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@elijah_2 | |
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This passage of scripture is the most powerful passage in the Bible: on the being and nature of God. And its also the most attacked passage in the Bible. Why? because it: denies and excludes all the false theologies about the being/nature of God. Secondly, it confirms the true nature and the being of God, by interpreting what Moses had written in Genesis, leaving us in no doubt has to why Moses used the plural noun (Elohim), when he could have use the singular form of the noun (El and Ellah), and also why God refers to his being with plural pro nouns (us and our). This study will be a fascinating one; we are going to dissect this passage, take it apart and an*lyze each of its particulars. Now, lets start by quoting the verse. Remember this, you always interpret the Old Testament in the Light of the New Testament, not the other way around. The New Testament explains the Old. |
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (This is how these translations of the Bible among countless others renders this passage: KJV, NKJV, ASV, ESV, ISV, NIV, YLT, Amplified, Bible in Basic English, Darby Bible Translation, Websters Bible Translation, Weymouth New Testament, World English Bible, Gods Words, Douay, ect) |
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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There are a few other translations that renders the Greek kai theos en ho logos in these ways, (And the word was a god) OR (and godlike sort was the Logos) OR (and a god was the Word) OR (and the word was divine). |
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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Before we dissect this verse, lets look at this passage in the original language: the Greek, in which it was written.
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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en arche en ho logos, kai ho logos en pros ton theon, kai theos en ho logos.
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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PHRASE 1: In beginning was the Word (en arche en ho logos)
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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In beginning God created heavens and the earth. [Genesis 1:1] in this first clause John starts out by saying, en arche (that is, in beginning) there is no definite article in front of the word arche in which the literal translation is (in beginning), this is similar to what Moses said in Genesis 1:1 beres**t bara elohim et hashamayim veet haaretz. There is no article infront of the word beres**t either; this passage like (John 1:1) should be rendered (in beginning) which shows that John was alluding to creation in his opening statements. |
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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Moses In beginning Elohim [God] was (Genesis 1:1) John In beginning ho Logos [the Word] was (John 1:1). Here we can see John starting out is first book, just like how Moses started out his forst book. |
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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PHRASE 2: and the Word was with the God (kai ho logos en pros ton theon)
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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In this clause, after John declared that the Word was 'in beginning' (en arche). He goes on to say in his second clause, and the Word [the Son] was with the God [the father]. In this statement he affirms that there were TWO present in beginning (en arche); NOT one single person. John adds in (vs.2) The same [that is, the Word] was in beginning WITH God [the Father]. Here in verse 3, we see John re-affirms that the Son existed in beginning WITH the Father.
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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PHRASE 3: and God was the Word (kai theos en ho logos)
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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In beginning God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth. [Genesis 1:1] In this clause, after John start out by referring his listeners and readers to creation as mentioned in Genesis 1:1. Then in his second clause he adds that the Word [the Son] was WITH another person; God [that is, the father], now in his third clause he says the nature of ho logos [the Word] is theos [God]. This explains why Moses used the plural word Elohim to refer to (the being) that created the universe, Because, there were at least TWO (the Logos and then One with whom the Logos was with) BOTH called God that did the creating of the heavens and the earth. And it would also explains why God [Elohim] uses the plural pro nouns us and our (Genesis 1:26) to refer to his being. |
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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In beginning God [Elohim] created: the heavens and the earth. [Genesis 1:1] In addition, following the pattern than John is using, tracing the writings of Moses. In (vs.3) John picks up on the creating aspect of the Genesis 1:1 passage, All things were made by him [the Word]; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. This verse clears up anyone doubting that Elohim used by Moses was referring to more than only one person, and proves that there are at least two persons comprising that one being 'God' who is said to create the heavens and the earth. |
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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LETS FURTHER EVALUATE THIS PASSAGE
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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There are THREE main views in Christendom about the being and nature of God: (1) Unitarianism, (2) Sabellianism, and (3) Trinitarianism.
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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UNITARIANISM Unitarians adhere to strict monotheism, and maintain that Jesus was a great man and a prophet of God, perhaps even a supernatural being, but not God himself. They believe Jesus did not claim to be God, and that his teachings did not suggest the existence of a triune God. Unitarians believe in the moral authority, but not necessarily the divinity, of Jesus. (Wikipedia) |
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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THERE TWO DIFFERENT FORMS OF UNITARIANISM Personal pre-human existence In one form, the Son of God is considered to have pre-existed as the Logos, a being created by God, who dwelt with God in heaven prior to his birth as the man, Jesus. The belief that he was an angel or other lesser spirit creature of a wholly different nature from God. (Wikipedia) No personal pre-human existence The distinguishing feature of this belief is the denial of the personal pre-existence of Christ. There are various views ranging from the belief that Jesus, the son of Joseph, was a great man who became filled with the Holy Spirit, to the belief that he literally was the Son of God through the virgin birth. (Wikipedia) |
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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SABELLIANISM (also known as modalism, modalistic monarchianism, or modal monarchism) is the belief that the Heavenly Father, Resurrected Son and Holy Spirit are different modes or aspects of one God, as perceived by the believer, rather than three distinct persons in God Himself. (Wikipedia) |
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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TRINITARIANISM According to this doctrine, God exists as three persons but is one God, meaning that God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have exactly the same nature or being as God the Father in every way. Whatever attributes and power God the Father has, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have as well. Thus, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are also eternal, omnipresent, omnipotent, infinitely wise, infinitely holy, infinitely loving, omniscient. (Wikipedia) |
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@elijah_2 | 14 April 11 |
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The Question now is: Does (John 1:1) teach: (1) Unitarianism (2) Sabellianism, (3) Trinitarianism? We are going to dissect (John 1:1) looking at it in detail, looking at some key words used in the passage, and then we will be able to draw a reliable conclusion as to which one of these theology the passage teaches. Let's start out again with the first clause and define a few key words. |
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@elijah_2 | 15 April 11 |
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PHRASE 1: In beginning was the Word (en arche en ho logos)
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