Is Jesus the Son of God?
One of the fundamental beliefs in Christianity is the literal sonship of Jesus Christ to God. This belief comes from the verse in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Also in I John 5:1 "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him." these verses clearly state that Jesus is the only begotten, and born Son of God.
Let us look at other verses from the Bible to find out whether Jesus was the only begotten son of God, or that there were more than one. Also let us investigate whether Jesus was the only one born of God. Finally, let us investigate whether the word begotten is to be taken literally.
Was Jesus the only begotten son of God?
In the book of Psalms 2:7 we find "I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." David, in this verse, is saying that God had told him he was the son of God and God has begotten him. Clearly Jesus is not the only begotten son of God.
Of course, one could say that although Jesus was not the only begotten son of God, he had no human father in contrast to David who had a human father. That is true! Since Jesus had no human father it makes the relationship between him and God a closer one. The question is what about Adam? Adam had no human father nor a human mother, and according to the Bible he too was the son of God. The Bible says, "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli." (Luke3:23) The Bible goes on to mention the supposed genealogy of Jesus Christ. At the end of this genealogy the Bible comes to Adam, and it says, "Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God." (Luke 3:38). So Adam is also the son of God. According to the assumption: "because Jesus had no human father then he is closer to God than David who had a human father," we can safely conclude that Adam is better than Jesus because he did not have a human father or mother.
The truth is Jesus and Adam do not differ in God’s sight. They were a mere creation of God. The Holy Quran says in clear terms, "Verily, similitude of Jesus with God is as the similitude of Adam; He created him out of dust then said He unto him BE, and he became." (Ch 3: Vr 59).
Was Jesus the only born son of God or the only son of God?
The verse in I John 5:1 says, "...Jesus is the Christ is born of God...." This indicates that Jesus was born of God, but was Jesus the only born son of God? Let us look at what the Bible says:
God talking to Moses:
Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
Exodus 4:23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.
Also, God talking about David:
Psalms 89:27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
In both Exodus 4:22-23 and Psalms 89:27 Israel and David, respectively, were regarded as the first born sons of God. This means that Jesus was not the only born son of God. This means that the word "born" does not mean conception. It’s just a form of expression God used to show the closeness of people to Him.
Finally, there were many other people mentioned in the bible as sons of God, and one of them was Solomon:
I Chronicles 22:9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.
I Chronicles 22:10 He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
Also, remember that some of these verses are taken from the Old Testament, and that this book was originally written in Hebrew. Had the word born or son meant born or son in a literal sense then the Jews would have been ahead of everyone else in claiming their literal sonship to God, or in claiming the literal sonship of Solomon to God. The Jews know their language, and they know what son means. They know that the word "son" should not be taken literally.
The Quran says in chapter 112 "In the name of God the Beneficent the Merciful. Say: ‘He, God, is ONE (alone). God, the Absolute, He begetteth not, nor is He Begotten, And there is none like unto Him.’" God does not beget, and does not need to beget. He is ONE and only ONE, and nothing is equal to Him.
What does begotten mean?
If Jesus is not the only begotten son of God and not the only born son of God, then what does begotten or born mean? Should the two words be taken literally? The only way we can justify these words is by looking at the Bible again. In I Peter 1:3 the Bible says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." The word begotten is also used here. God can beget us unto lively hope. Does the word "begotten" here mean conception? No. It is a form of expression. This word means "gave rise to" or "brought".
Also in Job 38:28 the Bible says, "Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?" Can the drops of dew be begotten? No. It’s just a form of expression. Rain does not have a father nor are drops of dew begotten in a literal sense.
If we cannot take the word begotten in literal sense with David, the drops of dew, or "us unto a lively hope" then why should we take Jesus as the literal begotten son of God?
Finally, in the book Revelation 1:5 says, "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood." Why is it that when Jesus is mentioned as being begotten of God it is taken literally, and when he is mentioned that he is begotten from the dead it is not taken literally? The truth is because the word begotten here does not mean any one could be conceived of the dead; it is a form of expression. The same thing with God, He begets not, and this word "begotten" is only a form of expression.
Who was Jesus if not the literal son of God?
According to the Bible in Matthew 21:11 "And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." This was Jesus. He was a prophet of God. He was sent like other prophets to deliver the message of his ONE and only ONE God (glory be to Him). Also, in Luke 24:19 the Bible says "And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people."
Jesus was a true messenger of God Almighty. He was sent by Him to deliver His will. The Bible says in John 5:30 "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." These are the true characteristics of a prophet. They do as they are commanded. They are sent to deliver a message, and the only difference between them and other humans is their utmost righteousness, "mighty in deed and word" (Luke 24:19). They are the best of all the people of their time. They are the only ones who could bear and act upon the commandments of God completely and fully. They are loved by God because of that, and their nearness to God comes from that.
The same applies to all other prophets. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ismael, Isaac, Jacob, Jonah, Moses, Jesus, Jonas, Muhammad and all the other prophets shared the same qualities. The qualities of those who could withstand all forms of tribulations in God’s name. They all fully abided by what God has commanded them. The Quran says, "Say: (O’ Our Apostle Muhammad!) (unto the People) ‘We believe in God, and what hath been sent down to us, and what hath been sent down to Abraham and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Tribes, and what was given to Moses, and Jesus and the Prophets from their Lord, we make no difference between any of them, and we unto Him are muslims’" (CH 3: Vr 84). (Note that "what was given to Moses, and Jesus" is not the same as the current Bible written by Paul, John, Luke, Matthew, and so on. Rather they were the true books of Moses and Jesus. These are not to be found today.)
2006-12-02 15:29:50
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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I can take part by not spreading it and just being a good and open-minded person. People should catch on eventually.
Then I'm going to laugh at all the outrageous figureheads that say this and that is wrong while I'm playing croquet with Jesus, Thor, Apollo, Buddha, and Vishnu. Ra is more of a badminton guy.
2006-12-02 15:31:20
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answer #2
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answered by The Black Cat 1
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easily there have been ideas approximately this earlier Jesus got here, in any different case Jesus' parable in Luke sixteen with regard to the wealthy guy (who went to hades) and the poor guy Lazarus (who went to Abraham's Bosom) could have made no experience in any respect to his hearers! One difference between Jews and modern Christians is that Jews many times do not think of hell (Gehenna) lasts perpetually, yet in simple terms for a optimum of a 365 days. The Christians did not insist on an countless hell till the 5th and 6th centuries, below Augustine in the West and Emperor Justinian in the East. the topic is slightly murky in that we don't comprehend precisely while the Hebrews reached this interest and while it grow to be a properly-liked thought. yet in 2 Maccabees 15:12-22, we do study that Judas Maccabeus had a imaginitive and prescient of the extreme Priest Onias, and the Prophet Jeremiah, who have been interceding in heaven for the Jewish human beings. EDIT: Why a thumbs-down? i exploit common sense approximately Luke sixteen, and a pre-Christian scripture (2 Maccabees) -- what approximately that is unacceptable? Sheesh. @ Kelly: What you're saying is authentic, different than that many of the third and 4th century Christian instructors (Origen, Clement of Alexandria, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory Nazianzen, and so on.) taught that, after a time of purification, that finally all and sundry would be saved. This seems to have been replaced later via Augustine (who did not comprehend Hebrew or Greek) and Emperor Justinian (who purposefully inserted yet another be conscious in the coaching to advise countless punishment). @ Kelly: definite, Gehenna is hell. study Rabbi Akiba, "the 2nd Moses," who reported: "The era of the punishment of the depraved in Gehenna is 365 days." Adyoth 3: 10. EDIT 2: Why do i think Jehovah's witness prejudice right here? pay attention, that is authentic that "Gehenna" grow to be the rubbish sell off exterior the city partitions of Jerusalem. yet that is used as a logo for destroy and being cut back off from God's human beings. And definite, that is sparkling that there grow to be a theory-approximately reward and punishment after dying, or back, Luke sixteen is mindless by any skill. Jason ok. is totally suitable.
2016-12-13 18:56:42
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answer #3
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answered by keira 4
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Perfect Happiness: Now and Forever
[41:30] Those who proclaim: "Our Lord is GOD," then lead a righteous life, the angels descend upon them: "You shall have no fear, nor shall you grieve. Rejoice in the good news that Paradise has been reserved for you.
[41:31] "We are your allies in this life, and in the Hereafter. You will have in it anything you wish for; you will have anything you want.
[41:32] "(Such is your) ultimate abode, from a Forgiver, Most Merciful."
http://www.submission.org/suras/sura41.html
Today's Christianity Not Jesus' Religion*
[5:72] Pagans indeed are those who say that GOD is the Messiah, son of Mary. The Messiah himself said, "O Children of Israel, you shall worship GOD; my Lord and your Lord." Anyone who sets up any idol beside GOD, GOD has forbidden Paradise for him, and his destiny is Hell. The wicked have no helpers.
[5:73] Pagans indeed are those who say that GOD is a third of a trinity. There is no god except the one god. Unless they refrain from saying this, those who disbelieve among them will incur a painful retribution.
[5:74] Would they not repent to GOD, and ask His forgiveness? GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
[5:75] The Messiah, son of Mary, is no more than a messenger like the messengers before him, and his mother was a saint. Both of them used to eat the food. Note how we explain the revelations for them, and note how they still deviate!
[5:76] Say, "Would you worship beside GOD powerless idols who can neither harm you, nor benefit you? GOD is Hearer, Omniscient."
______________________________...
*5:72-76 In John 20:17, we see that Jesus taught that he was neither God, nor the son of God. Many theologians have concluded, after careful research, that today's Christianity is not the same Christianity taught by Jesus. Two outstanding books on this subject are "The Myth of God Incarnate" (The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1977) and The "Mythmaker" (Harper & Row, New York, 1986). On the front jacket of "The Mythmaker" we read the following statement:
" ...Hyam Maccoby presents new arguments to support the view that Paul, not Jesus, was the founder of Christianity....it was Paul alone who created a new religion through his vision of Jesus as a divine Saviour who died to save humanity."
http://www.submission.org/suras/sura5.htm
Did Jesus or his Apostles follow a religion called Christianity? Who were the first 'Christians' ? Who founded Christianity and do the teachings of Christianity conform to the teachings of Jesus?
The teachings of Paul, the true founder of Christianity, cannot be found anywhere in the teachings of Jesus or in those of prophets before him.
http://www.thetruecall.com/home/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=122&mode=&order=0&thold=0
2006-12-02 15:34:54
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answer #4
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answered by A2Z 4
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Preach the Good News of God's Kingdom to come-in other words, try to save some lives before it's too late.
2006-12-02 15:33:41
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answer #5
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answered by avaddohn-Apollyon 4
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It's good to hear someone wanting to preach the "good news of god's kingdom." (Matthew 24:14)
Ask one of Jehovah's Witnesses. They know a lot about it. Serious answer. It takes guts.
2006-12-02 15:34:28
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answer #6
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answered by E. T. 4
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Live according to what God says in the Bible. You also need to tell others how they can be saved from sin, tell them about Jesus and what He did for them.
2006-12-02 15:33:27
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answer #7
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answered by Elizabeth G 1
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Be the best person I can be and remind people of the Golden Rule
2006-12-02 15:30:29
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answer #8
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answered by devora k 7
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Live it, be a friend to people, earn the right to talk about it.
2006-12-02 15:29:10
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answer #9
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answered by Mr Ed 7
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stop doing annymore sins so that it'll paid off, I mean he did suffer so that people in future wont have to suffer like peopel in his time.
2006-12-02 15:45:09
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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Point out, to one and all, that the idea is total nonsense.
2006-12-02 15:32:42
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answer #11
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answered by Anonymous
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