Jesus said: “I and my Father are one”(John;10:30). Trinity is supported through verses: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”(Mathew;28:19). “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one.”(The first Epistle of John;5:7,8). [Details]
Comments: The verse (John;10:30) can be well understood in perspective with in overall context ofJohn;10:24-39:
“Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long do you make us to doubt? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and you believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do you stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone you not; but for blasphemy; and because that you, being a man, make yourself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, You are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say you of him, whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, You blaspheme; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though you believe not me, believe the works: that you may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,”(John;10:24-39)
Analysis-1:
- It is well known that: “Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.”(John;18:20). “But without a parable he spoke not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”(Mark;4:34).
- Jesus Christ was refering to the use of word ‘god’ for peple assingned with special role in Pslams: “I have said, Ye are gods (אלהים ‘elohiym); and all of you are children of the most High.”(Psalms;82:6 ). This verse is explained in Albert Barnes’ ‘Notes on the Bible’: I have said, Ye are gods – I have given you this title; I have conferred on you (judges) an appellation which indicates a greater nearness to God than any other which is bestowed on men – an appellation which implies that you are God’s representatives on earth, and that your decision is, in an important sense, to be regarded as His. And all of you are children of the Most High – Sons of God. That is, You occupy a rank which makes it proper that you should be regarded as his sons. A solemn appeal to them as mortal people – as subject to death like others – though they had a rank which entitled them to the appellation of “gods,” and were the representatives of the Most High on earth.
- Family Bible Notes: ‘Unto whom the word of God came’; who were appointed and commissioned to act as his agents in ruling and administering justice in his stead among men. Cannot be broken; cannot be set aside as speaking improperly when it calls magistrates gods on account of their office. The term is always used in such a connection as shows that they were but men.
- Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible on John;10:35: “If, therefore, the Scripture uses the word ‘god’ as applied to magistrates, it settles the question that it is right to apply the term (god) to those in office and authority. If applied to them, it may be to others in similar offices. It can not, therefore, be blasphemy to use this word (god) as applicable to a personage so much more exalted than mere magistrates as the Messiah.”
- If he called them gods (ei ekeinous eipen theous). Condition of first class, assumed as true. The conclusion (verse John;10:36) is humeis legete; (Do ye say?). As Jews (and rabbis) they are shut out from charging Jesus with blasphemy because of this usage in the Old Testament. It is a complete ad hominem argument. To be sure, it is in Psalms;82:6 a lower use of the term theos, but Jesus did not call himself “Son of Jahweh,” but “huios theou” which can mean only “Son of Elohim.” The modern scholars thus conclude that Jesus thus disclaims to be God.
- John Calvin’s Verse Commentary on Joh;10:38: And I am in my Father;that is, “I do nothing but by the command of God, so that there is a mutual connection between me and my Father.” For this discourse does not relate to the unity of essence, but to the manifestation of Divine power in the person of Christ (to perform miracles), from which it was evident that he was (man) sent by God.
The divinity of Jesus Christ is also claimed on the basis of an other verse:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”(Mathew;28:19).
Analysis-2:
An objective analysis, make this questionable because, although compiled from the same source, the Gospel according to Mark does not support this view: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”(Mark;16:15). Similarly in other books there is no mention of three: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”(Acts;2:38),“For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”(Acts;8:16), “And he directed that they should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they begged him to remain with them for a time.”(Acts;10:48). Therefore the early Churches did not adopt to baptize in the names of three.
Te only one verse in the whole of Bible which, the supporters interpreted to supports this dogma of Trinity is:
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one.”(The first Epistle of John;5:7,8).
(in some volumes this verse is changed as : “There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree”.
In the foot not of this verse in ‘New International Version Bible’ it is written; ‘not found in any Greek manuscript before the sixteen century. Dr C.I, Scofield, D.D. backed by eight other D.D.’s in a footnote to this verse opine:
“It is generally agreed that this verse has no manuscript authority and has been inserted.” The fundamentalist Christians still retain this fabrication whereas; in all the modern translations including the Revised Standard Version (RSV) this pious deceit has been unceremoniously expunged.
More Comments:
In the entire Bible thre is not a single verse where he himself says that he was God or to worship him. Hoever Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) has been wrongly claimed to be the Son of God by many Christians. The use of the terminology ‘son of God’ and Father (for God) need to be understood as per its use among Hebrews and their scriptures, because Jesus Christ was himslf a Jew, sent with the misson for the guidance of Jews, he said:I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”(Mathew;15:24)
Son of God:
The Hebrews believed that God is One, and had neither wife nor children in any literal sense, hence it is obvious that the expression “son of God” merely metaphorically meant to them “Servant of God”; one who, because of his faithful service, was close and dear to God, as a son is to a father. Christians who came from a Greek and Roman background, later misused this term. In Greco-Roman heritage, “son of God” signified an incarnation of a god or someone born of a physical union between male and female gods. When the Church cast aside its Hebrew foundations, it adopted the pagan concept of “son of God”, which was entirely different from the Hebrew usage. Consequently, the use of the term “son of God” should only be understood from the Semitic symbolic sense of a “servant of God”, and not in the pagan sense of a literal offspring of God. In the four Gospels, Jesus is recorded as saying: “Blessed are the peace-makers; they will be called sons of God.”(Mathew;5:9), “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the SONS OF GOD.”(Romans; 8:14). The term ‘Son of God’ has been used numerously for people near to God like Prophet Jacob, David & Solomon in the Bible. ( 2 Samuel 8:13-14, Psalms;2:7, 89:26-27: Job 1:6, Psalms 2:7, Luke;3:38, 4:41, 9:22, Hosea;1:10, Jeremiah;31:9, Job;2:1,38:4-7, Genesis;6:2, Deuteronomy;14:1, Exodus;4:22-23).
Even the angels are referred to as ‘sons of God’: “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.”(Job;1:6). According to the Bible of King James Version of 1611 : “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only ‘begotten’ Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. (John;3:16). The word ‘begotten’ used here (John;3:16) has been expunged in the Bible- Revised Standard Version, being wrongly added because word ‘begotten’ does not exist in the original Greek script. In the Gospels Jesus is reported to have repeatedly called himself “Son of man”(Mathew;9:6, Luke;9:22). At eighty five places “Son of man” has been mentioned in New Testament. Jesus even rejected being called “Son of God”: “And demons also came out of many, crying, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.”(Luke;4:41). God says: “Further to warn those who say “God has begotten a son.” They have no knowledge, nor do their forefathers. Dreadful is the word that comes from their mouths. They speak nothing but a lie.”(Qur’an;18:4-5).
Father (Abba):
Likewise use of the term ‘abba’, (dear father) by Jesus’ should be understood similarly: “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father”. (Romans;8:15). The word ‘Father’ is used for the ‘God’ or the ‘Lord’ not as biological father but in the spiritual sense as The Creator & Sustainer at many places in the Bible: “Do you thus requite the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?” (Deuteronomy;32:6);“Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?” (Malachi;2:10);“As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear him.” (Psalms;103:13).
It is mentioned:
”For all who are led by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God.”(Romans;8:14).
“He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation”(Psalms;89:26)
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”(Mathew;5:48)
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven” (Mathew; 6:1),“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” (Mathew;6:6)
“Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knows what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (Mathew;6:8)
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Mathew; 6:9)
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things.” (Mathew; 6:32).
Jesus said to Mary; “…go to my brethren, and say to them, I ascend to my Father and your Father; and to my God, and your God….” (John;20:17).
Joseph is called a father to Pharaoh(Genesis; 45:8), Abraham is called the father of a multitude of nations (Genesis;17:5), and Job is called the father of the needy (Job;29:16).
“And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.”(John;5: 37).“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” (Jhon;14:16). “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me”. (John;5:30).
Even in some of the writings of Paul, which the Church has taken to be sacred, Jesus (peace be upon him) is referred to as a “man”, distinct and different from God. Paul writes: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1Timothy;2:5).
Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) did not say that to have the eternal life of paradise, man should believe in him as Almighty God or worship him as God, or believe that Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) would die for their sins. On the contrary he said that the path to salvation was through keeping the Commandments. It is indeed striking to note the divergence between the words of Prophet Jesus Christ and the Christian dogma of salvation through the sacrifice of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him). James Barr has recently argued forcefully that it did not have the specially intimate sense that has so often been attributed to it, but that it simply meant “father”. To think of God as “our heavenly Father” (Mathew;6:14) was by no means new, for in the Lord’s prayer Jesus is reported to have taught his disciples to address God in this same familiar way.
Conclusion:
The message of Jesus Christ and other prophets has been cleared of all the ambiguities, revealed in the final and last Testament – Qur’an, upon last Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), preserved for ever by Allah, in which He says:
“But those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and believe In the (revelation) sent down to Muhammad – for it is the truth from their Lord,- He will remove from them their ills and improve their condition.” (Qur’an47:2.)
“And there are, certainly, among the people of the Book [Jews & Christians], those who believe In God, In the Revelation to you (Muhammad), and In the Revelation to them (Original Torah, Psalms & Gospel), bowing In humility to God. They will not sell the Signs of God for a miserable gain! for them is a reward with their Lord, and God49. Say: “Then bring ye a Book from Allah, which is a better guide than either of them, that I may follow it! (do), if ye are truthful!” is swift In account.” (Qur’an;3:199).
“Say: “Then bring ye a Book from God, which is a better guide than either of them, (Qur’an and Original Bible) that I may follow it! (do), if ye are truthful!” But if They hearken not to thee, know that They only follow their own lusts: and who is more astray than one who follow His own lusts, devoid of guidance from God for Allah guides not people given to wrong-doing. Now have we caused the word (Qur’an) to reach them themselves, In order that They may receive admonition. Those to whom we sent the Book before this, (some)- They do believe In This (Revelation): And when it is recited to them, They say: “We believe therein, for it is the truth from Our Lord: indeed we have been bowing to God’s will from before this.”(Qur’an;49-53)
Abujak
For further studies please visit: http://wp.me/PCgrB-dI
http://faithforum.wordpress.com
http://peace-forum.blogspot.com
http://groups.google.com.pk/group/FaithForum4Peace
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=241288621307
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=wall&id=100000574616035