The Truth about Oneness and the Trinity
Version 2
By Mark Farquharson
The doctrine of Oneness: There is one entity that is manifested in the three different forms. Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit are all the one God. Since God is one person in three forms, then the Father, the Son and the Spirit are all the one God. Thus in this doctrine the Son is the Father and the Father is the Son. But if the Father is the Son how can He be the Father? A Son can not be His own Father, that is impossible. This doctrine is also known as Modalism.
Husband and Wife one Flesh:
Matthew 19:5-6 and He said, 'On this account a man shall be leaving father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh'? So that no longer are they two, but one flesh. What God, then, yokes together, let not man be separating." {CLV}
This is used in support of oneness, but this does not support Oneness. This can not be used for Oneness, for the Wife does not become the husband, nor does the husband became the wife. The wife is not the husband, and the husband is not the wife.
The Trinity: Is the concept that God is three persons, those being the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Together they make up the Godhead. There is only one God, in three persons, not three gods. A lot of people believe this, but is it true, or is it just another Church tradition that has no basis in fact?
If together they are the one god, then separately they can not be the one god. For if each is a part of the one god, that is god has three parts, then each part can not be totally the one god. Therefore each part is not god, only a part.
One can wounder why it is three, why not more, there are a lot of names in the bible for God, does each one of these represent a different person? Clear you would say that this is not the case. Each of these other names can be linked to one of the three persons, what a relief I would not want a god who is numerous persons. Does this mean he has three minds?, each with independent thought. How does God know what he is doing if he is three persons?
There are different views on the Trinity, but one of the views is that each person in the Trinity has their own will, that is God has three wills. Each will makes up part of the godhead. If God has three wills that can act independently, then how is it that he is one God? Three wills to me means three gods. You can not have three wills and one god. For indeed if each of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit have their own will, then they can not all be the one almightily God.
God: It is true that there is only one Almighty God.
Elohim: Hebrew word which a plural of a word meaning a deity or god, but specifically used of the supreme God.
In the scriptures Elohim does occasionally refer to a plurality of the only supreme God’s beings. Reference is made in these cases to the plural number of the beings. However mostly where Elohim is used it refers to the only Supreme God.
Deuteronomy 4:35 You were shown this to know that Yahweh, He is the only Elohim. There is no one else aside from Him. {CLV}
Deuteronomy 4:39 so you know today, and you recall it to your heart that Yahweh, He is the only Elohim in the heavens above and on the earth beneath; there is no one else. {CLV}
Mostly in the New Testament where the term “God” is used it refers to the only supreme God. However occasionally it does refer to a different “god” who is not the Supreme God.
One God the Father:
1 Corinthians 8:6 nevertheless for us there is one God, the Father,…..{CLV}
Jesus is called God by Thomas:
John 20:28-29 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Now Jesus is saying to him, "Seeing that you have seen Me, you have believed. Happy are those who are not perceiving and believe." {CLV}
Thomas called Jesus: My Lord and my God. However that does not mean that Thomas meant that Jesus was God the Father, for Thomas did not say that. Jesus is God, but he is not God, the Father. It also did not mean that Jesus is the Supreme God.
John 20:31 Yet these are written that you should be believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, believing, you may have life eonian in His name." {CLV}
You should be believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. If Jesus is the Son of God, then God is his Father, and Jesus is not God, the Father.
Matthew 16:16 Now answering, Simon Peter said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." {CLV}
Simon Peter call Christ the Son of the living God. If Jesus is the Son, then he can not be the living God himself. A Son can not be his own Father. What then did Thomas mean?
Just because there is only one almighty God and the Son can be called God, it does not follow that the Son is the one Almighty God, the Supreme God.
The word god is a title, it is wrong to think that every time it is used in the scriptures that it refers to the one almighty God. Just because the Son is refer to as God, that does not make him the almighty God or the Father. It also does not mean He is part of a Trinity or a godhead. There is God the Father and there is the Son who can also be refer to as God, but He is not the Almighty God.
Lord: The Father is called Lord, and the Son is called Lord. That does not make them the same Lord and it does not make the Father, the Son or the Son, the Father. Nor does it mean that there is a Trinity or a godhead. God and Lord are titles, and can be applied to more than one person.
There is One God, the Father:
1 Corinthians 8:5-6 For even if so be that there are those being termed gods, whether in heaven or on earth, even as there are many gods and many lords, nevertheless for us there is one God, the Father, out of Whom all is, and we for Him, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom all is, and we through Him." {CLV}
The first thing to note is that there are “those being termed gods, whether in heaven or on earth.” Not only are there those term “gods,” but in fact there are “many gods and many lords.” Thus there is many gods, not only one god.
Here there is only one God, the Father, not one God only. There is only one God, the Father, there are not any more. The one God here is specifically the Father. It also says there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, and yes there is only one of him as well. There is no mention of the Lord, Jesus Christ, being the Father.
To understand the next reference you need to go to the beginning of the chapter that it is in:
John 17:1 These things speaks Jesus, and lifting His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, come has the hour. Glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son should be glorifying Thee, {CLV}
Jesus is talking to his Father.
John 17:3 Now it is eonian life that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Him Whom Thou dost commission, Jesus Christ." {CLV}
Jesus is still talking to His Father. The only true God is His Father, to whom He is speaking. It is His Father that dost commission Him. Thus the One God is again specifically the Father. Jesus is another God, apart from the Father.
To understand the next reference you need to go to these verses:
Galatians 4:4 Now when the full time came, God delegates His Son, come of a woman, come under law, " {CLV}
Galatians 4:6-7 Now, seeing that you are sons, God delegates the spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying "Abba! Father!" So that you are no longer a slave, but a son. Now if a son, an enjoyer also of an allotment from God, through Christ." {CLV}
God delegates His Son, thus the God it is talking about is the Father. The allotment is from the Father, God, through His Son Christ. Now on to the proof text used:
Galatians 4:8-9 But then, indeed, having no perception of God, you were slaves of those who, by nature, are not gods." Yet now, knowing God, yet rather being known by God, how are you turning back again to the infirm and poor elements for which you want to slave again anew? {CLV}
The God here that it is talking about is the Father, as that is the God that is mentioned in the previous verses.
Thus none of these verses prove that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one god. The God in each case is the Father. It does not say an any of these texts that the one god is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
People term gods:
Psalms 82:6 I Myself have said: you are elohim, And sons of the Supreme are all of you." {CLV}
The people are called gods, and sons of the Supreme God. Jesus makes reference to this:
John 10:33-36 The Jews answered Him, "For an ideal act we are not stoning you, but for blasphemy, and that you, being a man, are making yourself God." Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, that 'I say you are gods'? " If He said those were gods, to whom the word of God came (and the scripture can not be annulled), are you saying to Him Whom the Father hallows and dispatches into the world that 'You are blaspheming,' seeing that I said, 'Son of God am I'? {CLV}
Jesus is also a 'Son of God, and is not the Supreme God. For he makes reference to the point that it is written that 'I say you are gods.' Just because a person can be termed a god, that does not make him the supreme God. Jesus says that he is a 'Son of God’ but like others term “god,” he is not the Supreme God.
The word “God” does not mean supreme God, it can be used of the Supreme God, but it can be used of others as well. It is a title that can be applied to many. Neither does it mean supremacy or unoriginated or uncreated. It is true that it is used of the Supreme God, who is unoriginated and uncreated. While Supremacy, uncreated and unoriginated related to the One God, the Father, it does not mean that they are true of, or indicated by the word “God” itself. Any other beings refer to as god, are not the One Supreme God. They were created by the One Supreme God, who is himself uncreated.
Jesus, people and spirit beings {messengers, angels} are sometimes in the scriptures refer to as god or gods. However that does not mean Jesus, people or angels are the Supreme God, or unoriginated or uncreated. While all those others can be term God, there is one only true God, who is the supreme almighty one alone.
John 17:3 Now it is eonian life that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Him Whom Thou dost commission, Jesus Christ." {CLV}
The only True God that dost commission, Jesus Christ, who being commissioned is not the supreme one. For Jesus was commissioned which means he can not be the only true God.
The Throne of Elohim:
Psalms 45:6-7 Your throne, O Elohim, is for the eon and further; A scepter of equity is the scepter of Your kingdom." You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore Elohim Your Elohim has anointed You With the oil of elation beyond Your partners. {CLV}
Psalms 45:6-7 Thy throne, O God, is to times age-abiding and beyond, A sceptre of equity, is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated lawlessness,—For this cause, hath God, thine own God, anointed thee, With the oil of gladness, beyond thy partners. {REB}
“Therefore Elohim Your Elohim has anointed You.” “For this cause, hath God, thine own God, anointed thee.” This God, has a God, that anointed Him. That is One God has anointed the other God. Therefore this verse is talking about two beings that are both can be called Elohim or God. It is God, the Father that has anointed His Son.
Christ who is the Image of the Invisible God:
An image is not the original, but a copy. A problem for Oneness.
2 Corinthians 4:4 in whom the god of this eon blinds the apprehensions of the unbelieving so that the illumination of the evangel of the glory of Christ, Who is the Image of the invisible God, does not irradiate them." {CLV}
Colossians 1:15 Who is the Image of the invisible God, Firstborn of every creature, {CLV}
If Christ is the image, then he can not be God himself. In both these cases the God here is the Father. Jesus is the image of His Father. Being the image, Christ can not be the original, the Father. Christ is the Firstborn of every creature, He is the first being created by the Father.
Is “godhead” in the Bible:
Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily {KJV}
Colossians 2:9 Christ, for in Him the entire complement of the Deity is dwelling bodily. {CLV}
Godhead from the Greek word “Theotes.” Theotes: Greek word meaning: divinity. Comes from the Greek word “theos” which means a deity. In the KJV and some other translations it is translated “godhead.”
Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. {KJV}
Acts 17:29 The race, then, is inherently of God; we ought not to be inferring that the Divine is like gold, or silver, or stone, a sculpture of art and human sentiment." {CLV}
Godhead from the Greek word “Theios.” Theios: From “theos” which means a deity, means godlike, divine.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: {KJV}
Romans 1:20 For His invisible attributes are descried from the creation of the world, being apprehended by His achievements, besides His imperceptible power and divinity, for them to be defenseless, {CLV}
Godhead from the Greek word “Theiotes.” Theiotes: From Theios, meaning divinity.
In each of these case the Greek words should not be translated “godhead.”
Thus the new Testament when translated correctly does not mention a godhead. The KJV, the REB and the CLV of the Old Testament do not mention a godhead. However the YLT does mention godhead one time:
Psalms 8:5 And causest him to lack a little of Godhead, And with honour and majesty compassest him. {YLT}
Godhead is translated from the Hebrew word “Elohim.” In other places the YLT translates it God or gods. Thus it should not be translated “godhead” here.
The Two Wills
John 4:34 Jesus is saying to them, "My food is that I should be doing the will of Him Who sends Me, and should be perfecting His work. {CLV}
The above verse shows that the Son, Jesus is doing the work of the Father, not his own work. Jesus is doing the will of Him who sent him, not his own will. In the verse below we see that the Son is doing the will of the Father, the one who sent him, Jesus did not send himself, his Father sent him.
John 6:37-39 All that which the Father is giving to Me shall be arriving to Me, and he who is coming to Me I should under no circumstances be casting out, for I have descended from heaven, not that I should be doing My will, but the will of Him Who sends Me. Now this is the will of Him Who sends Me, that all which He has given to Me, of it I should be losing nothing, but I shall be raising it in the last day. {CLV}
Jesus reveals here that he has his own will, but that he is not doing it. In fact Jesus says the he is doing the will of the one who send him. That is there are two wills, one of the Son, and one of the Father. He says: “not that I should be doing My will.” That is Jesus has his own separate will, from the Father’s will. Jesus was actually doing the Father’s will, not his own. Thus Jesus is not the Father, for each have their own will.
Luke 22:41-42 And He is pulled away from them about a stone's throw, and kneeling, He prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Thy intention, carry aside this cup from Me. However, not My will, but Thine, be done!" {CLV}
Matthew 26:39 And coming forward a little, He falls on His face, praying and saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass by from Me. However, not as I will, but as Thou!" {CLV}
Jesus was praying that it was possible the cup pass from him, that is he was in opposition to what the Father wanted. For he did not want to suffer and endure on the cross, but he submitted to the Father’s will, not his own. Jesus said: “not My will, but Thine, be done” that is he has his own will, And the Father his a will. That is there are two wills here, Jesus’ will and the Father’s will.
If Jesus is the Father, then how was it he had two separate wills that were opposing at the same time on the same topic. For if he is the Father he only has one will, but in these verses there are two. Surely the Father only has one will. If Jesus is the Father, then the Father has two wills, that were opposing each other. There being two wills as the scriptures say, Jesus’ will and the Father’s will that to me means that Jesus is Not the Father.
Does the Will of Him who Sent Him:
John 4:34 Jesus is saying to them, "My food is that I should be doing the will of Him Who sends Me, and should be perfecting His work." {CLV}
The Father sent him, if he is the Father, then surely he sent himself, and surely he is doing his own will.
John 6:38 for I have descended from heaven, not that I should be doing My will, but the will of Him Who sends Me." {CLV}
Jesus descended from heaven, not to be doing His Will, BUT the will of Him that sent Jesus. That is he has his own will, but he was not doing it, he was doing the will of the Father. If he was the Father he would have be doing his own will, but he said himself, that he was not. That means He can not be the Father.
Jesus has His own Spirit:
God, the Father create the Son, that means he can not be the ultimate God, he is a separate person, with his own mind {soul}, body, and spirit. A man has a son, it is not him, it is his son. Jesus Christ is God’s representative. Christ is the "Image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15) and does accepted and deserved worship. However no man-made images deserve worship.
Remember Jesus Christ died on the cross, God the Father can NOT DIE!!!. And Christ was raised from the dead, who raise him from the dead, if he was the ultimate God? Who looked after his spirit while he was dead, if he was the ultimate God?
Luke 23: 46 And shouting with a loud voice, Jesus said, "Father, into Thy hands am I committing My spirit." Now, saying this, He expires. {CLV}
Jesus committed his spirit to the Father. Who did he commit his spirit to if he is the Father? Why did he say Father, if he is the Father? Who did he call Father? This rules out Oneness.
Jesus did not go and see any spirits while he was dead, he was dead, and could do nothing. The dead can do nothing, for they are dead. He went to the spirits after he was raised from the dead, however these where not spirits of dead people, these where evil spirits. For more on death refer to my article: “What is Death”
God raised Jesus Christ from the Dead:
Christ was raised from the dead, who raise him from the dead, if he was God?
Acts 17:30-31 Indeed, then, condoning the times of ignorance, God is now charging mankind that all everywhere are to repent, forasmuch as He assigns a day in which He is about to be judging the inhabited earth in righteousness by the Man Whom He specifies, tendering faith to all, raising Him from among the dead - " {CLV}
This tells us that God has assigned a day in which He is about to be judging the inhabited earth in righteousness by the Man Whom He specifies. Thus God has specified a man, this man is Jesus Christ.
It also clearly tells us that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, Christ did not raise himself from the dead. There was no way Jesus Christ could raise himself from the dead. His spirit was with God, his Father, there was nothing He could do.
1 Corinthians 6:14-15 Now God rouses the Lord also, and will be rousing us up through His power." Are you not aware that your bodies are members of Christ? {CLV}
God, being the Father rouses the Lord, and He will be rousing up the body of Christ, that is the brethren, when the Lord Jesus Christ returns.
Acts 10:38-42 Jesus from Nazareth, as God anoints Him with holy spirit and power, Who passed through as a benefactor and healer of all those who are tyrannized over by the Adversary, for God was with Him." And we are witnesses of all that He does, both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; Whom they assassinate also, hanging Him on a pole." This One God rouses the third day, and gives Him to become disclosed, not to the entire people, but to witnesses who have been selected before by God, to us who ate and drank together with Him after His rising from among the dead." And He charges us to herald to the people and to certify that this One is He Who is specified by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. {CLV}
God the Father anointed Jesus, and God roused Him on the third day. It is also God who gives Jesus to become disclosed, not to the entire people, but to witnesses who have been selected before by God. This confirms that the One Who is specified by God to be Judge of the living and the dead is Jesus. He did not specify himself.
Jesus Subjected to God:
1 Corinthians 15:23 Yet each in his own class: the Firstfruit, Christ; thereupon those who are Christ's in His presence;" thereafter the consummation, whenever He may be giving up the kingdom to His God and Father, whenever He should be nullifying all sovereignty and all authority and power." {CLV}
Jesus Christ gives up the kingdom to His God and Father.
In the view of Oneness, Christ is the Father. If Christ is the Father, then he would not have to give it up, as he would already have the kingdom. How does one give up something to himself, for he would still have it?
1 Corinthians 15:27 For He subjects all under His feet. Now whenever He may be saying that all is subject, it is evident that it is outside of Him Who subjects all to Him." {CLV}
1 Corinthians 15:27 for all things He did put under his feet, and, when one may say that all things have been subjected, it is evident that He is excepted who did subject the all things to him, {YLT}
Jesus subjects all under his feet. All have been subjected to Jesus expect the one who did subject all to Jesus. Since there is one who subjected all to Jesus, then this must be another one apart from Jesus. The one who is subjecting all to Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:28 Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all." {CLV}
And when all are subject to Jesus, then the Son himself shall be subject to God, who did subject all to Jesus that God will be all in all.
Since Jesus himself is subjected to God, then He can not be the ultimate God. To be the ultimate God the Almighty, he can not be subjected, ruled by God. Since he is subjected to another, he is not the almighty.
All Inside of Christ:
When Colossians states that all is created in him, does it mean the entire universe is inside Christ?
Colossians 1:15-16 Who is the Image of the invisible God, Firstborn of every creature, for in Him is all created, that in the heavens and that on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or sovereignties, or authorities, all is created through Him and for Him, {CLV}
Jesus Christ is the image of God, and in him is all created. Note it does not say all was created by him, it was created in him. But what does it mean by all?
Firstborn of every creature, for in Him is all created: Jesus is the first born of every creature. The all is referring to all those termed creatures, that is in the heavens and that on the earth. In this case it is all the Spirit Beings, all the People and all the Animals. These are the all that is inside the heavens and on the earth.
It does not say the heavens or the earth themselves. If I create all that is inside a house, for instance the furniture it does not mean I have created the house itself. This does not say that the entire universe is inside of Christ.
Colossians 1:18-20 And He is the Head of the body, the ecclesia, Who is Sovereign, Firstborn from among the dead, that in all He may be becoming first, for in Him the entire complement delights to dwell, and through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens."{CLV}
Jesus is the Firstborn from among the dead. The entire complement will delight to dwell in him. That is this entire complement well delight, or be joyful. The entire complement, is all that in the heavens and that on the earth. That is the Spirit Beings, all the People and all the Animals. These are the ones that will be reconciled to him. The current earth and the current heavens, the sky and space, will not be reconciled to Christ.
Holy Spirit:
In Oneness the Holy Spirit is a form of the one god, that has three forms, the other two being the Father and the Son. However I have shown that Jesus has his own separate will, which disproves Oneness.
In the Trinity the Holy Spirit has His own will, as does the Father and the Son. They together form the one god as a part of a godhead. With each having their own will how can they be one god? As I have shown when the New Testament mentions one God, it is talking about the Father.
What then of the Holy Spirit, since there is no actual godhead. Is it part of God, the Father, or is it a separate person with it’s own will?
Is this proof text that it has it’s own will?
1 Corinthians 12:11 Now all these one and the same spirit is operating, apportioning to each his own, according as He is intending." {CLV}
Intending: translated “will” in the KJV.
The spirit being the Holy spirit is operating, apportioning to each his own, according as He is intending. That is according as the holy spirit is intending. This does sound like it has a will. However if it is God the Father’s spirit then it is how He is intending.
1 Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I am making known to you that no one, speaking by God's spirit, is saying, "Anathema is Jesus. And no one is able to say "Lord is Jesus except by holy spirit." {CLV}
Thus the Holy Spirit is God's spirit. The question then is, which God is this talking about? Back in 1 Corinthians 8:4-6, God is refer to as the Father. God's spirit or the Holy Spirit, is the Father’s spirit. Also in 2 Corinthians 1:3 & 11:31, God is refer to as the Father of Jesus Christ.
Is the Holy Spirit called God:
Acts 5:3-4 Now Peter said, "Ananias, wherefore does Satan fill your heart for you to falsify to the holy spirit and to embezzle from the price of the freehold? Did it not, while remaining, remain yours? And, being disposed of, it belonged to you by right. Why is it that you placed this matter in your heart? You do not lie to men, but to God." {CLV}
Ananias falsified to the Holy Spirit, he lied to God.
Acts 5:30 Now the God of our fathers rouses Jesus, on Whom you lay hands, hanging Him on a pole." {CLV}
Which God rouse Jesus from the dead?
Luke 23: 46 And shouting with a loud voice, Jesus said, "Father, into Thy hands am I committing My spirit." Now, saying this, He expires. {CLV}
Jesus committed His own spirit to His Father. Since His Father had His spirit, then it was His Father that raised Him from the dead. Thus the God in Acts 5:30 is God the Father and Ananias lied to God the Father, falsifying to His Spirit.
Jesus is the Son of God the Father:
The following verses show that Jesus is the Son, and not the Father:
2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, {CLV}
2 Corinthians 11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, Who is blessed for the eons, is aware that I am not lying. " {CLV}
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who blesses us with every spiritual blessing among the celestials, in Christ, {CLV}
Ephesians 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may be giving you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the realization of Him, {CLV}
Colossians 1:3 We are thanking the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always praying concerning you, {CLV}
God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is not His own Father, and He is not His own God. Since Jesus has a Father, he is not the Father.
John 3:35 "The Father is loving the Son and has given all into His hand. {CLV}
The Father has given all to the Son, if the Son was the Father, then He would already have all, would He not? If the Son is the Father then who is loving him, for there is not another Father.
The Father loves the Son, and the Son loves his disciples:
John 15:8-9 In this is My Father glorified, that you may be bringing forth much fruit, and you shall become My disciples. "According as the Father loves Me, I, also, love you. Remain in My love. {CLV}
If Jesus is the Father, then who is loving him? Is it another Father? there is only one Father, and since the Father is loving him, Jesus can not be the Father.
Equal With God:
Philippians 2:5-6 For let this disposition be in you, which is in Christ Jesus also, Who, being inherently in the form of God, deems it not pillaging to be equal with God, {CLV}
Jesus was in the form of God. That does not mean He was God, but in the same form. For instance all humans have the same form or shape. God here is God the Father. Jesus deems it not pillaging to be equal with God. This actual proves He is not God. If one human, called Ben, is equal with another human called Ian, it does not mean they are the same person. They are not the same person, however in someway they are equals. Thus in certain ways Jesus is equal with God, but not in always, for he is not God, but God’s equal.
Philippians 2:7-8 nevertheless empties Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming to be in the likeness of humanity, and, being found in fashion as a human, He humbles Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." {CLV}
Jesus emptied Himself, and took a different form, that of a slave. That is a different form from the one He had, which was in the form of God, the Father, but not actual the Father.
The Name Above Every Name:
Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore, also, God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father." {CLV}
Jesus did not exalt himself, it was God who highly exalt Jesus. Thus His Father exalt Him. God graced Him with the name that is above every name. He did not give himself the name, God His Father give him the name.
The three “every” in the text are meaning the same group. “Every” here meaning everyone else in the celestial and terrestrial and subterranean. Jesus’ name then is above everyone else’s name, whether Spirit Beings, Humans or Animals. However that does not mean His name is above that of God’s name, Yahweh. One could argue that “Every name” could mean above that of the name Yahweh as well. However the “every knee” and “every tongue” does not include that of God the Father. Jesus’ Father is not bowing to Him, or acclaiming him. Everyone that is “acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord” is doing this for the Father’s Glory. They are not said to be acclaiming that He is God. It is not Jesus’ glory that they are doing this for, but “for the glory of God, the Father.”
God Was the Word?
John 1:1 In the beginning was the word, and the word was toward God, and God was the word. " {CLV}
A lot of people use this verse to prove that Jesus Christ is God, that they are the same being, but is that what it is really saying? The word here is of course Jesus, I am not disputing that. Later in John 1, it tells us that the word become flesh:
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and tabernacles among us, and we gaze at His glory, a glory as of an only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." {CLV}
Jesus was the word that became flesh. However it is tell us that He is the son, for He is the only-begotten from the Father. Which means Jesus is the Son and not the Father, He is not God, but what of John 1:1? Lets examine it.
“And the word was toward God”
What is this part telling us? The key word here is “toward.” If I say Jack looked toward Kate. You would correctly think that the two are separate people with one looking at the other, they are not the same person. This is telling us that they are not the same person, because one is toward the other. If something is toward the other thing then it can not be the same thing. Thus it actually disproves Oneness.
There is those who say it should read:
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; {YLT}
“Word was with God”
Should it be “with” or “toward”? I do not know if it should be “with” or “toward.”
However if it is “with,” that still does not mean “Word” is God the Father. For if a human son is with his human father, then that does not make him his human father, for that is impossible. They are with each other, but they are not each other.
But what about? “God was the word,” or “the Word was God.”
This does not prove that Jesus Christ and God the Father are the same person, or same being. Also it does not prove that the Son is the Supreme God, or part of a godhead. This is not what John is trying to proving here to the Jews. Since Jesus was with God, that is with the supreme God, that is with His Father, that means He is not His Father and he is not the supreme God. Jesus can be called God, but He is not the Almighty God, for He is the Son of the Living God. This God, the Son, was the word that became flesh, but the Father did not become flesh and the Supreme God did nto become flesh.
Who has seen Me has seen the Father:
John 14:8-10 Philip is saying to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficing us." Jesus is saying to him, "So much time I am with you, and you do not know Me, Philip! He who has seen Me has seen the Father, and how are you saying, 'Show us the Father'? Are you not believing that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The declarations which I am speaking to you I am not speaking from Myself. Now the Father, remaining in Me, He is doing His works." {CLV}
Jesus here is not saying he is the Father. For Jesus says that he is in the Father, and the Father is in him. If he was the Father, then he could have just said “I am the Father.” However Jesus did not say that, he said “in.” That is one is in the other spiritually. Just like the Holy Spirit is in side of the members of the body, just like Jesus is inside the members of the body. However that does not make the members of the body actual Jesus. Notice Jesus was not doing his own works, it is the Father that is doing His work.
Jesus is not actually speaking of himself. For Jesus said: “The declarations which I am speaking to you I am not speaking from Myself.” These were not his own declarations, they did not come form Jesus. He was not speaking them from himself, they came from someone else. These declarations came form the Father. Now if he is the Father, then these would have been his own declarations. Since these are not his declarations then he is not the Father.
It should be further noted that the scriptures tell us that God is invisible, 2 Corinthians 4:4 & Colossians 1:15. Since the Father is invisible, how has anyone actually seen him.
Jesus said He was Not God:
Mark 10:17-18 And at His going out into the road, lo! one certain rich man, running toward Him and falling on his knees before Him, inquired of Him, "Good Teacher! What shall I be doing that I should be enjoying the allotment of life eonian? Now Jesus said to him, "Why are you terming Me good? No one is good except One, God." {CLV}
Note Jesus said: "Why are you terming Me good? No one is good except One, God."
Jesus questioned him, asking why the person had called him good, and then explained that the only good one was God. Meaning he was not the good one, but only God was. Thus stated that he was not God. Meaning he was not the ultimate God, the Father.
The Lord is the spirit
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the spirit; yet where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." {CLV}
The Lord here is Jesus, not the Lord God the Father.
This spirit is the holy spirit. However that does not mean that Jesus is the Father. The Holy Spirit is in Jesus, and this is God’s spirit, but that does not make him God the Father. For the Holy Spirit is inside all the members of the body.
Does Isaiah 9:6 Say that Jesus is the Father?
Isaiah 9:6 For a Child hath been born to us, A Son hath been given to us, And the princely power is on his shoulder, And He doth call his name Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. {YLT}
The child here is of course Jesus, but is it really saying he is the Father? It is saying his name, not who he is. The name is Jesus’ characteristics. When it says “Mighty God, Father of Eternity,” these are Jesus’ characteristics, which are the characteristics of the Father. Names in the ancient Jewish culture have meanings. There are many names of Jesus in the scriptures, these have meanings. Lets look at American Indian names such as "Running wolf" or "Fighting Bear." Clearly someone called "Running wolf" was not an actual running wolf. Similarly Jesus is called the Lamb, but he is not actually a lamb. Names of people in the scriptures have meanings, like “Isaac” means "laughter" and “Noah” means "rest" or "peace." Thus in Isaiah 9:6 the name of the coming Messiah will be Mighty God, Eternal Father, etc these are the characteristics of the Messiah.
Jesus talks to God:
In the book of John, Jesus talks to God for All of chapter 17, here is part of it:
John 17: 1 These things speaks Jesus, and lifting His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, come has the hour. Glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son should be glorifying Thee,
2 according as Thou givest Him authority over all flesh, that everything which Thou hast given to Him, He should be giving it to them, even life eonian.
3 Now it is eonian life that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Him Whom Thou dost commission, Jesus Christ.
4 "I glorify Thee on the earth, finishing the work which Thou hast given Me, that I should be doing it.
5 "And now glorify Thou Me, Father, with Thyself, with the glory which I had before the world is with Thee.
6 I manifest Thy name to the men whom Thou givest Me out of the world. Thine they were, and to Me Thou givest them, and Thy word they have kept.
7 Now they know that all, whatever Thou hast given Me, is from Thee,
8 for the declarations which Thou hast given Me, I have given them, and they took them, and know truly that I came out from Thee, and they believe that thou dost commission Me. {CLV}
Here Jesus is talking to his Father, God! He is not talking to himself, as some claim, this claim is complete rubbish. We can see that the Father has given the Son authority over all flesh, that is every living thing. There is no need for the Father to give the Son authority, if he, the Son is God the Father, because he would already have this authority. The Father has given the Son work, and commission the Son.
The ones that get eonian life may know “the only true God, and Him Whom Thou dost commission, Jesus Christ.” That is they may know the Father and the Son. Not just God, but also his Son. No trinity here, or duopoly either.
Saviour:
The only almighty God, the Father is the ultimate saviour. Jesus Christ is also called “saviour” in the scriptures. He is the Father’s method of salvation. Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for all the sins of all mankind. However Jesus can not save anyone by himself. If not for the Father, no one would have salvation. For it was the Father that raised the Son from the dead. Without Jesus’ resurrection there would be no salvation.
Note: CLV: Concordant Literal version & REB: Rotherham Emphasized Bible & YLT: Young‘s Literal Translation.
Copyright © M J Farquharson 2011. Version 1, September 2011. Version 2, October 2011