From Cassuto - in Evidence that Demands A Verdict by Josh Mcdowell:
"The great innovation on the part of the Israelites.. while the writings of teh pagans give expression, on the one hand, to the abstract and general notion of Divinity, and, on the other, make mention of some particular God, in Hebrew literature the concept of the the specific God of Israel is completely identified with that of the God of the whole earth. YHWH, whom the children of Israel recognise and before whom they prostrate themselves, is none other than 'Elohim, of whose dominion over them all men aer more or less clearly conscious, and whom they are destined to acknowledge fully in time to come. This is the sublime thought to which the Biblical poets give expression thourhg the variation of the Names."
Now if Elohim is also Jehovah.. and Jesus is referencing Himself as either Jehovah or Yahweh.. then He is Elohim!
Have a problem with the Father being the Son? How about thinking of the trinity as one being with 3 expressions rather than three seperate beings. This would make it right to see just one God when we go to heaven, and keep the concept of their being one God.. with no other beside Him.
Have a problem with Jesus praying to the Father.. if He is the Father? Well.. consider your own mind, body and spirit.. your body can send messages to the mind.. and the mind to the body.. the spirit can communicate with both.
Have a problem with Jesus saying 'the Father is greater than I'.. well consider that He was talking to the disciples at the time.. talking about when He would ascend to be with the Father.. so He wasn't saying 'The Father is greater than I.. because I am not Him.. but I will be with the Father soon.. in my greater position'
Have a problem with Jesus being at the 'right hand of the Father'.. meaning He is sitting beside the Father.. well.. being at the right hand of the Father.. could also mean.. actually as the Father.. being the Father's expression.. right hand of direction and authority..
Anyway.. can only explain it up to a point.. the thing is.. we are talking about God! He can express Himself how ever He wants to! If you have a problem with Jesus being in physical form seperate from the Father.. and still saying He is God.. how then does the Holy Spirit indwell every believer?
It is a mystery up to a point.. but that doesn't mean it can't be understood to a degree.
"The great innovation on the part of the Israelites.. while the writings of teh pagans give expression, on the one hand, to the abstract and general notion of Divinity, and, on the other, make mention of some particular God, in Hebrew literature the concept of the the specific God of Israel is completely identified with that of the God of the whole earth. YHWH, whom the children of Israel recognise and before whom they prostrate themselves, is none other than 'Elohim, of whose dominion over them all men aer more or less clearly conscious, and whom they are destined to acknowledge fully in time to come. This is the sublime thought to which the Biblical poets give expression thourhg the variation of the Names."
Now if Elohim is also Jehovah.. and Jesus is referencing Himself as either Jehovah or Yahweh.. then He is Elohim!
Have a problem with the Father being the Son? How about thinking of the trinity as one being with 3 expressions rather than three seperate beings. This would make it right to see just one God when we go to heaven, and keep the concept of their being one God.. with no other beside Him.
Have a problem with Jesus praying to the Father.. if He is the Father? Well.. consider your own mind, body and spirit.. your body can send messages to the mind.. and the mind to the body.. the spirit can communicate with both.
Have a problem with Jesus saying 'the Father is greater than I'.. well consider that He was talking to the disciples at the time.. talking about when He would ascend to be with the Father.. so He wasn't saying 'The Father is greater than I.. because I am not Him.. but I will be with the Father soon.. in my greater position'
Have a problem with Jesus being at the 'right hand of the Father'.. meaning He is sitting beside the Father.. well.. being at the right hand of the Father.. could also mean.. actually as the Father.. being the Father's expression.. right hand of direction and authority..
Anyway.. can only explain it up to a point.. the thing is.. we are talking about God! He can express Himself how ever He wants to! If you have a problem with Jesus being in physical form seperate from the Father.. and still saying He is God.. how then does the Holy Spirit indwell every believer?
It is a mystery up to a point.. but that doesn't mean it can't be understood to a degree.
