are the words taken out of context?

Question

A friend of mine said the line christians always quote
"None reach the father but through me" is actually meant to mean that You can only reach God in Heaven by following the teachings of Christ. I am so confused because I dont see how God can have a son. Did he have the son in Heaven and send him down? I dont get it. Christians-- do you think there is any possible way the texts, when translated from Hebrew and armaic were taken out of context of their original meanings? No disrespect, just a discussion.

Answer 1

The question that you ask has troubled theologians almost from the first days of the Christian era. We are getting into deep waters here so bear with me. The Christian God eternally exists in three distinct persons, but yet there is only one God. We call God a Tri-unity or Trinity. Each of these persons is no greater or less than any other person, but each have different functiions and responsibilities. One of these persons is called the "Father". He is the creator of the universe including life. He is also the sustainer of life. Without God the Father you and I would die in a moment.

Right in the very first chapters of the Bible we see that man was created in the image of "God". It also says that God walked with and talked with man. The person of God that works directly with man is called God the "Son". One of the things that God the Father gave to man was free will. If man did not have this free will he would be less than human. At some point in time, man rebelled against God. (We could get into the role of satan etc., but that would be a digression). This was no suprise to the Trinity. In fact in the third chapter of the first book of the Bible the Trinity declares how this rebellion will be eventually crushed. God the Son was given the responsability to crush the rebellion. In order to do this he took on the very form and nature of man. He did crush the power of that rebellion by his death and ressurection. God the Son is still working directly with man to help him overcome the effects of the human rebellion. His teachings show us how to do this.

The third person of the Trinity is called God the Holy Spirit. His responsibility is somewhat less defined than the other two persons. His role is to convict man of his rebellion, and then to lead man to a place of forgiveness.

Each of the three Persons takes on both specific tasks, and also takes on limitations. God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, for example do not have a physical body. Perhaps the Holy Spirit did not have need to be part of the physical creation. Possibly God the Son and the Holy Spirit do not need to have foreknowledge. I could go on, but I hope that you get the point that an all powerful and an all knowing God still has given man the power of free will.

Since the power of man's rebellion has been crushed, you must now use that free will that you were given to decide if you want the effects of that rebellion to remain within you. God the Son has crushed the rebellion, and God the Holy Spirit is at work in your life.(and He is, or you would not have asked this question in the manner that you have.) You now have a choice. Do you want to be forgiven by God the Father and enjoy the freedom that gives or not. The Holy Spirit is wooing you to the Father, the Son has paved the way for you to get there, and the Father loves you and welcomes you with open arms. That is the essence of the Good News that Christians have experienced.

Answer 2

I'd agree with your friend regarding the quote there, but it's really more a matter of interpretation than of context. Because of the nature of translation, it is possible that translators choose the wrong words because they're not paying attention to the context, but the Bible was pretty carefully translated, and I think for the informed reader it should not be a problem. God did not have a son through reproduction. In the Creed we say that Jesus was 'begotten, not made, one in being with the Father.' In the Bible, Jesus states that 'the Father and I are one.' John writes that 'In the beginning there was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God.' The Son, therefore, was not created. Like the Father, and like the Holy Spirit, he always was. He is an aspect of God. Together the three comprise the Trinity, that is, God in his entirety.

Answer 3

No, i do not see anything out of context. Jesus was at the beginning with the Father. There is one God in three manifestations (the Trinity) The Father (Creator and Law Giver) the Son (Jesus - The Law or Word made Flesh through divine conception) and the Holy Spirit (the counselor sent to those on earth who accept Jesus as savior after he ascended into Heaven)

Answer 4

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God. vs 14 And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.

Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. Not a son in a traditional human sense but in the sense that He is a physical (human flesh) manifestation of the Father. There are more than the verse you sited that explains the importance of going to God through Christ so no, it's not a misstranslation.

Answer 5

Yes There are many mistranslations. Read the book You Mean that's In the Bible by Satyaraja Dasa. It shows everything that King Constantine took out and misconstrued. About meaning of Son of God . God has unlimited sons. Christ said their where many before him and their will be many after him. He is a pure son of God and you are a pur son or daughter of God. We are to follow Christs teachings to attain heaven. Believing means following his instructions and then one attains the eternal abode. If one does not get it perfect in this life they can continue their progress in the next life. Hell is not eternal (another change of the scriptures) It is a place souls go for sinful activities for some time. But no one goes for eternity . One must understand Reincarnation and Karma to understand Gods all loving merciful nature. The Christian Essenes believe in it because they have the original Bible before Constantine. contact me for a website on Universal truths.

Answer 6

>I dont see how God can have a son.

There is only ONE God; He has revealed that He eternally exists in three "Persons": Father, Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit.

NOT a son as one who is the result of sperm

RATHER it is descriptive of the RELATIONSHIP between the First and the Second Persons of the Trinity. Probably the closest that He could explain it to us with our finite minds.

Jesus said that no one comes to the Father but through Him. NOT by "following the teachings of Christ", as noble and desirous as that is. Rather, it is by being "in Christ". It is not a matter of "doing"; rather, a matter of "being". Of course, if we are "in Christ" then we are "new creatures"; we should live accordingly.

Answer 7

Job 38:4-7 Angels see earth as a focus for habitation, angels are called morning stars and sons of God. Rev.5:11 Angels are vast in number and do not die Luke 20:34-36;
Job 2:1,2 Satan is with the sons of God. Eze.28:13-15 the cherub angel anointed over Eden Isa.14:12-14 called Lucifer means day star, compares world leaders to him, he has caused thr death of ever offspring from Adam John 8:44; 2Cor.4:3,4 Satan is the god of thid world 11:14 he transforms himself into an angel of light. Jesus age 30 faced Satan Matt.4:1-11; Jesus was crucified, resurrected and ascended to heaven
where he came from John 3:13-17 Acts 2:27-35 [ enemies are Satan and unholy angels Heb.1:1-13 [ same ]; Matt.22:42-44 [ same ]; Rom.16:20 Satan and unholy angels must be barred fron heaven.
John 17:3,5,24 Jesus was with God before the world was Col.1:15-17; Rev.3:14; the first creation created by God in the image of God, Jesus Matt.16:16,17 is the son of the living God as he was the first creation created by God, HE IS SAVIOR OF THE WORLD AS HE IS THE ONLY ONE QUALIFIED IN HEAVEN, his spirit sent into the womb of Mary so he became a son of man to be SAVIOR OF THE WORLD Heb.2:9,14,16 He has earned the right to destroy the devil.
1Cor.15:22-28,51-53 He has earned the right to destroy death.
Heb.9:14-16 He gave his life and we have the word.

Answer 8

It is not to be taken literally. By following his teachings you can go to heaven. God created Mary, in witch he could created Jesus. The son was a bit of him. Hence the father the son and the holy ghost, is all the same person.

Answer 9

The most quoted scripture is John 3:16 which reads, 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.' Rom 5:8 reads, 'But God demonstrates His love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us'. From these two clear scriptures alone you can see that Jesus Christ is God's son and He died for our sins that we may be saved and have everlasting life. The message of the Gospel is very clear and simple that Jesus said we can only understand it as little children. May you find Jeus as your Savior.

Answer 10

The beginning of the Book of Matthew in the Holy Bible will help you with you confusion. There is no way for the Word of God to be taken out of context. It is just what it is, the infalliable Word of God. May God Bless