The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is God (cf. John 8:58, 10:38, 14:10; Col. 2:9). And yes, Jesus DID say he was God. In John 8:58, when quizzed about how he has special knowledge of Abraham, Jesus replies, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I Am"—invoking and applying to himself the personal name of God—"I Am" (Ex. 3:14). His audience understood exactly what he was claiming about himself. "So they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple" (John 8:59). In John 5:18 we are told that Jesus’ opponents sought to kill him because he "called God his Father, making himself equal with God."
In John 20:28, Thomas falls at Jesus’ feet, exclaiming, "My Lord and my God!" (Greek: Ho Kurios mou kai ho Theos mou—literally, "The Lord of me and the God of me!")
Philippians 2:6 says that Jesus "who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped" (New International Version). So Jesus chose to be born in humble, human form though he could have simply remained in equal glory with the Father for he was "in very nature God."
Also significant are passages that apply the title "the First and the Last" to Jesus (Rev. 1:17). This is one of the Old Testament titles of Yahweh: "Thus says Yahweh, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, Yahweh of armies: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; besides me there is no god’" (Is. 44:6; cf. 41:4, 48:12).
This title is directly applied to Jesus three times in the book of Revelation: "When I saw him [Christ], I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand upon me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the First and the Last’" (Rev. 1:17). "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the First and the Last, who died and came to life’" (Rev. 2:8). "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the beginning and the end" (Rev. 22:12–13).
This last quote is especially significant since it applies to Jesus the parallel title "the Alpha and the Omega," which Revelation earlier applied to the Lord God: "‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty" (Rev. 1:8).
But did the early Christians believe this? YES! Here are some quotes:
Ignatius of Antioch: "Ignatius, also called Theophorus, to the Church at Ephesus in Asia . . . predestined from eternity for a glory that is lasting and unchanging, united and chosen through true suffering by the will of the Father in Jesus Christ our God" (Letter to the Ephesians 1 [A.D. 110]).
Aristides: "[Christians] are they who, above every people of the earth, have found the truth, for they acknowledge God, the Creator and maker of all things, in the only-begotten Son and in the Holy Spirit" (Apology 16 [A.D. 140]).
Clement of Alexandria: "The Word, then, the Christ, is the cause both of our ancient beginning—for he was in God—and of our well-being. And now this same Word has appeared as man. He alone is both God and man, and the source of all our good things" (Exhortation to the Greeks 1:7:1 [A.D. 190]).
2007-12-18 05:36:53
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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He's not. Jesus is God's Son. 1 John 5:5 says: "Who is the one that conquers the world but he who has faith that Jesus is the Son of God."
The Bible identifies the Father, NOT the Son as God. At John 17:3, Jesus said that his Father is the ONLY true God.
At 1 Cor. 8:6, the apostle Paul said: "There is actually to us one God the Father, out of whom all things are."
Eph. 4:6 says: "One God and Father of all [persons], who is over all and through all and in all."
These verses say that the Father ALONE is God. Jesus is NOT God. He is the SON of God. (John 10:36)
1 Tim. 2:5 says: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus."
How can Jesus be God if he is BETWEEN God and men?
In a number of Bible verses, you will see the term God the Father, but you will NEVER see God the Son or God the holy spirit, even though trinitarians use those unbiblical terms.
2007-12-18 13:43:06
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answer #2
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answered by LineDancer 7
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You're right and the Pope does agree with what you are saying: There IS only one God. God the father, God the son, and God the Holy Spirit (We don't say "ghost" anymore) are all one in the same God. That's the trinity. If the Holy Spirit is the spirit of God, as you say it is, than wouldn't it follow that the Holy Spirit is God? Why do you find it so impossible that God, who can do all things, could be three persons in one? Sure, it's hard for us to understand, that's where the mystery comes in, but just because you don't understand it doesn't make it impossible to be.
2007-12-18 13:40:27
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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The Bible does teach that Jesus is God. But it does not reach the Jesus is the Father.
You have a body, a mind (or soul) and a spirit. Each of these is just as much "you" as any of the others. But your body is not your soul. Your spirit is not your body.
So God is made of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each operates in one of the realms that man touches.
God the Father operates in the spiritual or heavenly realm.
God the Son came as the man Jesus in the physical realm
God the Holy Spirit operates in the heart or soul realm of the mind, will and emotions.
Each is a separate "being", just as your body, soul and spirit are. Yet together they form one God, just as you form one "you".
2007-12-18 13:44:45
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answer #4
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answered by dewcoons 7
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As a Catholic, I can tell you that you are wrong about the Pope and the Apostle's Creed. The Rosary begins with it, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy begins with it, and we sometimes say it during Mass instead of the Nicene Creed.
2007-12-18 13:39:12
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answer #5
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answered by Tasha 6
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Jesus and God the Father are no more the same physical being than any other father and son.
2007-12-18 13:39:59
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answer #6
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answered by Someone who cares 7
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My father lives with my mother. He's a really nice man. He's the only man I call Dad. I do on occasion call my husband Daddy but that's mostly to the kids. That whole trinity theory is trippin'.
2007-12-18 13:41:20
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answer #7
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answered by Blame Amy 5
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Jesus is an ascended Master and spiritual Teacher he's a member of the ascended host.
http://www.greatdreams.com/masters/ascended-masters.htm
2007-12-18 13:42:38
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answer #8
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answered by triton 4
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the pope dont disagree with the apostles
God is One, the three persons are all equal in divinity, Jesus is God, he is our creator, we cannot understand infinite with finite minds. I dont care if I spelled that wrong, you know what it means.
2007-12-18 17:51:34
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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Jesus is NOT God.
There is only one Father, Jehovah.
Jesus is Jehovah's SON.
2007-12-18 13:46:25
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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