“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him.”–Exodus 23:20-21
The tone of chapter 23 changes from verse 20.
The Lord transitions from handing out rules and regulations to making a bold and audacious promise.
He is going to send an angel to prepare the way for Israel’s conquest of the land of Canaan.
In Hebrew, the word is MALACH and depending on the context can mean either a human messenger or a divine angelic being.
Obviously in this context, we are dealing with a divine being from heaven.
The people are told that they are to obey “him” because this particular angel carries the Lord’s Name.
Now this can mean either one of two things.
This angel carries God’s full authority or was actually a manifestation of God Himself.
Which is which we could argue until we’re blue in the face but one thing I’m pretty sure on is that this is NOT some pre-New Testament manifestation of Christ.
In fact, I don’t even believe the idea of a pre-incarnate Christ holds water at all.
As I’ve said numerous times before, Yeshua was NOT an apparition of a man like what appeared here.
He was a real flesh-and-blood man born at a specific place at a specific time for a specific purpose according to numerous OT prophecies.
If it is true that Yeshua appeared left and right in the Old Testament prior to His birth from Mary, then the idea of a first and second coming of Yeshua becomes ludicrous.
The biggest takeaway here is that in many ways, we have to accept that God is an inscrutable mystery to us.
It is God’s divine prerogative to manifest Himself however He wills, whether it is as an angel, a cloud, a burning bush or a green alien for that matter.
The fact that we have a hard time accepting this is no reason to willy nilly label every visible form of God as being a pre-New Testament “Jesus”.
Personally, I don’t have a problem with not understanding certain things.
I mean it should be obvious that are tiny and limited finite minds are just not going to be able to understand certain things about the nature and essence of the eternal, omnipotent, and omniscient Creator of the whole universe.
It is ridiculous to try to fit God into some trinitarian box.
Some things about God just are!
Why can’t we just simply accept it?
I believe I have something to say about this subject being I was raised believing this. The problem stems from “Systematic Theologies”. Someone decided they wanted certain passages to support their view point. So they connected together out of context verses to support their view. Christophenies or per-incarnate appearances of Jesus are fantasies created from vain imaginations. There is no support what so ever. Trinity teachings defy scripture right and left. Jesus the man was born and filled with the Word of God and the Holy Spirit without limit. There is nobody like Him. But this does not make Him God or part of a trinity. Actually there is a quaditarian God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit and Word of God. Just joking! The scripture makes it clear there is God, His Word, His Spirit and His Son. In order for the Son to be a representative of His Father here on earth He would need certain things. 1] The infilling of God’s Spirit without limit 2] The Word of God without limit. 3] A physical body. None of this makes Him God. However, it makes Him a mirror image of God in a human body. He speaks His Words, He has His mind [Spirit]. It was the Word of God which came to earth and became flesh. God sends His Word to accomplish His will. Hence, the Word is sent in the body of a man [Jesus]. There is nothing controversial in scripture about this idea. Prophets only had the Word of God when it was delivered to them. Prophets were under the direction of the Holy Spirit when it came upon them. A man who has both without limit has it present at all times. This is what sets Jesus aside as different. He become no less the Savior under these conditions. The deity which is alluded to in Jesus is really the Word and Spirit. The man was just a vessel. However, those who are not lead by the Holy Spirit assume those passages are saying Jesus the man is God. When Jesus said,”Before Abraham I Am”, is a prophetic utterance of the Word of God, which was in the beginning with God and is God. [The man Jesus had a front row seat to fantastic things revealed to Him by the Word of God. I’m sure some of the things He said astounded him as well. Some of us have spoken things which we knew nothing about until it came out of our mouth. I have actually stopped and said,”Wow I didn’t know that”. LOL!] God’s Word is Him or an extension of Him. The Word of God is “A external expression” of God’s being. Its not words like we use. God does not have a tongue articulating sound frequencies to be heard by a physical ear and interpreted by a brain. God’s Word expresses His understanding to us. My studies revealed there is no trinity after years of believing it.
Great explanation. But not sure if I could accept your statement “But this does not make Him God or part of the trinity”.
No it doesn’t, which is my point. I don’t believe in a trinity. One does not need to be God or part of a trinity to have the fullness of Word and Spirit. Nobody has this fullness except Jesus, which is my main point. This is what sets Him apart from the rest of us. It was God’s Word which was sent into the world in a body. “A body you have prepared for me”. Jesus the man had no pre-existance.
To deny “A” trinity is to “Deny Yahweh’s power”. The confession that “Jesus is the Son of GOD” before baptism recognizes that Jesus is “GOD who paid us a personal visit”. It’s the fulfillment of several prophecies, particularly in Habakkuk, Isaiah, and Ezekiel. The misconception lies in the “Catholics'” misunderstanding of the “Phenomenon”. It’s like the difference between a “Holocaust” and “Atrocity”. “The Holocaust” to gentiles is a mis-definition in that English speakers see a holocaust as something like the aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What the Nazis did to the Jews were “Atrocities”, just as real but immensely evil. The so-called Trinity is not a form of how Yahweh exists, but Yahweh performing the ultimate miracle. Habakkuk describes the coming of a work that the Jews will see as unbelievable and refuse to see the truth. Hab 1:5 “Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.” This prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus and I will show you where. In Acts 13:14-41 Paul fulfilled the prophecy that “a man would tell you”. “…Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you”. He was talking about Jesus and Jesus Himself made that Declaration “TWICE”, and one of those times was, wait for it, “December 25th”! The truth of the 25th was not Jesus’ birth but the realization that “Jesus was GOD in the flesh” and here to personally see His children. GOD Himself demonstrated why “Man needed Him and couldn’t rule themselves whether personally nor as a Man supreme government nor cleric system of any kind”. “I can’t be in two places at once” we say, well, GOD can. “I’m only one person”; GOD doesn’t have to be if HE doesn’t want to. “I can only do one thing at a time”; nope, GOD’s not limited. John 10:23-38 22 ¶ And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
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.
30 I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
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.
The Jews “KNEW” and understood that the phrase “Son of GOD” applied to the Messiah as “The Prince of Peace and Everlasting Father” prophesied back in Isaiah. That’s why they wanted to stone Him, because they didn’t believe they were looking at the “Trinity Miracle/Work”. The celebration of Hanukkah should hold extra special meaning to both Messianics and Christians. Christmas is a “Catholic” institution not a Christian one. I’ve said it before, Catholicism is Catholicism and Christianity is Christianity, stop equating the two. The Catholics have confused GOD power for all of us. Calling the Trinity a “Godhead” is a misinterpretation of Greek of Paul trying to explain the miracle.
Why?
Because as far as I can tell, the Scriptures attest to the reality that Yeshua is 100% man AND 100% G-d.
I understand why you would believe that being I believed it also. It was only when I broke down every verse and stayed with in the strict guidelines I had set up for myself. Don’t Add nor Subtract from the meaning of words or context. Don’t jump to assumptions. If the verse said the Word became flesh then it was the Word that became flesh. It is the Word which is the deity because the Word is God. The God part of Jesus is the Word. The rest is humanity. So Jesus is God and man. Hence, He has the the Word and Spirit without measure. This does not make Him “The God”, but a vessel containing a piece of God which is The Word and Spirit. I know I’m spitting hairs, but it has answered the question of how He could be God and man. However, this also shows He is not part of a Trinity but fully human, a created being. This also demonstrates God will for all of us. Elohim called them Elohim unto whom His Word came. The ultimate goal of God is to make us into the image of the Christ, God and man in one body for all His children. Does this make sense now that I have played it out this way? Once again it’s OK for you to disagree. It doesn’t bother me with those who are truly seeking. It took me years of study and mediation to get to this point. Church doctrine has been engrained in all of us and interferes with God’s Word. It took me 6yrs to find the Gospel written in the Gospels.
Hi Pastor Russ, Thank you for sharing. Appreciate that you take a very meticulous approach to the Scriptures. I’ve read your comment carefully, and it does seem to make sense. Honestly, I think a lot of disagreements that arise in this area are due more to semantic issues than actual theological issues. I wouldn’t have any problem with your statement “He has the Word and Spirit without measure”. And you also said “Yeshua is God and man”. Sounds pretty scriptural to me.
Our Savior Jesus Is A Man – The Second Adam
by Joel Hemphill
Taken from Chapter four of my book.
The Chapter is titled, “The Man Christ Jesus”
Jesus Christ is the supernaturally conceived, virgin born, sinless Son of God. He is the perfect man, unique man, the mirror image of God, “the express image of His person, ” but man nevertheless . “One mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (I Tim. 2:5)
Jesus himself said so .
• “But now ye seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I have heard of God ” (John 8:40).
• “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends…” (John 15:13-14).
• “If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin” (John 15:24). Please note: Jesus never once in Scripture said he is God, but these three tia man .
The Old Testament Prophets said so.
• ” A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3).
• “David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel” (Jer. 33:17).
• “Awake, O sword against the man that is my fellow” (Zech. 13:7; Matt. 26:31).
• “And this man shall be the peace” (Micah 5:5)
John the Baptist said so.
• “After me cometh a man who is preferred before me” (John 1:30).
• “All things that John spoke of this man were true” (John 10:41).
The Apostle Paul said so.
• “Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 13:38).
• “(God) will judge the world…by that man whom he hath ordained” (Acts 17:31).
• “The gift of grace, which is by one man , Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:15).
• ” Every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits” (in resurrection) (I Cor. 15:23).
• “And being found in fashion as a man ” (Phil. 2:8).
• “Put on the new man ” (Christ) (Col. 3:10).
• “For there is one God , and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus ” (I Tim. 2:5).
The writer of Hebrews said so.
• “For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses” (Heb. 3:3).
• “But this man …hath an unchangeable priesthood” (Heb. 7:24).
• “It is of necessity that this man have somewhat to offer” (Heb. 8:3).
• “But this man …sat down on the right hand of God” (Heb. 10:12).
Jesus is the second Adam, not the first God-man. Listen to the Apostle Paul.
• “For since by man came death , by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (I Cor. 15:21-22).
• “The first man Adam was made a living soul: the last Adam was made a quickening spirit” (I Cor. 15:45). “The first man …the second man” (v. 47).
Jesus as “the last Adam ” was genetically equal to the ” first man Adam .” Adam was created by God from the dust in Genesis one. Jesus was created by God (the Holy Ghost) in the womb of the virgin Mary in Matthew one and Luke one (Matt. 1:20; Luke 1:32, Rev. 3:14; Col. 1:15 & 3:10) . Study carefully Galatians 4:4:
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” The word ” made ” is ” ginomai ” in Greek and means ” to generate – cause to come into being “. This was a creative act of the Holy Spirit and not an incarnation.
Jesus is a glorified man at the right hand of God.
• “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God” (Peter speaking of the ascended Jesus, at Pentecost) (Acts 2:22) .
• “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” (Stephen) (Acts 7:56).
Note: Jesus is called “Son of man” 84 times in the Gospels and it means “a human being.” The phrase comes from Psalms 8:6 according to Hebrews 2:6. God called Ezekiel “son of man” 90 times in the book of Ezekiel. Whatever Ezekiel was as to manhood, Jesus was. Jesus came as a human being. He had a human body, mind, spirit, soul, will and personality. The “first Adam” was made with a sinless nature, but as an act of his will he sinned anyway. The “last Adam” was made sinless, with blood untainted by the sin of the first Adam, and as an act of his will he “did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (I Peter 2:22) . He did it, not as a God-man, but as a man . Jesus “condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom. 8:3). ” Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him” (Phil. 2:9) .
What held Jesus and kept him from sinning, though “he himself suffered being tempted” (Heb. 2:18)?
1. His awesome God awareness . “I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49).
2 . His Love for God his Father . “I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do” (John 14:31). “I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love” (John 15:10).
3. His fear of God . “The spirit of the Lord (God) shall rest upon him (Messiah) , the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord ; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord ” (Isa. 11:2-3). Christ prayed “with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared ” (Heb. 5:7). “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered” (Heb. 5:8). “Immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness” (Mark 1:12).
Jesus is coming to reign on earth for 1000 years as a glorified man.
• “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory ” (Mark 13:26; Matt. 24:30; Luke 21:27).
• “Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh , shall he find faith on the earth” (Luke 18:8).
And we shall be like him, not Gods but glorified men, who have attained immortality through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.
• “Beloved, now are we the sons of God , and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is” (I John 3:2).
Listen to Jesus’ own words.
• “The honor that cometh from the one and only God …the Father” (John 5:44-45 NASB).
• ” (Father) this is life eternal that they may know thee the only true God ” (John 17:3).
• ” One is your Father , which is in heaven” (Matt. 23:9).
• “I ascend unto my Father , and your Father ; and to my God , and your God ” (John 20:17).
• “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God ” (Rev. 3:14).
Love in Christ Jesus,
Joel Hemphill
Amen. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. It is there in the NT in lots of places that Jesus is God. It’s only the JW’s that changed it to the word was a god thuse taking away the deity of Jesus.
From the Christian Think Tank
“This is the older translation of the famous Shema: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” There are two words for ‘one’ in Biblical Hebrew: ‘ehad (‘one’, ‘alone’, ‘unity from parts’) and ‘yahid’ (always means uniqueness/solitary-only one of its kind [cf. used of only son and only daughter, Gen 22.2,12,16; Jer 6.26; Judges 11.34]…not the same word as ‘yahad’ that often means ‘in complete unity, together,united’ cf. Deut 33.5, Ps 133.1). This verse is sometimes used by a few groups within the Jewish tradition to assert the numerical unity of God’s nature, over against what they perceive as a ‘Christian’ notion of plurality-in-unity. But this verse either doesn’t support their position (i.e., it doesn’t talk about God’s nature at all); or actually does the opposite (i.e., by leaving a door open to ‘composite unity’). Instead of using YAHID, which MIGHT be of some support to their position, it uses ‘EHAD, which lends itself to the plurality position (or certainly allows it). Consider some other passages in which ‘EHAD is used:
Gen 2.24–the man and his wife will be one (ehad) flesh–clearly a composite unity.
Ex 26:6, 11–the fifty gold clasps are used to hold the curtains together so that the tent would be a unit (ehad).
2 Samuel 2:25–many soldiers made themselves into ‘one group’ (ehad)
Gen 34:16 –the men of Shechem suggest intermarriage with Jacob’s children in order to become ‘one(ehad) people’.
Joshua 9.2 — the western kings agree to fight Joshua as “one (ehad) force”
Josh 10.42– “And Joshua captured all these kings and their lands at one (ehad) time” (NAS) or “All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one (ehad) campaign” (NIV)
Ex 24.3 –“Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one (ehad) voice, and said”
2 Chr 5.12–“and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and kinsmen, clothed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, standing east of the altar, and with them one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets 13 in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one (ehad) voice to praise and to glorify the Lord”
Gen 11.6–“And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one (ehad) people, and they all have the same language.”
So, from the usage data ALONE, ‘ehad could at least ALLOW a plurality-within-a-strict-unity (i.e. Trinity).
So the Shema allows for a triune God while maybe not declaring it.
Rich years ago God told me to forget everything I was ever taught. It was not my idea to this away all my gained knowledge. What I was really getting rid of was teachings of assumptions. I know everyone says they follow scripture, but what they are following is assumptions linked to scripture. Assumptions alter the meaning. God directed me to stick to the text and it’s exact meaning. Of course we all make assumptions, but I really try very hard to avoid those assumptions. I have had to throw away lots of teachings. I used to believe in hell as taught by the church until I read all the verses without altering them and was surprised by what I found. I now approach the Bible for what it states without any form of manipulation. The result is many things I was never taught. But now all those conflicts and contradictions have gone away. Any time there is confusion or conflict it is due to assumptions and manipulation of the text.
Thanks for sharing Pastor Russ. I noticed that your user name is “Pastor” Russ? Just curious, are you currently serving as a pastor or leading a flock?
I am an associate Pastor of a predominately African American church. However, presently I have been on hiatus because my job has me working on Sundays [last 4 months]. So yes and no. God had lead me to that church after 11yrs when I gave my own church up. I got tiered of the religious nonsense. That’s when God had me throw away all I had known. After 11yrs He lead me to the present church. I was not looking for a position there. I just needed a place to be rebuilt. I didn’t even mention to the Pastor I had a church of my own. I had just mentioned it in passing to one of the members. After 3mon the Pastor had me stand up one Sunday. I didn’t know why. He then announced I was an Associate Pastor. Something I was not seeking nor desiring was given back to me. I thought those days were over as a Pastor. Even being there was an act of God. It is a hole in the wall building in a very bad neighborhood white people don’t go into. When I saw the building God’s voice told me to not look at the building and only seek Him. I actually was unlatching for my gun holster when I realized the depth of the neighborhood and then He spoke to me. He even told me not to look at the people which I thought was bizarre. I was the only white in the church for a couple years. God didn’t want me distracted by that fact.
Amen!!! Even Jesus did not consider himself equal to the Father. There is but one Leader of us all.The father.Jesus and his spirits are servants of the Father. The Father has put all things in subjection to the Son but even that will change eventually when All will be handed over to the Father and he will be All in All.
So glad we’re in agreement on this point.
I noticed that my quote of Jesus did not count it as robbery to be equal with God didn’t take. Was that not printed on purpose?
Jesus didn’t think it was robbery for Him to be equal with God.
The plain truth is that Yeshua was born ‘a son of man’ and became ‘the first son of God’ at the resurrection.
Paul said (Act 13:33) that when He raised Yeshua [from the deads] God fulfilled the promise written in the Psaumes: I.E. You are my son Today I have become your father Ps 2:3
Why are there so many people who have it backwards and persist in believing that Yeshua was first ‘a son of God’ and became ‘a son of man’ at his birth?
Yves P.
Understanding John Chapter One
By Joel Hemphill
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
The wide spread misunderstanding of this verse among Christians is the source of much of the confusion that exists regarding who the One Most High God of the Bible is. It is a serious mistake for Christians to read John 1:1 as if it says: “In eternity past was the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was God,” thus making Jesus the eternal God.
It should be read and understood as:
“In the beginning (some certain beginning) was the word (Greek – logos – speech, something said), and the word was with God, and the word was God” (the breath of His mouth).
Note: John uses the word “beginning” 23 times in his writings and not once does he mean “eternity past.” It is always some certain beginning.
Note: The word “word” in John chapter one is not capitalized in the original Greek, and in many older translations.
Here are the proof texts:
“By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth….for he spoke and it was done” (Ps. 33:6, 9).
“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God” (Heb. 11:3).
“By the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water” (II Peter 3:5).
“These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God” (Jesus speaking) (Rev. 3:14). Trust Jesus!
Now please look at John 1:3.
“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
Is the word “him” in this verse translated properly? First of all it does not harmonize with a true understanding of the two prior verses. (The “word” – logos – “something said” is not a “him”).
Second, it is important to note that of eight prominent English translations that preceded the King James Version of 1611, not one used the word “him.” Seven of the eight rendered John 1:3, “By it all things were made. Without it nothing was made” (Tyndale Bible, 1526; Matthew, 1535; Tavener, 1539; The Great (Cranmer’s) Bible, 1539; Whittingham, 1557; Geneva, 1560; Bishop’s Bible, 1595). One, the famous Coverdale Bible of 1550 says “the same” rather than “it.” None of these eight say “him.” Why did the King James translators render “it” as “him,” as if it were a person? They were influenced by Greek philosophy through the “logos doctrine” which came from Plato and Philo, and made its way into Christian thought by way of Justin, Origen, Athanasius and Augustine, and was promoted by 1300 years of false Catholic tradition. Their error has helped to lead millions of sincere Christians astray in their understanding of who the one true God is!
A challenge made in love. Go to your library and find any book, encyclopedia, Bible concordance or dictionary that deals with the doctrine of the Trinity. Look in the subject index under “Divine logos doctrine” and it will refer you to Plato, Philo, and other Greek philosophers. Thus our understanding was corrupted!
What John meant in John 1:14.
“And the word (logos – something said) was made flesh (Jesus, the Son of God), and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” What God said became flesh!
These verses in John chapter one are at the heart of the debate as to Jesus’ deity, and the key to a true Biblical understanding of who he is.
Words of truth from Professor James Dunn.
The noted Trinitarian scholar Professor James Dunn correctly states in his exhaustive study “Christology In The Making:”“There is no clear indication anywhere in Paul that he ever identified Christ (pre-existent or otherwise) with the Logos (Word) of God” (p. 39). “Similarly in Acts there is no sign of any christology of pre-existence” (p. 51). “In Matthew and Luke Jesus’ divine sonship is traced back specifically to his birth or conception…he was Son of God because his conception was an act of creative power by the Holy Spirit” (p. 61). “In the earliest period of Christianity ‘Son of God’ was not an obvious vehicle of a christology of incarnation or pre-existence. Certainly such a christology cannot be traced back to Jesus himself with any degree of conviction…it is less likely that we can find such a christology in Paul or Mark or Luke or Matthew” (p. 64). “There is no indication that Jesus thought or spoke of himself as having pre-existed with God prior to his birth or appearance on earth. We cannot claim that Jesus believed himself to be the incarnate Son of God” (p. 254). “There is always the possibility that popular pagan superstition became popular Christian superstition by a gradual assimilation and spread of belief” (p. 251). 1 Yet, after making these statements Professor Dunn closed out his book with a “Trinitarian Confession” (p. 268). This proves again that even though a doctrine is not taught in Scripture it does not bother some theologians. But is does bother me and it should trouble every Christian who loves the truth!
I still believe that Jesus is eternal from the beginning. He was born into the world as a human and resurrected as a human so we could all follow but He was still eternal and “All things were made through Him Him and without Him nothing was made that was made” John 1:3