Pre-Ressurection Jesus or Post-Ressurection Jesus?

Question

Does this passage refer to Pre or Post Ressurection Jesus or BOTH?

Col 2:9
"For in Christ all the fullness of the Diety lives in bodily form,"

Now, I am a Christian. I was raised in a Church. I went through a trial/questioning time and began a relationship with God. I went and got my Bible degree and now I am serving God full-time. Yet there is one concept that keep whirling around in my mind. That is the divinity of Jesus.

I was taught to believe that Jesus is God. Though Jesus never claims to be God. He claims to be the Son of God and to be from God and like God but not God. In fact, while on earth he REFUSES worship and he prays to the Father. Yet, after his ressurection and when he is being ascended into heaven in the Gospel of Luke, he allows his follwers to worship him.

Therefore I have been wondering that while I believe Jesus had divine qualities while on earth he was FROM GOD and he was the Son of God but perhaps he was not God until he ascended.

Answer 1

I do not have as much training as you, but I would say that Col 2:9 is talking about both.

Jesus was limited while being in "human" form, but He did have power and glory before He came to earth. Jesus created "all" things, and He left His glory to dwell with men.

Answer 2

THIS IS JC THE MAN, under wife's name. I could not add details so I will do it this way. (ERROR on page for some reason)

Col 2:9 I believe is the clearest text referring to the full divinity that Jesus is God in the Bible. And so that is why I raise this question. Is this talking about PRE or POST?

Based on my understanding I could easily say POST because when you understand the text properly it is speaking in PRESENT tense but that does not negate the reality that it could be speaking about PRE-RESSURECTION Jesus as well.

I also understand that perhaps I am trying to wrap my mind around something that is SUPERnatural and that I will not understand until I get to heaven.

UPDATE:
The "I AM" references are a good point. However, this prhase can easily just mean, "It is I" and we give its tie in to the Mosaic reference because of a presupposition that Jesus is God. I am not saying this is absolutely right, but just a possibility.

John 1:1 is a good reference. And may be the turning point for understanding the divinity. However, John 1:1 is clearly speaking of "In the beginning" that the Word was God then in verse 14 it said the Word became flesh. Could it have lost the "fullness" of the diety since it became flesh? Wouldn't flesh itself limit the possibility of it being fully God? And then in verse 18 it says we have only seen God, the One and Only, reffering to the Son of God. Just food for thought.

Like I said earlier. Perhaps I am just trying to wrap my mind around something that is SUPERNATURAL and not actually possilbe to comprehend. Because we CANNOT fully comprehend God.

UPDATE 2:
Another good reference is Romans 9:5. Now this does seem like it could be reffering to a Pre-Ressurection Jesus. However, there is MUCH debate on exactly how to translate the greek in this passage. Many will translate this passage to say Christ, who is God, as reflected in the NIV. However, again I ask is this the interpretation/translation that is choosen based on presuppositions or just the best way to translate it.

Why is that no one reads details? Why is it that the good questions get unanswered? I know I am talking about myself a bit here but I think this is a legitimate topic of discussion. And I think the discussion should revolve much around Col. 2:9.

Answer 3

Actually Jesus did clearly present Himself as God when he spoke to the Pharisees in John 8:58 "...before Abraham was I AM" "I AM" is the covenant name of God that God revealed to Moses out of the burning bush in Exodus. That is why they try to kill Jesus for blasphemy. Jesus saying "I AM" is directly connecting Himself with divinity. Not to mention the times when Jesus states "I and My Father are One (John 10:30". Not to mention other places in the NT where Jesus is referred to as God before His incarnation -John 1:1 etc. Thanks!

Answer 4

those styles of drugs do grant you with a glimpse of reality, in spite of the undeniable fact that it really is short-time period and then remembered (filtered) by potential of ego/ideas. On suitable of that, might want to be very risky. maximum Shaman use organic hallucinogens in a desirable way. They understand what they're doing. in case you pick the actual adventure of understanding the reality of God, pass inward, to the middle. commence meditating, carry out somewhat yoga, study about Kundalini. this is what Jesus change into attempting to inform us, our bodies are the course, you basically ought to get it began in case you pick to understand God. "Be nevertheless and understand." P.S. getting to understand about Kundalini supplies you you with the solutions to at least something of your questions.

Answer 5

Jesus told His disciples that if u have seen me then u have seen the father ... and .. referring to the father, " have i been so long time with u and u dont know who i am" .... also .. i and my father are one ...

Answer 6

Jesus ascended where? To sit by the right hand of God. Jesus was with God in heaven before he came to earth, and he is again in heaven with God. But never, before or after, was he or is he God!

God was in heaven while Jesus was on earth
Matthew 3:16 & 17: "16 After being baptized Jesus immediately came up from the water; and, look! the heavens were opened up, and he saw descending like a dove God’s spirit coming upon him. 17 Look! Also, there was a voice from the heavens that said: “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.”

Maybe the following Scripture will help you to place Jesus is his proper role in worship...

1 Corinthians 15: 20-28: "20 However, now Christ has been raised up from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep [in death]. 21 For since death is through a man, resurrection of the dead is also through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each one in his own rank: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who belong to the Christ during his presence. 24 Next, the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power. 25 For he must rule as king until [God] has put all enemies under his feet. 26 As the last enemy, death is to be brought to nothing. 27 For [God] “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that it is with the exception of the one who subjected all things to him. 28 But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone."

I am so glad that you are questioning this, please continue to do so...remember what the Apostle John said under inspiration of the holy spirit:

1 John 4:1: "Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world."

and how do we test such things, well, the Boreans were perfect examples...
Acts 17: 11: "'Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·ni′ca, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so"

Also another thought just came to me, Jesus is now ruling in the heavens...

Revelation 12: 7-12: "7 And war broke out in heaven: Mi′cha·el and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled 8 but it did not prevail, neither was a place found for them any longer in heaven. 9 So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God! 11 And they conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their witnessing, and they did not love their souls even in the face of death. 12 On this account be glad, YOU heavens and YOU who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to YOU, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.”

Ousting Satan from heaven was the first act of Jesus as King of King and Lord of Lords. That is how his reign began. The Bible says that Jesus will rule in the midst of his enemies in the beginning

Psalm 110: 1 & 2: "The utterance of Jehovah to my Lord is:
“Sit at my right hand
Until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet.”
2 The rod of your strength Jehovah will send out of Zion, [saying:]
“Go subduing in the midst of your enemies.”

Answer 7

You need to read your NT more closely.