questionable doctrines are based on scripture snippets (can "justify" anything), which ignore plain context. Thankful for Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3 that urges searching height, depth, width, and breadth of God's Love (searching is not "blind faith").
One form of "blind faith" is Jeremiah 17:9-10 (deceptiveness of human heart) that continues to blindly ignore (or rationalize away) plain meaning of Scripture: e.g. Isaiah 9:6 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, .... Mighty God, ..." plus "Immanuel" (God with us) in Isaiah 7:14 that has a prophetic fulfillment in Matthew 1:22-23
John 17:1 includes Jesus knowing He is the Son of God (as He begins prayer). Also John 17:5 includes Jesus knowing He was with His Father before the world began. Only God existed before the world was created (so Jesus knew He was God and His Father was God = two voices in One God).
@Wolfgang wrote: Only,Jesus never received or accepted to be worshiped AS GOD.
Remember context for John 8:38 worship to Jesus as God where Jesus had asked in John 8:36 "Do you believe in the Son of Man ?" that uses "Son of Man" to describe Himself as God above (referring to Daniel 7:13-14 with prophetic fulfillment in Matthew 28:18)
@Wolfgang wrote: Why? Very simple => Jesus and those who showed reverence and paid homage (worshiped) to him knew that he was NOT God
Man born blind whose eyesight was opened chose to worship Jesus as God.
Keep Smiling 😀
Re: Which one is correct? A or B?
I am finding that Rando's arguments against Trinity almost entirely argue in favor of Trinity. Nothing wrong with that. Over and over the arguments display how God is tripartite relationally.
JW's (rather, a menacing Watchtower) try to recast God in some sort of human caricature and get themselves in a theological mess which they corrupt further with a strange polytheistic little god they add and say Jesus is that little god/angel...something. Ridiculous,, but I this is straight from Rando.
Here is another A or B: Will JW's live forever?
- The JW Watchtower assures of some sort of Paradise, where salvation will be lost by many.
- It is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment
Watchtower and Tract Society statement:
Even under these best of circumstances, some will refuse to serve God. As the Scriptures say: 'Though the wicked one should be shown favor, he simply will not learn righteousness. In the land of straight forwardness he will act unjustly.' (Isaiah 26:10) So after being given full opportunity to change their ways and to learn righteousness, such wicked ones will be destroyed. Some will be put to death even before Judgment Day ends.
One more A or B: How many JW's will become Kings?
- 144,000
- None
Don't be fooled by pretty JW pictures of promised paradise, like trout lures, that hook people and drag them to destruction. It is bait and switch.
Re: Do you understand Matthew 24:3?
Interesting to me in this, is the reference to the fact that Jesus Himself does not know the time, but The Father ONLY.
This might give pause in the thought that Jesus IS one and the same as God.
ALSO, the fact that Paul points out that Jesus Himself will deliver over the kingdom to The Father, once all enemies are put under his feet (1 Cor.15).
Noting that Jesus says "The Father is greater than I"...
I just find it interesting how Jesus could not have given answer as to the WHEN for the day and hour for this very reason.