Religious scholars have long attributed the tenets of Christian faith more to Paul’s teachings than to those of Jesus. But as much as I would like to jump into that subject, I think it best to back up and take a quick, speculative look at the Old Testament.
The Old Testament teaches that Jacob wrestled with God. In fact, the Old Testament records that Jacob not only wrestled with God, but that Jacob prevailed (Genesis 32:24-30). Now, bear in mind, we’re talking about a tiny blob of protoplasm wrestling the Creator of a universe 240,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 miles in diameter, containing over a billion galaxies of which ours—the Milky Way Galaxy—is just one (and a small one, at that), and prevailing? I’m sorry, but someone was a couple pages short of a codex when they scribed that passage. The point is, however, that this passage leaves us in a quandary. We either have to question the Jewish concept of God or accept their explanation that “God” does not mean “God” in the above verses, but rather it means either an angel or a man (which, in essence, means the Old Testament is not to be trusted). In fact, this textual difficulty has become so problematic that more recent Bibles have tried to cover it up by changing the translation from “God” to “man.” What they cannot change, however, is the foundational scripture from which the Jewish Bible is translated, and this continues to read “God.”
Unreliability is a recurring problem in the Old Testament, the most prominent example being the confusion between God and Satan! II Samuel 24:1 reads:
“Again the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, ‘Go, number Israel and Judah.’”
However, I Chronicles 21:1 states: “Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.”
Uhhh, which was it? The Lord, or Satan? Both verses describe the same event in history, but one speaks of God and the other of Satan. There is a slight (like, total) difference.
Christians would like to believe that the New Testament is free of such difficulties, but they are sadly deceived. In fact, there are so many contradictions that authors have devoted books to this subject. For example, Matthew 2:14 and Luke 2:39 differ over whether Jesus’ family fled to Egypt or Nazareth. Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4 differ over the wording of the “Lord’s Prayer.” Matthew 11:13-14, 17:11-13 and John 1:21 disagree over whether or not John the Baptist was Elijah.
Things get worse when we enter the arena of the alleged crucifixion: Who carried the cross—Simon (Luke 23:26, Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21) or Jesus (John 19:17)? Was Jesus dressed in a scarlet robe (Matthew 27:28) or a purple robe (John 19:2)? Did the Roman soldiers put gall (Matthew 27:34) or myrrh (Mark 15:23) in his wine? Was Jesus crucified before the third hour (Mark 15:25) or after the sixth hour (John 19:14-15)? Did Jesus ascend the first day (Luke 23:43) or not (John 20:17)? Were Jesus’ last words, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit my spirit’” (Luke 23:46), or were they “It is finished” (John 19:30)?
These are only a few of a long list of scriptural inconsistencies, and they underscore the difficulty in trusting the New Testament as scripture. Nonetheless, there are those who do trust their salvation to the New Testament, and it is these Christians who need to answer the question, “Where is the ‘Christ’ in ‘Christianity?’ “This, in fact, is a supremely fair question. On one hand we have a religion named after Jesus Christ, but on the other hand the tenets of orthodox Christianity, which is to say Trinitarian Christianity, contradict virtually everything he taught.
I know, I know—those of you who aren’t screaming “Heretic!” are gathering firewood and planting a stake. But wait. Put down the high-powered rifle and listen. Trinitarian Christianity claims to base its doctrines on a combination of Jesus’ and Paul’s teachings. The problem is, these teachings are anything but complementary. In fact, they contradict one another.
Take some examples: Jesus taught Old Testament Law; Paul negated it. Jesus preached orthodox Jewish creed; Paul preached mysteries of faith. Jesus spoke of accountability; Paul proposed justification by faith. Jesus described himself as an ethnic prophet; Paul defined him as a universal prophet.[1] Jesus taught prayer to God, Paul set Jesus up as intercessor. Jesus taught divine unity, Pauline theologians constructed the Trinity.
For these reasons, many scholars consider Paul the main corrupter of Apostolic Christianity and Jesus’ teachings. Many early Christian sects held this view as well, including the second-century Christian sects known as “adoptionists”– “In particular, they considered Paul, one of the most prominent authors of our New Testament, to be an arch-heretic rather than an apostle.”[2]
2007-06-04 04:58:17
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answer #1
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answered by alee 3
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To say that Jesus told others that he was is to completely ignore what the Bible says. Consider:
Who came to to earth? Was it God or God's Son? John 3:17 says: "For God sent forth his Son into the world, not for him to judge the world, but for the world to be saved through him.
So who came to earth? The Bible says God sent his Son.
Who did the angel Gabriel tell Mary she would be giving birth to? God or God's Son? Luke 1:32, 35 says: "Look! you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you are to call his name Jesus.This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. For that reason also what is born will be called holy, God’s Son."
So, did Gabriel tell Mary she would be giving birth to God? No. He said she would give birth to God's Son.
Did Jesus say he was God? John 10:36 says: "I am God’s Son."
So, did Jesus say he was God? No. He said he was God's Son.
Did Jesus ever teach a trinity? No. At John 17:3, he singled out his Father as the only true God. If the Father is the only true God, how can the Son and the holy spirit ALSO be the only true God?
Instead of claiming equality with his Father, Jesus said at John 14:28: "The Father is greater than I am."
Trinity believers wil not find a single scripture in the Bible where Christianity's founder, Jesus Christ, taugh that God is triune, and that he was God the Son, the second person of the trinity. The trinity is a man-made falsehood.
Being under the Law, Jesus obeyed its dietary restrictions and did not eat pork.
2007-06-04 05:03:12
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answer #2
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answered by LineDancer 7
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Jesus DID say He was God. Jesus used God's name "I AM," (See Exodus 3:14) and applied it to Himself several times.
The problem is that English Bibles do not do a good job (except in one case, which is John 8:58.) Several other passages (in the Greek) are clear. These include: Matthew 14:27, Mark 6:50, Mark 13:6, Luke 21:8, John 4:26, John 6:20, John 8:24, 28, and John 13:19. Many of the English Bibles translate "I AM" to "It is I," or "I am He."
Jesus also received worship, which is reserved only for God:
"Then the men in the boat began to worship Jesus, saying, "You certainly are the Son of God!" (Matthew 14:33)
"Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" They went up to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him." (Matthew 28:9)
"They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy." (Luke 24:52)
"He said, "Lord, I do believe," and worshiped him." (John 9:38)
As to eating pig, let me show you where He said that too! "For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")" (Mark 7:19)
2007-06-04 05:02:32
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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The word "trinity" is not found in the Bible, but the concept is. All cults deny the Trinity. Christians claim it is true. But, what is it? Is it an office held by three gods (Mormonism) or a pagan concept borrowed from ancient cults (as the Jehovah's Witnesses teach)? The Oneness Pentecostal believers teach that God is not a Trinity but is really one person who takes three forms. So, which of these is true? None.
The Trinity is the doctrine that there is only one God in all creation, all time, and all places. This one God exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person is not the same person as the other, yet there are not three gods, but one.
The Bible has many references to a plurality concerning the nature of God's existence. Consider the following verses as an example: Gen. 19:24, "Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven." Notice that the Lord rained FROM the Lord out of heaven. Amos 4:10-11 says, "I sent a plague among you after the manner of Egypt; I slew your young men by the sword along with your captured horses, And I made the stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils; Yet you have not returned to Me, declares the Lord [YHWH]. 11I overthrew you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze; Yet you have not returned to Me, declares the Lord." Notice here that the Lord is talking and says, "I overthrew you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah." Sometimes when I show these verses to Jehovah's Witnesses (without saying anything else), they often respond with, "Are you trying to show me the Trinity?" I then say, "You got the Trinity out of that? Wow!"
In the New Testament there are several verses that show God's plurality. Here 's two. Matt. 28:19, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," Note that there is one name and three persons. Also, 2 Cor. 13:14, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all." These kinds of verses, and others (see http://www.carm.org/doctrine/trinityplural.htm for more) are part of the means by which the doctrine of the Trinity is derived.
When we "theologians" use the word "person," we are not saying that God is three individual beings walking around who are actually one being. That would be a contradiction. Instead, we define a person as having self awareness, identity, can speak, love, grieve, etc. These are attributes of personhood and we see all of these attributes, and more, in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If you want to see a chart that exemplifies this, go to http://www.carm.org/doctrine/trinity.htm and look around.
The Trinity is a very important doctrine within Christianity. It is the correct view of the Godhead and needs to be affirmed by Christians. Of course, the cults deny the Trinity, often misrepresent it as teaching three gods, or that it is an office, etc. But the truth is that the Trinity doctrine is derived from Scripture and is unique to Christianity.
Finally, the Trinity is important because only in the doctrine of the Trinity can we have the true incarnation of God (the Word become flesh as the Son - John 1:1,14). Only the God-man Jesus can offer a sacrifice sufficient to appease the infinite Father in heaven. No mere man can do this. No mere angel. Instead, God the Word, in His grace, added to Himself human nature (Phil. 2:5-8) in order to bear our sins in His body on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24) so that He might become sin on our behalf (2 Cor. 5:21). This way, He atoned for our sins by the shedding of His blood (Heb. 9:22) and guaranteed that all who trust in Him will receive everlasting life (John 3:16). Because of what Jesus did on the cross, we might then have eternal life that is received by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). Amen to that!
2007-06-04 05:00:06
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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But after His Resurrection, Thomas, after seeing Jesus for the first time said "My Lord and my God". Jesus did not correct him for saying that Jesus was God but because he had not believed with out seeing, Jesus said "you believe because you now see".
2007-06-04 05:11:08
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answer #5
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answered by tim 6
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That is very true. Jesus certainly and unquestionably 'knew who he was' and 'he knew his place and his purpose' and he stated very plainly that, (paraphrasing), 'he was the 'son of man', the 'Son of God' and 'the coming 'King of kings'. - He always spoke of God as his Father ... and our Father, as well. Upon his baptism at the river Jordan it is recorded even further that God actually spoke from heaven saying, "this is my Son of whom I am well pleased". - Yet, it is most evident from other passages in the bible that 'Jesus was not only *human, *(therefore lacking the Holy Spirit of God), but that he was genuinely 'full of the Spirit of God' and guided by that Spirit in all that he thought, all that he spoke and all that he did. - Upon his resurrection he became the 'firstborn' Son of the Father. - (Soon to bring many more begotten sons, now here on earth, to glory, as well). Jesus is the 'FIRSTBORN' Son of the 'Family of God'. - We who are 'true believers' are designated by God to join His Family upon our resurrection ourselves! - We are the 'other brethren' who are spoken about in the book of Romans who will be 'brought to glory', as well, upon the second coming of Jesus the Christ Himself!
2007-06-04 05:59:12
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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Sorry, I'm having trouble with someone claiming to know about Christ and anything "scholarly" that can't type a coherent sentence.
2007-06-04 05:02:50
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answer #7
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answered by Scott B 7
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maximum Christians have faith Jesus replaced into an Avatar of God simply by fact it incredibly is what their church homes say. yet all (i think of) the different religions that comprehend approximately h(H)im say that h(H)e is in common terms a great religious grasp, yet human. each and all the religious and occult instructor I crimson as properly the huge-unfold Christian clergymen stated the comparable element. i do no longer comprehend the certainty, I wasn't there. in accordance to the bible, Jesus is a s(S)on of God. Son might propose Avatar or in common terms a soul, like we are. Jesus stated that h(H)e speaks in common terms the will of God, so it incredibly is like God speaks trough h(H)im. this could be finished by utilising an Avatar or by utilising a extreme religious grasp. yet till now Jesus replaced into going to die, in accordance to a pair gospels, h(H)e replaced into afraid and prayed to The Holy Spirit or God, i do no longer undergo in ideas. Occult traditions say h(H)e replaced into asking The Holy Spirit to coach h(H)im what might ensue if h(H)e might sacrifice h(H)imself and if there is yet another determination with the intention to deliver h(H)is teachings interior the worldwide. there replaced into one in accordance to Yogi Ramacharaka: to triumph over all the different international locations with h(H)is followers and h(H)is powers offered by utilising God needless to say or in any different case. of direction Jesus did no longer chosen this selection, and if this tale is real, then i do no longer think of h(H)e replaced into God, simply by fact God does no longer ought to pass to warfare with armies, simply by fact incredibly the God ought to easily positioned different international locations' squaddies in chains and provide them and to the civilians the recent testomony and tension them to settle for it or prepare them. it incredibly is why i think of Moses did no longer pass to any warfare the two if he had God with him in actual individual, simply by fact the scene of the assembly on the trent says. If Moses made warfare, i'm very almost confident the incredibly the God did no longer help him. yet i think of the real thoughts with Moses are distinctive, and the levites made those as much as coach the Jews against Babylonians. God is acceptable and that i think of He(&She i think of) does no longer cry till now actual death and might comprehend the main appropriate way in no-time.
2017-01-10 12:31:45
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answer #8
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answered by nicolaevitsch 4
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see matt 28:19
He commanded us to baptize in the Trinity
and he said If youve seen me youve seen the Father!!
im not jewish
2007-06-04 05:01:04
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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http://www.carm.org/doctrine/trinity.htm
2007-06-04 05:03:48
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answer #10
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answered by Gifted 7
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