Serious answers only please. Jesus has been documented as an historical person. Do you believe He was God or just a great moral teacher?
2007-03-12 14:28:16 · 24 answers · asked by Phyllobates 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I believe that Jesus was 'God' and that he was also 'fully human' and a 'great moral teacher.' That is the 'great mystery' about the Jesus story ... how a 'normal man' could also be 'God on Earth' ... and I can't 'explain it reasonably' because it is a 'mystery' in the 'oldest fashion' of that word ... something that 'is' but can't ever be totally 'explained' to humans.
2007-03-12 14:57:29 · answer #1 · answered by Kris L 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I don't think Jesus existed in the way portrayed in the bible, and certainly the bible is not a history book or an autobiography of Jesus.
The early Rabbinic record of the Jewish faith , a document called "Dialogue with Trypho", written by St Justin Martyr circ 160 AD recorded what is basically an argument that Just Martyr had with a Jewish man called Trypho. In this document, Trypho mentioned a "groundless report" and also clearly and unequivocally stated the early church had "invented" Christ. In the famous Ante-Nicene Library can be seen this passage that reads " "But Krist, if he has indeed been born and exists anywhere is unknown...And you, having accepted a groundless report, invented a Kristo for yourself."
I am sure I could fill several pages with other references that question the historical accuracy of the life of Christ, but the point is, that belief in the concept, the teaching and practise of true Christianity is ultimately good, the fact that it is based on a lie is fundamentally irrelevant.
2007-03-17 12:37:01 · answer #2 · answered by Boston Bluefish 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why "either" "or"? Why can't he be both? If Jesus is God, then he's the greatest moral teacher we've ever had!
Like others here, I once ridiculed the idea that Jesus is God, but God in his mercy revealed something of the wonder of just who Jesus really is as I studied the Bible afresh in middle age. It was an awesome experience. Scriptures I could quote upside down and back to front, which I used to think DISproved his deity, suddenly spoke clearly of his deity! My eyes had been closed before, because I was only taking other peoples' word for what those verses meant. Once I cast myself upon God for his understanding, the Holy Spirit taught me. May that ever be the case, for human reasoning and logic is so prideful and blind to the things of God, nobody depending on it will be taught by the blessed Holy Spirit.
2007-03-13 12:31:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
He is not God, He is the Son of God, the greatest teacher that ever lived on the earth.
‘But isn’t Jesus called a god in the Bible?’ someone may ask. This is true. Yet Satan is also called a god. (2 Corinthians 4:4) At John 1:1, which refers to Jesus as “the Word,” some Bible translations say: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” But notice, verse 2 says that the Word was “in the beginning with God.” And while men have seen Jesus, verse 18 says that “no man hath seen God at any time.” (Authorized or King James Version) So we find that some translations of verse 1 give the correct idea of the original language when they read: “The Word was with God, and the Word was divine,” or was “a god,” that is, the Word was a powerful godlike one. (An American Translation) Clearly, Jesus is not Almighty God. In fact, Jesus spoke of his Father as “my God” and as “the only true God.”
Did Jesus ever say that he was God? No, he never did. Rather, in the Bible he is called “God’s Son.” And he said: “The Father is greater than I am.” Also, Jesus explained that there were some things that neither he nor the angels knew but that only God knew. (Mark 13:32) Further, on one occasion Jesus prayed to God, saying: “Let, not my will, but yours take place.” (Luke 22:42) If Jesus were the Almighty God, he would not have prayed to himself, would he? In fact, following Jesus’ death, the Scripture says: “This Jesus God resurrected.” (Acts 2:32) Thus the Almighty God and Jesus are clearly two separate persons. Even after his death and resurrection and ascension to heaven, Jesus was still not equal to his Father.
As for the “Holy Spirit,” the so-called third Person of the Trinity, this is not a person but God’s active force. John the Baptizer said that Jesus would baptize with holy spirit, even as John had been baptizing with water. Hence, in the same way that water is not a person, holy spirit is not a person. (Matthew 3:11) What John foretold was fulfilled when, following the death and resurrection of Jesus, holy spirit was poured out on his followers gathered in Jerusalem. The Bible says: “They all became filled with holy spirit.” (Acts 2:4) Were they “filled” with a person? No, but they were filled with God’s active force. Thus the facts make clear that the Trinity is not a Bible teaching. Actually, long before Jesus walked the earth gods were worshiped in groups of three, or trinities, in places such as ancient Egypt and Babylon.
2007-03-12 23:43:56 · answer #4 · answered by BJ 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Jesus is God. He came to earth as God in human form, to take on flesh, so that he could die for our sins. This is the part where doctrine can get a little confusing. The Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is one person, yet it is also three. That means that each of the three members of the Trinity is the same - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all one person. But on the same note, they are three separate entities that perform three separate functions.
Jesus was God in human form, and He is God today.
http://www.christinasloan.blogspot.com
2007-03-19 13:50:24 · answer #5 · answered by Christina 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus went around telling everyone he was the Son of God. Which means that
1: He was telling the truth
2: He was lying
If he was lying about something this big, he would not be a great moral teacher, and definitely not a prophet.
He was telling the truth.
2007-03-12 21:41:43 · answer #6 · answered by Laura H 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Shari, had you asked me this question 10 years ago, I would have questioned that He existed at all, and laughed at anyone who believed the Bible was from God.
But I tell you now...Yessssss I believe Jesus was God in the flesh, and that everything He experienced when He walked this earth was for our benefit, because He loved us, and wanted His faithful children to be saved and spend eternity with him. I have no doubt or question this all took place. :)
It's amazing what God will do, and reveal when we humble ourselves. He is so beautiful and I love him dearly. :)
John 3:16 - God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. God gave his Son so that every person that believes in him would not be lost, but have life forever.
2007-03-12 22:48:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hello, Shari:
There was a time when I thought Jesus was just a philosopher--many people today think likewise.
However, after comparing the Bible (I've read 10 different translations) to history, I have to believe it is true, and Jesus was exactly who He said He was, and His mission is to not only save us, but allow us to "inherit the earth."
There were so many prophecies in the Old Testemant that told of his coming and mission, such as: He would be sold for 30 pieces of silver, born in Bethlahem of a virgin, and there are some real mathematical compulations written about 600 years before his birth giving the exact year of his baptism and crucifixion. I have written a book for free reading on the Internet that will strengthen your faith, The Wise Shall Understand. Chapter One and Four prove His divinity.
Blessings, and the truth will make you free. One-Way
2007-03-12 22:44:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
Yes i believe He was and is God. It teaches us this in the bible that He was. He also was a great moral teacher too.
2007-03-12 21:34:32 · answer #9 · answered by K 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Jesus is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.
The Supremacy of Christ:
15"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross" (Col. 1:15-20).
2007-03-12 22:10:35 · answer #10 · answered by The Carmelite 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋