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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | is Jesus God ?and how can you prove it? | Isaiah | Tara | 86120 | ||
4th part. In another manuscript, now preserved in Jerusalem, Newton summed up the only answer to such questions. “We are commanded by the Apostle (2 Timothy 1:13) to hold fast the form of sound words. Contending for a language which was not handed down from the Prophets and Apostles is a breach of the command and they that break it are also guilty of the disturbances and schisms occasioned thereby. It is not enough to say that an article of faith may be deduced from scripture. It must be exprest in the very form of sound words in which it was delivered by the Apostles.” 14 So on the basis of Scripture, reason and the authentic teaching of early Christianity, Newton found that he could not accept the doctrine of the Trinity. He believed strongly in the supreme sovereignty of Jehovah God, and the proper position of Jesus Christ, neither derogating him as the Son of God nor elevating him to the position occupied by his Father.15 In discussing with John Locke the passage of Daniel 7:9, he wrote, “Whence are you certain that ye Ancient of Days is Christ? Does Christ anywhere sit upon ye Throne?”16 His own conclusion here is obvious, and the clarity of his thought regarding the relationship of the Father with the Son is always evident in Newton’s writings. So elsewhere he makes the point that prayer can be made to “God in the name of the Lamb, but not to the Lamb in the name of God.”17 Perhaps the best summary of Isaac Newton’s Scriptural arguments for his repudiation of the Trinity is found in fourteen ‘Argumenta,’ written in Latin, giving Bible citations for many of them. Numbers four to seven are particularly interesting: “4. Because God begot the Son at some time, he had not existence from eternity. Proverbs 8:23, 25. 5. Because the Father is greater than the Son. John 14:28. 6. Because the Son did not know his last hour. Mark 13:32, Matt. 24:36, Rev. 1:1, 5:3. 7. Because the Son received all things from the Father.”18 A perusal of Newton’s religious writings cannot fail to impress the reader with their thoroughness, and a realization of his long and deep meditation, his scholarly ability and grasp of the original Bible languages. His conclusions regarding the Trinity therefore merit our respect and consideration, even though he did not feel constrained to make them public during his lifetime. Today, when much more evidence is available than Newton had access to, we too should make investigation of our beliefs as he did, always seeking to reason first on the evidence of God’s Word. This will build in us a strong faith fully in harmony with the teaching of original Christianity. References 1. The Encyclopædia Britannica, 1971 ed., Vol. 16, p. 420. 2. The World Book Encyclopedia, 1973 ed., Vol. 14, p. 308. 3. The Correspondence of Isaac Newton, edited by H. W. Turnbull, F.R.S., Cambridge 1961, Vol. 1, p. XVII. 4. An Historical Account of Two Notable Corruptions of Scripture, by Sir Isaac Newton, Edition of 1830, London, p. 60. 5. Ibid., p. 95. 6. Our Unitarian Heritage, by Earl M. Wilbur, Boston 1925, pp. 289-294. 7. History of English Nonconformity, by Henry W. Clark, London 1913, Vol. II, p. 157. 8. Religious Opinions of Milton, Locke and Newton, by H. McLachlan, Manchester 1941, pp. 146, 147. 9. The Religion of Isaac Newton, by F. E. Manuel, Oxford 1974, p. 48. 10. Sir Isaac Newton Theological Manuscripts, selected and edited by H. McLachlan, Liverpool 1950, pp. 37, 38. 11. An Historical Account of Two Notable Corruptions of Scripture, p. 61. 12. Sir Isaac Newton Theological Manuscripts, p. 17. 13. Ibid., pp. 45, 46 14. The Religion of Isaac Newton, pp. 54, 55. Yahuda Ms. 15.1.fol.11r. 15. The Religion of Isaac Newton, p. 61. 16. The Correspondence of Isaac Newton, Vol. III, Letter 362. 17. The Religion of Isaac Newton, p. 61, Yahuda Ms. 15.4.fol.67v. 18. Isaac Newton, A Biography, p. 642. |
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2 | is Jesus God ?and how can you prove it? | Isaiah | Morant61 | 86137 | ||
Greetings Tara! Welcome to the forum! Solomon once said that there is nothing new under the sun. The arugment of Sir Isaac Newton against the Trintiy bear this point out! :-) The objections (4-7) which you cite fall into two categories. Number 4 deals with whether or not Jesus was a created being. Numbers 5-7 deal with descriptions of Christ during His incarnation. Allow me to touch upon both of these points. 1) Jesus is never said in Scripture to have been created. Sir. Isaac Newton attaches Prov. 8:23, 25 to this point. However, there is no mention of Jesus in this passage. It is simply a poetic description of wisdom. I know that many have assumed this is a reference to Christ, but it seems more an attempt to force Him into the passage that they might CLAIM He was created rather than a demand of the text itself. However, passages like John 1:1-4, and many others, make it clear that Jesus was not created. Rather, He was the Creator. 2) The final three points are readily dealt with when one understands that they are descriptions of Christ during His incarnation. They do not describe His eternal nature, but His status during the 'kenosis' of Phil. 2:5-11. As a man, He did not know everything. He was subject to the Father. He could get sick. He could even die. However, these are restrictions caused by His incarnation and not a description of His eternal nature. He is described as God, as Creator, as 'equal with God', ect... in Scripture. These describe His eternal nature. So, I would respectfully disagree with Sir Isaac Newton's conclusions regarding this issue. You do raise an interesting point of history though. Many ancient scientists and writers were very devot. Unfortunately, this fact tends to get covered up in our modern educational system! :-( Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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