Matt the Medic

"eternal son" is a contradiction in terms.

Orthodox_Freethinker

...if you misunderstand the Christian doctrine of the Trinity.

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages.

Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father through Whom all things were made.

Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried.

And He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

And He will come again with glory to judge the living and dead. His kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets.

In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen.

"The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity, which is central to the Orthodox Faith, is not a result of pious speculation, but the over whelming experience of God. The doctrine affirms that there is only One God in whom there are three distinct Persons. In other words, when we encounter either the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit, we are truly experiencing contact with God."
http://www.goarch.org/print/en/ourfaith/article7062.asp

"The Orthodox Church believes that God is one in substance and Triune in three Persons or Hypostases. The Church pronounces in its lucid liturgical confession: "I confess the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, Trinity consubstantial and undivided". In the Holy Scriptures there are passages recorded to strengthen this belief in the Holy Trinity on which the faith in God is revealed. The Scriptures proclaims "to us there is but one God, the Father" (1 Cor. 8:6); "in him (the Son) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9; cf. Matt. 26:63); and, relating to the Holy Spirit, "thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God" (Acts 5:4). This fundamental belief in the Holy Trinity was the subject of all the Ecumenical Synods in which the unchangeable pronouncement on the Holy Trinity was affirmed. They proclaimed primarily that the second Person of the Holy Trinity, the Logos, and the Third Person, the Holy Spirit, are of the same essence, Homoousios, of the Father. In the personal attributions of the Divine Persons of the Holy Trinity the Father begot the Son and the Father proceeds the Holy Spirit. The Son, the Second Person of the Trinity, sends the Holy Spirit to guide His Church (cf. John 15:26). The nature and attributes of the Persons of the Holy Trinity are revealed through Jesus Christ. The truth can be reached only by faith, being above and beyond human comprehension."
http://www.goarch.org/print/en/ourfaith/article7063.asp

There is a distinction between contradiction and paradox.

trendkill

A chemical shell or two has been found. This is proof to many people that "the WMD" did or do exist.

Asha'man

This has already been refuted twice in this thread. The gospels are clear that Jesus was not born in early winter, but spring or maybe early summer. :banghead:

Matt the Medic

It has nothing to do with your theology.

It is simple English.


'Eternal' means atemporal.

'Son' is a term based on temporal qualities.

If you so wish to justify bastardization of meaningful words using your theology, I won't stop you, however.

Matt

Orthodox_Freethinker

How are the Gospels clear in this way? What would the weather have been in first-century Palestine? What is the weather like in Israel right now? Where would poor shepherds tend their sheep if they cannot afford a barn?

Orthodox_Freethinker

In the Holy Trinity, words which we use in ordinary language take up a much more dynamic meaning.

Arctish

I don't have a link handy but I recall an article pointing out that the ancients avioded traveling in winter as much as possible. The weather was bad and the roads were worse in the rainy season. It makes no sense for Joseph and Mary to be traveling in December if she was close to term. According to the article the Jews had a full year to report to their home villages and towns during a census so it would have been more likely Joseph and Mary would have travelled in spring or summer.

Derec

I will hazard a guess. Jack Chick?

JEST2ASK

Not to be rude but are you not simply saying (Images of Alice and Wonderland and The Queen of Hearts spring to mind) that you ( a religious order) can assign meanings and context on a special case basis that has no bearing on what others consider reality. If that is true ( I am not trying to a smart ass) why try to communicate with anyone outside of your circle, when they can not possibly agree with your definations.:huh:

ETA