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Month: August 2017

God and Jesus in 1 Thessalonians–Part of a Trinity?

God and Jesus in 1 Thessalonians–Part of a Trinity?

In the Bible book of 1 Thessalonians, God and Jesus and spoken of as separate and distinct. Let’s examine this distinction in some of the verses in 1 Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians
God and Jesus are spoken of as separate and distinct in 1 Thessalonians

“In God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:1) Here, God and Jesus are referred to as two separate and distinct individuals.

“Before our God and Father… inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:3) God, the Father, is one person, and the Lord Jesus Christ is another person. read more

Is Jesus Christ God Almighty? – Philippians

Is Jesus Christ God Almighty? – Philippians

We continue our series about what is stated concerning Jesus in the various books of the New Testament. We will examine the book of Philippians. Notice the distinctive relationship between God and Jesus throughout this book of Philippians, especially the superior role of God compared to Jesus.

Philippians
The superior role of God compared to Jesus is evident from the Bible book of Philippians

“To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi.” (Philippians 1:1) God is always the one in control, and using Christ to gather his people.

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:2) God and Jesus are separate and distinct. Holy Spirit, since it is not a person, does not give greetings. read more

Is the Holy Spirit a Person in John’s Gospel?

Is the Holy Spirit a Person in John’s Gospel?

Trinitarians focus on a few scriptures in which the holy spirit is personified, which, when taken literally, make it appear to be an actual spirit person. Let’s examine the uses in John of the word spirit, wherever it means the holy spirit.

holy spirit person
Is the holy spirit a person in the Gospel of John?

“John bore witness, ‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and it remained on him'” (John 1:32 ESV)

The holy spirit is not personified, but said to be “as a dove,” the figure of speech called simile, being used here, involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind. There is no indication of personhood being applied to the holy spirit. read more

Holy Spirit & the Trinity – Greetings & Praises From/To in the New Testament Letters?

Holy Spirit & the Trinity – Greetings & Praises From/To in the New Testament Letters?

Revised May 26, 2023

In the New Testament letters, greetings are given from God and Jesus. We know that God the Father and Jesus Christ are both persons, so we should expect to see their greetings, and we do. But what about the Holy Spirit and the Trinity? If the Holy Spirit is a person, or if the Trinity is a real entity, we should expect to see greetings from the holy spirit, or the Trinity, and praises to the holy spirit, or Trinity, as well. But is this the case? Let’s examine these greetings in the letters to find out. read more

Is Jesus Christ Almighty God, or Part of a Trinity? – Ephesians

Is Jesus Christ Almighty God, or Part of a Trinity? – Ephesians

This article is one of a series about what is stated concerning Jesus in the various books of the New Testament, the book of Ephesians. Almighty God and the holy Spirit are also discussed to see if there is any evidence of a Trinity doctrine in this Biblical letter, which is all about doctrine. A key component of the Trinity doctrine is that the holy Spirit is a person. In this article, we’ll see what Ephesians indicates about that.

Ephesians
The Book of Ephesians provides some clues as to whether or not Jesus Christ is Almighty God

Ephesians 1:1,2 – “…apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God . . . from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” God are Jesus are separate individuals. “To God’s holy people… in the Lord Jesus Christ.” Notice how many times in this letter God and Jesus are both mentioned, but as separate and distinct, with God being superior and Jesus as inferior. Why is Paul not also an apostle of the holy Spirit or the Trinity? Why is the letter not also from the holy Spirit  or the Trinity? It’s because the holy Spirit is not a person, and the Trinity does not exist! read more

Infant Baptism – Is it Biblical?

Infant Baptism – Is it Biblical?

There is no explicit evidence of infant baptism in the Bible. The earliest historical reference to infant baptism is in the third century, by Origen.

Infant Baptism
Do infants have the capacity to comprehend the seriousness of baptism or to undertake the needed changes?

More importantly, what do we learn from the Bible?

“You must therefore go and make disciples of people of all nations my disciples. You must baptize them.” (Matthew 28:19 Barclay) People would have to become disciples of Christ prior to qualifying for baptism. A disciple is a taught one, a believer, a follower, in this case, of Jesus Christ. read more

Titles of the Gospels – Are They Genuine?

Titles of the Gospels – Are They Genuine?

The Titles of the Gospels

History says Matthew, Mark, Luke and John wrote the books with those titles. People seem to have a highly variable standard in their assessment of what ancient writings are genuine, especially the Bible. What do we mean? Here is an example:

Titles of the Gospels
Did Matthew, Mark, Luke and John really write the Gospels, or were these names attributed later?

Most people accept Alexander the Great as a real historical figure. Yet, the two earliest biographies of Alexander the Great were written by Arrian and Plutarch more than 400 years after the Great One’s death 323 BCE. Legends about him developed centuries after these two writers. Yet, Alexander’s true, accurate history is viewed as being preserved for hundreds of years prior to these legends. read more

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