Why does John 17:3 claim that the Father is the only true God?

Question

It is taught that Jesus is God. But John 17:3 identifies the Father as the only true God to the exclusion of everything else. We all know that Jesus is not the Father. How can Jesus be called God when the Father is the only true God?

Answer 1

This question stems from the problem with people's misinterpretation of the reality of God. The doctrine of the of the Holy Trinity is a false doctrine determined by a vote during the Nicean Creed. The king wanted a final doctrine on the nature of God, so they voted on it and WOW! there is God! Through the ages and its many interpretations and misinterpretations the plain and simple truths, such as the nature of God, have been lost. for example, John 17 is a great illustrator of the TRUE nature of the Godhead, with God as the Eternal Father, Jesus Christ as His Son, the God of the earth, and the Holy Ghost as the Comforter, or the Spirit. John 17:21-22. Those who profess that the Godhead is one being refer to Christ's references to Him and His Father being One. They misunderstand this however. The true meaning is that they are one in purpose, desire, mission etc... If Christ were being literal, then vs. 21-22 would mean that Christ would want to be LITERALLY one person with all those who believe on Him....do you think Christ really meant that? He was asking His Father to bless His disciples to be one with them in their eternal purpose of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of men. I would encourage you to study the scriptures further and to Pray to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ about these and all other questions. Good Luck and God bless.

Answer 2

Jesus is not GOD! He is God's son.

John 3:16 says: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life."

God sent Jesus, his only-begotten Son, to the world. And I'm certain you know the story about Mary and how God used his holy spirit to transfer Jesus into her womb. So now, we know that Jesus Christ is living here on Earth, as a human being, no longer as an invisible spirit.

In Jesus' famous sermon on the Mount, he told the crowds:

Matthew 6:9 “YOU must pray, then, this way:

“‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. 10 Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth. 11 Give us today our bread for this day; 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the wicked one.’

Let us concentrate on the beginning of this paragraph. It says: "Our Father in the heavens." If what you're claiming is true (which is that Jesus is God), then why did Jesus instruct the crowds to pray TO OUR FATHER IN THE HEAVENS, if he is now on Earth? Was Jesus praying for himself? I don't think so. Jesus clearly stated that the Father is greater than him: John 14:28 YOU heard that I said to YOU, I am going away and I am coming [back] to YOU. If YOU loved me, YOU would rejoice that I am going my way to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.

And for futher proof, when Jesus spoke about the "Last Days" he said: Mark 13:32 “Concerning that day or the hour nobody knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but the Father. If Jesus and the Father were one person, wouldn't Jesus have known about the Last Days?

In conclusion, there is a difference between GOD and GOD'S SON. I think it's very evident in the Bible.

Answer 3

Look at God as one what and three whos. Here is a more proper analogy on a non-supernatural scale. I am a person with a name. That person is what I am. I also am a Father, a husband and a son myself. So 1 what and 3 whos. The Father, husband and son is who I am to someone else. Without a child or a wife I would not be either of those things.

Answer 4

Webster's Dictionary has 9 definitions for the word 'god', #4 is 'a powerful ruler'. In the bible there is One true God , the Father, the Almighty. Why could Jesus also be called 'god' when he had a beginning/origin? (Micah 5:2) Also the devil is called 'god', and the bible acknowledges there are many 'gods' in this world.

In the Old Testament the Jews worshiped One God, the Father, the Almighty, while waiting for the Messiah. Isaiah 43:10, Mark 12:29, Rev.1:8.

In Isaiah 9:6b And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace...(Jesus)

2 Cor.4:4 among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds fo the unbelievers..(devil)

1Cor. 8:4-6 ..there is no God but one. For even though there are those who are called "gods," whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many "gods" and many "lords," there is actually to us one God the Father, out of whom all things are, and we for him, and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and we through him.

Obviously, we can see that the Father is Almighty God, Jesus is Mighty God, and the devil and others are false gods, but gods nonetheless.

Jesus is godlike in sharing in creation, becoming a great King and Lord upon returning to heaven. He is responsible for everlasting life to faithful children of Adam and Eve. He is responsible for Peace between mankind and God, and angels and men. (also John 1:18,3:16,18)

Jesus worships the Father, John 20:17b 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' Matthew 6:9 You must pray this way, "OUR Father'...

Answer 5

exactly. .. not just john 17:3, there are plenty of verses which identifies that only true God is the father.

e.g. Mark 12:29 ,

mark 13:32

john 20:17

Answer 6

Because it's true: there's only 1 God and that is the Father.
Many[Matt.7:13] want to lead others away from the truth; so they make people believe in the Trinity. Trinity came from pagan beliefs. People want you to believe that Jesus was God on earth; how can that be when the Bible says "that he was flesh"(1John 4:2-3). How can Jesus be God and talking to himself; this is blasphemy. Also if Jesus was God; then what happened to Jesus? (1John 2:21-23). Or visa versa?

Trinity means "A three-fold personality existing in one divine being or substance; the union in one God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three infinite co-equal, co-eternal persons as; one God in three persons."

There are 3 that protestants claim about the trinity; they're JOHN 14 & 15 and 1JOHN 5:7. To start out 1JOHN 5:7 was never in any of the inspired Greek manuscripts; so this knocks out one. As for John 14 & 15; the Greek word for "helper" is paracletos; one who helps inwhich points to the Holy spirit. In Greek, the word "He" is neuter such as "hand" is feminine whether it is a woman's hand or male's hand. As for the word "paracletos" it is masculine and always require a masculine pronoun. This however doesn't prove personhood as you've noticed.
But as you've noticed, these texts don't prove Jesus is God or the Holy Spirit.

I don't believe in the TRINITY! The Bible texts that I'm going to mention contradict the Trinity teaching.

MATT.12:32 "AND WHOSOEVER SPEAKETH A WORD AGAINST THE SON OF MAN, IT SHALL BE FORGIVEN HIM: BUT WHOSOEVER SPEAKETH AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST, IT SHALL NOT BE FORGIVEN HIM, NEITHER IN THIS WORLD, NEITHER IN THE WORLD TO COME."

JOHN 14:28 "IF YE LOVED ME, YE WOULD REJOICE, BECAUSE I SAID , I GO UNTO THE FATHER: FOR MY FATHER IS GREATER THAN I."

1COR.11:3 "BUT I WOULD HAVE YOU KNOW THAT THE HEAD OF EVERY MAN IS CHRIST; & THE HEAD OF THE WOMAN IS THE MAN; AND THE HEAD OF CHRIST IS GOD."

LUKE 18:19 "AND JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, WHY CALLEST THOU ME GOOD? NONE IS GOOD, SAVE ONE, THAT IS, GOD."

****SEVERAL OTHER TEXTS SAY THERE'S ONLY TWO PERSONS:
1COR.1:3; 8:6; 1TIM.1:2; 2:5; GAL.1:3; PHILIPP.1:2; ROM.1:7; 2COR.1:2-3; 1THESS.1:1; 2THESS.1:2; 2TIM.1:2; PHILEMON 1:3; 1PETER 1:3; 2PETER 1:2; 1JOHN 1:3; 2JOHN 1:3.

Now touching on the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit is a power(Luke 1:35) where God and Jesus make their presence known in the hearts and minds of believers(1John 3:24). The believers of God and Jesus will have this love poured on them(Rom.5:5). It will teach them understanding and wisdom of God's Word (John 14:16,17,20,23,26. Jesus had the Holy Spirit in him when he made the lame walk and the deaf to hear and etc. (Luke 5:15-17). God works in our minds to give us strength to overcome (Gen.6:3). Other texts are: John 7:38-39; Rom.8:11,13-14,16 & Psalm 104:30.

Also why I don't believe in the TRINITY is because it says in the KJV that the false church will cast all the truth to the ground (Daniel 8:12). I happen to know this false church because all the world has followed it (Rev.12:9; 13:3,12) except for one church (Acts 20:28).

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Answer 7

For the very same reason that Jesus told Mary Magdalene at John 20:17 "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." King James Bible

If I read this correct, Jesus says he is going to ascend to Mary's God and His God, showing that He is not God.

Answer 8

only true God............as opposed to false gods or false ideas about God.

Finish the quote, dear.

"Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work that You gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, WITH THE GLORY THAT I HAD WITH YOU BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN." (emphasis mine).

And further, John 17:11, "Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, SO THAT THEY MAY BE ONE JUST AS WE ARE." (again, emphasis mine)

Answer 9

Look at God like an egg. It has 3 parts... the shell, the white, and the yolk, but it's still an egg. When Christ died for our sins, God broke the shell so that we could feed on the rest of his love. Does that make any sense to you?

Answer 10

It's the holy trinity
3 in one
Father Son Holy spirit
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God bless you