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NASB | Matthew 24:11 "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 24:11 "Many false prophets will appear and mislead many. |
Subject: Is the UPC a Christian Church? |
Bible Note: Greetings again Jcsav, In the NASB, Matthew 28:19 reads: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." It is highly revealing that the word "name" is singular in the Greek, indicating that there is one God, but there are three distinct Persons within the Godhead- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus does not say, "into the names [plural] of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," or what is its virtual equivalent: "into the name of the Father, and into the name of the Son, and into the name of the Holy Spirit," as if we had to deal with three separate Beings. Nor does He say, "into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," (omitting the three recurring articles), as if "the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" might be taken as merely three designations of a single person. What He does say is this: "into the name [singular] of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," first asserting the unity of the three by combining them all within the bounds of the single Name, and then throwing into emphasis the distinctness of each by introducing them in turn with the repeated article. Very clearly, then, scripture affirms that there is one God, but within the unity of the Godhead, there are three coequal and coeternal Persons- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Most Christians today acknowledge that the term "person" is an imperfect expression of what the Bible communicates. Certainly, in God there are not three separate individuals such as Peter, John, and Matthew who have different characteristics, but only personal self-distinctions within the Godhead. In applying the term "person" to God, the word is used in a distinctive sense from its normal use in relation to human beings. Though each member of the Godhead manifests the qualities of personality, such as intellect, sensibility, and will, they do not act independently as three separate human beings would act. Nevertheless, the Persons involved in the Tri-unity of God are expressed in scripture as "I," "Thou," "He," and they address each other as individuals and manifest their individuality in some personal acts. Hence, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit are "persons" in the sense that each has the personal attributes of mind, emotions, and will, and each of the three is aware of the others, speaks to the others, and carries on a loving relationship with the others. If you find this difficult to comprehend, you are in good company. One day, Augustine was walking along the beach when he saw a young boy with a bucket, running back and forth to pour water into a little hole. Augustine asked, "What are you doing?" The boy replied, "I'm trying to put the ocean into this hole." Augustine smiled, recognizing the utter futility of what the boy was attempting to do. After pondering the boy's words for a few moments, however, Augustine came to a sudden realization. He realized that he had been trying to put an infinite God into his finite mind. It can't be done. We can accept God's revelation to us that He is triune in nature and that He has infinite perfections. But with our finite minds we cannot fully understand everything about God. Our God is an awesome God! Blessings to you, Makarios |