Saturday, November 25, 2023

* John 6:63 - Was Jesus Claiming that God's Spirit is a Person of God?

It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. -- John 6:63, Revised Standard Version.



Some point to this verse as an alleged proof of the triune God hypothesis. The reality is that there is nothing in John 6:63 that presents God as being more than one person, or that presents God's Holy Spirit as being separate and distinct person of God. The word "God" does not appear in the verse, but it does appear in the context. "God" is presented as only one person in John 6:27,29,33,45,56.

Jesus had explained that he is the bread of life who came from God. Jesus speaks, not his own words, but the words of Jehovah, the only true God who sent him. -- Deuteronomy 18:15-22; Matthew 22:32; 23:39; Mark 11:9,10; 12:26; Luke 13:35; 20:37; John 3:2,17,32-35; 4:34; 5:19,30,36,43; 6:57; 7:16,28; 8:26,28,38; 10:25; 12:49,50; 14:10; 15:15; 17:1,3,8,26; 20:17; Acts 2:22,34-36; 3:13-26; 5:30; Romans 15:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 8:6; 11:31; Colossians 1:3,15; 2:9-12; Hebrews 1:1-3; 3:2; Revelation 1:1.

The one person who is God performs His work through, by means of, Jesus whom He sent. -- Isaiah 61:1,2; John 4:34; 5:36; 6:38; 9:4; 17:4; Acts 2:22; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Philippians 2:9,10; Ephesians 1:3,17-26; Colossians 2:10.

Jesus stated that he does his work by means of his God's Holy Spirit, and the scriptures state that he was led by God's spirit. -- Matthew 4:1; 12:28; Luke 4:1; 11:20.

Jesus accurately spoke the words of his God, for his God had given to Jesus His Spirit without measure. -- John 3:34.

Nevertheless, it is absolutely useless for us to pray Lord, Lord, give us the Spirit, if we neglect the Word of truth which that Spirit has supplied through our Lord Jesus and his apostles. If we merely pray for the Spirit and do not use the proper means to obtain the Spirit of truth, we will continue to be at most only "babes in Christ," seeking outward signs, in proof of relationship to God, instead of the inward witness, through the Word of truth, which he has provided.

Nothing in any of this necessitates that one has to imagine and assume that God is more than one person, or that his Holy Spirit is a person of God, etc. There is absolutely nothing in John 6 that presents God as being more than one person, nor is there anything there that presents either Jesus or God's Holy Spirit as being persons of God.

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