John 10:30 is often quoted to show that Jesus is equal to God?

Question

ur thoughts ("I and the Father are one")

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Answer 1

Some Misunderstood Verses of the Bible Now Put Back Into Their Contexts

“I and the Father are one”

John 10:30 is often quoted to show that Jesus is equal to God. But when you read the verse in its context you will find that the passage taken as a whole proves the opposite. People are often content to quote the verse in isolation to show that Jesus said “I and the Father are one” and then the Jews picked up stones to stone him because they understood him to mean that he is claiming to be God. It is only when you read the passage to see what comes before and after this verse that you will realise that the Jews misunderstood what Jesus was saying. In fact, Jesus tried to explain what he meant, and the explanation he gave is still in the Bible for everyone to see. It is surprising that so many people who say they love Jesus ignore his explanation and repeat the mistake which was made by the enemies of Jesus. Here is the passage as it appears in the New International Version of the Bible:

22It was winter, 23and Jesus was in the temple area, walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”
31Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33"We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, `I have said you are gods’? 35If he called them `gods’ to whom the word of God came — and the scripture cannot be broken — 36what about one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, `I am God’s Son’?” (John 10:22-36).

The passage when viewed as a whole shows clearly that Jesus is not God. Let us observe the following points:

1. The disbelieving Jews insisted that Jesus should tell them if indeed he is the Christ so they should not remain in suspense about his identity (verse 24). A Christ as the title is used in the Bible refers to a human being who is anointed as King of Israel. The title is used for other humans as well (eg. Isaiah 45:1, Cyrus the Persian is called God’s Christ). The Jews were expecting another Christ (Christ is a Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Messiah, and the Arabic word Maseeh). So they asked Jesus whether he was the one they were waiting for. Jesus replied that he had already told them, and he even performed miracles in God’s name to prove his claim to be the Christ (verse 25), yet they do not believe him (verse 26) because they are not Jesus’ sheep (verse 26). Those whom the Father had given to Jesus, are Jesus’ sheep (followers), and they believe Jesus when he said that he is the Christ (verses 27-29).

2. The true followers of Jesus will never perish, because Jesus gives them eternal life. According to the same Gospel (John 17:3), eternal life means to believe that the Father is the only true God, and that Jesus is the Christ and messenger of that one true God. Jesus gives this knowledge to all those whom the Father has given to him (chapter 17:2). What Jesus was speaking, then, were the words which, if believed, will mean eternal life for all those who believe in them. This is why in the same Gospel, Peter is quoted as saying on behalf of the disciples to Jesus, “You have the words of eternal life. We know and believe that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69). So they believed that Jesus was not God, but the Holy One whom God sent (i.e. the Christ and Messenger of God). The Good News Bible makes this passage slightly plainer:

You have the words that give eternal life. And now we believe and know that you are the Holy One who has come from God. (John 6:68-69)

3. No one can snatch away the disciples from Jesus (verse 28), because they were given to him by the Father, and the Father is greater than all (verse 29). Since the Father is helping Jesus to keep his disciples, no one can snatch them out of Jesus’ hand just as they cannot snatch them out of the Father’s hand. When Jesus said that he and the Father are one, he means exactly this: that the Father is helping him to accomplish his tasks; and when he is busy trying to save his disciples from being snatched away by the evil one, the Father is making sure that not one of them will be lost except, of course, the one who was to betray him.

4. Jesus said that the Father is greater than all (verse 29), including Jesus. Anyone having any doubt about this can read John 14:28 where Jesus declares: “The Father is greater than I.” In spite of this clear statement of Jesus, many who claim to follow him insist that Jesus is equal to the Father. Whom should we believe — Jesus himself or those who claim to follow him? His true followers can be distinguished as the ones who stick to what Jesus himself said. Here is what Jesus directed his followers to do:

If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32)

5. When Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (chapter 10, verse 30) the Jews picked up stones to stone him (verse 31). Jesus could not understand their behaviour, because he had said nothing wrong. So he asked them what he had done wrong to make them want to stone him (verse 32). They replied that Jesus had committed blasphemy since he was only a man yet he claimed to be God (verse 33). But it is clear from the Bible passage above that Jesus did not claim to be God. He only claimed to be the Christ (verse 25). When did he say he was God? They were deliberately misquoting Jesus and putting words in his mouth which they will try to use later as false evidence against him so they could have an excuse to kill him.

6. Jesus admits that he said, “I am God’s Son” (verse 36). But he said that this means nothing more than the fact that God had set him apart as his very own and sent him into the world (verse 36). The fact that God set him apart means that God selected him for a task, set him apart from the rest. The Arabic title for a person like this is Mustafa (meaning The Chosen One). All of God’s Prophets deserve this title. The fact that God sent him into the world means that he is God’s Messenger. He is sent with a message from God. Obviously, the God who sent Jesus is not Jesus himself.

7. Jesus tried to explain to them that even if he said something which they misinterpreted as meaning that Jesus is claiming to be God, they should realise that some human beings were called ‘gods’ in the Bible, and the Jews do not disagree with this (verse 35), so they should not disagree with Jesus so quickly before he gets a chance to explain his words. To get a fuller understanding of what Jesus is saying here, let us refer to the Bible passage to which he called their attention. The passage is in the 82nd Psalm:

“I said, `You are “gods”;
you are all sons of the Most High.’
But you will die like mere men;
you will fall like every other ruler.”
(Psalms 82:7-8)

The passage from the Psalms shows that God had honoured some humans by calling them “gods.” But of course they were not really gods. This is just a figurative expression used in the Bible. Jesus reminded the Jews of this so that they should understand that even if he says something that makes them think he is claiming to be God, they should take it as a figurative expression that does not mean what it sounds like. Furthermore Jesus clarified that what he actually said was that he was God’s Son (verse 36). He says that if others can be called “gods,” he does not see why they object to him calling himself God’s Son which means that God had selected him and sent him with a message for the people.
The clear meaning of the passage, then, is that Jesus is not God. He is one selected by God (i.e. he is Mustafa) and he is sent by God (i.e. he is God’s Messenger). When he calls himself God’s Son he means nothing more than that.
Yet, despite the detailed study of the passage as above, some will hold on to tradition and reject the explanation that Jesus provided in verses 34-36. They will insist on taking verse 30 out of its context and give it a meaning which Jesus said is the wrong meaning. They will then agree with what the Jews said and disagree with what Jesus said. This attitude leads to confusion, as we will presently see.
Even if verse 30 is taken in isolation to change its meaning from what Jesus meant, it does not solve anything. It only raises more problems. Jesus cannot be one and the same as the Father whereas he said himself that the Father is greater than he (John 14:28). Jesus said that he and the Father are in fact two (John 8:14-18). And no one had seen God at any time although they had already seen Jesus (1 John 4:12). The best solution for all this is to go back to the teachings of Jesus himself, then you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free (John 8:31-32).

Answer 2

Yes, Jesus and the Father ARE equal.
See also Matt. 28:19 Where the trinity is mentioned >Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

See 1 John 5:7>For there are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (Note: Jesus is called the Word per John chapter one)

In John chapter one the literal Greek of John 1:1 says "kai theos hane hu logos" meaning "and the word was God"
John goes on to say that this IS God.

Various places in the Gospels we see where the jews wanted to kill Jesus because he said things that claimed he was God. This would have been terrible blasphemy if it were not true.

Gen. 1:26 says>Let US (yes, even in the Hebrew) make man in OUR (yes in Hebrew too) image...

Acts 20:28 says>...to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (who purchased with his blood but Jesus, and we are told he is God)

In John 20:28>And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Jesus didn't correct him on this matter. You would think he would if Thomas was speaking heracy. Nor did Jesus correct any one in other places where he received worship:
Matt. 2:11,14:33,28:9, 28:17, Luke 24:52,John 9:38.

Titus 2:13 tells us to wait for the comming of our God and Savior. (one and the same)

In Heb. 1:8>But unto the Son he (the Father) saith, Thy Throne O God, is for ever and ever....

Finally, Remember John 5:23> That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that sent him.

Hopefully these passages have removed any ambiguity you may have had. May you be blessed by the Father , Son, and Holy Spirit three in one.

Answer 3

Its taken out of context.

People should read John Chapter 17, to see what Jesus was talking about.

Answer 4

It's idolatry. No man is equal to God. And no man IS God, nor is God a man, as it says in the Torah many times.

Source: Me, Jewish

P.S. To Edge: That is not a prophecy about Jesus, nor does it say what you wrote. This is one of those classic, deliberate mistranslations done by the Church to further the Church agenda.

What it actually says is:

Isaiah 9:6
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and God the Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty, the Everlasting, *shall call his name* Sar Shalom (prince of peace)."

As you can see, it is not the child here being called "wonderful counsellor, the Mighty, the Everlasting". It is describing GOD as those things.

The ONLY name that the child is called, is "sar shalom" (prince of peace).

This is not referring to Jesus, it is referring to the child of Ahaz. This child's name Hezekiah, and he grew up to be King Hezekiah, who saved the Jews by putting an end to the seige of Jerusalem by Sennerachib.


The Church has come out some time ago and admitted it's "mistake" in translation on this, just like it did the "virgin birth" verse, which doesnt say, nor mean "virgin".

Please take everything you're taught by Christianity about what's in our Torah with a HUGE grain of salt, as Christianity has made over 30 THOUSAND changes like this to our Torah and calls it the "Old Testament". It is not the same as our Torah, which has remained unchanged for thousands of years. Have a look at the Dead Sea Scrolls, for instance, the Isaiah scroll which other than approx. 3 LETTERS that are different, there are no other differences between that and what we have today. Unlike what is found in the Christian "old testament".

Answer 5

Jesus then describes his close relationship with his Father, explaining: “I and the Father are one.” Since Jesus is on earth and his Father is in heaven, clearly he is not saying that he and his Father are literally, or physically, one. Rather, he means that they are one in purpose, that they are at unity.

The churches often cite John 10:30 to try to support the Trinity, although no mention is made of any third person in that verse. There Jesus said: “I and the Father are one.” But did Jesus mean that he was God Almighty himself, just in a different form? No, that could not be since Jesus always said that he was God’s Son, inferior to Him and in subjection to Him. What, then, did Jesus mean at John 10:30?

Jesus meant that he was one in thought and purpose with his Father. This can be seen at John 17:21, 22, where Jesus prayed to God that his disciples “may all be one, just as you, Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you, that they also may be in union with us, that they may be one just as we are one.” Was Jesus praying that all his disciples would become one person? No, he was praying that they would be in unity, of the same mind and purpose, just as Jesus and God were.

The same idea is expressed at 1 Corinthians 1:10, where Paul states that Christians ‘should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among them, but that they should be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.’ So when Jesus said that he and his Father were one, he did not mean that they were the same person, just as when he said that his disciples should become one he did not mean that they were the same person.

Answer 6

We don't believe in the Triune nature of God because of one or two Bible verses.
John 10:30 could be refering to the idea that Christ and the Father are one in purpose, rather that one in nature.
As many sincere Christians can and do read these passages and come up with other interpretations. Our history is full of many examples of this. Christain leaders have occasionally even killed each other at times over these differences.
I believe in the Trinity as an essental article of the Christian Faith for many reasons, some very personal (as in it makes sense to me, on a intuative level, that a God who is love would have to have an object of that love, a relationship so to speak, prior to any act of creation, therefore God must be capable in and of himself to be in a loving relaionship with himself, ...), but also Theological. I differ from my protestant brothers and sister, as a Roman Catholic, about how we view the Bible. We Catholics generally believe that the Bible is a gift from the Church, that the Church gave us the Bible, not the other way around, so our understanding is not based on the Bible alone. We accept Sacred Tradition and the teachings of the early Church Fathers, (as well as the teaching offices of the Church) who stuggled to develop and express a reasonalbe and faithful understanding of God and his nature and attributes. The Trinity as a well developed concept didn't just arrive fully formed and articulated in the Bible. The Bible is a lot of things, it is not a text book of systematic theology.
The Historic Creeds of the Church, as well as sacred Scripture and Tradition are the basis of our faith and practice. Therefore our ideas about the nature of God, such as the Trinity do not rely on a few verses in the Bible.

Answer 7

Equal has a different meaning to what John is trying to write about. Consubstantal means of the same substance, God did not create Jesus he was the Word incarnate before he was created he existed. Being born a man does not lessen his divinity it just makes him mortal as well. The two different substances exist outside of dimension. His divinty is the same as God's therefore they are one with the Holy Spirit.

Answer 8

Dear,

God created and govern the universe. God make mankind as agent on earth.

God created mankind and Jinn to Worship God. We Muslims "MUST" belief in Prophet Jesus. We MUSLIMS belief the Bible that God give to him "only". We do not belief in the Books wrtten by others.
Jesus (Isa a.s.) is a Slave and prophet of God. Jesus is to worship God. Jesus exist to earth our world to lead the Israelis to the right path.

No MANKIND is equal to God. Prophet Muhammad bin Abdullah Sollallahhu'alaihi Wassalam said, "I'm a Slave and Prophet of God". If Jesus is son of God, in the "Chart" descended of Abrahm under the family of Imran, Jesus should be Jesus son of God, Son of Imran, son of Sahim, Amur, Misyam, Hizkil, Ahrif and so on... to Yusuf, Ya'qub, Ishaq, Abraham. Or Jesus Son of Soul (Spirit) of God, Son of Maryam daughter of Imran and so on... Yusuf, Ya'qub, Ishaq, Abraham. There no ending in the Christianity on Trinity.
Further more Jesus was only for Israel. You and me are not. (other than that equal to dog and pig, reference to the Debate on "Is Bible the Words of God" between Shiekh Ahmad Deedat vs Priest Jimmy Swaggart 1987 at University of Louisiana, United States).

ur thoughts ("I and the father are one"). How can be one if Trinity.

1. God
2. Son of God
3. Soul of God.
Character, Character and Character. In the name of the Son of God....bla, bla. said by some people. The Son of God will Sit beside God in The Sky. The Soul of God is also God. Three in One.

To cut Short.
In Al Qur'an, Surah Al-Ikhlas, Verse 3.

"He begetteth not
Nor is He begotten;

(God never have a child or children and never being born).
This is to "negative" the Christian idea of the godhead, "the father" the only-begotten Son" etc.

God is Al-Waahid.-The Unique.
He, who is "ONE" in His actions and His Names.
He has "NO" partner or equal in His attributes, personality and commands.

God is Al-Ahad. "THE ONE"

Answer 9

You either accept it or reject it.

John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

EDIT: No man on earth fully understands the Trinity. You expect a website to convince when no one knows everything that God knows? That's like writing an essay about a novel when you've only read the first ten pages.

Answer 10

Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Answer 11

I think it means exactly what is says. Here is a prophecy about Jesus found in the Old Testament. It clearly says Jesus is The Mighty God.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.