mikem

I didn't address John 3:16 in my rather long earlier post, as I was more interested in sounding a caution against reading later theological developments back into earlier ones. As far as John 3:16 goes, I think the author did mean it to be taken literally. He describes "his only begotten son". I think it was CS Lewis who said that what man begets is man,what God begets is God. Throughout the gospel, John subordinates Jesus to the Father, even though he actually does have Thomas calling Jesus "God". But this is exceptional. In the NT generally, the predicate of God is used of the Father, not the Son. Even in John Jesus calls the Father "God", in distinction to himself. John is clearly not interested in defining the relationship any further, since his polemical interests lie elsewhere, in showing that how one reacts to Jesus is how one reacts to God. Faith in Jesus as portrayed by John is at the same time faith in God. This excludes those Christian groups who do not share John's view of Jesus.

Amaleq13

That "hymn", certainly, but also every reference Paul makes to Christ taking on the form of man seems to me to suggest a pre-existent entity since it implies a different original form.

mikem

I am not aware of any other passage in Paul where he speaks of Christ taking on human form.

Amaleq13

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:" (Rom 8:3, KJV)

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law," (Gal 4:4, KJV)

IonMic

Then No i do not believe 'jesus is God' if this sentence is intended to mean jesus and God are the same entity.


Not at all but i do believe as children of God we can all inherit Godhood.

mdarus

This is an issue I would like to know more about. Your profile indicates you are LDS. I am wondering how LDS says that we can inherit Godhood and maintain monotheism. It sounds like there are many (G)gods (or the potential for many). I can't imagine that even if each (G)god had his/her own world, this would not be seen as polytheism?

mikem

Thanks. I did know those verses but just couldn't recollect them yesterday. Tiredness I guess. These verses do not square easily with an adoptionist view. My several commentaries interpret them as supporting preexistence too, but that's no surprise.

IonMic

We have have one god and that is Heavenly Father after the millenial reign of Jesus Christ we will all be judged according to our works and faith and some will inherit the kingdom of God and will inherit godhood and be able to have our own spirit children and be like our God to them and in effect repet the cycle. it is not polytheism at all we only worship Heavenly Father and he is our only god.

mdarus

How is this different from becoming a God? If you inherit godhood, have your own spirit children, and be like a God to them, are you now a God just like the Heavenly Father?

IonMic

Yep. to our spirit children we will be their God.