IS JESUS CHRIST GOD
In our last part, we talked about Jesus never claiming to be God. Jesus never said he was God. His claims were that he was the saviour; the Son of God, and that God had anointed him with Power and had given him authority. Jesus irrefutably emphasized on the truth of him being the Son of God.
As we also said, this to the Jews was blasphemy. Some folks today teach that Jesus was persecuted because he claimed to be God. On the contrary, we see from the Bible why he was being persecuted in John 5:18.
John 5:18
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
To the Jews, claiming to be God’s Son puts you on the same level with God (it doesn’t make you God. It implies you are in God’s class).
Even in today’s world, such is the scenario in almost all cases. The first son of a ruler is at the same class and level as his father. He’s not his father. His father remains his head nonetheless.
If Jesus had claimed to be God, the Jews could have likely not persecuted him. They could have laughed it off. He could have been seen as a joker not to be given much attention. The Jews knew that Yahweh was/is one and not two or three in one. They knew that God was Spirit and by implication, not man (flesh and blood).
Jesus was persecuted because the Jews knew the prophecy about a future Son of God that would show up but Jesus looked too ordinary to fit their own picture of what God’s Son on earth should look like. The Jews were awaiting the fulfilment of the old testament prophecies concerning a saviour that would be sent by God; his child. They were expecting one with a kingly appearance that would prove beyond any iota of doubt that he’s God’s son. Jesus wasn’t what they expected. Thus, the Jews were obstinate about accepting him as the Lord, God’s son and the saviour. Yet, he claimed to be all of these. This is why the Jews resorted to persecuting him.
John 10:33 is another scripture misunderstood in promoting the dogma of a Trinity or of Jesus being God. This scripture is a reply of the Jews to Jesus just after Jesus called God his father in verse 32.
John 10:33
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.
Followers of this series should have no problem understanding the above scripture. The Jews weren’t saying Jesus claimed to be God. He claimed to be ‘theos.’ The word ‘God’ in most English bibles in this verse was translated from the Greek word ‘theos,’ a multi functional word which has been discussed extensively in this series. The meaning of this word is usually derived from the context in which it is used.
John 10:33 is the misinterpreted scripture here. Chapter 10 therefore contains its context.
From verses 15-32 of John 10, Jesus called God his father a whopping eight times. From verses 34-38, Jesus referred to God as his father three more times. In verse 36, Jesus said this:
John 10:36
how can you say to the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You’re blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I’m the Son of God’?
From more than two scriptures, it is clear why the Jews accused Jesus of blasphemy and wanted to kill him; he claimed to be God’s son. The word ‘God’ with a capital ‘G’ in John 10:33 is only a translation issue. It was translated from the Greek word ‘theos,’ a word used for all divine beings, including earthly kings (this has been clearly proved in previous parts).
Reading from verse 15 to the end of the chapter, Jesus being the Son of God was the topic. Only verse 33 uses the word ‘God’ for Jesus. This is a clear indication of something improper and in Bible interpretation, the clear explains the unclear. The context strictly determines the meaning of the words being translated to English. Even teachers of the trinity dogma do not deny this.
As we have said extensively in previous parts, the Greek and Hebrew languages are not like the English language where an upper case ‘God’ and a lower case ‘god’ are used to differentiate between the creator and lesser beings.
While Yahweh/Jehovah are used for the one true God alone, words like ‘Elohim’ and ‘theos’ are used generally for both God and lesser beings, to be determined by the context. ‘theos’ is the word in John 10:33 that many translators wrongly translate as ‘God.’ The earliest Greek manuscripts were all written in upper cases. Thus, theos appeared as ‘THEOS.’ The context therefore determines what is meant.
The Greek doesn’t use upper cases to distinguish between God and lesser divine beings like the English language.
After the words of the Jews in John 10:33, the reply of Jesus further reveals the truth about this matter.
John 10:33-34
The Jewish leaders answered him, “We are not going to stone you for a good action, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, are making yourself God!”
Jesus replied to them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’?
Imagine walking up to a man and asking him – “why do you claim to be the president?” And he replies – “don’t you know that we are all vice presidents?” Am sure you will take such a person for a lunatic or one being ludicrous. If the Jews were referring to the Almighty God in verse 33, there’s absolutely no way Jesus will reply by quoting Psalms 82:6 which talks about gods (humans as being gods).
If verse 33 refers to the Almighty God and Jesus is replying in the next verse using the word ‘gods,’ then it means Jesus gave an off-point reply. However, its not so.
Verse 33 of John chapter 10 should be translated ‘god,’ not ‘God.’ Jesus was God’s Son. He was filled with God’s Spirit/power. He could do almost all God could do. He was like God. Just like we are gods by virtue of being God’s family, Jesus is god likewise. He’s however superior to every believer by virtue of being the first begotten Son, the sacrifice for our sins, the one exalted and given the highest name by God, and the prototype for creation. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He’s divine and godly.
Finally, see in full the scripture Jesus quoted in reply to the Jews (John 10:33).
Psalms 82:6
Indeed I said, ‘You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High.
Jesus is the first Son of God!
Thanks for your time. READ PART 14 HERE>>
Note: To avoid being more perplexed than you were before now, it’s best for you to read every single part of this series. Then and only then can this be clear. Some things not extensively explained in this part has been explained in details in previous parts. Thank you.
Light shines.
© SonsHub Media | Written By Fredrick Agaga
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Agaga Fredrick Abangji is a writer, reporter, content writer, believer in Jesus Christ, and a creator of religious literature. A student of Bingham university – Nasarawa state, studying mass communication.