![]() ![]() Running just over 130 pages, it leaves the reader hungry for more examples and more detailed analysis. Though serious scholarship underlies the work, it aims to teach the general public what it means to think of Jesus as an observant Jew versed in and devoted to the Torah. (A growing minority of Scripture scholars consider that our present Greek gospels are translations of Hebrew or Aramaic originals and that they are best understood when read that way. To understand Jesus, therefore, one must appreciate the Hebraic/Jewish background of the Greek gospels. The major premise is: the "Hebraic mindset" (-language, thought, culture, idioms) is far removed from the Greek. It was not the only option the church explored, but it is the one that eventually becomes dominant."It is indeed unfortunate that of all the New Testament writings, the words and sayings of Jesus himself are the most difficult to understand." So begins this remarkable little book.The minor premise is undisputed: Jesus was Jewish. Jesus still does what he does to honor and obey the God who is other than his own person.Īs the church tried to reconcile the various titles given Jesus in the New Testament and their experiences of the Spirit in their worship with their belief in one God, doctrines like the Trinity developed. ![]() A similar relationship is found in 1 Corinthians 15 and in the sayings of Jesus in John in which Jesus identifies himself so closely with God. All the recognition that Christ receives points beyond itself so that its goal is honoring God. ![]() Now verse 11, the conclusion of the hymn is important: all of this recognition of Christ leads to the central goal, all of it is done to bring glory to God. Then it says that all the cosmos will recognize the Rule (the Lordship) of God. Still, Christ is obedient to God and raised by God. It sees Jesus as God’s agent in creation and in sustaining the cosmos. Most scholars think that this is an early Christian hymn. It might be helpful to look at passages like Philippians 2:6-11. Jesus is a manifestation of God’s presence and word, but not the same being. So it is certainly an exalted identity when John writes those opening verses, but he never equates the God of Israel with Jesus. This personification Wisdom can be called “god” by good Jewish writers (especially Philo of Alexandria). Wisdom is said to be God’s agent in creation, as Paul says about Christ. Most scholars of John compare this passage to statements about Wisdom as a personified characteristic of God. ![]() Even when the opening of John says that the “Word was God,” the meaning is not that there is not distinction between God and Jesus. Texts that have Jesus say things such as “The Father and I are one,” are best understood as assertions that the will of Jesus and that of God are one. Even those who call Jesus Lord maintain a difference between the risen Christ as Lord and the God who raised him from the dead and exalted him. Perhaps the next thing to say is that all New Testament authors consistently and clearly distinguish between God and Jesus Christ. There are a lot of texts that people have drawn on to support this doctrine, but no New Testament authors actually have that understanding. That doctrine did not develop into what we know as the Trinity until the 4 th century. Not New Testament writer held the doctrine of the Trinity. The way this question is formulated seems to presuppose an understanding of God as Trinity, even if that seems unacceptable. It is hard for us to think about the identity of Jesus as it is seen in the New Testament because we have 2,000 years of development of thought between us and those writings. Juan asks: If Jesus was God, then why did he pray to the father? Was he talking to himself? When the voice of God spoke at his Baptism and Holy Spirit descended as a dove, why are they referred to as separate entities (and why the need for David Copperfield)? Keep the questions coming in the Comments section below or on Facebook! Your comments on Sumney’s answers are also welcome below. The first question comes from our Facebook inquiry last week (to which many of you responded) and is from Juan L. Professor Sumney will be answering your questions about the Bible for the next several weeks here at the Faith Forward blog (subscribe to the blog on the right so as not to miss any of the series!). ![]()
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