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NASB | James 2:19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | James 2:19 You believe that God is one; you do well [to believe that]. The demons also believe [that], and shudder and bristle [in awe-filled terror--they have seen His wrath]! [Deut 6:4; 11:13-21; Mark 12:29] |
Subject: Is God ONE or is God THREE? |
Bible Note: Greetings, believer57. Thank you for your kind words. I sincerely hope that I will not be offensive in anything I say. Q: Elohiym ... is plural, referencing the plurality of God. A: Abraham means “father of many”, yet Abraham was but one man. Q: You stated that your body, soul, and spirit comprise one. That is exactly what we are talking about. Father, Son, Holy Ghost, comprise ONE. A: I thought that you were contending for 3 persons in the Godhead—that is what I understand the trinity doctrine to be based on. Here you are saying that there is only 1, which is my contention. I do not believe the scriptures teach 3 persons in the Godhead. I believe that Jesus Christ is the only “person” in the Godhead. According to Col. 2:9-10, all the fulness of Deity dwells in Him, and we are complete in Him (not “Them”). Q: The two words used in Hebrew for the word "one" further illustrate ... God is a "compound" unity not singular. A: Again, my answer is the same. I believe in “compound” unity, but I do not believe it becomes “plurality” simply because the unity is “compound”. Matter exists in three states—solid, liquid, gas. This represents “compound” unity: 1 substance (e.g., water) with three states, each state having certain properties that are unique, yet each state being the same substance as the others. Q: The Son prayed to the Father... A: Definitions are needed. Father: source, creator Son: literally—male offspring; figuratively—the full embodiment of, personification of; (see the Greek word “huios”); I believe our “theologies” permanently diverge at this point. I understand the term “Son of God” to mean “Body of God”, one who fully embodies all the traits and characteristics of God, the personification of God—very God. The term “Son of Man” conveys the same idea relative to humanity: one who fully embodies the traits and characteristics of Man—the perfect Man, very Man. The key to understanding the nature of Jesus Christ is in realizing that He possessed a “dual” nature: He was human (sinless, perfect), and He was Deity. 2 Corinthians 5:9—“God was in Christ”, i.e., the Spirit of God indwelt the Body of God. Jesus said, “I am in the Father, and the Father is in me.” (John 10:38, 14:10,11,20; 17:21.) The flesh/body of God (Son) was enveloped and surrounded by the Spirit of God (Father), and the Spirit of God (Father) was living within the body/flesh of God (Son). If you blow up a balloon, you have air in the balloon and the balloon in the air. Q: Christ was not ... praying from one part of himself to another. ... He was praying to his Father. A: The flesh/body of God (Son) prayed to the Spirit of God (Father). Remember, not only was the Father in the Son, but the Son was also in the Father. Q: God did create us in his image, the tri-parte unity of his image. Body, Soul, Spirit, (Father, Son, Holy Ghost). ... One man,3 parts, each one man. One God, 3 parts, each one God. A: Again, I disagree. It takes Body, Soul and Spirit “together” to make a person. They are not each one a separate and distinct person, able to function independently of the others. When God operates or interacts with His creation, His purpose determines His function, and in His different functions He expresses Himself to His creation using various aspects of His Deity. (See Isaiah 9:6.) Q: The Trinity is taught in the first three verses of the Bible...In the beginning, Elohiym..., (plural). The spirit, (Holy Ghost) moved upon the face....And God said, (The Word of God..Christ). A: Let me see if I have this right... 1. “God” created... Since this “God” is “plural” (to me “plural” is different from “compound” unity, but for the sake of this discussion I’ll use your term), is this verse saying: a)all three “persons” of “God” created; b)only one “person” of 3 created (in your statement I got the implication of “Father”); or c) some other combination of “persons”, such as the Father and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit and the Son (“Word”), or the Father and the Son? 2. Then, the “spirit of God” moved upon the face of the waters... Does this refer to the spirit “person” of “God”, as opposed to the other “persons” of “God”? Do you understand the “spirit of God” to be something theologically distinct from “God, the eternal spirit”? 3. Finally, And “God” said... Here you “spiritualize” a text, in my opinion. I do believe this is referring to the Logos of John 1:1. But we must be consistent in our theology. “God” is “plural” in your argument, and encompasses three “persons”. Wouldn’t this be a statement made by all three “persons” in unison? Surely you don’t mean to imply that any time “God” speaks we are to attribute the statement solely to the Word “person” and not to the other two “persons”? So how do you know which “person” of the “plural” “God” was speaking here? Kind regards, Tim D. Cormier Tennessee Preacher |