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NASB | Philippians 2:6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Philippians 2:6 who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes--the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it]; |
Bible Question: Regarding John 14:28, the Father is greater [megas] than I.... was not Jesus refering to the fact that God was His Father, and the Father means literally life giver? Why would He make such a comment if He was co-equal with God? And how could He have died on the cross if He was God... God being immortal, thus deathproof. Yes, inquiring minds want to know. |
Bible Answer: Hello, Actually, John 14:28 confirms the Trinity. Jesus never claimed to be the Father. He claimed to be the Son and God. God is comprised of three things (offices, aspects, incarnations, beings, and so on). Pick one. These three are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Now, in this verse and other verses, Jesus makes the claim that the Father is supreme with in the Trinity. Meaning, that while they share the same powers, attributes, and ability (co-equal), there is a heirarchy with in the God-head. It is the Will of the Father that the Son and Holy Spirit obey. Jesus makes this abundantly clear when he says, "Not my will, Father, but thine be done." That is what John 14:28 is refering to when it says that the Father is greater than Jesus. That the Father has authority over the Son and the Holy Spirit. Now, as for Jesus dying on the cross, Jesus says that he has been given power over his own body and existance. He says that no man can take His life. However, Jesus continues to say that He gives His own life up freely. When Jesus died on the Cross, he did so willingly. They didn't force him. So, when He died, he died physically. Now, this doesn't mean that Jesus died permanently. His spirit remained alive. In fact, the Bible teaches that the spirit is immortal. Jesus, being God, had control over his own spirit, body, and existance. He died on the cross willingly, he paid the price of sin, and took his life up again willingly. No other person has that authority and power. Only God. Jesusman |