the case for the deity of christ part i. outline what the trinity is not what the trinity is not the...

The Case for the Deity of The Case for the Deity of ChristChrist

Part IPart I

OutlineOutline

What the Trinity is NotWhat the Trinity is Not The Trinity DefinedThe Trinity Defined The Plurality of God in the Hebrew The Plurality of God in the Hebrew

BibleBible God’s Appearances as a Man in the God’s Appearances as a Man in the

Hebrew BibleHebrew Bible ConclusionConclusion

What the Trinity Is What the Trinity Is NotNot

Three gods (Tritheism)Three gods (Tritheism)

A God with three modes of one and A God with three modes of one and the same being at different times the same being at different times (Modalism; a faulty illustration for the (Modalism; a faulty illustration for the Trinity is: “Water exists in three Trinity is: “Water exists in three states: solid, liquid, and gas.”)states: solid, liquid, and gas.”)

The Trinity DefinedThe Trinity Defined

Three “Whos” in one “What”Three “Whos” in one “What” Three persons in one GodThree persons in one God The Father is God.The Father is God. The Son is God.The Son is God. The Holy Spirit is God.The Holy Spirit is God.

What is the Trinity?What is the Trinity?

God is three persons in one nature.God is three persons in one nature. Personhood involves possessing Personhood involves possessing

intellect, a will, and feelingsintellect, a will, and feelings

—Norman Geisler, —Norman Geisler, Systematic Systematic Theology: God and Creation, Vol. 2Theology: God and Creation, Vol. 2, , 279. 279.

An Illustration of the TrinityAn Illustration of the Trinity

God is similar to a triangle, which is God is similar to a triangle, which is one figure but it possesses three one figure but it possesses three different sides at the same time.different sides at the same time.

This illustrates how there can be a This illustrates how there can be a threeness and a oneness threeness and a oneness simultaneously.simultaneously.

An Illustration of the TrinityAn Illustration of the Trinity

Father

Son Holy Spirit

God

Who Is Jesus?Who Is Jesus?

There are two “whats” in one “Who.”There are two “whats” in one “Who.” Jesus has possessed two natures Jesus has possessed two natures

ever since He came to Earth.ever since He came to Earth. He has a human nature and a divine He has a human nature and a divine

nature.nature. Jesus is the God-Man.Jesus is the God-Man.

Jesus’s Two NaturesJesus’s Two NaturesJESUS AS GODJESUS AS GOD JESUS AS MANJESUS AS MAN

Unlimited Unlimited knowledgeknowledge

Limited Limited knowledgeknowledge

ImmortalImmortal Died on the crossDied on the cross

No growth in No growth in knowledgeknowledge

Growth in Growth in knowledgeknowledge

Who Is Jesus?Who Is Jesus?

Father

Son Holy Spirit

God

Man

The Plurality of God in the Hebrew The Plurality of God in the Hebrew BibleBible

““Us” and “Our”Us” and “Our”

Genesis 1:26Genesis 1:26

““Then Then God (Elohim) saidGod (Elohim) said, ‘Let , ‘Let usus make Adam in make Adam in ourour image, according image, according to to ourour likeness.” likeness.”

Genesis 3:22Genesis 3:22

““Then Then YHWH God (Elohim) saidYHWH God (Elohim) said, ‘See, , ‘See, the Adam has become like one of the Adam has become like one of usus, , knowing good and evil.” knowing good and evil.”

Genesis 11:6-7Genesis 11:6-7

““And YHWH saidAnd YHWH said, ‘Look, they are one , ‘Look, they are one people, and they have all one language; people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for to do will now be impossible for them. 7Come, letthem. 7Come, let us us go down, and go down, and confuse their language there, so that confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another’s they will not understand one another’s speech.’” speech.’”

The “Angel of the LORD”The “Angel of the LORD”

The Hebrew word for angel means The Hebrew word for angel means messenger.messenger.

It can refer to human or non-human It can refer to human or non-human messengers.messengers.

Therefore, the phrase can be Therefore, the phrase can be rendered as “the messenger of the rendered as “the messenger of the LORD”.LORD”.

Judges 2:1Judges 2:1

““Now Now the angel of YHWHthe angel of YHWH went up went up from Gilgal to Bochim, and from Gilgal to Bochim, and saidsaid, ‘, ‘I I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you up from Egypt, and brought you into the land that brought you into the land that I had I had promised to your ancestorspromised to your ancestors. I said, “I . I said, “I will never break my covenant with will never break my covenant with you.” you.”

Who Brought the Israelites Out Who Brought the Israelites Out of Egypt?of Egypt?

Exodus 3:2-4Exodus 3:2-4

““There There the angel of YHWH appeared the angel of YHWH appeared to himto him in a flame of fire out of a in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not blazing, yet it was not consumed. 3Then Moses said, ‘I must consumed. 3Then Moses said, ‘I must turn aside and look at this great turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.’… burned up.’…


……4When 4When YHWHYHWH saw that he had saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’…And he said, ‘Here I am.’…


Then Then YHWH saidYHWH said, ‘, ‘II have observed have observed the misery of my people who are in the misery of my people who are in Egypt; 8 Egypt; 8 and Iand I have come down to have come down to deliver them from the Egyptiansdeliver them from the Egyptians,…,…


……and to bring them up out of that and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad landland to a good and broad land, a land , a land flowing with milk and honey, to the flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.” the Hivites, and the Jebusites.”

Who Had Made a Promise Who Had Made a Promise About Land?About Land?


““On that day On that day YHWH made a covenant YHWH made a covenant with Abram, sayingwith Abram, saying, ‘, ‘To your To your descendants I give this landdescendants I give this land, from the , from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,19the land of the river Euphrates,19the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20the Hittites, the Kadmonites, 20the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.’” Girgashites, and the Jebusites.’”

YHWH Speaks to the “Angel YHWH Speaks to the “Angel of YHWH”of YHWH”

1 Chronicles 21:161 Chronicles 21:16

““David looked up and saw David looked up and saw the angel the angel of YHWHof YHWH standing between earth and standing between earth and heaven, heaven, and in his hand a drawn and in his hand a drawn swordsword stretched out over Jerusalem. stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.”sackcloth, fell on their faces.”

1 Chronicles 21:271 Chronicles 21:27

……Then Then YHWHYHWH commanded the angelcommanded the angel, , and he put his sword back into its and he put his sword back into its sheath.sheath.

The “Angel of YHWH” The “Angel of YHWH” isis YHWHYHWH

The “angel of YHWH” is distinct from The “angel of YHWH” is distinct from YHWH.YHWH.

Yet, the “angel of YHWH” is Yet, the “angel of YHWH” is somehow equal to YHWH.somehow equal to YHWH.

Two YahwehsTwo Yahwehs

Two YahwehsTwo Yahwehs

Yahweh is the name of Israel’s God.Yahweh is the name of Israel’s God. The Hebrew Bible specifies that He is The Hebrew Bible specifies that He is

one (one (echadechad) (Deuteronomy 6:4) and ) (Deuteronomy 6:4) and that there is no god besides Him that there is no god besides Him (Isaiah 44:6).(Isaiah 44:6).

Zechariah 2:8Zechariah 2:8 ““Some difficulty arises with Some difficulty arises with his glory his glory

sent mesent me. Most suppose the prophet is . Most suppose the prophet is meant, meant, but Zech. himself was not sent to but Zech. himself was not sent to the plundering nations, nor does he ever the plundering nations, nor does he ever seem to see himself as an actor in seem to see himself as an actor in historyhistory.”—Roger N. Carstensen, “The .”—Roger N. Carstensen, “The Book of Zechariah,” in Book of Zechariah,” in The Interpreter’s The Interpreter’s One-Volume Commentary on the Bible One-Volume Commentary on the Bible (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1971), 505. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1971), 505.

Zechariah 2:8-10Zechariah 2:8-10

““For thus said the YHWHFor thus said the YHWH of hostsof hosts after after his glory sent mehis glory sent me regarding the regarding the nations that plundered you: Truly, nations that plundered you: Truly, one who touches you touches the one who touches you touches the apple of my eye. 9See now, I am apple of my eye. 9See now, I am going to wave my hand against going to wave my hand against them,… them,…

Zechariah 2:8-10 ContinuedZechariah 2:8-10 Continued

……and they shall become plunder for and they shall become plunder for their own slaves. Then you will know their own slaves. Then you will know that that the YHWH of hosts has sent methe YHWH of hosts has sent me. . Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, For lo, I will comeI will come and dwell in your and dwell in your midst, midst, says YWHWsays YWHW.” .”

Zechariah 2:8-10Zechariah 2:8-10

Yahweh sends Yahweh to dwell on Yahweh sends Yahweh to dwell on the earth with humans.the earth with humans.

Hebrew Bible Scholar Walter Hebrew Bible Scholar Walter Kaiser Writes:Kaiser Writes:

““Mystery of mysteries, Yahweh is Mystery of mysteries, Yahweh is Lord, yet He was also sent.”—Walter Lord, yet He was also sent.”—Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., C. Kaiser, Jr., The Communicator’s The Communicator’s Commentary: Micah-MalachiCommentary: Micah-Malachi (21 (21 Volumes) (Waco, Texas: Word, 1992) Volumes) (Waco, Texas: Word, 1992) 21:315.21:315.

God’s Appearances As a God’s Appearances As a ManMan


““The LORDThe LORD appeared to him appeared to him (Abraham) by the terebinths of (Abraham) by the terebinths of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. 2He his tent in the heat of the day. 2He looked up and saw looked up and saw three menthree men standing near him… standing near him…

Genesis 18:1-4 ContinuedGenesis 18:1-4 Continued

……When he saw When he saw themthem, he ran from , he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. 3He said, bowed down to the ground. 3He said, ‘‘My lordMy lord, if I find favor with you, do , if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. 4Let a little not pass by your servant. 4Let a little water be brought, and wash your water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest feet, and rest yourselvesyourselves under the under the tree.” tree.”


““Jacob was left alone; and Jacob was left alone; and a mana man wrestled with him until wrestled with him until daybreak. 25When daybreak. 25When the manthe man saw that saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26Then he said, wrestled with him. 26Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day is breaking.’… ‘Let me go, for the day is breaking.’…


……But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go, But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go, unless you bless me.’ 27So he said to unless you bless me.’ 27So he said to him, ‘What is your name?’ And he him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Jacob.’ 28Then he said, ‘You said, ‘Jacob.’ 28Then he said, ‘You shall no longer be called Jacob, but shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven Israel, for you have striven with Godwith God and with humans, and have and with humans, and have prevailed.’… prevailed.’…


“…“…29Then Jacob asked him, ‘Please 29Then Jacob asked him, ‘Please tell me your name.’ But he said, tell me your name.’ But he said, ‘Why is it that you ask my name?’ ‘Why is it that you ask my name?’ And there he blessed him. 30 So And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, ‘‘For I have seen God face to faceFor I have seen God face to face, , and yet my life is preserved.’” and yet my life is preserved.’”

Larry W. Hurtado Writes:Larry W. Hurtado Writes:

““Still earlier than the rabbinic Still earlier than the rabbinic sources, Philo of Alexandria (ca. 20 sources, Philo of Alexandria (ca. 20 B.C.E.-50 C.E.) exhibits Jewish B.C.E.-50 C.E.) exhibits Jewish speculations about the biblical speculations about the biblical accounts of manifestations of God…accounts of manifestations of God…

……Philo’s solution was to identify the biblical Philo’s solution was to identify the biblical manifestations of God as the Logos, in one manifestations of God as the Logos, in one sense genuinely God but really a sense genuinely God but really a distinguishable mode (or ‘power’ [distinguishable mode (or ‘power’ [dynamisdynamis]) ]) of God adapted for human apprehension; the of God adapted for human apprehension; the Logos thus represents that of the infinite God Logos thus represents that of the infinite God which humans as finite creation are capable which humans as finite creation are capable of perceiving.”—Larry W. Hurtado, of perceiving.”—Larry W. Hurtado, Lord Jesus Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest ChristianityChristianity (William B. Eerdmans, 2005), 575. (William B. Eerdmans, 2005), 575.

The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit

The Spirit of God is a PersonThe Spirit of God is a Person

““The The spiritspirit of of YHWHYHWH speaksspeaks through through me,me, HisHis word is upon my tongue.” word is upon my tongue.”

—2 Samuel 23:1 —2 Samuel 23:1

ConclusionConclusion

The Trinity doctrine is The Trinity doctrine is notnot contradictory.contradictory.

According to the Hebrew Bible:According to the Hebrew Bible: There is only one God.There is only one God. There is, however, a plurality of persons There is, however, a plurality of persons

within that one God.within that one God.

Recommended BooksRecommended Books

Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity in Earliest Christianity (William B. (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2003), by Larry W. Hurtado2003), by Larry W. Hurtado

The Tri-Unity of God is JewishThe Tri-Unity of God is Jewish (Cenveo-Plus Communications, (Cenveo-Plus Communications, 2005), by John B. Metzger2005), by John B. Metzger

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