A 5-MINUTE ERRONEOUS VIDEO TITLED "Did Jesus Really Claim To Be GOD?"

A 5-MINUTE ERRONEOUS VIDEO TITLED
"Did Jesus Really Claim To Be GOD?"

The answer to the above question is obviously "NO"!

However, there is currently a 5-minute video being circulated on the Net; which presents four (actually five) questions, whereby the answer to these questions ends with the erroneous conclusion that:
"Jesus claimed to be ALMIGHTY GOD!!"

Let's take another look at these questions :-

1) Does the Bible claim that Jesus is God?

The video gives 4 sets of verses in answer to this question:

Matthew 1.23, Colossians 1.15-17, John 1.1, 1 Corinthians 12.3

• Matthew 1.23: Because Jesus is given the name "Emmanuel"
  which means "God with us".
  
  However, this name is simply expressing the fact that the ONE GOD is with Judah via this child. This was the original context of the meaning of the name when given to the boy in Isaiah chapters 7 & 8.
  Therefore, did that make that child, Almighty GOD? No!
  
  Likewise, when the Messiah was born, GOD's purpose for the salvation of Israel was being initiated. GOD indeed was with Israel (cp. Luke 1.68-69) via the Messiah.
  
  
• Colossians 1:15 begins with the very opposite of the premise of the video! It doesn't say that "Jesus is GOD" but rather that Jesus is "the image of the invisible GOD!"
  And an image, of course, is a visual representation; an image/representation is not the original itself!
  Nevertheless, the context of Colossians 1.15ff is about the new creation i.e. the (future) kingdom - the kingdom of his dear Son (v. 13).
  The all things created are "thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers" i.e.nothing to do with the Genesis creation.
  And in actuality, verses 16-17 is states that:
  
  'for in him [Jesus] all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-- all things have been created through him and for him.
  And he is before all things [in the sense of pre-eminence.]'
  Not 'by' him, but rather 'in/through' him - this obviously changes the context of the verse; and ought to be translated that way.
  
  For example, NRSV: for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers--
  all things have been created through him and for him.
  For more details please see:
  COLOSSIANS 1:15-20 - PREEXISTENCE OR PREEMINENCE?
  
  
• 1 Corinthians 12.3: Yes Indeed - Jesus Christ is Lord!
  
  But he is not the Lord God rather he is the Lord Messiah.
  [Luke 2.11, Col 3.24].
  He is the LORD (GOD)'s Christ. [Luke 2.26]
  The LORD GOD has made Jesus, 'Lord', in fulfilment of Psalm 110.1.
  
  
• The video quotes John 1.1 as follows:
  In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), ...
  In other words, the video's author performs the classic error of reading Jesus into John 1.1. As Colin Brown so succinctly states:
  "It is a common but patent misreading of the opening of John's Gospel to read it as if it said:
  'In the beginning was the Son, and the Son was with God and the Son was God' (John 1:1).
  What has happened here is the substitution of Son for Word (Greek logos), and thereby the Son is made a member of the Godhead which existed from the beginning."
  
  The video performs this patent misreading!
  John 1.1-3 doesn't mention Jesus at all!
  Rather these verses are about GOD's word. All things came into existence by GOD's word. The ONE GOD spoke all things into existence (cp. Psalm 33.6,9).
  It is not until John 1.14, that GOD's word is made flesh resulting in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.
  
  
• Then the video states that the word "Lord" is KURIOS ... it is a special word ... it means "GOD"
  
  This is simply not true! Yes indeed, KURIOS, is used in ref. to GOD; but the word itselfdoes not mean GOD! It simply means 'lord, master, owner, Sir'
  Not only is this word used in ref. to Jesus; it is also used in ref. to
  Pilate (Matt 27.63); Philip (John 12.21); Abraham (1 Peter 3.6); are these men therefore GOD!!
  [Likewise, this Greek word is used in ref. to Abraham, Moses, David, etc. throughout the Greek OT i.e. the Septuagint LXX; seeing that it is the Greek word for 'lord/master']
  
  
• The video then quotes Roman 9.5.
  It is a known fact that this verse ought to be punctuated differently. Paul habituallypraises Almighty GOD as being "blessed forever" e.g. 2 Cor. 11.31, Rom 1.25. Thus a period (.) ought to follow the word 'flesh' so that the rest of the verse becomes (rightly), a doxology to the Father;
  as in the NAB, TEV, NEB, RSV, etc.
  For example:
  RSV Romans 9.5: to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ. God who is over all be blessed for ever. Amen.
  NEB: Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them, in natural descent, sprang the Messiah. May God, supreme above all, be blessed for ever! Amen.

2) Did Jesus claim to be God?

To suggest this, the video quotes

• John 14.8-9.
  But funnily enough, does not quote:
  John 14:10-11 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
  
  Now I ask you, does John 14.8-11 read together, suggest that Jesus is the Father i.e. that Jesus is GOD? No! Rather, Jesus is in the Father & the Father is in him.
  Seeing then that Jesus is the image of the invisible GOD [Col 1.15, 2 Cor. 4.4]; to see Jesus in action is to see the ONE GOD the Father in action through His Son; because GOD was working through him -
  Jesus being GOD's image, GOD's ultimate representative.
  
  
• The video then quotes John 10.30.
  Now does being 'one' with the Father; make someone, Almighty GOD?
  Not according to Jesus! Because he prayed in John 17.11,21-22; that his disciples be one even as we [the Father & the Son] are one!
  So does that then, make the disciples, Almighty GOD? NO!
  The same goes for Jesus. Jesus is one with the Father, in will and purpose.
  That is the meaning of John 10.30.

• Then the video quotes both Psalm 23:1 & John 10.11. Seeing that both GOD and the Messiah are called 'shepherd' in these verses; the video thereby suggests that they are both equally GOD!?!
  Well Peter was commanded by Christ to feed the sheep, thus making Peter a shepherd, does that therefore mean he is also GOD??
  No! Just because someone shares a title that GOD has, being GOD's representative; doesn't make that person, GOD!
  But rather, authorizes that person to be GOD's agent; and Jesus the Messiah is indeed GOD's ultimate agent/representative.
  See also The Attribute Association Farce

The video then asks ...

3) Does anyone in the Bible claim that Jesus is God or that Jesus claimed to be God?

The video then quotes John 10.33, which are the words of Jesus' accusers!
Jesus did not claim to be GOD at all in John 10.30ff but rather claimed:

John 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

Then the video quotes John 20.28. In answer to this point,
please see: Jesus is God.

The video then asks ...

4) Did Jesus receive worship and allow himself to be worshiped as God?

It then quotes Matthew 28.9, 28.16-17, Luke 24.51-52, John 9.37.

Let's look at John 9.37. Why was Jesus worshiped?
Answer: John 9:35-36 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

Did you get that? The man who was blind, now realizes & believes
that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God?

And what does that mean?

John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him,
Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Do you get it?

Son of GOD = King of Israel (cp. Luke 1.32-33, 2 Sam. 7.13-14)

So yes Jesus was indeed worshiped. But he was not worshiped as GOD; rather throughout the NT he was worshiped as a man of God, as a prophet, (in this case) as king, as Messiah. This applies to all the aforementioned verses.

That was the custom in biblical times.
Such worship (Hebrew shachah, Greek proskuneo) was used of both GOD & (the majority of the case), man.

Thus Men are scripturally worshiped - civil worship -
e.g. Abraham, Moses, king David, etc.
They were worshiped i.e. obeisance was made to them as dignitaries, prophets, kings, etc.
Jesus the Messiah is therefore, the ultimate Dignitary, Prophet & King; therefore he received worship/obeisance in like manner.
Bible translators obscure this fact by translating the corresponding words as 'worship' when used of Jesus; and 'did/made obeisance' when used of other men.

For more details please see:

The Worship of Christ &

Defining the Term "Worship"

The video then asks ONE MORE QUESTION

5) What does the OT say about Jesus being God?

The video then quotes Isaiah 9.6.

Yes, Jesus is called el in this verse. Does that make him, Almighty GOD? Because Nebuchadnezzar was also called el in Ezekiel 31.11!

Also the title el gibbor used in Isaiah 9.6 is used in plural in Ezek 32.21 depicting mighty warriors.
Thus this title is indeed fits the Messiah, whom GOD Almighty has appointed to be a mighty warrior/one and to rule the Kingdom, upon the throne of David. [Isaiah 9.7]

The Messiah is also given the title: 'father of the age to come.'

For more details please see: Concerning Isaiah 9:6.

The video closes with this statement:

"Jesus died on a cross for our sins and rose from the grave to prove that he is God ... the Lord of Life. ..."

Well firstly, GOD CANNOT DIE! He alone has immortality.

[1 Timothy 6.16]

So the very fact that Jesus died for our sins is enough proof that he is not Almighty GOD! Andhe alone, Jesus alone, has been raised from the dead by the ONE Almighty GOD, the Father; glorified and immortalized:

Acts 17:29-31 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. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he [GOD] hath appointed a day, in the which he [GOD] will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he [GOD] hath ordained; whereof he [GOD] hath given assurance unto all men , in that he [GOD] hath raised him from the dead.

Almighty GOD alone has raised Jesus alone from the dead and made him alone, 'Lord' to his [GOD's] glory.

[Acts 2.36, Phil 2.11]

Jesus has life because GOD Almighty has given him life!
[John 5.26, 1 John 5.11]

No one else has this honor except the Lord Jesus Christ, whom has been given this honor and glory by GOD Almighty, the ONE GOD, his Father. Therefore:

1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God,

and one mediator between God and men,

the man Christ Jesus;

In closing, I will leave you with a link to a video which in contrast, asks

5 most pertinent questions to those who believe 'Jesus is Almighty God'.
(Taken from www.christianmonotheism.com)

Enjoy!