WELCOME

APOLOGETICS

Week 1: Existence of GodWeek 2: Reliability of the New

TestamentWeek 3: Resurrection of ChristWeek 4: Deity of Christ

Apologetics1 Peter 3:15

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer [apologia] to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Apologetics

Apologetics: Defending the faith to those outside the church.

Polemics: Defending the faith to those inside the church.

Apologetics

Who is apologetics for?

EXISTENCE OF GOD

The Existence of GodWhy do we sometimes doubt God’s existence?

The Existence of God1. I can’t see or hear Him.2. He does not answer my prayers.3. It is too good to be true.4. I can’t comprehend an eternal

being.5. There are too many different views

about Him.6. I can’t understand why He could

allow so much suffering.

The Existence of GodWhy do we have confidence about His existence?

The Existence of God1. Answers the question “Why is there something

rather than nothing?”2. Design of the universe.3. The majority of the world is on my side.4. I have experienced Him.5. The lack of any other adequate explanation. 6. The universal concept of morality and

aesthetics. 7. The Bible says so.

The Existence of GodWhy is there something rather than

nothing?1.There is not anything; all is an illusion.2.The universe is self-created.3.The universe is created by chance.4.The universe is created by nothing.5.The universe has existed for eternity.6.An eternal self-existent God created the

universe.

The Existence of GodAxiom: When all of the options have been deduced, the one remaining option is the right one.

The Existence of God1.There is not anything: All is an

illusion.

The Existence of God1.There is not anything: All is an

illusion.

If all is an illusion, where did the illusion come from? If it is an illusion, where did this illusion come from (ad infinitum)?

The Existence of God2.The universe is self-created.

.

The Existence of God2.The universe is self-created.

Something could not create itself since it would have to predate itself to create itself. This is a logical contradiction and, therefore, absurd.

The Existence of God3.The universe was created by

chance.


chance.

Chance has no being.

The Existence of God“Sophisticated arguments of chance creation have been formulated which dazzle our mathematical comprehension… What are the real chances of the universe created by chance? Not a chance. Chance is incapable of creating a single molecule, let alone an entire universe. Why not? Chance is no thing. It is not an entity. It has no being, no power, no force. It can effect nothing because it has no causal power within it. …It is a word which describes mathematical possibilities which, by the curious flip of the fallacy of ambiguity, slips into the discussion as if it were a real entity with real power, indeed, supreme power, the power of creativity.”

— R.C. Sproul


nothing.


nothing.

This violates the law of causality. There must be a cause for every effect. There is no possibility of a causeless effect. It is absurd to think otherwise.


nothing.

ex nihilo nihil fit “Out of nothing, nothing comes.”

The Existence of God5. The universe has

existed for eternity.

“The universe is all there is, all there was, and all there will ever be.”

– Carl Sagan

The Existence of God1.An infinite number of

moments cannot be traversed.

2.It is impossible to have an infinite series of cause and effects.

The Existence of God

Infinite time stretching past and future

Not Possible

Infinite time stretching future

Possible

Infinite time stretching past

Not Possible

The Existence of GodIf a man were to try to jump out of an infinitely deep hole, when would he come out?

The Existence of God6. An eternal self-existent

God created the universe.

“If something exists, there is a God.”

– R.C. Sproul

Existence of GodQuestions?

The Existence of GodTraditional arguments for the existence of God:

1. Cosmological Argument2. Teleological Argument3. Moral Argument (Anthropological)4. sensus divinitatis Argument5. Wager6. Cumulative Case Argument

The Existence of God1.Cosmological Argument

Gk. Cosmos: “an orderly arrangement”

This argument states that there must be a cause for every effect, and God must be that Cause.

The Existence of God2. Teleological Argument

Gk. teleos: “end, or complete”This argument states that the order of the universe evidences intelligent design rather than chaotic chance. Therefore, there must be a designer.

Paley’s famous watchmaker illustration.

The Existence of GodRomans 1:20–21“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

The Existence of GodPsalm 19:1–4“The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun.”

The Existence of God3. Moral Argument (Anthropological)

This argument states that all people have a concept of right and wrong. This concept must have come from something outside of them, a Moral Absolute. All people have a conscience. This conscience must reflect some conscience outside of them.

The Existence of GodRomans 2:14–15“For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.”

The Existence of God4. sensus divinitatis Argument

This argument states that everyone has an innate “sense of the divine” built within them. This “God-shaped void” causes them to have a great desire to fill the void by searching for God. To varying degrees this argument has been held by Augustine, Calvin, and Pascal.

The Existence of God

“For thou hast made us for thyself and restless is our heart until it comes to rest in thee.”

– Augustine

The Existence of GodRomans 1:20“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

The Existence of God6. Pascal’s “Wager”

1. If you say there is not a God and there is, there will be drastic consequences.

2. If you say there is a God and there is not, you are none the worse; there are no consequences.

3. Therefore, one should believe in God.

The Existence of GodWhat argument do you find most persuasive? Why?

The Existence of GodWhat type of people would each argument appeal to?

The Existence of God6. Cumulative Case Argument

This argument sees the greatest value in the cumulative effect of all the arguments. No one argument may be ultimately convincing.

WELCOME

DEFENDING THE FAITH

RELIABILITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

Introduction

Is the New Testament text reliable?

The Problem

The ProblemObjection:

We don’t have the originals and the Bible has been transmitted so many times that it is impossible to know what it really said.

“ [How] Can we hope to get back to anything like the original [biblical] text, the text that the authors actually wrote? It is an enormous problem. In fact, it is such an enormous problem that a number of textual critics have started to claim that we may as well suspend any discussion of the “original” text, because it is inaccessible to us.” (p. 58)

The Problem

In the New Testament alone there are anywhere from 300,000 to 400,000 differences among the existing texts.

This amounts to close to three differences per word!

The Problem

How do we know that the Bible we have today is an accurate representation of the original?

The Problem

Transcription activity

The Problem

“Drinking apples with regular frequency, docs says, is good for the

ticker in your chest.”

The Problem

Textual Criticism

Textual Criticism• The Old Testament was originally written in two

languages, Hebrew and Aramaic (portions of Ezra and Daniel), from the years 1500 to 400 B.C.

• The New Testament was originally written in Koine Greek from the years 40 to 100 A.D.

• We do not have any original writing (autographa).• All transmissions of the Bible were handwritten until

the invention of the printing press in 1450s by Johann Gutenberg.

• The most readily available writing materials were stone, papyri, and parchment/vellum. Later (second century B.C.) the codex was developed.

Textual Criticism

1500 B.C. -100 A.D.Autographs

100 -1600 A.D. Manuscripts

1600 A.D. - PresentCritical Texts

1600 A.D. - PresentTranslations

Textual Criticism: Science of reconstructing the original text of the Scriptures based upon the available manuscript evidence.

100 -1600 A.D. Manuscripts

1600 A.D. - PresentCritical Texts

Textual Criticism

Four Types of Scribes:1. Hired hand: Most objective. Mistakes will be

unintentional.2. Pastoral: May smooth the text over, making

some of the language more understandable.3. Zealous Apologist/Theologian: May seek

to correct what he perceives bad theology4. Commentator: May add notes or

exclamations of praise.

Textual Criticism

Three types of manuscript: Textual Criticism

1. Manuscripts Evidence• Dead Sea Scrolls (2nd Century B.C.)• John Ryland Papyri (125 A.D.)• Codex Sinaiticus (a; 350 A.D.)• Codex Vaticanus (B; 350 A.D.)

Textual Criticism

2. Early Church Fathers and Jewish Writings

• Codes of religion. • Commentaries, diaries, books, and letters• Polycarp, Clement of Rome, Justin Martyr,

Ignatius, Irenaeus, Tertillian, etc.• John Burgeon, a biblical scholar, catalogued

over 86,000 quotations before A.D. 325.• Reconstruction of the New Testament could be

accomplished within 100 years of its completion using these manuscripts.

3. Translations• 15,000 copies• Syriac, Old and New Latin, Sahidic,

Bohairic, Middle Egyptian, Armenian, Gothic, Georgian, Ethiopic, and Nubian versions.

25,000 handwritten copies of the NT alone

Author of Work When Written Earliest Copy Time Span No. of Copies

Caesar (Gallic Wars ) 100–44 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,000 yrs. 10Livy (History of Rome) 59 B.C.–17 A.D. N/A N/A 20

Plato (Tetralogies) 400 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,300 yrs. 7Pliny the Younger(History) 61–113 A.D. 850 A.D. 750 yrs. 7

Thucydides (History) 460–400 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,300 yrs. 8Herodotus (History) 480–425 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,300 yrs. 8Sophocius (History) 469–406 B.C. 100 A.D. 600 yrs. 193Aristotle 384–322 B.C. 1,100 A.D. 1,400 yrs. 193Homer (Iliad) 900 B.C. 400 A.D. 1, 500 yrs. 643New Testament 50–90 A.D. 125 A.D. 25 yrs. >25,000

• Ninety-nine percent of the variants make no theological difference.

• Of the one percent that do, none affect any major doctrine.

Textual Criticism

Examples of ProblemsJohn 7:53-8:11 (pericope adulterae) Matthew 18:151 John 5:7-8 (comma johanneum)Mark 16:9-20Romans 5:1Matthew 5:22

Textual Criticism

Field Ops:Discuss how many ways can this statement

be misunderstood and mis-transcribed?“Paul went to the mall to buy apples. Paul

also went to the mall to buy orangutans.”

Come up with at least three ways to mis-transcribe this.

Textual Criticism

• How does the manuscript evidence give testimony to the uniqueness of Scripture?

• Why do you think that God did not allow the originals to be preserved?

• Does it disturb you that there are so many variations? Why or why not?

Textual Criticism

DEFENDING THE FAITH

THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

The Importance of the Resurrection of Christ

The ImportanceA priest during a television interview:“If they were to find the bones of Jesus Christ, this would not effect my Christian faith at all. And it does not have to yours.”

The Importance

If Christ has not been raised from the dead, Christianity if false. Period.

If Christ has been raised from the dead, Christianity is true. Period.

The Importance

Old Testament New Testament

EXODUS RESURRECTION

The Importance1 Samuel 10:18-19

Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, “I brought Israel up from Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians, and from the power of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you. But you today rejected your God, who delivers you from all your calamities and your distresses.

The ImportancePsalm 78:12-13

He wrought wonders before their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; And He made the waters stand up like a heap.

The ImportancePsalm 136:13-15

To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

The ImportanceNehemiah 9:9-10

You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, And heard their cry by the Red Sea. Then You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, Against all his servants and all the people of his land; For You knew that they acted arrogantly toward them, and made a name for Yourself as it is to this day.

The Importance1 Corinthians 15:14-19

“If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

The ImportanceObjection:

I was not there to see Christ raised. It is a matter of blind faith. How could God expect us to believe something that have no firsthand evidence for?

The ImportanceGetting pulled over with my daughter.

The Importance

What other ancient historical events do people believe?

The Evidence1. Internal Evidence:

Evidence coming from within the primary witness documents.

2. External Evidence: Collaborative evidence coming from outside the primary witness documents.

Internal Evidence

• Honesty• Irrelevant/Incidental details• Harmony in Accounts• Public historical claims• Lack of motive for fabrication

Internal EvidenceInternal Evidence

For the Resurrection of Christ, the primary witness documents are the twenty-seven works that make up the corpus that Christianity has traditionally called the New Testament. These works stand or fall individually from an historical standpoint. Therefore, they provide twenty-seven separate sources of documentation, not one.

Internal EvidenceInternal Evidence

– Honesty/Embarrassing Moments– Irrelevant/Incidental details– Harmony in the accounts (but not too

much)– Public historical claims– Lack of motive for fabrication

Internal EvidenceHonesty/Embarrassing Moments

The entire Bible records both successes and failures of the heroes. I have always been impressed by this. It never paints the glorious picture that you would expect from legendary material, but shows them in all their worst moments. The Israelites whined, David murdered, Peter denied, the apostles abandoned Christ in fear, Moses became angry, Jacob deceived, Noah got drunk, Adam and Eve disobeyed, Paul persecuted, Solomon worshiped idols, Abraham was a bigamist, Lot committed incest, John the Baptist doubted, Abraham doubted, Sarah doubted, Nicodemus doubted, Thomas doubted, Jonah ran, Samson self-served, and John, at the very end of the story, when he should have had it all figured out, worshiped an angel (Rev 22:8).

Internal EvidenceHonesty/Embarrassing

In addition, the most faithful are seen as suffering the most (Joseph, Job, and Lazarus), while the wicked are seen as prospering (the rich man). In the case of the Gospels, the disciples who recorded it claimed to have abandoned Christ and did not believe in His resurrection when told. Even after the resurrection, they still present themselves as completely ignorant of God’s plan (Acts 1:6-7). Women are the first to witness the resurrection which has an element of self-incrimination since a woman’s testimony was not worth anything in the first century. If someone were making this up, why include such an incriminating detail? (I am glad they did—what an Easter message this is for us today!)

Internal EvidenceHonesty/Embarrassing

None of the Gospel writers give their names.

Internal EvidenceMark 8:22-25

And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, "Do you see anything?“ And he looked up and said, "I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.“ Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.

Internal EvidenceIrrelevant/Incidental Details

Internal EvidenceIrrelevant/Incidental Details

The Gospel writers (especially John) include many elements to their story that are really irrelevant to the big picture. Normally, when someone is making up a story, they include only the details that contribute to the fabrication. Irrelevant details are a mark of genuineness in all situations.

Internal EvidenceJohn 20:4

The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first.

Internal Evidence

Polar bear in Lost

Internal EvidenceMark 14:50-52

And they all left him and fled. And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.

Internal EvidenceHarmony in Accounts

Internal EvidenceHarmony in Accounts

The four Gospel writers claim to have witnessed the resurrected Christ. The same is the case for most of the other writers of the NT. The four Gospel writers all write of the same event from differing perspectives. Although they differ in details, they are completely harmonious to the main events surrounding the resurrection, and all claim that it is an historical event.

Internal EvidenceHarmony in Accounts (but not too

much)

The differences among the accounts add to the historicity. Why?

Internal EvidencePublic Historical Claims

Internal EvidencePublic Historical Claims

The Bible records that the resurrection of Christ happened and gives the time, place, people involved, and it names many of the witnesses. In other words, the extraordinary claims were not done in secret as would be the case if it were fabricated. Look to all the ancient myths and you will see how obscure the mythology has to be in order to claim historicity. Why? Because if you give too many details of times, people, and places it can be easily disproven. If it was a fabrication, the author should have said only one person knew about it. He should have said it happened in a cave or a place no one has ever heard of. We have those type of stories that start religions.

How Christianity started

How Other Religions started

Internal Evidence

Internal EvidenceActs 26:26

For the king knows about these matters [concerning the resurrection of Christ], and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner.

Internal EvidenceLack of Motive for Fabrication

Internal EvidenceMotives for Fabrication:

Why would someone make this up?

PopularityPowerRiches

Internal Evidence1. James – Killed with a sword. A.D. 452. Peter - Hung on a cross “head downward.”

A.D. 643. Andrew - Hung from an olive tree. A.D. 704. Thomas - Burned alive. A.D. 705. Phillip - Crucified. A.D. 546. Matthew - Beheaded. A.D. 657. Nathanael - Crucified. A.D. 708. James - Thrown from the temple. A.D. 639. Simon - Crucified. A.D. 7410. Judas Thaddeus - Beaten with sticks. A.D. 7211. Matthias - Stoned on a cross. A.D. 7012. John - Natural death. A.D. 9513. Paul - Beheaded. A.D. 69

Internal EvidenceBeyond this, it was culturally unacceptable at all levels to have a crucified and resurrected Messiah. The Jews certainly were not expecting their Messiah to be crucified. The Greek world would have nothing but disdain for the idea of a bodily resurrection since, from their perspective, the material body was something from which we desire to escape. Therefore, for this idea to arise as a fabrication at this time in history would have been about the most counterproductive story anyone could have made up!

Internal EvidenceRelation of these things to getting

pulled over

Do you believe that I got pulled over? Why?

External Evidence

External EvidenceWhile the internal evidence looks to the evidence coming from within the primary witness documents, the external evidence seeks to find collaborative evidence coming from outside the primary witness documents.

External Evidence– Antiquity of the Documents – Archeology – Extra-biblical Attestation

External EvidenceAntiquity of the Documents

External EvidenceArcheology

External EvidenceSignificance of the empty tombHistorical markers in the Gospels

External Evidence“It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference. Scores of archaeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or in exact detail historical statements in the Bible. And, by the same token, proper evaluation of biblical descriptions has often led to amazing discoveries.” (Nelson Glueck Rivers in the Desert; History of Negev [Philadelphia: Jewish Publications Society of America, 1969], 31).

External EvidenceExtra-biblical Attestation

External EvidenceExtra-biblical Attestation

There are numerous first-century and second-century extrabiblical writings that witness to the historicity of Christ death, resurrection, and/or early worship: Josephus, Tacitus, Trajan, Suetonius, Pliny the Younger, Clement, Papias, Didache, Barnabas, Justin Martyr, Ignatius, Irenaeus, Hermas, Tatian, Theophilus, Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria.

External EvidenceYes

The Apostles liedFabrication theory

The Apostles were mistakenMistaken identity theory

Christ’s body was stolenStolen body theory

Christ did not die“Swoon” theory

No

No motivation to lie? They were martyred for an unwavering testimony to have seen Christ alive.

They claim to be eye witnesses of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection and they all went to their deaths for mistaken identity?

Who stole it and what was their motivation? This still would not explain the Apostles’ testimony to have seen Christ alive.

Christ only appeared dead, yet He came to the Apostles after three days, beaten, bruised, pierced, and stabbed, and convinced them that He was their risen king?

Questions

THE DEITY OF CHRIST

Does God Exist? Is the Bible Accurate?

Did Christ Rise? Who is Christ?

Outline:-Deity of Christ in History-Deity of Christ in the Bible-Problem Passages

“Who do men say that I am?”

Matthew 16:13-17Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He began asking His disciples, saying, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?“ And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?“ And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.“ And Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Jehovah’s Witnesses: “You are the first creation of God though whom he created all things.”

Mormons: “You are the son of God, the offspring of God and his wife and the brother of Lucifer.”

Jews: “You are a false prophet.”Islam: “You are a great prophet, second only to

Mohammad.” Liberal Theology: “You are a man who inspires

us to love others.”

Orthodox Christianity: Christ is the Son of God, the second Person of the eternal Trinity, fully God and fully man.

Deity of Christ in History

Two Early Heresies:1. Docetism2. Arianism

Docetism:Christ was God, but he was not man. God would not lower himself by having a physical body. Therefore it only “seemed” like Christ was man.

1 John 4:2-3By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

Arianism:(Arius: 256 – 336) Christ was the first creation of God through whom God created all things. He is god, but not God.

“Since there was a time when Christ was begotten, there was a time when Christ was not.”

God

Christ

All other Creatures

Eternity Past Time

Council of Nicea (A.D. 325)We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty [pantokratora], creator of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten [pro panton ton aionon] of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of the same essence [homoousion] with the Father.

Council of Nicea (A.D. 325)Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

Deity of Christ in the Bible

Divine names:• Emanuel (“God with us” Matt. 1:23)• Son of God (John 5:18)• I AM (John 8:58)• Son of Man (Dan. 7:13–14, John

5:27)• Eternal Father, Mighty God (Isa. 9:6)

Jesus is worshiped:

Matt. 2:11“After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him.”

Matt. 14:33“And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘You are certainly God’s Son!’”

Matt. 28:9“And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.”

Explicit statements to Christ’s deity:

John 1:1“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John 20:28“Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”

Titus 2:13“Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”2 Peter 1:1“To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

John 1:18“No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

Romans 9:5“To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.”

Col. 1:15–17a“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

Jesus claims to be God:

John 8:58–59a“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.’ Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him.”

John 10:30–33“‘I and the Father are one.’ The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, ‘I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?’ The Jews answered Him, ‘For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.’”

N.T. passages that directly refer to Christ’s deity

Jn. 1:1, 18, 8:58–59, 10:30–33, 20:28Acts 20:28Rom. 9:51 Tim. 3:15–16

2 Thes. 1:12Tit. 2:132 Pet. 1:1Heb. 1:8Phil. 2:6Col. 1:15–17, 2:9

.

New Testament Quotation: Lord=Christ

Old Testament Source: Yahweh

Matt. 3:3 “prepare the way for the Lord” Isa. 40:3Lk. 1:76 “go before the Lord” Mal. 3:1

Rom. 10:9–13 “call upon the name of the Lord”

Joel 2:32

Rom. 14:9–12 “every knee will bow” Isa. 45:23

1 Cor. 1:31 “boast in the Lord” Jer. 9:241 Cor. 2:13 “mind of the Lord” Isa. 40:13Heb. 1:10 “Lord, you founded the earth” Ps. 102:25–27

.

Arrogance of a madman? Christ’s implied deity in Matthew:

– Blessings for those who are persecuted because of Him (Matt. 5:11).

– “I have not come to abolish the Law and Prophets” (Matt. 5:17).

– He will say who enters the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 7:21–23).

– We are to give up our lives to follow Him (Matt. 16:25).

– He will repay each person for what they have done (Matt. 16:27–28).

– The basis of the judgment will be man’s relationship to Christ (Matt. 25:31–46).

– He speaks of “his angels” (Matt. 13:41; 16:27; 24:31).

– The only thing the rich young ruler lacks for eternal life is to follow Christ (Matt. 19:16–21).

– People are commanded to love Christ more than their own families (Matt. 10:37).

– Eternal life depends on belief in Him and the Father (Jn. 17:3).

Problem Passages

1.“First born of all creation”Col 1:15

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”

Answer:“First born” (prototokos) does not mean that Christ was created. In Scripture it could either mean, “The first born Child,” or it often meant, “one who possessed priority.”

2.“Only Begotten” (monogenes)Used five times in N.T. to refer to Christ (Jn. 1:18; 3:16, 18; 1 Jn. 4:9)

John 1:14“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Answer:Recent linguistic studies have shown that the Greek word monogenes (“only-begotten”) does not come from gennao, “to bear, beget,” but from genos, “kind, class.” Therefore, monogenes would be better translated, “one-of-a-kind” or “unique.” This explains why Isaac is referred to as the monogenes of Abraham when Abraham did have another son, Ishmael (Heb. 11:17).

3.“Beginning of creation”

Rev. 3:14“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this.”

Answer:“Beginning of Creation” simply means that Christ is the origin of all things created.

3.The Father is greater than the Son

John 14:28“You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.”

A king may be greater than his servant, but that does not mean that his actual being is greater. Just his current position is greater. This passage speaks of functional, not ontological, greatness.

WELCOME

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