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Apparently Jesus had been telling his men all along that God was going to
elevate himself to a position of divinity per Phil 2:9-11 and I suspect Thomas
honestly didn't believe such a thing was possible. And I further suspect
Thomas never would've believed it had he not seen for himself that Jesus'
crucified dead body was restored to life.
● John 20:29 . .Then Jesus told him: Because you have seen me, you have
believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
In other words: folks insisting that Jesus isn't divine do so because they've
somehow missed out on an important blessing.
_
Apparently Jesus had been telling his men all along that God was going to
elevate himself to a position of divinity per Phil 2:9-11 and I suspect Thomas
honestly didn't believe such a thing was possible. And I further suspect
Thomas never would've believed it had he not seen for himself that Jesus'
crucified dead body was restored to life.
● John 20:29 . .Then Jesus told him: Because you have seen me, you have
believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
In other words: folks insisting that Jesus isn't divine do so because they've
somehow missed out on an important blessing.
_
I don't know where you got that from, but I never said that.
Phil 2:9-11 do not say that God elevated Jesus Christ to a position of divinity. We do know that God gave all authority in heaven and on earth to Jesus, gave him a name which is above every name, and glorified and highly exalted him. But God is still God.
Jesus Christ is divine, but he's not deity. There is one God, the Father (John 17:4; 1 Cor 8:6).
Phil 2:9-11 do not say that God elevated Jesus Christ to a position of divinity. We do know that God gave all authority in heaven and on earth to Jesus, gave him a name which is above every name, and glorified and highly exalted him. But God is still God.
Jesus Christ is divine, but he's not deity. There is one God, the Father (John 17:4; 1 Cor 8:6).
Epistula Ioannis I - Chapter 5
The First Epistle Of John
1omnis qui credit quoniam Iesus est Christus ex Deo natus est et omnis qui diligit eum qui genuit diligit eum qui natus est ex eo
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And every one that loveth him who begot, loveth him also who is born of him.
2in hoc cognoscimus quoniam diligimus natos Dei cum Deum diligamus et mandata eius faciamus
In this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep his commandments.
3haec est enim caritas Dei ut mandata eius custodiamus et mandata eius gravia non sunt
For this is the charity of God: That we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not heavy.
4quoniam omne quod natum est ex Deo vincit mundum et haec est victoria quae vincit mundum fides nostra
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. And this is the victory which overcameth the world: Our faith.
5quis est qui vincit mundum nisi qui credit quoniam Iesus est Filius Dei
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6hic est qui venit per aquam et sanguinem Iesus Christus non in aqua solum sed in aqua et sanguine et Spiritus est qui testificatur quoniam Christus est veritas
This is he that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ: not by water only but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth that Christ is the truth.
7quia tres sunt qui testimonium dant
And there are Three who give testimony (in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one.)^
8Spiritus et aqua et sanguis et tres unum sunt
(And there are three that give testimony on earth) the spirit and the water and the blood. And these three are one.
9si testimonium hominum accipimus testimonium Dei maius est quoniam hoc est testimonium Dei quod maius est quia testificatus est de Filio suo
If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony of God, which is greater, because he hath testified of his Son.
10qui credit in Filio Dei habet testimonium Dei in se qui non credit Filio mendacem facit eum quoniam non credidit in testimonio quod testificatus est Deus de Filio suo
He that believeth in the Son of God hath the testimony of God in himself. He that believeth not the Son maketh him a liar: because he believeth not in the testimony which God hath testified of his Son.
11et hoc est testimonium quoniam vitam aeternam dedit nobis Deus et haec vita in Filio eius est
And this is the testimony that God hath given to us eternal life. And this life is in his Son.
12qui habet Filium habet vitam qui non habet Filium Dei vitam non habet
He that hath the Son hath life. He that hath not the Son hath not life.
13haec scripsi vobis ut sciatis quoniam vitam habetis aeternam qui creditis in nomine Filii Dei
These things I write to you that you may know that you have eternal life: you who believe in the name of the Son of God.
14et haec est fiducia quam habemus ad eum quia quodcumque petierimus secundum voluntatem eius audit nos
And this is the confidence which we have towards him: That, whatsoever we shall ask according to his will, he heareth us.
15et scimus quoniam audit nos quicquid petierimus scimus quoniam habemus petitiones quas postulavimus ab eo
And we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask: we know that we have the petitions which we request of him.
16qui scit fratrem suum peccare peccatum non ad mortem petet et dabit ei vitam peccantibus non ad mortem est peccatum ad mortem non pro illo dico ut roget
He that knoweth his brother to sin a sin which is not to death, let him ask: and life shall be given to him who sinneth not to death. There is a sin unto death. For that I say not that any man ask.
17omnis iniquitas peccatum est et est peccatum non ad mortem
All iniquity is sin. And there is a sin unto death.
18scimus quoniam omnis qui natus est ex Deo non peccat sed generatio Dei conservat eum et malignus non tangit eum
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not: but the generation of God preserveth him and the wicked one toucheth him not.
19scimus quoniam ex Deo sumus et mundus totus in maligno positus est
We know that we are of God and the whole world is seated in wickedness.
20et scimus quoniam Filius Dei venit et dedit nobis sensum ut cognoscamus verum Deum et simus in vero Filio eius hic est verus Deus et vita aeterna
And we know that the Son of God is come. And he hath given us understanding that we may know the true God and may be in his true Son. This is the true God and life eternal.
21filioli custodite vos a simulacris
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
21 Verses but ONLY 2, the J Comma, in Paranthesis!!
This is a revised edition of the original. Here's the original:
1 Omnis qui credit quoniam Jesus est Christus, ex Deo natus est. Et omnis qui diligit eum qui genuit, diligit et eum qui natus est ex eo. 2 In hoc cognoscimus quoniam diligamus natos Dei, cum Deum diligamus, et mandata ejus faciamus. 3 Haec est enim caritas Dei, ut mandata ejus custodiamus : et mandata ejus gravia non sunt. 4 Quoniam omne quod natum est ex Deo, vincit mundum : et haec est victoria, quae vincit mundum, fides nostra. 5 Quis est, qui vincit mundum, nisi qui credit quoniam Jesus est Filius Dei? 6 Hic est, qui venit per aquam et sanguinem, Jesus Christus : non in aqua solum, sed in aqua et sanguine. Et Spiritus est, qui testificatur quoniam Christus est veritas. 7 Quoniam tres sunt, qui testimonium dant in caelo : Pater, Verbum, et Spiritus Sanctus : et hi tres unum sunt. 8 Et tres sunt, qui testimonium dant in terra : spiritus, et aqua, et sanguis : et hi tres unum sunt. 9 Si testimonium hominum accipimus, testimonium Dei majus est : quoniam hoc est testimonium Dei, quod majus est, quoniam testificatus est de Filio suo. 10 Qui credit in Filium Dei, habet testimonium Dei in se. Qui non credit Filio, mendacem facit eum : quia non credit in testimonium quod testificatus est Deus de Filio suo.
https://www.drbo.org/lvb/chapter/69005.htm
1 Omnis qui credit quoniam Jesus est Christus, ex Deo natus est. Et omnis qui diligit eum qui genuit, diligit et eum qui natus est ex eo. 2 In hoc cognoscimus quoniam diligamus natos Dei, cum Deum diligamus, et mandata ejus faciamus. 3 Haec est enim caritas Dei, ut mandata ejus custodiamus : et mandata ejus gravia non sunt. 4 Quoniam omne quod natum est ex Deo, vincit mundum : et haec est victoria, quae vincit mundum, fides nostra. 5 Quis est, qui vincit mundum, nisi qui credit quoniam Jesus est Filius Dei? 6 Hic est, qui venit per aquam et sanguinem, Jesus Christus : non in aqua solum, sed in aqua et sanguine. Et Spiritus est, qui testificatur quoniam Christus est veritas. 7 Quoniam tres sunt, qui testimonium dant in caelo : Pater, Verbum, et Spiritus Sanctus : et hi tres unum sunt. 8 Et tres sunt, qui testimonium dant in terra : spiritus, et aqua, et sanguis : et hi tres unum sunt. 9 Si testimonium hominum accipimus, testimonium Dei majus est : quoniam hoc est testimonium Dei, quod majus est, quoniam testificatus est de Filio suo. 10 Qui credit in Filium Dei, habet testimonium Dei in se. Qui non credit Filio, mendacem facit eum : quia non credit in testimonium quod testificatus est Deus de Filio suo.
https://www.drbo.org/lvb/chapter/69005.htm
L
There are three ecumenical creeds, all laying out the trinity or trinitarian doctrine
The Apostles creed
The Nicean creed
The Athenasian creed.
These are the definative trinitarian teachings, and a summary of what christians believe. They should be taught in every christian church. Read in every service.
The Apostles creed
The Nicean creed
The Athenasian creed.
These are the definative trinitarian teachings, and a summary of what christians believe. They should be taught in every christian church. Read in every service.
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Matt. 28 Verses 19 to 20
[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Jesus speaks on the Trinity . Jesus is full of truth and Grace ,he can't lie .
[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Jesus speaks on the Trinity . Jesus is full of truth and Grace ,he can't lie .
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The question of the OP is how to explain the Trinity, NOT how to try and deny it, which is Oneness theology or Arianism, shown to be heretical to orthodox historical Christian doctrine, the "faith once for all delivered to the saints."
"It is explained best in what is popularly known as the Athanasian Creed, also known primarily by its Latin name, Quicumque vult (taken from the first few words of the Creed: 'whoever wishes') which was formed to combat the many heretical teachings concerning the Trinity and concerning the Deity of Christ and the personhood of the Holy Spirit."
"It was often called the Athanasian Creed because for centuries people attributed its authorship to Athanasius, the great champion of Trinitarian orthodoxy during the crisis of the heresy of Arianism that erupted in the fourth century. That theological crisis focused on the nature of Christ and culminated in the Nicene Creed in 325. At the Council of Nicea of that year the term homoousios was the controversial word that finally was linked to the church’s confession of the person of Christ. With this word the church declared that the second person of the Trinity has the same substance or essence as the Father, thereby affirming that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are equal in being and eternality, yet distinct as to person. Though Athanasius did not write the Nicene Creed, he was its chief champion against the heretics who followed after Arius, who argued that Christ was an exalted creature but that He was less than God."
"The content of the Athanasian Creed stresses the affirmation of the Trinity in which all members of the Godhead are considered uncreated and co-eternal and of the same substance. In the affirmation of the Trinity the dual nature of Christ is given central importance. As the Athanasian Creed in one sense reaffirms the doctrines of the Trinity set forth in the fourth century at Nicea, in like manner the strong affirmations of the fifth-century council at Chalcedon in 451 are also recapitulated therein. As the church fought with the Arian heresy in the fourth century, the fifth century brought forth the heresies of monophysitism, which reduced the person of Christ to one nature, mono physis, a single theanthropic (God-man) nature that was neither purely divine or purely human. In the Monophysite heresy of Eutyches, the person of Christ was seen as being one person with one nature, which nature was neither truly divine nor truly human. In this view, the two natures of Christ were confused or co-mingled together. At the same time the church battled with the monophysite heresy, she also fought against the opposite view of Nestorianism, which sought not so much to blur and mix the two natures but to separate them, coming to the conclusion that Jesus had two natures and was therefore two persons, one human and one divine. Both the Monophysite heresy and the Nestorian heresy were clearly condemned at the Council of Chalcedon in 451, where the church, reaffirming its Trinitarian orthodoxy, stated their belief that Christ, or the second person of the Trinity was vere homo and vere Deus, truly human and truly God. It further declared that the two natures in their perfect unity coexisted in such a manner as to be without mixture, confusion, separation, or division, wherein each nature retained its own attributes. So with one creedal affirmation, both the heresy of Nestorianism and the heresy of Monophysitism were condemned." R.C. Sproul
Here is the Quicumque vult or Athanasian Creed:
Whoever wants to be saved should above all cling to the catholic (small 'c' meaning universal) faith. Whoever does not guard it whole and inviolable will doubtless perish eternally. Now this is the catholic faith:
We worship one God in trinity and the Trinity in unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the divine being.
For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Spirit is still another. But the deity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, equal in glory, coeternal in majesty. What the Father is, the Son is, and so is the Holy Spirit.
Uncreated is the Father; uncreated is the Son; uncreated is the Spirit. The Father is infinite; the Son is infinite; the Holy Spirit is infinite.
Eternal is the Father; eternal is the Son; eternal is the Spirit: And yet there are not three eternal beings, but one who is eternal; as there are not three uncreated and unlimited beings, but one who is uncreated and unlimited.
Almighty is the Father; almighty is the Son; almighty is the Spirit: And yet there are not three almighty beings, but one who is almighty. Thus the Father is God; the Son is God; the Holy Spirit is God: And yet there are not three gods, but one God. Thus the Father is Lord; the Son is Lord; the Holy Spirit is Lord: And yet there are not three lords, but one Lord.
As Christian truth compels us to acknowledge each distinct person as God and Lord, so catholic religion forbids us to say that there are three gods or lords.
The Father was neither made nor created nor begotten; the Son was neither made nor created, but was alone begotten of the Father; the Spirit was neither made nor created, but is proceeding from the Father and the Son.
Thus there is one Father, not three fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three spirits.
And in this Trinity, no one is before or after, greater or less than the other; but all three persons are in themselves, coeternal and coequal; and so we must worship the Trinity in unity and the one God in three persons. Whoever wants to be saved should think thus about the Trinity.
It is necessary for eternal salvation that one also faithfully believe that our Lord Jesus Christ became flesh. For this is the true faith that we believe and confess: That our Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is both God and man. He is God, begotten before all worlds from the being of the Father, and he is man, born in the world from the being of his mother — existing fully as God, and fully as man with a rational soul and a human body; equal to the Father in divinity, subordinate to the Father in humanity.
Although he is God and man, he is not divided, but is one Christ. He is united because God has taken humanity into himself; he does not transform deity into humanity. He is completely one in the unity of his person, without confusing his natures. For as the rational soul and body are one person, so the one Christ is God and man.
He suffered death for our salvation. He descended into hell and rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. At his coming all people shall rise bodily to give an account of their own deeds. Those who have done good will enter eternal life, those who have done evil will enter eternal fire.
This is the catholic (universal) faith. One cannot be saved without believing this firmly and faithfully.
"It is explained best in what is popularly known as the Athanasian Creed, also known primarily by its Latin name, Quicumque vult (taken from the first few words of the Creed: 'whoever wishes') which was formed to combat the many heretical teachings concerning the Trinity and concerning the Deity of Christ and the personhood of the Holy Spirit."
"It was often called the Athanasian Creed because for centuries people attributed its authorship to Athanasius, the great champion of Trinitarian orthodoxy during the crisis of the heresy of Arianism that erupted in the fourth century. That theological crisis focused on the nature of Christ and culminated in the Nicene Creed in 325. At the Council of Nicea of that year the term homoousios was the controversial word that finally was linked to the church’s confession of the person of Christ. With this word the church declared that the second person of the Trinity has the same substance or essence as the Father, thereby affirming that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are equal in being and eternality, yet distinct as to person. Though Athanasius did not write the Nicene Creed, he was its chief champion against the heretics who followed after Arius, who argued that Christ was an exalted creature but that He was less than God."
"The content of the Athanasian Creed stresses the affirmation of the Trinity in which all members of the Godhead are considered uncreated and co-eternal and of the same substance. In the affirmation of the Trinity the dual nature of Christ is given central importance. As the Athanasian Creed in one sense reaffirms the doctrines of the Trinity set forth in the fourth century at Nicea, in like manner the strong affirmations of the fifth-century council at Chalcedon in 451 are also recapitulated therein. As the church fought with the Arian heresy in the fourth century, the fifth century brought forth the heresies of monophysitism, which reduced the person of Christ to one nature, mono physis, a single theanthropic (God-man) nature that was neither purely divine or purely human. In the Monophysite heresy of Eutyches, the person of Christ was seen as being one person with one nature, which nature was neither truly divine nor truly human. In this view, the two natures of Christ were confused or co-mingled together. At the same time the church battled with the monophysite heresy, she also fought against the opposite view of Nestorianism, which sought not so much to blur and mix the two natures but to separate them, coming to the conclusion that Jesus had two natures and was therefore two persons, one human and one divine. Both the Monophysite heresy and the Nestorian heresy were clearly condemned at the Council of Chalcedon in 451, where the church, reaffirming its Trinitarian orthodoxy, stated their belief that Christ, or the second person of the Trinity was vere homo and vere Deus, truly human and truly God. It further declared that the two natures in their perfect unity coexisted in such a manner as to be without mixture, confusion, separation, or division, wherein each nature retained its own attributes. So with one creedal affirmation, both the heresy of Nestorianism and the heresy of Monophysitism were condemned." R.C. Sproul
Here is the Quicumque vult or Athanasian Creed:
Whoever wants to be saved should above all cling to the catholic (small 'c' meaning universal) faith. Whoever does not guard it whole and inviolable will doubtless perish eternally. Now this is the catholic faith:
We worship one God in trinity and the Trinity in unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the divine being.
For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Spirit is still another. But the deity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, equal in glory, coeternal in majesty. What the Father is, the Son is, and so is the Holy Spirit.
Uncreated is the Father; uncreated is the Son; uncreated is the Spirit. The Father is infinite; the Son is infinite; the Holy Spirit is infinite.
Eternal is the Father; eternal is the Son; eternal is the Spirit: And yet there are not three eternal beings, but one who is eternal; as there are not three uncreated and unlimited beings, but one who is uncreated and unlimited.
Almighty is the Father; almighty is the Son; almighty is the Spirit: And yet there are not three almighty beings, but one who is almighty. Thus the Father is God; the Son is God; the Holy Spirit is God: And yet there are not three gods, but one God. Thus the Father is Lord; the Son is Lord; the Holy Spirit is Lord: And yet there are not three lords, but one Lord.
As Christian truth compels us to acknowledge each distinct person as God and Lord, so catholic religion forbids us to say that there are three gods or lords.
The Father was neither made nor created nor begotten; the Son was neither made nor created, but was alone begotten of the Father; the Spirit was neither made nor created, but is proceeding from the Father and the Son.
Thus there is one Father, not three fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three spirits.
And in this Trinity, no one is before or after, greater or less than the other; but all three persons are in themselves, coeternal and coequal; and so we must worship the Trinity in unity and the one God in three persons. Whoever wants to be saved should think thus about the Trinity.
It is necessary for eternal salvation that one also faithfully believe that our Lord Jesus Christ became flesh. For this is the true faith that we believe and confess: That our Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is both God and man. He is God, begotten before all worlds from the being of the Father, and he is man, born in the world from the being of his mother — existing fully as God, and fully as man with a rational soul and a human body; equal to the Father in divinity, subordinate to the Father in humanity.
Although he is God and man, he is not divided, but is one Christ. He is united because God has taken humanity into himself; he does not transform deity into humanity. He is completely one in the unity of his person, without confusing his natures. For as the rational soul and body are one person, so the one Christ is God and man.
He suffered death for our salvation. He descended into hell and rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. At his coming all people shall rise bodily to give an account of their own deeds. Those who have done good will enter eternal life, those who have done evil will enter eternal fire.
This is the catholic (universal) faith. One cannot be saved without believing this firmly and faithfully.
I think the trouble with many analogies concerning the Trinitarian teaching of ancient, orthodox Christianity, is that they often 'separate' the Father, Son & Holy Spirit into 'parts' and God is not made up of parts. God is distinct as to person yet one as to nature & essence and being. [John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou Me WITH THINE OWN SELF (Grk: ego'--referring to the distinct personhood of the Father in contrast to the distinct personhood of the Son) with the glory which I had WITH THEE (NOT AS THEE) before the world was. John 10:30 I AND the Father, (we--plural in the Greek) are one. Here again distinctness as to person, yet oneness as to nature & essence and being].
Jesus said it best to the woman at the well in John Chapter 4.
John 4:21-24 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22You worship what you do NOT know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the TRUE worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24GOD IS SPIRIT and those who worship Him MUST worship in spirit and truth.”
All true approach to God must therefore be in spirit AND in truth. Both are essential. The words "in truth," already expressed in true worshippers, and repeated in the following verse, are more than "truly." Sincerity is not a test of acceptable worship, though it is a requisite. Worship which is "in truth" is in harmony with the NATURE of the God whom we worship, the Triune God of Scripture, as our Creator reveals Himself to be, both in the OT as well as in the NT.
The essential nature of God is spirit, just as God is love or God is holy or God is light. This is the nature of God. Scripture talks about the 'spirit of Christ' and the 'spirit of the Father' and the 'Spirit of truth'. Man was created to have fellowship with the living God & worship Him. (I Cor 1:9) That is why man was created as a soul (person with intelligence, will & emotions: able to communicate) and possessing a human spirit (made alive when born again--that is how we worship God & how God communicates with us) & a body (unique fingerprint, etc.).
Prov 20:27 The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD that sheds light on one’s inmost being.
I Cor 2:11-14 For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Jesus said it best to the woman at the well in John Chapter 4.
John 4:21-24 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22You worship what you do NOT know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the TRUE worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24GOD IS SPIRIT and those who worship Him MUST worship in spirit and truth.”
All true approach to God must therefore be in spirit AND in truth. Both are essential. The words "in truth," already expressed in true worshippers, and repeated in the following verse, are more than "truly." Sincerity is not a test of acceptable worship, though it is a requisite. Worship which is "in truth" is in harmony with the NATURE of the God whom we worship, the Triune God of Scripture, as our Creator reveals Himself to be, both in the OT as well as in the NT.
The essential nature of God is spirit, just as God is love or God is holy or God is light. This is the nature of God. Scripture talks about the 'spirit of Christ' and the 'spirit of the Father' and the 'Spirit of truth'. Man was created to have fellowship with the living God & worship Him. (I Cor 1:9) That is why man was created as a soul (person with intelligence, will & emotions: able to communicate) and possessing a human spirit (made alive when born again--that is how we worship God & how God communicates with us) & a body (unique fingerprint, etc.).
Prov 20:27 The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD that sheds light on one’s inmost being.
I Cor 2:11-14 For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Both the OT and NT also give illustrations of who God is and what He is like concerning LIVING water. Our physical bodies need water in order to live. So our spiritual life needs living water from God Himself to live & worship Him.
John 7:37-41 On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him COME TO ME AND DRINK. 38Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’ ” 39HE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THE SPIRIT, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified. 40On hearing these words, some of the people said, “This is truly the Prophet.” 41Others declared, “This is the Christ.”
Exodus 17:5-7 And the LORD said to Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”
I Cor 10:1-4 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock THAT ACCOMPANIED THEM and THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST.
John 4:10 Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
Jeremiah 17:13,14 O Lord, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You will be put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be written down, because they have forsaken THE FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATER, EVEN THE LORD. Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for You are my praise.
Jer 2:13 "For My people have committed two evils: They have FORSAKEN ME, THE FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATER and they have dug THEIR OWN CISTERNS--broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Revelation 21:6-8 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
Revelation 22:1-2 Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, COMING FROM THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
The Triune God is living water, coming from the Father AND the Son AND the Holy Spirit.
John 7:37-41 On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him COME TO ME AND DRINK. 38Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’ ” 39HE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THE SPIRIT, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified. 40On hearing these words, some of the people said, “This is truly the Prophet.” 41Others declared, “This is the Christ.”
Exodus 17:5-7 And the LORD said to Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”
I Cor 10:1-4 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock THAT ACCOMPANIED THEM and THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST.
John 4:10 Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
Jeremiah 17:13,14 O Lord, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You will be put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be written down, because they have forsaken THE FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATER, EVEN THE LORD. Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for You are my praise.
Jer 2:13 "For My people have committed two evils: They have FORSAKEN ME, THE FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATER and they have dug THEIR OWN CISTERNS--broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Revelation 21:6-8 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
Revelation 22:1-2 Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, COMING FROM THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
The Triune God is living water, coming from the Father AND the Son AND the Holy Spirit.
There should be no comma there. Life eternal is BOTH the Father and the Son. Therefore Christ said that He is the Resurrection and the Life. Christ is called "that Eternal Life" which was with the Father by John as seen here: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life; For the Life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that Eternal Life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.
When certain words are capitalized (as above) we see that "the Life" is actually "the Word of Life" and that is Christ.
When certain words are capitalized (as above) we see that "the Life" is actually "the Word of Life" and that is Christ.
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The Apostle's Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
While the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds came along much later and are absolutely Trinitarian, how does the Apostle's Creed "lay out the Trinity or Trinitarian doctrine"? I can find the things stated in the Apostle's Creed in the Bible. Not so with the two later creeds.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
While the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds came along much later and are absolutely Trinitarian, how does the Apostle's Creed "lay out the Trinity or Trinitarian doctrine"? I can find the things stated in the Apostle's Creed in the Bible. Not so with the two later creeds.
