Jesus Christ and the identity of God

This is a millennia old debate regarding the divinity of Jesus in relation to that of God the Father. The first thing that must be considered is that the word or term ‘God’ is not a personal noun for the name of deity but rather a descriptive title as it pertains to essential nature or attribute. A careful reading of Scripture reveals the recurring use of special cognates or root words associated with God/LORD, the earliest being Elohim/El and then subsequently Yahuwah/Yahushua. Instead the usual starting place in the Book of Genesis or the gospel of John, perhaps a good place to begin this study is Deuteronomy 32: 7-8, which reads as follows: Remember the days of old, consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain it to you. When the Most High [Heb, ‘El’yon] gave the nations their inheritance (Cp. Genesis 10: 1-32), when He divided all mankind [sons of Adam]. He set up boundaries for the people according to the number of the sons of Israel [Heb. translation bene elim (“sons of God”). For the portion of the LORD (Heb. Yahuwah) is His people, Jacob (Israel) is the allotment of His inheritance.

NOTE: The narrative in Genesis chapter 10 lists about seventy nations that the sons of God were to administer over as an inheritance from El-yon (The Most High), and Yahuwah was among them.

Matthew 1: 21b, 23b

You are to give Him the mane Jesus [Heb. Yahushua], because He will save His people (Jacob/Israel) from their sins. And they shall call His name Immanuel (Heb. Imanu ‘El), which is interpreted, [the God] (Heb. ha ‘El) with us.

NOTE: Yahushua (‘Yah’ saves), which is derived from the root word in Hebrew “shua” meaning, to save; protect; or rescue. Also, Jesus is the El/(elohim) with or among us.

Luke 1: 31-32, 35b
And behold, you (Mary) shall conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name [Jesus] (Heb. Yahushua). He shall be great and be called the Son (Heb. ben) of the Most High (Heb. ‘El‘yon), and God (Heb. Yahuwah ‘Elohim) shall give Him the throne of His father David. The power of the Most High (Heb. ‘El’yon) shall overshadow (come upon) you, and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God (Heb. ha’ Elohim).

NOTE: Just like the divine company mentioned in Deuteronomy 32: 7-8.

John 1: 1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with [the] God (Heb. ha Elohim), and the Word was God (Heb. Elohim). He was in the beginning with the Elohim (God). All things came into existence through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into existence that has come into existence.

NOTE: These verses say that, if you include verse 9, that Jesus was not only Elohim but was also with [other] Elohim in the beginning.

1 Corinthians 8: 5-6

For if there are so-called gods/deities (Heb. elohim) whether in heaven or on earth, (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”); yet for us there is but one God (Heb. El) the Father, from whom all things came. . . and there is but one LORD Jesus Christ (Heb. Yashua haMashiyach) through whom all things came. . .

1 Timothy 6: 15b-16

God, who is the blessed and only Sovereign (Ruler), the King of kings and LORD of lords, Who alone is immortal and lives in unapproachable light, who no one has seen or can see. To Him be glory (honor) and might forever.

NOTE: This does not apply to Jesus (Cp. John 1: 14, 18)

Jude 25a

To the only God [Heb. ha Elohim/the El or God] our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority through Jesus Christ our LORD (Yahushua haMashiyach). . 

 

Robert Randle
776 Commerce St Apt B11
Tacoma, WA 98402
June 7, 2015
robertrandle51@yahoo.com