“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. [SUP]19 [/SUP]If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. [SUP]20 [/SUP]Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. [SUP]21 [/SUP]But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me."
I started thinking about this after I posted in the ice cream thread. And it occurred to me that it sounds like another one of Christ's claims to deity.
I say that because He was physically on the earth for 33 years. To me, that wouldn't give the entire world enough time to hate Him as He said it did (and does). Therefore, I think He was also referring to the time period from the fall of man to His human birth. Which also brings in the idea of Christophanies. I believe that Christ is the Person of the Trinity who interacted with mankind prior to His coming to earth as a man. John himself said that "no one has seen God at any time", which is most likely a reference to God the Father.
This is not a dogmatic statement; just my thoughts.
I started thinking about this after I posted in the ice cream thread. And it occurred to me that it sounds like another one of Christ's claims to deity.
I say that because He was physically on the earth for 33 years. To me, that wouldn't give the entire world enough time to hate Him as He said it did (and does). Therefore, I think He was also referring to the time period from the fall of man to His human birth. Which also brings in the idea of Christophanies. I believe that Christ is the Person of the Trinity who interacted with mankind prior to His coming to earth as a man. John himself said that "no one has seen God at any time", which is most likely a reference to God the Father.
This is not a dogmatic statement; just my thoughts.