Pre-reading questions:
1. What is the nature of God in Christianity?
2. Is God one or three (Trinity)?
3. Is Jesus equal with God?
4. Is Jesus God or part of God?
5. Is Jesus a son of man or son of God?
6. So, who is Jesus really?
7. What is your opinion?
Please read the following text carefully, critically, and without any preconceptions!
2. Is God one or three (Trinity)?
3. Is Jesus equal with God?
4. Is Jesus God or part of God?
5. Is Jesus a son of man or son of God?
6. So, who is Jesus really?
7. What is your opinion?
Please read the following text carefully, critically, and without any preconceptions!
Jesus said, "Seek the truth,and the truth will set you free."
As a seeker of the truth and a student of life, and after many years of observation, research and comparative study, it appears to me that people often base their beliefs and judgments on weak, sandy foundations, rather than on the solid foundation of rock that Jesus recommended.
Concerning the topic at hand, I have noticed some major differences between what is commonly and officially understood about God in Christianity, and what the Bible itself states!
In this booklet, I would like to share with you -out of love and concern what I have noticed and learned through my continuous journey of research, analysis, and study.
The intent of this work is to honestly and sincerely present the truth that I found, not to hurt the feelings of anyone.
Now let us turn to discuss some issues and questions concerning the nature of God in Christianity, namely the Trinity and divinity of Jesus.
Concerning the topic at hand, I have noticed some major differences between what is commonly and officially understood about God in Christianity, and what the Bible itself states!
In this booklet, I would like to share with you -out of love and concern what I have noticed and learned through my continuous journey of research, analysis, and study.
The intent of this work is to honestly and sincerely present the truth that I found, not to hurt the feelings of anyone.
Now let us turn to discuss some issues and questions concerning the nature of God in Christianity, namely the Trinity and divinity of Jesus.
• Is God One or Three?
• Is Jesus God or Part of God?
• What do you think?
• What is your answer?
• Is Jesus God or Part of God?
• What do you think?
• What is your answer?
Let us get the answer from the Bible:
• One came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he (Jesus) said unto him, Why callest thou me good*? There is none good but one, that is, God. But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
(Matthew 19:16-17)
___________________________
* Why callest thou me good? Or in modern English, "Why do you call me good?" we wouldn't find this wording and meaning in some Bibles! This text is found in King James Version. Don't take my word for it! Check your Bible!
Several questions can be asked about the above verses. Some of the more intuitive ones are:
• "Why do you call me good?" Why did Jesus question his own goodness?
• Jesus emphatically stated that "there is none good but one, that is, God," Why did he refer to the one God as the "good" one only?
• Why did he exclude himself from being good, if he were God?
•. Jesus explicitly pointed out that "if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Why didn't Jesus command the questioner believe in him (Jesus) as God in order to enter into eternal life?
•. Based on Jesus' testimony, isn't keeping the commandments enough for getting eternal life?
• Now, let us re-read the verses of Matthew (19:16-17) as stated in King James Version and the same verses as reported in the New International Version of the Holy Bible.
• One came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.
Several questions can be asked about the above verses. Some of the more intuitive ones are:
• "Why do you call me good?" Why did Jesus question his own goodness?
• Jesus emphatically stated that "there is none good but one, that is, God," Why did he refer to the one God as the "good" one only?
• Why did he exclude himself from being good, if he were God?
•. Jesus explicitly pointed out that "if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Why didn't Jesus command the questioner believe in him (Jesus) as God in order to enter into eternal life?
•. Based on Jesus' testimony, isn't keeping the commandments enough for getting eternal life?
• Now, let us re-read the verses of Matthew (19:16-17) as stated in King James Version and the same verses as reported in the New International Version of the Holy Bible.
• One came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.
(In King James Version)
• Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
(In the New International Version)
To make it easy to compare, here are Jesus' two different questions:
According to King James Version (KJV), in simple English, Jesus asked:
• Why do you CALL ME GOOD?
But, according to the New International Version (NIV), Jesus said:
• Why do you ASK ME ABOUT WHAT IS GOOD?
Please honestly compare between Jesus' question in the King James Version and his question in the New International Version. Do they have the same meaning? Can they both be correct?
Going back to the critical question, Is Jesus God?, I think that if Jesus were God or part of God, his logical response would be to approve of what the questioner called him (i.e., "Good Master").
Sound reasoning and plain logic tell us that God is good. And if Jesus were God or part of God (part of the Trinity) he MUST BE GOOD! Don't you agree?
Presumably, some of the possible, expected responses that Jesus could utter in response to the young man saying "Good Master" include:
• "Certainly, I am good, for I am God,"
• "You are right. I am good."
• Or at least, knowing that he was obviously good, being God or a manifestation of God, Jesus could have answered the young man without taking issue with his words by saying:
• "If thou wilt enter into life,keep the commandments."
But, astonishingly, Jesus responded to the young man's words "Good Master" with something unexpected! He denied that he was good, wondering, "Why do you call me good?"
So, instead of denying his goodness, wouldn't it have been more reasonable for Jesus to seize this occasion and acknowledge that he was good, since he was God or a manifestation of the one God, if such were the case? Why would he refer to the true God along, and not reveal his own 'good' divinity? Was he hiding the truth about himself from the questioner?
• Now this is life eternal, that they know you, the ONLY true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
According to King James Version (KJV), in simple English, Jesus asked:
• Why do you CALL ME GOOD?
But, according to the New International Version (NIV), Jesus said:
• Why do you ASK ME ABOUT WHAT IS GOOD?
Please honestly compare between Jesus' question in the King James Version and his question in the New International Version. Do they have the same meaning? Can they both be correct?
Going back to the critical question, Is Jesus God?, I think that if Jesus were God or part of God, his logical response would be to approve of what the questioner called him (i.e., "Good Master").
Sound reasoning and plain logic tell us that God is good. And if Jesus were God or part of God (part of the Trinity) he MUST BE GOOD! Don't you agree?
Presumably, some of the possible, expected responses that Jesus could utter in response to the young man saying "Good Master" include:
• "Certainly, I am good, for I am God,"
• "You are right. I am good."
• Or at least, knowing that he was obviously good, being God or a manifestation of God, Jesus could have answered the young man without taking issue with his words by saying:
• "If thou wilt enter into life,keep the commandments."
But, astonishingly, Jesus responded to the young man's words "Good Master" with something unexpected! He denied that he was good, wondering, "Why do you call me good?"
So, instead of denying his goodness, wouldn't it have been more reasonable for Jesus to seize this occasion and acknowledge that he was good, since he was God or a manifestation of the one God, if such were the case? Why would he refer to the true God along, and not reveal his own 'good' divinity? Was he hiding the truth about himself from the questioner?
• Now this is life eternal, that they know you, the ONLY true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
(John 17:3)
In this verse, Jesus again distinguishes himself from the ONLY true God! It is this only true God who created and sent Jesus. So, who has the full authority to command and send? The ONLY true God or Jesus? Who is greater, the one who orders and sends or the one who is ordered and sent?
• There is One God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)
This verse points to two identities:
(1) One God, and (2) one mediator (Jesus)! Jesus is described as "the man." The verse did not call him "the God Christ Jesus." In fact, nowhere in the Bible is Jesus called God!
To further discuss and answer the question, Is Jesus God or part of God?, let us carefully, critically, and objectively read the following parts of verses reported in Matthew 4:1-10.
• Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
• After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
• Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
• He (the devil) said to him (Jesus), "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me."
• There is One God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)
This verse points to two identities:
(1) One God, and (2) one mediator (Jesus)! Jesus is described as "the man." The verse did not call him "the God Christ Jesus." In fact, nowhere in the Bible is Jesus called God!
To further discuss and answer the question, Is Jesus God or part of God?, let us carefully, critically, and objectively read the following parts of verses reported in Matthew 4:1-10.
• Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
• After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
• Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
• He (the devil) said to him (Jesus), "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me."
Did these versed trigger any questions or thoughts in your mind?
Let me share with you some of questions and thoughts that stroke my mind after reading the above verses:
1) The Bible says, "Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert…" I wonder who has more authority and more power, Jesus or the Spirit? Why didn't Jesus lead himself to the desert if he were God? Does God need someone to lead Him?
2) Based on the testimony of the above verse, the devil (Satan) tempted Jesus who is considered to be God by some Christians. The simple and logical question that could be raised is: Can God be tempted?
The same Bible tells us that God can't be tempted! This fact is uttered by
Jesus in the same story of temptation. Similarly, James, the brother of Jesus said:
• "God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one."
1) The Bible says, "Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert…" I wonder who has more authority and more power, Jesus or the Spirit? Why didn't Jesus lead himself to the desert if he were God? Does God need someone to lead Him?
2) Based on the testimony of the above verse, the devil (Satan) tempted Jesus who is considered to be God by some Christians. The simple and logical question that could be raised is: Can God be tempted?
The same Bible tells us that God can't be tempted! This fact is uttered by
Jesus in the same story of temptation. Similarly, James, the brother of Jesus said:
• "God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one."
(James 1:13)
3) The Bible reports that "After fasting forty days and forty nights, he (Jesus) was hungry." Analyzing this verse, let's reason together:
• Does God fast?
• To whom was Jesus fasting? To himself as God or to someone who is greater than him?
•. Does God feel hungry or thirsty?
4) In the story of "the temptation of Jesus' (you find this heading in several bibles), we came to discover that the devil (Satan) moved and controlled Jesus! Did Satan do that with Jesus the man or Jesus the God? If Satan did that with Jesus the man, what is the point? And if the devil did that with Jesus the God, can God be tried, move, and controlled? Let's remember James' words, "God cannot be tempted by evil…"
At the end of the dialogue between Jesus and Satan and after Satan asked Jesus to "fall down and worship" him, Jesus said to the devil:
• Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only." (Matthew 4:10)
I assume, if Jesus were God incarnate, he might have easily responded, "No, Satan. It is you who must fall down and worship me, your God!" but instead he invoked the above scripture about worshipping the true God ONLY.
On the other hand, we learned from the story that:
• Satan SAW Jesus.
• Satan SAID TO Jesus.
• Satan HEARD Jesus.
• Satan TOOK Jesus.
• Satan SHOWED Jesus.
• Satan SPOKE WITH Jesus.
(Please read the whole story of the temptation of Jesus, Matthew 4:1-10)
But, the Bible emphatically indicates that GOD CANNOT BE SEEN OR HEARD.
• No one has ever seen him. And no one can see him.
(1 Timothy 6:16)
• You have never heard His voice nor seen His shape.
(John 5:37)
• Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
(1 Timothy1:17)
Additionally, before I conclude this section, let me ask: During Jesus' life on earth didn't his family, people, and followers see and hear him?
Therefore, according to the description of God in the above verses, Jesus cannot be God. Isn't this reasonable and logical? So, what is the truth? Think about it!
• Does God fast?
• To whom was Jesus fasting? To himself as God or to someone who is greater than him?
•. Does God feel hungry or thirsty?
4) In the story of "the temptation of Jesus' (you find this heading in several bibles), we came to discover that the devil (Satan) moved and controlled Jesus! Did Satan do that with Jesus the man or Jesus the God? If Satan did that with Jesus the man, what is the point? And if the devil did that with Jesus the God, can God be tried, move, and controlled? Let's remember James' words, "God cannot be tempted by evil…"
At the end of the dialogue between Jesus and Satan and after Satan asked Jesus to "fall down and worship" him, Jesus said to the devil:
• Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only." (Matthew 4:10)
I assume, if Jesus were God incarnate, he might have easily responded, "No, Satan. It is you who must fall down and worship me, your God!" but instead he invoked the above scripture about worshipping the true God ONLY.
On the other hand, we learned from the story that:
• Satan SAW Jesus.
• Satan SAID TO Jesus.
• Satan HEARD Jesus.
• Satan TOOK Jesus.
• Satan SHOWED Jesus.
• Satan SPOKE WITH Jesus.
(Please read the whole story of the temptation of Jesus, Matthew 4:1-10)
But, the Bible emphatically indicates that GOD CANNOT BE SEEN OR HEARD.
• No one has ever seen him. And no one can see him.
(1 Timothy 6:16)
• You have never heard His voice nor seen His shape.
(John 5:37)
• Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
(1 Timothy1:17)
Additionally, before I conclude this section, let me ask: During Jesus' life on earth didn't his family, people, and followers see and hear him?
Therefore, according to the description of God in the above verses, Jesus cannot be God. Isn't this reasonable and logical? So, what is the truth? Think about it!
By Dr. Naji I. Al-Arfaj
from / http://quran.al-islam.com/Loader.aspx?pageid=1425&ContentID=3725
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