The Greek word in the New Testament for "God" is usually transliterated as THEOS (or QEOS). It is translated from forms of the Old Testament Hebrew word EL, which basically means “might, strength, power.” In the New Testament, forms of the Hebrew word EL are translated into Greek forms of the word THEOS. "God" in English, with a capital "G", most often means the Supreme Being. This, in effect, would correspond with the Biblical usages of forms of EL and THEOS as applied to Jehovah as being the Mighty One who is innately mighty, and not receiving his power or might from anyone else, thus the Supreme Being. Hence, the claim that there is only one true God, one true Supreme Being, agrees with what the Bible says.
Jesus identified the “one true God”, that is the one true MIGHT (the source of all might, the Supreme Being), as his God and Father. — John 17:1,3.
Paul verifies that it is the God and Father of Jesus who is the “one God” who is the source of all. — 1 Corinthians 8:4-6.
However, although forms of EL and THEOS are sometimes applied to Jesus, nowhere in the Bible is Jesus identified as the one true MIGHTY ONE, the Supreme Being. There is no might anywhere that is aside from Jehovah (Isaiah 44:6), the God and Father of Jesus. (Micah 5:4; Ephesians 1:3) The scriptures reveal that Jesus was sent by the one true Mighty One, the one true Supreme Being; that Jesus worships the one true Mighty One, that Jesus speaks the words of the one true Mighty One, etc., but the scriptures never reveal Jesus as being that one true Mighty One. — (Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Matthew 4:4 [Deuteronomy 8:3; Luke 4:4]; Matthew 4:7 [Deuteronomy 6:16]; Matthew 4:10 [Exodus 20:3-5; 34:14; Deuteronomy 6:13,14; 10:20; Luke 4:8]; Matthew 22:29-40; Matthew 26:42; Matthew 27:46; Mark 10:6 [Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7,20-23]; Mark 14:36; 15:34; Luke 22:42; John 4:3; 5:30; 6:38; 17:1,3; 20:17; Romans 15:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 11:31; Ephesians 1:3,17; Hebrews 1:9; 10:7; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 2:7; 3:2,12)
Even Jesus receives his might, his power, his strength, from the one true MIGHTY ONE, so while forms of the word EL and forms of the word THEOS may be used of him, such usage does not designate Jesus as being the source of all, the only true Supreme Being. The angels receive their might from the one true might, so that forms of the word EL and forms of the word THEOS may be used of them, and men are often given special mightiness from the one true God, such as Moses, the judges of Isreal, the sons of God. Thus forms of the word EL and forms of the word Theos may be used of these also, and although their might is true might, it does not make them the one true Mighty One that Jesus spoke of. As Jesus said, they are declared gods by Jehovah, but they are not the one true MIghty One, the one true Supreme Being. Their might is real, and in that sense it is true, but it does not make them the one true Mighty One from whom they have received their might.
Jesus Receives His Power and Authority From The One Who Sent Him
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, by means of his holy spirit, reveals through the scriptures that Jesus receives his inheritance and dominion (power) from Jehovah. His power and authority is given to him by his God, his Supreme Being. The God of Jesus is not a God of three persons, but only one person. (Ephesians 1:3) The God of Christians is not three persons, but only one person. (1 Corinthians 8:6) Jesus is not Jehovah, his God. He who anointed and sent Jesus (Isaiah 61:1; John 17:1,3) and who gives Jesus his dominion, all authority and power (with the evident exception of the position of being the Most High himself — 1 Corinthians 15:27), yet the exercise of this power and authority by Jesus is all to the praise of Jehovah, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus. The Bible writers never claimed that Jesus is the ultimate “source” of his own power. — Psalm 2:6-8; 45:7; 110:1,2; Isaiah 9:6,7; 11:2; 42:1; 61:1-3; Jeremiah 23:5; Daniel 7:13,14; Matthew 12:28; 28:18; Luke 1:32; 4:14,18; 5:17; John 3:34; 5:19,27,30; 10:18,36-38; Acts 2:22; 10:38; Romans 1:1-4; 1 Corinthians 15:27; 2 Corinthians 13:4; Colossians 1:15,16; 2:10; Ephesians 1:17-22; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:2,4,6,9; 1 Peter 3:22.
Consequently, Micah 5:4 related that Jesus stands and feeds the sheep that his God has given to him in the strength of Jehovah, in the majesty of the name of his God, Jehovah.
Accordingly, it is by nature of being the source of all might (1 Corinthians 8:6) that there is only one Most High, and Jesus is never identified as being that one Most High, but as the son of the one Most High. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, by means of his holy spirit, reveals through the scriptures that Jesus is the son of his Father. Jesus' Father is the only Most High, Jehovah. Jesus is never spoken of as the “Most High”; he is not the only Most High Jehovah of whom he is the son. — Genesis 14:22; Psalm 7:17; 83:18; 92:1; Luke 1:32; John 13:16.
Those who believe that Jesus is the Most High have to create a lot of assumptions beyond what is written in any scripture, and then they have to add those assumptions to, and read those assumptions into, any and every verse that they claim shows that Jesus is Jehovah, or that Jehovah is more than one person, etc. In reality, no scripture at all ever presents Jesus as being Jehovah, and no scripture ever presents Jehovah as being more than one person.
John 1:1,2 tells us that the Word was with the Might (the Supreme Being) and Jesus tells us that he was with the only true God (Supreme Being — John 17:1,3,5). The default reasoning is that theos used of the Logos in John 1:1 is not referring to the Logos as being the Supreme Being. Jesus was indeed mighty (theos) when he was with the only true God, but he was not the only true God whom he was with.
See our
Studies related to John 1:1:
The Word is Jesus, and Jesus identified the One whom he was with before the world of mankind was a made as his Father, whom he further identified as the one true Mighty One, obviously referring to his Father as being the only one who innately is Mighty. (John 17:1,3,5) Thus, Jesus, being sent by that one true Mighty One, is not that one true Mighty One who sent him.
Related:
Did Jesus Really Say That His Father is the Only True God?
The Hebraic Usages of the Titles for "God"
References: We do not necessarily agree with all conclusions given.
Regarding forms of the Hebrew word for God, EL (Strong's #410, 430)
Bible Hub for EL (Strong's #410)
Bible Hub for ELOHIM (Strong's #430)
Old Testament Lexical Dictionary for Strong's #410 (Studylight)
Old Testament Lexical Dictionary for Strong's #430 (Studylight)
No comments:
Post a Comment