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NASB | Matthew 7:13 ¶ "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 7:13 ¶ "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. |
Subject: Why? |
Bible Note: Here is The Nelson NKJV Study Bible on the Trinity: "THE TRINITY IN THE BIBLE Historical Development of the Doctrine of the Trinity The term trinity is not found in the Bible but is a theological word which expresses the clear teaching of Holy Scripture, especially the New Testament. The first theologian of the church to use the term was Theophilus who spoke of God as trias. The great Latin church father Tertullian first developed the concept of trinitas, one God in three persons. Though the fathers of the church in the second and third centuries spoke of the three persons of the Godhead while recognizing that there is but one God, the councils of Nicea (A.D. 325) and Constantinople (A.D. 381) gave the fullest expression to the Biblical doctrine. The Bible Explicitly Teaches That There is Only One God THE TEACHING OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Belief in one God in the ancient Mediterranean world was unique to the nation of Israel. The faith of Israel is given in the famous Shema: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deut. 6:4). Repeatedly the teaching of the Law and the pronouncements of God’s prophets confirm this absolute truth. THE TEACHING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT The church continued the teaching of the Hebrew Scriptures, as well as the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, that there is only one God (see 1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:5). This it did in contrast to the rampant polytheism that permeated the Greco-Roman world with its multitude of gods, including worship of the emperor as a god during the latter half of the first century. As the apostles and later the church began to articulate this monotheism against pagan religion, it was necessary to explain how this belief in one God was consistent with the concurrent belief that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each God and yet still only one God. Scripture Teaches That Three Persons Are One God GLIMPSES OF THE TRINITY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT Use of the Word Elohim with Singular Verbs The usual word for God in the Hebrew is Elohim. This noun is in the plural, whereas in several places the term for God is a singular, such as El or Eloah. In spite of the plural term for God, the true Jewish faith was strongly monotheistic. When Elohim is used regarding the God of Israel, it is used with singular verbs, indicating that the God of Israel is a single being. The plural allows for a plurality of expression for God, as later revealed in the New Testament, but Hebrew grammar may also simply be using a plural of plenitude. Use of Plural Personal Pronouns On three occasions the Old Testament uses plural personal pronouns when speaking of God. The first occurrence refers to the creation of humanity: “Let Us make man in Our image” (Gen. 1:26). The second pertains to God deciding to confuse human languages at the tower of Babel: "Let Us go down" (Gen. 11:6–9). The last reference is to the call to mission: “Who will go for Us?” (Isa. 6:1–8). The Angel of the Lord Several times in the Hebrew Scriptures, reference is made to "the Angel of the LORD" (Yahweh). It is evident from the contexts that these references do not speak simply of a created messenger of God but of God Himself. In certain contexts the Angel of the LORD is identified as God Himself (Gen. 16:7–13; 18:1–22), but in others He is distinguished from God (Gen. 19:1–28, especially v. 24; Zech. 1:12, 13; see also Mal. 3:1). Such appearances most likely are of the preincarnate Christ, who is the revelation of the Father (John 1:18; Heb. 1:1–3). After the incarnation such appearances of the Angel of the LORD end, for now the revelation of God is present as a human in the person of Jesus Christ (compare Ex. 14:19 with Ex. 23:20; 1 Cor. 10:4)." (part 1 of 2) Blessings! Nolan |