Read more about the article Jesus’ Pre-existing Glory: An Examination of John 17:5
Proof Texts for the Deity of Christ / Dual Natures of Christ / Preexistence

Jesus’ Pre-existing Glory: An Examination of John 17:5

One of the passages cited as proof that Jesus pre-existed in heaven before being incarnated into the world comes from what is referred to as Jesus' high priestly prayer:John 17:4-5 (NASB) "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. 5  "Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. (emphasis added)The Definition of GloryThe word "glorify" in the Greek is doxazô, and it means to render or…

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August 3, 2019
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 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…

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May 8, 2019
Read more about the article John 1:1 The Jewish Mind vs The Translators’ Bias (Part 2)
Proof Texts for the Deity of Christ / Dual Natures of Christ / Preexistence

John 1:1 The Jewish Mind vs The Translators’ Bias (Part 2)

In part 1 of The Jewish Mind vs The Translators' Bias, we began our examination of what is commonly viewed as the quintessential proof text for Jesus' pre-existence: the prologue to John's gospel.  John 1:1-3 (NASB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2  He was in the beginning with God. 3  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. The Translators' Bias…

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April 26, 2019
Read more about the article John 1:1 The Jewish Mind vs The Translators’ Bias (Part 1)
Proof Texts for the Deity of Christ / Dual Natures of Christ / Preexistence

John 1:1 The Jewish Mind vs The Translators’ Bias (Part 1)

Invariably Trinitarians point to John 1:1-3 as the key passage in their defense of Jesus' deity and by extension, the doctrine of the Trinity. This article begins a multi-part treatment of John's prologue in which we will compare what his Jewish contemporaries would have understood it to mean versus how Trinitarian scholars translated it centuries later.   Begin With the End in MindOne of the habits Steven Covey wrote about in his popular book,  7 Habits of Highly Effective People, is that we should, "Begin with…

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April 23, 2019
Read more about the article John 1:1 – Fifty Plus English Translations
Proof Texts for the Deity of Christ / Guest Posts / How to Read the Bible / Preexistence

John 1:1 – Fifty Plus English Translations

by Sir Anthony Buzzard Reprinted with permission: FocusOnTheKingdom.org     John 1:1 - Fifty Plus English Translations The opening verses of the Gospel of John have proven to be, unfortunately, a veritable battleground and storm center of theological argument. Translators have often edited John to make him fit much later systems of theology. John had never heard of the “Trinity,” the mystifying proposition that God is one and yet three. Jesus knew nothing of that teaching. Jesus was a Jew and he publicly affirmed, as…

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April 23, 2019
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