The Divinity of Jesus Christ

[Scooter]

There has recently been a discussion on the divinity of Jesus Christ. First, I would like to point out the verses that support the divine nature of Jesus. First, notice how the Apostle John begins his Gospel: John 1:1-3 & 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made...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.

John plainly says the Word was God and the Word became flesh. John also states that the Word is the Creator. Secondly, the religious leaders in Jesus' day recognized the fact that Jesus implied that He was God: John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Finally, look at Jesus' words: John 10:30 I and my Father are one. John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (Note: "I Am" is the name God identified Himself as to Moses Ex.3:14).

Jesus said He was God; John the Apostle said Jesus was God; the Jews understood Jesus claimed to be God. The idea that Jesus was a created angelic being is absurd and simply a cultish belief.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

I agree that the Bible explains that Jesus is divine. But, I also believe it shows that he's not on the same level of the Father. That to me shows that there's a hierarchy in the Godhead.

Gospel of John 10:29
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

Greater than all would include Jesus and the Holy Spirit. That doesn't make Jesus any less divine though.

 

[Scooter]

I wouldn’t say Jesus or the Holy Spirit are less than the Father. Jesus willingly submitted to the Father. I am currently the Associate Pastor at my church and I submit to our Senior Pastor. I am no less of a man than he is. Jesus is equal to the Father according to the Bible: Phil.2:5-7
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

 

[AgnosticBoy]

Jesus is equal to the Father according to the Bible: Phil.2:5-7
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

I'm not convinced of that.

I see two scenarios here.
1. We have a contradiction. Several New Testament passages say that the Father is greater than all while the passage you posted seems to indicate otherwise if Jesus is equal to the Father.
OR
2. The word "God" in Philippians 2:6 is just a generic title which all 3 beings in the godhead held. While Father was a more specific title. So it could be that saying Jesus (as a human) was equal to God is not the same as saying that Jesus is equal to the Father.

Right now, I'm leaning towards the latter.

While I hate to using ChatGPT to do all of the thinking for me and just pasting it here, I do like to use it to add extra perspective and to check my thinking... (even ChatGPT can be wrong)... But here's one explanation that I think reconcile the two when I asked it if Jesus is equal to the father:
Me: Was Jesus equal to the Father?

ChatGPT: In the New Testament
Verses suggesting equality:
John 10:30: “I and the Father are one.”
John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
These passages are often interpreted as affirming Jesus’ divinity and unity with the Father.

Verses suggesting subordination:
John 14:28: “The Father is greater than I.”
1 Corinthians 15:28: The Son will be “subjected” to the Father so that “God may be all in all.”
These passages are seen by some as suggesting Jesus had a role distinct and subordinate to the Father.

Trinitarian view (orthodox Christianity):
Jesus is fully God and fully man, “of one essence” (homoousios) with the Father, equal in divinity. But within the Trinity, there are distinctions of personhood: the Father begets, the Son is begotten, and the Spirit proceeds. This maintains equality in nature but distinction in role.

.........................

I think that latter explanation reconciles the conflicting passages.

 

[Scooter]

I would agree with that. Equal but distinct.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

@Scooter

In my view, when many Christians twist themselves into knots when they try to explain how Jesus, the Father, and Holy Spirit are equal in every way. There has to be some distinctions in order for it to make logical sense.

 

[Scooter]

The whole concept of the Trinity is difficult for me to wrap my head around. I don’t try to understand it, I just accept it.