WPC O 6ӶqSncYJ5#iA$Oݝc$"Small Circle"0  ! *CEUS.,  A" ) xdELA   XXWorkbookonFirstPrinciples:ThePowerandDominionofGodA!Page  63  (3$ \!TRW6&A43'6&A43'TCEUS.,  confesseth hathMessiahshipcometh 7v16preexistenceJWAriusTABLE B NASBelohimElyon MoabEzekielangelosehyehasher hathblasphemestDavidic AdontheophanousspirtheopneustosmachairaovercomethcomethpantokratrsaithJWAnaniasSapphirawhereuntorulethDomitian :  k,)CEUS.,  A" ) xdSELA  X~XXX)X X~Page  63  $$ !WorkbookonFirstPrinciples:ThePowerandDominionofGod+k 0Times New Roman Bold(9 Z 6Times New Roman Regular : k,*CEUS.,  A" ) xdELA  X~XXX)XX~WorkbookonFirstPrinciples:ThePowerandDominionofGodA!Page  63  +k 0Times New Roman Bold|pI& +  )CEUS.,  A" ) xdELA   XXWorkbookonFirstPrinciples:JesusChrist:SonofGodandSonofMan!Page  85   + *CEUS.,  A" ) xdELA   XXPage  85  !WorkbookonFirstPrinciples:JesusChrist:SonofGodandSonofManaU""""'dxd d!" \!TRW6&A43'6&A43'TCEUS.,   ? TRX3' LetterW6&A43' Letter6&A4T,        ֛  L^MXX  ThePowerandDominionofGod#X5XML^#    Godofgods,andLordoflords:the s  S upremacyofGod  8 TheOneTrueGod,theFather,isamightyandpowerfulGod.Heis,withoutquestion,supremeinpoweranddominion.HeisAlmightyandHisomnipotenceisunchallenged.TheBibleaboundswithlanguagethatascribesgreatnessandpowertoYahweh.OnesuchdescriptionwasgiventotheIsraelitesduringtheirwildernesswanderings:8  FortheLordyourGodistheGodofgodsandtheLordoflords,thegreat,the    mighty,andtheawesomeGodwhodoesnotshowpartialitynortakeabribe.Heexecutesjusticefortheorphanandthewidow,andshowsHislovesforthealienbygivinghimfoodandclothing.     p Deuteronomy10:17NASB  ThePsalmistsalsocelebrateGodssupremacyanduniversalsovereignty.Psalm135:5reads:8  ForIknowthattheLordisgreat,andthatourLordisaboveallgods[elohim].4 Similarly,theeightythirdPsalmdeclares(placing alonewiththefinalpartoftheverse,asitisintheHebrew):8  Thatmenmayknowthatthou,whoseNameisYahweh,artalonetheMostHigh   [Elyon]overalltheearth. h      p Psalm83:18  Thesepassages,andthemanyotherslikethem,stateunequivocallythattheLordalonehas  dominionoverallthings.HispowerandauthorityoriginateinHimselfandderivefromnoother.Allofthisisperfectlyconsistentwithallthatwehavelearnedthusfar.FindsomeotherpassagesthatspeakabouttheSupremacyoftheMostHighGod: D  ,,|'* ЇFindsomepassagesthatattributepowerandmighttotheMostHighGod:  FindsomepassagesthatteachthattheMostHighGodisLordoveralltheearth:LookuptheHebrewwordsfor LordandnotetheirmeaningsandusageintheOldTestament:WhatdothesewordstellusaboutGodandHisroles? h+&* МTheLordisnotonlyMostHigh,HeisalsoKingoverall.Considerthefollowingwords,again  fromPsalms:8  FortheLordMostHighisterrible;heisagreatKingoveralltheearth.t    `     h      p Psalm47:2AndGodsKingshipisnotjustforaperiodoranage"itisforalltime:8  TheLordisKingforeverandever:theheathenareperishedoutofhisland. `    `     h      p Psalm10:16FindsomeotherpassagesthatspeakaboutGodsKingshipandDominion.WhatdotheytellusaboutGodandHisrelationshipwiththeearthandmankind?̛̜Daniel4:17saysthat theMostHighrulethinthekingdomofmen.WhatdoesthisverseandotherslikeittellusaboutGodsrelationshiptotheKingdomsofthisworld?̛̜LookuptheHebrewandGreekwordsfor kingdom, dominionand rule.WhatdotheirmeaningstellusaboutthenatureofthecomingKingdom? h+&* Ї Isaid,yearegods   IntheBibletheterm GodisusedmostlyoftheLord,theMostHighGod.Nevertheless,the  Hebrew(elandelohim)andGreek(theos)wordsforGodaresometimesusedofthoseother  thantheOneTrueGod.Suchusagecanbebrokendownintothreecategories:  1.MenandangelswhorepresentGod.  2.Mightykingsandwarriors(onlyinHebrew).  3.Falsegods.Toseektounderstandwhythisshouldbeso,wefirstneedtolookatthemeaningoftheHebrewwordselandelohim.Lookupthesetwowordsanddiscusstheirmeaningsandusagebelow.  8  (Notethateventhoughelohimisgrammaticallyplural,whenusedofindividualhumansand $  МangelsandtheTrueGod,itisusedinasingularsense,withsingularverbsandpronouns).Nowwewillturntothethreecategorieslistedabove,beginningwiththethird.Sincethewordsfor GodusedintheBiblearenotpropernames,butrathergenerictermsfordeitythatapplytoboththetrueGodandthefalseones,itisnotsurprisingthatthesamewordsshouldbeusedofboth.Note,however,thatwhenthesetermsareusedoffalsegods,theyareusuallyusedinapluralsense.ThuswereadinJeremiah10:11:8  The gods thathavenotmadetheheavensandtheearth,even they shallperish l fromtheearth,andfromundertheseheavens.  Thesegods,weknow,existedonlyintheimaginationofidolaters.TheApostlePaulsaidthatthereareindeedmany socalledgods,butonlyOneTrueGod(1Corinthians8:46).̜Inoursecondcategory,weseethatinaverysmallnumberofcasesthewordelisusedofmighty $H # men,asinExodus15:5( themightymenofMoab),whereisitusedofmightywarriors,andEzekiel31:11( themightyoneoftheheathen),whereitisusedofthekingofBabylon.Butthemostimportantandinterestingcategoryisthefirst.Tobegin,thereareseveralexamplesofangelsbeingreferredtoasboth Godand Yahweh.InPsalm8:5weencounterthewords: forthouhastmadehimalittlelowerthantheangels.TheoriginalwordintheHebrewforangelshereiselohim.Weknowthatangelsarereferredto,however,becausethepassageiscited l+&* intheNewTestamentwiththeGreekwordangelos(Hebrews2:7).WhenAbrahamwasvisited  bythreeheavenlymessengersasrecordedinGenesis18,hewasleftwithoneangel,whospeaksasYahweh.WhenMoseswitnessedtheburningbush,itwasanangelwhospokeasYahwehandwhoevendeclaredtheNameehyehasherehyeh(Exodus3:2,4,7,1415;cf.Acts7:3034). t FindotherexamplesintheBiblewhereangelsarecalled Godor Yahweh(orspeakas Godor Yahweh):MenactingasGodsrepresentativesarealsocalled GodintheBible.ThustheLordtold   Moses: See,IhavemadetheeagodtoPharaoh:andAaronthybrothershallbetheyprophet(Exodus7:1).̜Canyoufindotherexampleswheretheterm GodisappliedtomenactingonGodsbehalf? h+&* LetsnowconsiderwhysuchhumanrepresentativesofGodcantakeonthetitle God.TheBible,inJesuswords,givesusourmostimportantinsightintothis.WhentheJews(wrongly)accusedJesusofmakinghimselfGod,Jesusdidnotreplyinagreement.Instead,hesaid:8  Isitnotwritteninyourlaw,Isaid, Yearegods?Ifhecalledthemgods,untowhomthewordofGodcame,andscripturecannotbebroken;sayyeofhim,whomtheFatherhathsanctified,andsentintotheworld,Thoublasphemest;becauseIsaid,IamtheSonofGod?   p John10:3436$ t HereweseethatChristdidnotagreewiththeaccusationoftheJews,butratherclarifiedhisrelationshipwithGodasSon.ButhealsocitesfromPsalm82:6,whichuseselohimofthe  8  Israelitejudges.ThosewhoseauthoritywasderivedfromGod,andwhoreceivedGodsWordandLaw,couldbecalled gods.Crucially,thesejudgeswerecalled godsnotbecausetheywerebynatureGod,butbecauseoftheiroffice:theyrepresentedGodonearth.AveryimportantrepresentativeofGodonearthwastheonereigningaskingofHisKingdom(i.e.ancientIsraelandJudah).InPsalm45welearnthattheDavidickingcouldbecalled God p (elohim;45:6).Notonlythat,buthewascalled Lord(Adon)andcouldbeworshipped \ (45:11).ThesetitlesandthishonourcametohimbecauseoftheOneherepresented:theSupremeKingofalltheearth.Goddelegatedpowertotheking,whoactedasHisvicegerent.TheDavidickinghimselfwasnottheSupremeGod,ofcourse,forhehadaGod(45:7).TheWordofGodcametoChristinthefullestsense,soheofallmendeservestobecalled Godinthewaysjustoutlined.Heis,afterall,the WordofGod(Revelation19:13).AsSonofDavidandSonofGod,heisalsothegreatestheirtoDavidsthrone(Luke1:32).ThusthelanguageofPsalm45appliestohiminthegreatestpossibleway.ButChristisalsoauniqueexample.ItisnotonlybecauseofhisroleasthespeakerofGodsWord,orbecausehewillbeKingofIsraelandtheworld,thatChristcanbecalled God.Unlikeothermen,ChristalsoshareswiththeangelstheroleofspeakingandactingforGodinamoredirectfashion.SinceGodisaconsumingfire(Deuteronomy4:24),andbecausemortalmancannotlookonGodandlive,GodhasspokendirectlyfirstthroughangelsandtheninanevenmoreintimatesensethroughHisOwnSon.ThisprincipleisinpartoutlinedinDeuteronomy18:1519,wheretheIsraelitespleadedwithMosesthattheynotbeexposedtothepowerfulmanifestationofGodspresenceonMountSinai.TheyalsodidnotwanttohearthevoiceofGoddirectly,forfearofdying.Godrepliedthat theyhavewellspokenwhattheyhavespokenandpromisedthatHewouldsendthemaProphetlikeMosestoactasmediator.Ultimately,thisprophetisChrist,whoreceivesGodsWordsdirectlyfromHimandthengivesthemtoHispeople.ButGodalsoappearedthroughangelsinmanifestationsofHisGlory.Duringthesemanifestations,theangelstookonGodsNameandmanifestedHischaracter.Suchanoccasionisa theophany(Greekfor Godappearing).Christsappearanceisamanifestationofthissort,exceptthatasGodsSonhecouldmanifestGodmuchmorefully,perfectlyanduniquely. h+&* ЇDescribethecharacteristicsofsomeexampleswhenGodappearedthroughangelsintheBible.Describesomeexampleswheretheophanous( Godappearing)languageisusedofChrist.Thisisachallengingquestionthatyoumaywanttocomebacktolater.SeveralexamplescanbefoundintheProphets,suchasIsaiah6(cf.John12:41)andZechariah14:34.Notehowinthese  \ circumstanceshowChristtakesonsomeofthecharacteristicsofGod. h+&* Ї NamesandtitlesofGodandChrist   IntheBiblesomenamesandtitlesareusedoftheFatherandtheSonincommon,includingYahwehandGod(althoughJesusisonlyrarelyreferredtointheseways).OthertitlesareusedoftheFatherexclusively,justassomeareusedonlyoftheSon.Completethefollowingchartandaddanyothertitlesyoucanfind.̜*} " Hddd Xdd Xdd X!!},Sdd ,Sdd ,Sdd ,Sdd +   8  Namesandtitles    ExclusivelyofGod    ExclusivelyofJesus     UsedofBoth     Father   l     l     l     l Son        w^wXX5Hebrews1:5#X5Xww^3#        Firstborn  l    l    l    l  Yahweh                King  l    l    l  w^wXX5Psalm89:18;Matthew25:3134#X5Xww^75#  l  God         !   " GodofGods  l# w^wXX5Deuteronomy10:17#X5Xww^"6#  l$   l%   l& LordofLords  '   (   )   * Annointed  l+   l,   l-   l. Shepherd  /   0   1   2 AlphaandOmega  l3   l4   l5   l6 Almighty(NT)  7   8   9   : Saviour  l;   l<   l=   l> OneGod  ?   @   A   B MostHighGod  !lC   !lD   !lE   !lF   "G   "H   "I   "J   $lK   $lL   $lM   $lN   % O   % P   % Q   % R   'l"S   'l"T   'l"U   'l"V   (#W   (#X   (#Y   (#Z   *l%[   *l%\   *l%]  *l%^   $,t'_ ЇWhatdoesdotheabovepatternstellusaboutthethingsGodandHisSonhaveincommonandthewaysinwhichtheyaredistinct?̛̜̜ThereareatleasttwoamplysupportedscripturalreasonswhyChristreceivessomeoftheNamesandTitlesofhisGodandFather.Oneisrelatedtowhoheisandtheothertowhathehasdone.Givescripturalproofforyouranswers.1.ChristreceivesNamesandTitlesofhisGodandFatherbecauseofwhoheis:   ̜2.ChristreceivesNamesandTitlesofhisGodandFatherbecauseofwhathehasdone:   ̜Both Lord(Adon)and God(ElandElohim)arealsoMessianictitles.Wherearetheyused $D # intheOldTestamentinthissense?̛̜ h+&* IntheBookofRevelation,ChristisgivenatitleheldnotonlybyGod,butalsobytheKingsofBabylonandPersia,thefirsttwoempiresinDanielsimage.Whatisthistitle?WhymightChristreceiveatitleusedbykingsofnationsthatconqueredIsrael?̛̜ ThecharacterofGod    IfwereallywanttoknowandloveourGodandFather,wemustunderstandHischaracteristics.TheOldandNewTestamentsprovidenumerousdescriptionsofGodspersonalcharacter.OneofthemostpowerfulcomesinExodus34:67:8  TheLord,TheLordGod[Yahweh,YahwehEl],mercifulandgracious, 4 longsuffering,andabundantingoodnessandtruth,keepingmercyforthousands,forgivinginiquityandtransgressionandsin,andthatwillbynomeansclearthe  \ guilty;visitingtheiniquityofthefathersuponthechildren,anduponthe H childrenschildren,untothethirdandtothefourthgeneration.4 ListsomeofGodscharacteristics(e.g. merciful, gracious)withothersupportingverses:   ̜   h+&* SomeofGodsattributes,includingomnipotence,omnipresenceandomniscience,Heholdsexclusively.OthersaremanifestedinChristandcanbemanifestedinthesaints,althoughtheirultimatesourceisalwaysGod. ̛ UsingyourBible,listsomeofthecharacteristicsofChrist:̛̜UsingyourBible,listsomeofthecharacteristicssaintsmaymanifest:̛̜̜NotehowmanyofthesecharacteristicscanbeheldincommonwithGodandHisSonanddiscusshowwecanbecomebetterabletoshowthesegoodattributesinourlivesinChrist. h+&* Ї̜ TheSpiritofGod   AwiderangeofversesintheBibletellusthattheSpiritisGodsMindandPower.Itislinkedwithpowerinanumberofways.First,GodsactivityinthisworldisassociatedwiththeSpiritfromthemomentofCreation(Genesis1:13):8  InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearth.Andtheearthwaswithoutformandvoid;anddarknesswasuponthefaceofthedeep.AndtheSpiritofGod $ t moveduponthefaceofthewaters.AndGodsaid,Lettherebelight:andtherewaslight.  TheSpiritisassociatedwithpowerthroughHebraicparallelismaswell.ThewordsoftheangelGabrieltoMaryinLuke1:35offeroneexampleofthis:  The HolySpirit shall comeupon thee,     andthe poweroftheHighest shall overshadow thee.   ThereisasmallnumberofotherversesintheBiblethatshowthroughparallelismthattheSpiritisassociatedwithpower.Findthemandwritethemoutbelowinparallelfashion.AnOnlineBiblewillhelpforthisquestion.̛̜*"HddSdd Sdd Sdd Sdd " !!,dd ,dd +   d   x   x   H   H   x   x   H   H   x  x  Л̜TheBiblealsodescribestheSpiritastheMindofGod.WeknowthisbecauseIsaiah40:13,whichreads, Whohathdirectedthe Spirit oftheLord?iscitedinRomans11:34as Forwhohath X"" knownthe mind oftheLord? H## WhereelseintheNewTestamentisIsaiah40:13cited?WhatistheGreekwordinbothcasesthattranslatestheHebrewwordforSpirit?Whatdoesitmean? +&, ЇLookuptheHebrewandGreekwordsfor spirit.ListthemandthedifferentwaystheyaretranslatedintheBible.HowdothesemeaningshelpusunderstandwhattheSpiritofGodis? TheSpiritandtheBreathoftheAlmighty    TheaboveanalysisoftheusageoftheHebrewandGreekwordsfor spiritshowthecloserelationshipoftheideaofspiritandbreath(whetherinGodorman).ThisisalsotrueofEnglish,forourwordspiritcomesfromtheLatinverbspir,whichmeans tobreatheandalsoforms  partoftheword inspiration.Thisrelationshipisbroughtoutinthevirtuallysynonymousexpressions SpiritofGodand breathoftheAlmightyintheparallelstructureofJob33:4:8  The SpiritofGod hathmademe,0"    andthe breathoftheAlmighty hathgivenmelife. p      x    #p!    ` Findotherpassagesthatassociate spiritwith breath. p+&* М TheSpiritandtheWord   TheSpiritofGodisalsoassociatedwiththeWordofGodintheBible.WhentheApostlePaulwrotethat allScriptureisgivenbyinspirationofGod(2Timothy3:16),heusedthewordtheopneustos,whichusesthesamerootfromwhichpneumaisderived.Thiswordmeans God t breathed.ThisshowsalsohowtherelationshipbetweenspiritandbreathextendstoGodsWord,whichare breathedout.Inanotherplace,Paulwrote:8  Andtakethehelmetofsalvation,andtheswordof theSpirit , which is theWord $ t ofGod .    h      p Ephesians6:17 d Therelativepronoun whichintheGreekisintheneutergenderandagreeswithSpirit(theneuterpneuma)asitsantecedent.ThusPaulisheresayingthattheSpiritistheWord,notthe ,  sword(whichisfeminine:machaira).GodinspiresthroughHisSpirit.   FindotherpassagesinboththeOldandNewTestamentsthatlinktheSpiritwiththeWordandinspiration.̜ OutpouringsoftheSpirit   TheSpirithasnotonlyinspiredGodsprophetstorecordHisWords.ItalsogavesomemenintheOldTestamentspecialskillsandempoweredmenandwomenwithspecialgifts.  GiveexamplesofindividualoutpouringsoftheSpiritintheOldTestament. 8"  ̛̜ p+&* DiscussthespiritgiftsoftheNewTestamentandhowtheyrelatetothoseintheOld.̛̛̜̜ExplainhowthesehelpdemonstratethattheHolySpiritisapowerofGod,notaseparatepersonintheGodhead.̛̛̜̜̜ Optionalproject  $X" SincetheHebrewandGreekwordsfor spiritaretranslatedindifferentwaysinourEnglishBibles,itishelpfultobeabletodetermineataglancewhetheraparticularEnglishwordisbackedbythewordforspiritintheoriginallanguagesoftheScriptures(also,ahandfuloftimesotherwordsaretranslatedas spirit).OnewaytodothisistocolourorunderlineinaparticularcolourallthewordsinyourBiblethattranslatetheHebrewandGreekwordsfor spirit.Todothis,youcaneitheruseEnglishmansConcordance,oryoucanlookupthewordsinthebackofYoungstofindouthowtheyaretranslated,andthenfindtheseexamplesintheirentries.Thisexercisewilltakealittlepatience,buttheresultsareworthit! h+&* Ї ThePromise: IwillwriteuponhimthenameofmyGod   InthefirstthreeStudies,wesawthatintheKingdomagetheworldwouldknowthattheLord  wasOne(trueteaching),thatHewouldbetheOnlyGod(universalrule)andthatthesaintswouldbeHissonsanddaughters.ThuswehavebroughtaprinciplefromeachStudyintotheMillennium.InthisStudy,wewanttofocusonanotheraspect:thebestowalofGodsNameonthesaints.InanimportantpassageintheApocalypse,JesusmakesthefollowingwonderfulpromisetothebelieversinPhiladelphia(andtherebyallthesaints):8  HimthatovercomethwillImakeapillarinthetempleofmyGod,andheshallgonomoreout:andIwillwriteuponhimthenameofmyGod,andthenameofthecityofmyGod,whichisnewJerusalem,whichcomethdownoutofheavenfrom   myGod:andIwillwriteuponhimmynewname.     `     h      p Revelation3:12TheLordJesusChristinthisdeclarationgivesusthreecluesastowhatthisNamemightbe.First,andmoregenerally,theNameistheNameofhisGod.Second,itisthenameofNewJerusalem.Third,itisChristsownnewname(i.e.notthenamehealreadyhad,buttheNamegiventohim H becauseofwhoheisandwhathehaddone).WhatNamedoeswillbegiventoJerusaleminthefuture?LookatverseswhereGodsaysHisNameshallbethere(i.e.inJerusalem)andatthetwoversesthatactuallygivetheName.(Hint: H hereyouwillwanttouseeitheranOnlineBibleorconcordancetofindversesthatuseboth nameand Jerusalem).̛̜ h+&* МFindsomeversesthatspeakaboutChristreceivinganew,exaltedName:WhereelseinRevelationdoesitsaythatthesaintswouldreceiveanewNamefromGod?̜WhereinRevelationdoesitspeakaboutthosewhoturnfromGodreceivingthemarkandthenameoftheBeast?WhereinRevelationdoesitspeakaboutthesaintsbeingprotectedbecausetheyaresealedbyGodontheirforeheads?WhereintheProphecyofEzekieldoesitspeakaboutthefaithfulremnantreceivingamarkfromGodthatsavesthemfromGodsvengeance?Whatspirituallessonscanwelearnfromthispattern?̛̜ h+&* UsingRevelation3:12andotherrelevantversesforsupport,forwhatreasonsdoyouthinkwewill(bytheGraceofGod)begiventheNameofGodasareward?̛̜̜ WrestedScriptures  H InthisStudywehaveseenthatthereisclearprecedenceintheBiblefortheterm GodtobeappliedtothoserepresentingtheLord.Thuswhenweencounterpassagesthatapplytheterm   toChrist,wecanunderstandthedynamicsbehindthisusage(remembering,ofcourse,thatwhen GodisappliedtoChristittakesonaspecialanduniquesignificance).Nevertheless,suchusageisquiteuncommonintheBible"much,muchmoreuncommonthanonewouldsuspectiftheBibledidinfactteachatrulycoequalTrinity.Twoofthefewexamplesaregivenbelow.Trinitarianshaveinfesteddiscussionaboutthetermselohimandtheoswithtalkof essenceand X   substance.ThusonthehandfulofoccasionswhentheosisusedofChristintheNew D! Testament,theytakeittomeanthatChristisinveryessenceandsubstancethetrueGod.ButtheBibleknowsnosuchideas.TrinitariansresttheircaseonasuperficialandunsophisticatedargumentthatifChristiscalledGod,hemustbe veryGod.Wevealreadyseenthatthisargumentdoesntholdup,otherwisemorehumansthanjustChristwouldbeGod.Eveninthecommonidiomofthefirstcenturythisargumentcannotbesustained,aswesawearlierwiththeexampleofDomitian.Instead,thereisanexplanationthatcoversallthecases:thoseotherthantheOneTrueGodwhoarecalledelohimortheosaresocalledbecauseofofficeormight.In '#& takingtheterm Godtorefertoessence,TrinitariansclaimthatitisusedinanabsolutesensewhenusedofChrist(thus,someliketodownplaythereferencestojudgesbeing gods).Yetourstudieshaveshownthattheterm GodisusedintheabsolutesenseonlyfortheMostHigh,ϜbutinarelativeandderivedsenseforthoserepresentingandmanifestingHim"includingChrist. h+&* ЇIfChristwerebynatureGod,theBiblewouldnotspeakaboutChristbeinggivenanamehe  alreadyhadbyvirtueofhissubstance.Yet,theBiblespeaksabouttheDivineNamebeingbestowedonChristbecauseofwhoheis(andwillbe)andbecauseofwhathehasdone(Philippians2:6;Revelation3:12).ThisisincompatiblewiththeideathatheisGodfromalleternity.IfChristwere veryGod,suchatransactionwouldbenothingmorethanacharade.ButtheNamesandTitlesofGodarenotgiventoChristinanhonorarywayonly,aswiththeIsraelitejudgesofold.First,ChristisuniquelytheSonofGod.Second,assuch,hemanifestsGodinamorecompletewaythananyother.Notonlyaretheresound,biblicalreasonswhyChristaboveallotherhumanscanbecalledGod,butcertainaffirmationsnecessarytotheTrinityareconspicuouslyabsentfromthepagesofScripture.Namely,thelanguageofunderivedsupremacyandabsolutepowerthatissooftenusedoftheFatherintheScripturesisneverusedofChrist.Considerthefollowing:  c  ct"0 `   ChristisnevercalledtheAlmighty(pantokratr)ctt݌ ` !` ! Ќ    c  cTu"0 `   Christisnevercalled GodofgodscTuou݌ ` !` ! Ќ    c  cv"0 `   ChristisnevercalledtheMostHighGodcv1v݌p` !` ! Ќ    c  cv"0 `   ChristisneverincludedintheOneTrueGodcvv݌\` !` ! Ќ    c  cw"0 `   ChristisneverincludedintheOnly(monos)Godcww݌H` !` ! Ќ  ݜThefirstthreeexamplesshowthatChristisatleastsubordinate,andnotcoequal.Thelasttwoexamplesareincontrovertible.Christisnot veryGodofveryGod. Isaiah9:6    ThereareveryfewOldTestamentpassagesusedbyTrinitarianstoattempttosupporttheirdoctrine.OneofthemorepopularisIsaiah9:6,inwhichfour(orfive)titlesaregiventotheMessiah: WonderfulCounsellor,MightyGod,EverlastingFather,PrinceofPeace(alternatively,thefirsttitlemaybe: Wonderful, Counselor).Toexplaintheintentofthisprophecy,lookatthesurroundingverses(especially7)andlookupthewordsusedtoseehowtheyareusedofelsewhere.Youwillalsobenefitfromcomparingbetweendifferenttranslations.Consideralsoiftheprophecyhadafirstfulfilment.WhatelseistheMessiahcalledinverse6?Finally,withwhichothertwomajorpromisesabouttheSonofGoddoesIsaiah9:67go(rightdowntotheuseofthefuturetense)?OneisintheOldTestamentandtheotherintheNew. h+&* М ̛Hebrews1:8   8  ThetermtheosisrarelyusedofJesusChristintheNewTestament.Thereare,infact,onlytwo $  unambiguousanduncontestedexamples.ThefirstisJohn20:28.TheotherisHebrews1:8.Inthislatterverse,thewritertotheHebrewswrites: ButuntotheSonhesaith,Thythrone,OGod,isforeverandever.First,studythisverseinitscontext.Next,determinetheOldTestamentsourceforthislanguageandstudythecontextofthispassage.Whatis,andwhatisnot,thewritertotheHebrewssaying?Lastly,reflectonthespirituallessonsofHebrews1.̜ h+&* Ї WrestedScripturesontheSpirit   WhendiscussingtheHolySpiritwithinterestedfriendsandTrinitarians,weoftenspeakabouttheSpiritbeingpersonifiedandthenembarkonanexplanationofpersonificationintheBible.Thisiscompletelyunnecessary.Whentheliteraryfigureofpersonificationisneeded,thereisaclearimplicationthatthethingpersonifiedisimpersonal,whichinthiscasemakestheSpiritappearassomesortofremote,abstractpowerseparatefromGod.ThisgivesTrinitariansroomtocriticizeourviewoftheSpiritasan impersonalinfluenceor energy(althoughmuchofthiscriticismisbasedonwhattheyknowoftheJWssuperficialexplanationoftheSpirit).Rather,personallanguageissometimesusedoftheSpiritbecauseitisnoneotherthanthepersonalMind  L  andPowerofGod,andisjustasmuchapartofGodsPersonasourownmindsandpowerareapartofours.Atthatsametime,GodhassometimesgivenofHisSpirittomenandwomen.ThustheSpiritissomethingthatcanbestowedonpeople"asitwasinthepastandwillbeingreatmeasureintheKingdom(Joel2:2829;Acts2:24).SuchoutpouringsaremanifestationsofGodsPowerandlikeallmanifestationsfromGod,includingthegrantingofHisNametoothers,theyarederivative.Godremainstheultimatesourceofthepower,justasinthecaseofHisdominion.FortheHolySpirittobepouredout,orforittobeagift,isfullycompatiblewithitbeingGodspersonalPower.Thislanguage,however,doesnotjibewiththenotionthattheSpiritisthethirdpersonofaTrinity.Heresthekey:theSpiritispersonal,butnotaseparateperson.ItisalsoimportanttorememberthatGodisaspiritbeing.ThuswereadinJohn4:24: GodisaSpirit,or,astheGreekcanalsobetranslated: GodisSpirit.Paulcanevenwritein2Corinthians3:17that theLordistheSpirit.Yettherelationshipisalwaysclear,foreveninthissameverse,Paulspeaksabout theSpirit of theLord.TheLordGodiscertainlySpirit,butthe   SpirititselfisnotanotherLord.AnotherwaytoputthisdistinctionistosaythatGodisfullySpirit,buttheSpiritisnotGodonitsown(i.e.intheTrinitariansenseofaseparateperson).  Forthesereasons,wearenotsurprisedtoseePeter,intheincidentwithAnaniasandSapphira,movingbackandforthfromspeakingaboutlyingtotheHolySpirit(Acts5:3),lyingtoGod(5:4)and,then,bringingthemtogether,temptingtheSpiritoftheLord(5:9).Also,whenPeterisspeakingtothevoiceinthevisionoftheuncleananimals(Acts10:1020),hereferstoitssourceas Lord(verse14)andlateras God(verse28),eventhoughinverse19wearetoldthattheSpiritwasspeakingtohim.Moreover,inthenextversetheSpiritspeaksusingthefirstpersonpronoun I(verse20).Noneofthisisparticularlysurprisingonceweunderstandtheprinciplesoutlinedabove:GodspeaksthroughHisSpirit.Finally,somehonestTrinitarianswillacknowledgethattheysometimesseetheHolySpiritasthepowerofGod,ratherthanaseparateindividual.MostarealsowillingtoconcedethatthebeingtheybelieveinthethirdpersonoftheTrinityplaysamuchlesscentralandlessindependentrolethanthoseofGodorChrist.AswithTrinitarianswhousuallythinkofGodastheFather,thisisacasewheretheclarityoftheBibleisgettingthebetteroftheartificialTrinitariandogma.When l+&* discussingtheSpiritwithTrinitarians,buildonthis! &  Acts13:2   TrinitariansarguethatthelanguageofActs13:2,whichusespersonalpronouns,showsthattheHolySpiritisaseparatepersonfromtheFather.Hereistheverse:'%8  AstheyministeredtotheLord,andfasted,theHolySpiritsaid, SeparatemeBarnabasandSaulfortheworkwhereuntoIhavecalledthem.  Thisisfollowedbythestatement: Sothey,beingsentforthbytheHolySpirit...(13:4).StudyhowutterancesoftheSpiritarepresentedelsewheretoshowwhattheseversesarereallyteaching.WhoisistheOnereallyspeakinghere?̜  \     L^MX5_JesusChrist:  SonofGodandSonofMan ` #X5XML^!#8  HerebyknowwethespiritofGod:EveryspiritthatconfesseththatJesusChristiscomeinthefleshisofGod.     p 1John4:2 $  ThebirthofJesus    ThebirthofJesusChrist,recordedbytheGospelwriters(Matthew1:18-2:23,Luke1:26-56)presentsuswithaperfectlyrationalandsatisfactoryexplanationofhisbeginning.Thereisnohintofany pre-existenceassomewouldsuggest.TheScripturesconsistentlytestifytohisliteralbirthatafixedpointintime.TheinspiredmessageoftheprophetslookedforwardtotheirfulfilmentinJesus(Luke24:44-45).Whichfivespecificpropheciesarefulfilledin,andimmediatelysubsequentto,thebirthofJesus?ThesignificanceofGodspromises,whichweavethroughtheScriptures,isalmostentirelyneglectedbyChristendom,andyettheyprovidethebedrocktoatrueunderstandingoftheGospelmessagecentredinJesusChrist.TrytofindatleasttwelvereferencesdetailingorcommentinguponthepromisesthatGodmadetocertainindividualsintheOldTestamentconcerningthefutureRedeemer.Whatisapromise?AndwhatdotheaboveversestellusaboutthetrueJesus,asopposedtothe ,T') JesusoftheTrinity?Theword seedusedintheAV/RVtranslationofthesepromiseshasmorerecentlybeentranslatedindifferentways(e.g. offspringand descendants).LookupboththeHebrewand \ Greekwordstranslated seedandnotetheirusage.Seehow seedreflectstheHebrewideaverywell.Hebrew: `     h   Greek: H ThefactthatJesusistermedas begottenbytheFatherdeclaresaphysicalbringingintoexistenceatafixedpointintime.Clearly,theseScripturesbecomemeaningless,ifJesushadbeen co-eternalwithGod. BegottenisusedintheBibletospeakofaliteralbirth(John1:14)andalsoresurrection(Acts13:33).LookuptheGreekwordtranslated begottenanddefineitsmeaning.Greekword: `     h   Meaning: X  FindoccurrencesintheNewTestamentwhere begottenreferstoJesusliteralbirth: h+&* Psalm89isclearlyMessianic.Howistheword firstbornusedinverse27? Jesus:thesamenatureasourselves   L  WehavealreadyseenthatJesuswasbornintotheAdamicracethroughhismotherMary,andtherebyfullypartookofourhumannature.TrytofindatleasttenreferenceswhereJesusisreferredtoasa man.WhyisChriststillreferredtoasamanafterhisascension?Jesuscallshimselfthe SonofManinMatthew16:13.ThesametitleisusedinHebrews2:6wherethewriterisprovidinguswithaninspiredcommentaryonanOldTestamentScripture.WhereisthewriterquotingfromandwhatistheHebrewwordtranslated man? h+&* ЇFindothersignificantexamplesofthistitleanddiscussthecontextinwhichyoufinditintermsoftheworkandministryofJesus.Incontrasttotheabovestudy,theAlmightyCreatordeclaresonanumberofoccasionsthatheisnotaman.FindsomeverseswhereGoddeclaresexplicitlythatHeisnotaman,orhedrawsavastcontrastbetweenhiswaysandourways(hint!).ThetruevictoryofJesusoversinanddeathcanonlybeseenwhenweunderstandthathefoughtonthesame battlefieldasus.Havingournature,hehadthesametendencytosin"yetheneverdid.AnappreciationofthiselevatesJesusfaraboveanythingtheTrinitycouldpossiblyallow.ExamineanddiscussthevariouswordsandphrasesusedinHebrews2:14-18todefinethenatureofJesus. h+&* HowcanacorrectunderstandingofthenatureofJesusencourageusinourdiscipleship?Particularlyconsiderverses17and18here.FindsomepassagesthatdemonstratethatJesusencounteredthesametensionsandtemptationstowhichwearesubject,andthathealsorequiredredemption.ThetruemarvelofJesuscharacteristhathenevergaveintotemptation.Findatleastfivereferenceswhichillustratethatheneversinned. h+&* TheEpistleofJamesinformsusthat everymanistemptedwhenheisdrawnawayofhisownlust,andenticed.Thenwhenlusthathconceived,itbringethforthsin;andsin,whenitisfinishedbringethforthdeath(1:1415).Jesusdidntallowanywrongthoughtto conceivewithinhim,itwasalwaysexpelledimmediately.InwhatwayscantheexampleofJesushelpustoovercometemptationinourlives.Whatpracticalmeasurescanwetaketohelpourselves? JesusasMediator   p TheSynopticGospelsMatthew,MarkandLukerecordthatatthedeathofJesus,the veilofthetemplewasrentintwain(Matthew27:51).A newandlivingwayhadbeenopenedupbyJesus,hehasnowbecome anhighpriestoverthehouseofGod(Hebrews10:20).Inhissacrifice,hebecamethemediatorofabettercovenant(Hebrews8:6).WenowhaveaccessdirectlytoGodthroughprayer(Romans5:1-2,Ephesians2:18,3:12,Hebrews4:16).Howimportantisprayer,andhowwecanwebecomemoreprayerfulinourlives?Anyspecificscripturalexamplesofprayerthatyoumayfindhelpful? h+&*  Jesus:subordinatetoGod   TherelationshipbetweenJesusandhisFatheristotallydislocatedwhenapproachedfromaTrinitarianstandpoint.ThefactthatGodisdescribedas theGodandFatherofourLordJesusChrist(1Peter1:3)afterhisascensionnegatestheviewthathissubordinationonlylastedduringhismortallife(seealsoRevelation1:6RV).WefindstatementsfromJesushimself,togetherwithmanyotherreferencesclearlysettingouttheirtruerelationship.FindsomepassagesthatdemonstratethatJesuswasandisdependenton,orsubjectto,God.BecausethenatureofJesuswasthatofAdam,ashewasdescendedthroughMary,hehadtodieaccordingtothecursethatcameonAdamsdescendants(1Corinthians15:22,Romans5:14-19).ThedifferencebetweenourselvesandJesusisthatwehavesinnedpersonallyandthereforedeservedeath(Romans6:23).Jesusneversinned,andthereforewasraisedfromthedeadandsubsequentlyexaltedtoGodsrighthand.WehavetoconcludethatthiswholeprocesswouldbeacharadeifJesuswasandhadbeenpartofatriuneGodhead.Findasmanyreferencesasyoucan(OldandNewTestament)thatplainlydeclarethatJesushadtodieandthenberaisedbyGod.Lookupthewordresurrectionanddefineit.DiscusstheimplicationsforresurrectionifJesushadnottrulydied.Howdoesthisaffectourhope?Considerespecially1Corinthians15:12-22. h+&*  JesusChristisnot veryGod   OneexcellentandrevealingwaytoseehowtheBibledistinguishesbetweenGod(thatis,theFather)andHisSonJesusChrististoexaminetheirattributesandcharacteristics.Inthecolumnsbelow,findversesthatshoweachofthelistedattributes.Formanyoftheexamples,youshouldbeabletofindmultiplereferences.Thefirstexampleisdoneforyou.   TheLordGod   h      p   JesusChrist 8   A" ) xdE LA  ` Cannotbetempted:James1:13 h      p Wastempted:Hebrews2:18  o  A" ) xdELA   Cannotbeseenbymen:   h      p Wasseenbymen:   A" ) xdEeLA f Cannotdie: `     h      p Died: u A" ) xdELA a Allknowing: `     h      p Notallknowing:  p A" ) xdELA    Allpowerful: `     h      p Notallpowerful: ! A" ) xdEf#LA g#& Willnotbe,isnotaman:   h      p Wasandisaman: v#' A" ) xdE(LA (b#, Inherentlygood:    h      p AscribedtruegoodnesstoGod: !(q#-  +!'1 ЇA" ) xdELA  Inherentlyperfect:    h      p Hadtobemadeperfect:  A" ) xdEZ LA [  Doesnotchange:    h      p Waschanged: j  A" ) xdELA V  Willnotphysicallylookonevil: h      p Physicallylookedonevil: e  A" ) xdELA  Subjecttonone,supreme:   h      p SubjecttoGod:  A" ) xdE[LA \ HasnoGod: `     h      p HasaGod: k A" ) xdELA W  TheMessiahshipofJesus  *" ThewordMessiahsimplymeans anointedone,thefirstoccurrenceofwhich(inrootform)canbefoundinGenesis31:13whereJacob anointsthepillaratBethel.TheNewTestamentequivalentistranslatedbytheword Christ(cf.John4:25).ItisanimportantfeaturewhenconsideringthenatureofJesus,forfaithfulJewswerewaitingfortheMessiahtocome,andsawJesusasthefulfilment,aswassaid: WehavefoundtheMessiah(John1:41).JewstodayarestilllookingforthecomingoftheirMessiah,butfailtorealizethathewasbornamongthem(hisbrethren)2000yearsago!FindthefirstreferencetoMessiah(anointedone)referringspecificallytoafutureKing.Whosaiditandwhy? +'0 ЇInDaniel9:25-26,theHebrewword Messiahhasbeentransliterated.Considerthe 70weeksprophecy,includingtheimplicationsofthe cuttingoffofMessiah.HowdidfaithfulmenandwomenoftheNewTestamentviewthisprophecy?Thesameangel(Gabriel)hadtheprivilegeofdeliveringthenewsofitsthefulfilmenttoMary(Luke1:26-38).Doyounoticeanyconnectionswiththepreviousquestion? ThePromise:reigningwithChristathousandyears   p TheliteralreignofJesusoverthewholeearthisaprospectthatshouldbothencourage,andexciteusinourdiscipleship.Thesaintshaveanactivepartinthisfutureage,fortheywillliveandreignwithChristathousandyears(Revelation20:4).Attheendofthisperiodof restitutionofallthingstherestoredearthwillthenbehandedtotheFatherthathemaybe allinall:8  Thencomeththeend,whenhe[JesusChrist]shallhavedeliveredupthekingdom  toGod,eventheFather;whenheshallhaveputdownallruleandallauthorityandpower.Forhemustreign,tillhehathputallenemiesunderhisfeet...thenshalltheSonalsohimselfbesubjectuntohimthatputallthingsunderhim,thatGodmaybeallinall.   h   1Corinthians15:2425,28X  Inwhatsensewillhiskingdom(whenspeakingofJesus)standforever(e.g.2Samuel7:16),even 0"  thoughhepersonallywillreignonlyforathousandyears?_ h+&* SeehowmanypassagesyoucanfindrelatingtothereignofJesusovertheearthduringtheKingdom.FindpassagesthatrefertothesaintsrolesintheKingdom.Identifyandlisttheseroles.Givenwhatwe(bythegraceofGod)willbedoinginthefuture,whatshouldwebedoingnow 0"  bywayofpreparationforourrolesintheKingdom? #l!  h+&*  WrestedScriptures   OurtwowrestedScriptureexamplesforthisStudyareusedbymanyasevidencethatChristliterally preexisted(itselfarguablyacontradictioninterms)asapersonbeforehisliteralbirthinBethlehem.Inthiscase,itisnotonlyTrinitarianswhoteachaliteralpreexistenceofChrist(althoughsomeTrinitariansbelievehewasonlyproperly SonafterBethlehem),forothers,suchasthe_JW_s,whoholdtoan _Arian_viewofChrist,alsocontendforthisposition.The_Arian_Ԁview(namedafterthefourthcenturytheologianArius)holdsthatChristwasacreatedbeingwhoneverthelesspreexistedhisliteralbirth(andindeedtheGenesiscreation).Giventhecompletelackofevidenceforthisposition,thosewhoargueforthepreexistenceofChristassertthatheappearedoccasionallyasanangelinOldTestamenttimes.NowhereintheBibleisthereanythingthatsupportsthisnotion.IfoneAngelwasChrist,theBiblewouldsayso"butitmanifestlydoesnot.AnotherapproachtakenbythosewhoholdthispositionistoliftexamplesofsymboliclanguageofChristsplaceinGodsplan,andreadintothemtheunbiblicaldoctrineofliteral,personal preexistence.Wellexaminetwopassagesusedforthisbelow. John17:5  p Asalwaysinourscripturalstudies,wemustfirstbuildupourdoctrinalvocabularyusingunambiguousScriptures,andthenmoveontothosethatmayseemmorechallenging.Inthiscase,havingestablishedirrefutableevidenceconcerningtheliteralbirthofJesusbyMaryatapointintime,whatdidJesusmeanwhenheprayed: Andnow,OFather,glorifythoumewiththineownselfwiththeglorywhichIhadwiththeebeforetheworldwas?(John17:5)Thereareseveralpointstoconsider.Whatevertheglorywas,itwasderived(17:24),justashispoweroverallflesh(17:2).Whatdoes theworldheresignify?Also,ifwecandeterminewhenandinwhatwayJesuswouldbeglorified,itwillshedlightonhowthiswasseenbeforebyGod.Moreover,issimilarlanguageof preexistenceeverusedofthesaints?Ifso,isitrelevanttoourunderstandingofJohn17:5?Somehelpfulreferencesare:Jeremiah1:5;Matthew13:35,25:34:Acts2:23;Romans4:17,9:23;Ephesians1:4;2Timothy1:9:Revelation13:8,17:8.Finally,reflectonwhatknowledgeofowncallingandroleinGodsplanshouldmeantous. h+&* Ї _Colossians_Ԁ1:15-18   ThispassageofScriptureisalsousedindefenceofthe preexistenceofJesus.Anhonestconsiderationofthecontextwillsoonrevealthetrueissueunderdiscussion.Discussandexaminethekeywordsused(e.g.creation,firstbornandbeginning)tohelpyou ` arriveatascripturallyconsistentunderstandingoftheseverses.Rememberalsoto_analyze_ԀthelogicofPaulsargumentandtofindexamplesofsimilarlanguagebeingusedelsewhere.