Proverbs begins by telling the reader to decipher a riddle, the “hidden Wisdom” concealed by God behind what at first appears to be just a “personification” of one of God’s attributes. Yahweh has always possessed his own “wisdom,” yet this at the “beginning” of creation week, this “hidden Wisdom” was “acquired,” “founded,” and “begotten” by Yahweh as “the Beginning” of His works. “Wisdom” then claims to have been God’s protege and agent in the creation…
In the Bereans Bible Institute Module 2-A we used the Genesis creation account as the springboard to discuss John’s Gospel because John introduced Jesus as God’s Agent in creation “in the Beginning.” Now in Module 2-B we will use Solomon’s creation account (Proverbs 8:22-31 & Proverbs 30:1-4) as the springboard to discuss Paul’s letters, and how he portrayed “Wisdom” as both God’s agent in creation and the one who was crucified. The first lesson deals…
Isaiah 9:6-7 NRSV 6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of…
For the last several lessons we have been looking at the language in John’s Gospel about the pre-human existence of God’s Son, which is a major theme running throughout the entire book. Socinian Unitarians, who deny the pre-human existence of the Son of God, use exegetical gymnastics to deny the literal understanding of all of these passages. Yet, in chapters 16 & 17 the writer made it perfectly clear that all of this preexistence language,…
The genuine Christian Faith was founded, expounded, and demonstrated by the Son of God who was and is “the image of the invisible God,”[1] perfectly reflecting the character and purposes of God. The Apostles then mirrored “the mind of Christ,”[2] having been “conformed to the image of [God’s] Son.”[3] They parroted Jesus’ teachings and followed His example of submission to God’s stated purposes and His self-sacrifice. The Apostles were secondary reflections of God’s purposes and…
Since 1947-48, when the modern state of Israel was established by the United Nations, there has been a continuous stream of conflict and violence against Israel by its neighbors. The Six-Day War in 1967 is considered by both Jews and Christians as divine intervention. Against enormous odds, Israel deflected the simultaneous attacks from the surrounding nations, defeated them decisively in six days, and recaptured Jerusalem and especially the Temple Mount which had been denied her…
The eighth chapter of John’s Gospel continues to develop the idea of the pre-human existence of the Son of God. In this chapter Jesus claimed to have come “from above,” the very place where He was about to return. He claimed to be “the Beginning,” the title given to “Wisdom” in Proverbs 8:22, and that He “issued forth out of God,” terminology which refers to the “begetting” of Wisdom in Proverbs 8:24-25. These statements reach…
In John 6, Jesus stated more than once that He came down from heaven. He compared Himself to the manna which God provided for Israel in the wilderness. The difference was that the manna from heaven sustained the Israelites temporal lives, but Jesus provides immortality. Trinitarians have no real difficulties in this chapter. However, Unitarians who deny that the Son of God existed before His birth from Mary have plenty of difficulties in this chapter….
At sundown this evening begins Rosh Hashanah, Hebrew for “Head of the Year,” also known as the “Feast of Trumpets.” This is the anniversary of the first day of creation week. The Son of God was begotten out from God’s own being (the only-begotten from the Father – Jn. 1:14). This “beginning” event began day one of creation week. God’s Son is “the first-produced of all creation” (Col. 1:15), “The Beginning” and “before all things”…
There are several statements in the New Testament which flatly contradict the Trinitarian claim that Jesus was “co-equal” and “co-eternal” with the Father. Scripture indicates that God performed all of Jesus’ miracles through Him. Jesus had no inherent power or “divine nature” as the source of His miracles. He stated plainly that He was powerless to perform even one thing. He also stated that His Apostles would do the same and more miracles once the…
I am 100% convinced that the earth is slightly less than 6,000 years old. Most Evangelical Christians are also “Young-Earth Creationists,” and take the Genesis creation account literally, as well as the chronological data in the Bible, all of which requires this view. However, Young-Earth Creation ministries often use a particular argument from Romans 5 & 8 in order to counter “Old-Earth Creationists” who claim that the earth itself is billions of years old, some…
In chapter 3 of his Gospel, John went on to support his previous statements about Logos (Word) being “in the beginning with God” (Jn. 1:2) by quoting Jesus’ statement to Nicodemus about testifying to “heavenly things” (Jn. 3:9-12). He then added his own commentary, explaining that the same Son of Man who ascended to heaven previously descended from heaven, thus being an eyewitness to “heavenly things” (Jn. 3:13). He followed this with a quote from…
The prologue to John’s Gospel closes with a claim that all personal appearances of “God” in the Old Testament were actually His Son, His personal Agent. John 1:18 (LGV) “Never before has anyone seen God. The Only-Begotten Son, the one being unto the Father’s bosom, that one declared Him.” This summary statement was intended to amplify what was stated in verse 10, that the same one through whom all things originated also interacted with man…
In John 1:1-5 the apostle wrote of Jesus’ preexistence by claiming that He was “in the beginning,” that He was “with God” (external to God), but that He “was God” (using the personal noun “Theos” which always refers to a personal being). In verse 2 He repeated that He was “in the beginning with God.” In verse 3 John stated that everything that exists originated through Him, and nothing originated without Him. In the fourth…
In John 1:14, the clause, “And the Word became flesh” does not work in either a Trinitarian or Biblical Unitarian model. The meaning of the verb “ginomai” (became) in a predicate nominative construction requires that one person or thing that has a concrete and tangible existence is transformed into something or someone different with a concrete and tangible existence — a complete change in ontological nature, a new beginning as something different. Also, the word…
In episode 7 of this series, we take a close look at John 1:12-14. Verse 13 contains a textual variant which most Christians are not familiar with. The common versions translate this verse as if it referred to Christians, “who were begotten (plural) … out of God.” However, three lines of evidence point to the singular reading, “who was begotten (singular) … out of God,” meaning the “Logos” who afterward “became flesh and dwelled among…
In the context of John 1:10-12, the pronouns (“Him” / “His”) refer to Jesus, the one we must “receive” and “believe in His name.” Yet, these pronouns require an antecedent noun as a referent which is the same gender and number (masculine, singular) as the pronouns. The only possible singular, masculine noun which can be the antecedent for these pronouns is the noun “Logos” (Word) in verse 1. This requires that “Logos” was a personal…
Tonight is PASSOVER, the most awesome time of the year! It was on this night 1993 years ago that Jesus shared His last Passover with His disciples, knowing full well that in the morning He would be hanging on a cross, finishing the work that His Father sent Him here to do. Unfortunately, the Roman church sought to distance Christianity from all things Jewish, abandoning both the Feasts and the Sabbath. Most Christians do not…
In lesson 5 we dig into the Greek text of John 1:3-4. This text was quoted quite differently by the early Christian writers from how it is translated in most of our modern Bibles. The punctuation in all of the critical printed editions of the Greek text of this passage is also ignored in most English versions. When we punctuate these verses as in the printed Greek texts and as quoted by the early Chrsitians,…
John’s prologue was intended to reveal what is rather vague in the Genesis creation account. In this lesson we dissect the Greek grammar of the four clauses contained in John 1:1-2 and answer the question: “Who or what is the ‘Word’ (Logos) in John’s prologue?” Is it the name of a Person as in Trinitarianism? Is it the “words” (commands) “Let there be …” in Genesis 1? Is it an abstract “Plan” in God’s mind?…
The New Testament is clear that the Son of God was concealed in the Old Testament in a “mystery” which Israel did not understand. This concealment was intentional, because it was necessary for God’s plan of redemption to be carried out. A close examination of the Genesis creation account actually illustrates how certain aspects of this “mystery” were concealed. The revelation of the “Mystery of Christ” was given to the Apostles to proclaim plainly. The…
In this second episode we examine the question of the real, essential, and consistent meaning of the word “God” (Heb. Elohim, Gk. Theos). Establishing a clear definition for this word from the biblical usage is absolutely critical simply because it is misused by both Trinitarians and Unitarians in order to prop up their theology. The word simply means the supreme Sovereign holding all authority and all power within a particular realm of dominion. (It does…
I have begun a new video series on the topic of God and His Son. This is a remake of the Bereans Bible Institute Module II series “The Doctrine of God” which was originally done in 2014-2015 when we were first coming out of Trinitarianism. I have studied and learned a great deal since those days, which makes a complete remake of that series necessary. The first episode is an introduction, dealing with the process…
It is not uncommon for Biblical Unitarians to claim that the “Logos of Life” in 1 John 1:1-2 who was “with the Father” was God’s Plan and not God’s Son. The basis for this claim is the very first word in John’s first letter, the Greek word “O.” Most English Bibles translate “O” as “that which” or “What” (as a neuter relative pronoun). Here is how the modern cursive Greek texts render the opening clause:…
Dr. Dale Tuggy did a podcast with Dr. Dustin Smith on the topic of Philippians 2:5-10, attempting to harmonize this passage with Biblical Unitarianism (which denies any form of preexistence for the Son). Philippians 2:5-11 (LGV) 5 Have this disposition in you which [was] also in Anointed Jesus 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider to be equal with God a prize, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming in the…
I was invited by Carlos Xavier to a live discussion with Anthony Buzzard at “Focus on the Kingdom” YouTube channel. The live discussion took place on Saturday, January 21 at 2:00pm. The topic was: “Did the Son of God originate and exist prior to His birth in Bethlehem?” I took the affirmative position, and Anthony Buzzard took the negative position. The notes I used can be downloaded at the following link: Anthony.pdf. I would be…
In his book, The Doctrine of the Trinity, Christianity’s Self-Inflicted Wound, it is apparent that Anthony Buzzard was working from a false presupposition regarding the question of a pre-human existence for the Son of God. He made it plain that any form of literal preexistence is totally incompatible with the biblical belief that Jesus was 100% human, that He only possessed those ontological characteristics which are common to all humans and nothing more. On page…
Recently I wrote a blog post about the divide among Biblical Unitarians concerning the meaning of John’s prologue. It appears that the new interpretation being offered reflects the difficulties that many in the movement are facing as they attempt to engage Trinitarians on this passage. I recently came across the below video debate among Biblical Unitarians on this issue. (If the embedded video does not play on your device, it can be viewed on YouTube…
John 20:26-29 (NASB) 26 And after eight days again His disciples were inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst, and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord…
A few readers of this blog are aware that I was raised in the Plymouth Brethren assemblies. The Brethren went beyond the Protestant Reformation by attempting to restore primitive Christian practices and the kind of church government outlined in the New Testament. Many more readers are aware that I pastored a church in Florida for ten years which was affiliated with the Stone – Campbell Restoration Movement, the division known as the “Independent (or Unaffiliated)…
John 5:16-18 (LGV) 16 And because of this the Judeans were pursuing Jesus and were seeking to kill Him, because He was doing these things on a Sabbath. 17 But Jesus replied to them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” 18 The Judeans then increasingly sought to kill Him because not only was He breaking the Sabbath but was also calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God! In…
In his book, “The Birth of Jesus or the Birth of Christians, An inquiry into the Authenticity of John 1:13,” Catholic theologian Denis S. Kulandaisamy outlined the history of controversary concerning John 1:13. He gave a detailed summary of the scholarly works and their reasoning in favor of the singular reading, “who was begotten” (referring to the Son of God) as opposed to the majority reading, “who were begotten,” (referring to Christians). This variant reading…
In part 1 of this series three important clauses were considered consisting of πᾶς + substantive singular participle. These are incorrectly translated in English versions as “whoever _________.” But these should not be translated as referring to individuals who meet a particular requirement, but instead as referring to the whole collective group as a single entity characterized by the participle: 1. The expression πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων (“whoever believes”) should be “the entire believing [entity].” (John…
Certain non-Trinitarian churches and organizations share many doctrines in common with 4Winds Fellowships, especially those who call their non-Trinitarian theology “Biblical Unitarianism.”[1] However, on the most important doctrine of all – who is Jesus Christ – there is a significant difference. Some Biblical Unitarian authors give the outward appearance of objective scholarship in their treatment of the origin of the so-called “Logos Doctrine” (preexistence of Christ). But in reality, the method of historical research is…
The Apostle Paul used the “body of Christ” metaphor as his way to identify the collective Son of God. He used this term for the local church, all baptized Christians within a local community in fellowship with one another, with Jesus Christ as the head of the body. That this is local is evident from his following statement which can only apply to a local setting, not to all Christians everywhere. 1 Cor. 12:24-27 (NKJV)…
Eph. 1:9 (LGV) 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good intent which He planned within Himself 10 for the administration of the fullness of the appointed times, to sum up everything together in the Anointed – what is in the sky and what is on the land — in Him. Paul explained that the goal of God’s ultimate plan for this creation, which He devised within Himself,…
The New Testament contains a common, theologically significant, expression which is incorrectly translated in most English versions. This provides false implications which affect more than one theological point. The expression πᾶς + substantive singular participle is translated either as “whoever believes,” “whoever is born/begotten” (of God, or of the Spirit), or “whoever loves.” 1. The expression πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων (“whoever believes”) appears in John 3:15,16, John 12:46, Acts 10:43; Rom. 10:11; 1 John 5:1. 2….
Baptist Greek scholar, A. T. Robertson, noted in his Word Pictures in the New Testament that there are two ways of punctuating and reading John 1:3-4. The old Greek manuscripts did not have punctuation, which at times allows more than one way of reading a particular passage, particularly the exact point where a sentence ends and a new sentence begins. This is because often in Greek a sentence begins with a dependent clause rather than…
While describing the role of the “Word” (Logos) in the creation, that He was “with God” in the beginning, that He was “the only-begotten of the Father” who “became flesh,” John briefly called John the Baptist as a direct witness to Jesus’ pre-human existence. John 1:15 (NIV) 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because…
John’s prologue (John 1:1-18) has long been one of the primary passages in support of God’s Son having a preexistence before His human birth and an active role in the creation of all things. The connection between the opening statement of Genesis and the opening statement of John’s Gospel (“In the beginning”) has not been challenged in Christian history until rather recently. Certain modern Biblical Unitarians, finding seriously problematic the usual explanation of John’s prologue…
It is evident from John’s Gospel that the scribes and Pharisees had big problems with Jesus’ claims about Himself. These included His statements that He came down from heaven[1] and that He was the Son of God (God was His Father), which they concluded made Him “equal with God” in essence.[2] Jesus affirmed this also by claiming to have “issued forth out of God.”[3] Yet, John is not alone among the Gospel narratives which quote…
The very first thing Jesus warned His followers to expect after His ascension was deception. Matt. 24:3-6 (NKJV) 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For…
The identity of Mystery Babylon in Revelation 17-18 is disputed by many. Some claim she is Jerusalem, others Rome, New York city, the United Nations, Washington DC, or the United States. A few interpreters claim that the ancient city of Babylon in Iraq will be rebuilt in order to fulfill this prophecy. However, most of these identifications and interpretations are the result of a very narrow historical perspective, looking at prophecy merely in relation to…
Paul followed the instructions regarding “supervisors” in 1 Timothy 3 with instructions regarding both male and female “servants” of the assembly. Most translations use the term “deacon” as a title, a transliteration of the Greek word διάκονος (diakonos). This is a noun derived from the verb διάκω and means to run errands.[1] This term is to be distinguished from the term δοῦλός (doulos) which means a slave. Both terms refer to someone under the authority…
In the first chapter of 1 Timothy, Paul reminded Timothy of the primary reason that he stationed him at Ephesus, to rein in the current elders and to caution them not to teach anything contrary to, or in addition to, what Paul had personally taught them.[1] Yet he also wanted Timothy to be on the lookout for other men who showed potential for holding the office of “Supervisor” in the local assembly. In his second…
As we saw in the previous post in the “Timothy” series, Paul gave his protege a charge which consisted of several specific commands intended to prioritize his teaching to the leaders of the Ephesian assembly. Paul’s initial command, which he prefixed with the words “first of all,” dealt with what Timothy was to teach concerning the Christian community’s stance towards the civil authorities. This topic was first in priority because humble submission to civil authority…
In Jesus’ Olivet Discourse (recorded in Matthew 24 & Mark 13) He gave a series of things that must come to pass yet are not necessarily signs that His coming is near. These included many who come claiming to speak and act by the authority of Jesus’ name, yet they are deceivers.[1] There also must be wars, reports of wars, nation against nation, famines, plagues (including mass diseases), and earthquakes in various places.[2] All of…
Luke 17:26-30 (NKJV) 26 “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they…
In the first eleven verses of 1 Timothy, Paul reminded his protégé Timothy of the primary reason he stationed him in Ephesus: “so that you may relay to some not to teach contrary, nor give regard to fabrications and unsubstantiated genealogies which produce disputes instead of the edification of God which is through faith.” The goal was to keep this growing assembly on track, teaching those things that lead to edification and maturing of the…
Many so-called prophecy experts have predicted that Russia will invade Israel just prior to the last seven-year time of tribulation. Some of them are now sounding the alarm, most notably Pat Robertson, given Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. They interpret the “God-Magog” war of Ezekiel 38-39 as occurring prior to the coming of the Antichrist. However, this is a misunderstanding of the text. That war does not occur until the very end of the Millennial Sabbath,…