Christology developed in the early centuries of Christianity. Church fathers believed that Jesus was God, but to a lesser extent than the Father was, and that Jesus’ divinity was derived from the Father. Also, they had no consensus about the Holy Spirit.But all of this changed during the 4th century. In 325, the Catholic Church’s first ecumenical council, at Nicaea, officially declared that Jesus was fully God just as the Father is. Yet they did not come to a consensus regarding the con … [Read more...]
Is Jesus God in Other Pauline Texts?
June 27, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Most traditionalist New Testament (NT) scholars cite only the following texts in the Apostle Paul’s letters to support their belief that Jesus is God: Romans 9.5, Philippians 2.6-11, 1 Timothy 2.5, and Titus 2.13. But some include other minor Pauline texts.Many Christians have thought that 2 Corinthians 8.9 implies an incarnation. It reads, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become ric … [Read more...]
When Paul Quotes the Shema, Does He Mean Jesus Is “God”?
June 26, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Saul of Tarsus was a Jewish religious zealot who opposed the new Jesus Movement. He was going about trying to get Jewish Christians arrested and thrown into prison. On his way from Jerusalem to Damascus to do just that, he had a vision that cause him to dramatically convert to faith in Jesus (Acts 9.1-19; 22.3-21; 26.4-18). After that, as the Apostle Paul, this indefatigable worker had a most profound impact on Christianity. He traveled as a missionary throughout much of the Roman Empire, … [Read more...]
Is Jesus God in Acts 20.28?
June 25, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Church fathers cited Acts 20.28 as an important New Testament (NT) text which supported their belief that Jesus was God. Some traditionalist Christians still do; but in recent times, their scholars have abandoned it as a support for Christ’s deity.Luke relates that the Apostle Paul was journeying to Jerusalem when he met with the elders of the church at Ephesus. He said to them, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd … [Read more...]
Jordan Spieth Wins Travelers Championship
June 25, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Twenty-four year old,Texan, superstar, professional golfer Jordan Spieth just pulled off a sensational victory minutes ago. He won the Travelers Championship golf tournament on the PGA Tour at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut by defeating twenty-four year old Daniel Berger in the first playoff hole, on #18, with a hole-out from a sand bunker in front of the green for a birdie three. Berger then putted from just off the green about sixty feet away and came close, but not close … [Read more...]
“And the Putter Went PING”
June 24, 2017 by Leave a Comment
It's not every day I receive a beautiful, eight-pound book in the mail, especially when I didn't order it and didn't even know about it. But such was the case yesterday when I discovered at my front door a packaged book entitled And the Putter Went . . . PING.I've got some pretty big books in my library, a collection that now numbers about 2,500 volumes. But this one will definitely be the biggest. (I don't know how I will shelve it.)And the Putter Went . . . PING is a history of PING … [Read more...]
Who Is the Son of Man?
June 24, 2017 by Leave a Comment
The expression ben adam appears in the Hebrew Bible 107 times. It means “son of man.” In almost every instance, it is a Semitic idiom used as a circumlocution to avoid the personal pronoun “I” or “me.” It may be due to the author’s modesty or to intentionally convey a lowly, humble attitude. But there is one instance in which this concept in another language in the Bible is not so used.The apocalyptic book of Daniel uses the Aramaic language to record a prophetic vision about four beasts that … [Read more...]
Does Calling Jesus “Immanuel” Mean He is God?
June 23, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Matthew says Jesus’ birth fulfilled Isaiah 7.14. He quotes it and explains as follows: “‘BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,’ which translated means, ‘GOD WITH US’” (Matthew 1.23).Due to Jesus’ virgin birth, Isaiah 7.14 and Matthew 1.23 have received considerable attention throughout church history. The main reason is that Isaiah’s Hebrew word almah has aroused much scholarly debate as to whether it means “virgin” or “young woma … [Read more...]
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