Read more about the article John 8:58 Before Abraham Was Born, I Am
Proof Texts for the Deity of Christ / Peter's Christology / Preexistence

John 8:58 Before Abraham Was Born, I Am

At the climax of a rather heated exchange between Jesus and certain antagonistic Jews, Jesus uttered what has become for some, a proof text of his preexistence in heaven as God.John 8:58-59 (NASB)  Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." 59  Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. (emphasis added)When the above passage is read, especially without the preceding context, it appears the Jews…

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June 4, 2019
Read more about the article Jesus Has a God
Who is Jesus

Jesus Has a God

Jesus has a God.  It's not something you're likely to hear your pastor or Sunday School teacher say, but Scripture says it plenty of times. Over twenty times, in fact[1].  Church tradition has so obscured our view of Scripture that when we read the truth, we can't "see" it. Matthew 27:46 (NASB) About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" (emphasis added) Jesus has a God…

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June 1, 2019
Read more about the article The Father and I are One: An Examination of John 10:30
Proof Texts for the Deity of Christ

The Father and I are One: An Examination of John 10:30

One of the more popular verses quoted in an attempt to prove the deity of Christ, and subsequently the doctrine of the Trinity, consists of six simple words: John 10:30 (NASB) "I and the Father are one." Is Jesus is claiming that he and the Father share the same essence; that they are both God?  We'll examine the context in which this verse appears, as well as the original Psalm that Jesus quotes in defense of his claim.  We'll also consult with Trinitarian scholars to…

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May 28, 2019
Read more about the article Father, Son and Holy Spirit: An Examination of 2 Corinthians 13:14
Proof Texts for the Trinity / Who is the Holy Spirit

Father, Son and Holy Spirit: An Examination of 2 Corinthians 13:14

Does Paul's benediction to the church in Corinth constitute proof of the Trinity's existence?  Some would say it does because it lists God (the Father), Jesus and the Holy Spirit: 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NASB) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. (emphasis added)Father, Son and Holy SpiritAs we saw in part 1 and part 2 of this series, in order for a passage to qualify as a proof text for…

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May 25, 2019
Read more about the article Father, Son and Holy Spirit: An Examination of Matthew 3:17
Proof Texts for the Trinity

Father, Son and Holy Spirit: An Examination of Matthew 3:17

A remarkable thing happened after Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River: God poured out His Spirit on His beloved Son.   Matthew 3:16-17 (NASB) After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17  and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." Father, Son and Holy Spirit Many Christians view…

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May 22, 2019
Read more about the article Father, Son and Holy Spirit: An Examination of Matthew 28:19
Proof Texts for the Trinity

Father, Son and Holy Spirit: An Examination of Matthew 28:19

Does the phrase, "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" provide evidence for the doctrine of the Trinity?  Many Christians believe so.  They cite primarily three passages[1] where the trio of names, or variations thereof, are mentioned in the same context.  In this series, we'll look at each of these proof texts to determine if they do indeed attest to the fourth century doctrine's presence in Scripture.If we're going to discuss the doctrine of the Trinity, we need to know what it states.  Not surprisingly, many Christians…

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May 20, 2019
Read more about the article God is The Father
Who is God

God is The Father

The most fundamental question one can ask about Christianity is, "Who is God?"  That's because God's identity is the foundation upon which the tenets of the faith stand. Who then is this God? The Church Fathers of the fourth century, backed by the cunning and heavy handed Emperor Theodosius[1] at the Council of Constantinople (381 AD),  declared God to be three persons in one substance. If this is the case, we should be able to find this doctrine stated in Scripture.  However, even Trinitarian scholars…

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May 17, 2019
Read more about the article Jesus Came Down From Heaven
Proof Texts for the Deity of Christ / How to Read the Bible / Preexistence

Jesus Came Down From Heaven

The Importance of Understanding Jewish Idioms What could be more clear?  When Jesus said he came down from heaven, it's obvious proof that he preexisted in heaven. John 6:38 (NASB) "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (emphasis added) But is this what Jesus was trying to convey?  Is it possible that the first century Jewish audience would have understood his statement to mean something other than a literal pre-existence in…

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May 14, 2019
Read more about the article Jesus Came Into the World
Who is Jesus / How to Read the Bible / Preexistence

Jesus Came Into the World

The Importance of Understanding Jewish Idioms In order to properly understand a foreign language it is important to understand the idioms that are common to that culture.  You can imagine how someone who isn't from America might react if they were told they needed to "butter someone up" in order to gain their favor, or that dinner at an expensive restaurant was going to cost them an "arm and a leg." Without knowing the true meaning of such phrases, the uninitiated is left to take…

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May 9, 2019
Read more about the article John 1:1 The Jewish Mind vs Greek Philosophy (Part 3)
Proof Texts for the Deity of Christ / Church History / Dual Natures of Christ / Preexistence

John 1:1 The Jewish Mind vs Greek Philosophy (Part 3)

The Jewish Mind vs Greek PhilosophyIn part 1 and part 2 of this series we looked at three textual considerations having to do with grammar and the translators' bias in the prologue to John's gospel.  First, we saw that "Word" (logos) was incorrectly capitalized, inferring that it was a person that pre-existed with God.  Second, we learned that the translators failed to follow standard translation methods when they referred to "word" (logos) as a "he" and "him" instead of an "it" which the English calls for…

10 Comments
May 8, 2019
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