gentho

This thread is for the continuation of the discussion about the polytheistic nature of the Bible, this time with a focus on the New Testament.

Is the NT predominantly polytheistic? Supply evidence in the text for or against.

spin

Trinitarianism is post-testamental, coming to the fore in the fourth century after a series of debates leading to exclusions of various groups from acceptabitility, the so-called heresies. These debates were centered around the existence and being of Jesus, whether he be only an appearance of man, or real man, god or godlike. These were partly stimulated by interpretations of nt, or by Greek philosophical ideas. In the end the debate turned on the person of a bishop from Alexandria called Arius, who supported the notion of merely godlike, as against those closer to Byzantium, who thought Jesus was god. But if there is only one god, how can the father and the son and the spirit be god? I show you three fingers and you have to see one.

I don't think the nt makes any coherent indications as to explaining the essence of Jesus.


spin

Doctor X

The best one gets is that Mk considers him a "son of a god." Mt and Lk retain this. Jn gets "spiwituwal" but basically retains that conception. None of them seem at all uncomfortable with a Big Daddy and a Junior as separate entities.

Mk has Junior pray to Big Daddy, and Mt and Lk retain that. Jn does not have the same scene, but he does have Junior pray to Big Daddy in a long section.

In a world where multiple gods and demi-gods existed, perhaps this was not such a strange concept.

--J.D.