Question: God said he raised Jesus from the dead in Acts 17:3l, and Jesus said in John 2:19-21 that he would do it, and in Romans 8:ll the Holy Spirit raised Jesus. Who raised Jesus? If the three are not one
Which two lied?
Reply: The Spirit is not a person.
"Spirit is the principle of life and vital activity. The spirit is the breath of life (Gn 6:17; 7:15, 22; BS 38:23; WS 15:11, 16; 16:14). The breath is the breath of God, the wind, communicated to man by divine inspiration....The spirit of Yahweh or the spirit of God (Elohim) is a **force** that has unique effects upon man...and the spirit of Yahweh is a **force** which operates the works of Yahweh the savior and the judge. The spirit of Yahweh is often the **force** which inspires prophecy (Nm 11:17 ff; 24:2; 2 S 23:2; 1 Ch 12:18; Is 61:1; Mi 3:8; Ezk 2:2; 3:12, 14, 24; 8:3; 11:1, 5, 24; 37:1; 43:5; Ne 9:30; Zc 7:12). The prophet is a man of the spirit (Ho 9:7)."
Fortman says,
"The Jews never regarded the spirit as a person; nor is there any solid evidence that any Old Testament writer held this view....The Holy Spirit is usually presented in the Synoptics and in Acts as a divine force or power." The Triune God, pp. 6, 15
God did raise Jesus with His spirit, as he does all things with His power.
That is why the Good News Bible can call the Spirit of God the "power of God." Gen 1:2.
But what of John 2:19-21?
"As with His usage of parables, Jesus' cryptic statement most likely was designed to reveal the truth to His disciples but conceal its meaning from unbelievers who questioned Him (Matt. 13:10, 11). Only after his resurrection, however, did the disciples understand the real significance of this statement (v.22; cf. Matt. 12:40). Importantly, through the death and resurrection of Christ, temple worship in Jerusalem was destroyed (cf. 4:21) and reinstituted in the hearts of those who were built into a spiritual temple called the church (Eph. 2:19-22)."
-footnote at John 2:19, NKJV MacArthur Study Bible
Says A. T. Robertson in Word Pictures in the New Testament:
"Recall [John] 2:19 where Jesus said: 'And in three days I will raise it up.' He did not mean that he will raise himself from the dead independently of the Father as the active agent (Rom. 8:11)."-(New York, 1932), Vol. V, p. 183.
We have the prophet Ezekiel doing the same thing in Ezekiel 43:3, "I came to bring the city [Jerusalem] to ruin," that is, by predicting its destruction. Ezekiel actually did not destroy Jerusalem; but by prophecying it, he could speak of himself as doing it in a predictive sense. (cf. Jeremiah 1:10.) Similarly, the Father resurrected his Son, but Jesus could speak of doing so in a prophetic sense.
Question: Now there three in the Bible called God. First is the Father (2 Peter 1:17) Next the son John 1:1, Isaiah 9:6, John 5:18/10:30, and the Holy Spirit Acts 5:3,5. Before we get on active force again, please remember you cannot lie to an active force only a personality. You cannot lie to a table, chair, book or an active force, only a personality. Peter recognized the Holy Spirit as a person (Acts 13:2) Also, you cannot quote an active force.
Reply: Can you quote the Bible? Is the Bible a person? Is not the Bible given to us via God's spirit? (2 Pet 1:21). The scriptures are "God-breathed", theopneustos which comes from the word Pneuma/spirit. Can you lie/play falsely to the Scriptures and the Law? Yes, but does that make it a person?
"God's Word lives, and is active...it can judge thoughts and purposes of the heart." Heb 4:12 Beck.
Scriptures can speak to us...it say things (see John 7:38, 42; Rom 4:3; 9:17; 10:11; 11:2; Gal. 4:30; 1Tim. 5:18; Jas 4:5). Does this make it a person, or a force that impacts our lives?
The Bible is a book of the Sacred Name. The Name that you can give thanks to (Ps 106:47; 138:2), a Name that is blessed (Ps 113:2; 145:1), a Name that is praised (Ps 113:3; 135:3; 148:13; 149:3), a Name that is given glory (Ps 115:1), a Name that you can sing to (Ps 135:3), a Name that is exalted (Ps 34:3), a Name that saves ((Ps 54:1), a Name that is feared (Ps 61:5), a Name that is loved (Ps 69:36). The Name is part of God, just as is his breath/spirit. You cannot think of one without the other.
Does this make it a person though? "A record was written before him of those who feared him and had respect for his name." Mal 3:16 Revised English Bible
The Law, ...your Heart
Is the spirit God in Acts 5:3-4? Let us see what it says:
"But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God." ASV
Do you notice that the last part is directed towards Peter when it says, "thou has not lied unto men?" See, they lied to Peter, who was "filled with holy spirit" Acts 4:8
And when they lied to Peter, they lied to God. Later on, in the same chapter, we have a similar situation in vss 38 and 39 where these words were directed towards Peter and the disciples, "Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will be overthrown: but if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God." Peter and his men were not God, but representative standing in place of God, and when something is done against them, it is done against God. "Whoever touches you touches the pupil of his own eye." Zech 2:8 New Jewish Publication Society/ Tanakh That is why the Scofield Study Bible cross-references Acts 5:4 to Scriptures like Numbers 16:11, 1Samuel 8:7 and 1 Thess 4:8 which says, " Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you." ASV
Question: The OT condemns polytheism and declares that God is one and is to be worshipped and loved as such. (Deut. 6:4,5/ Isaiah 45:21) Please explain to me how there are three called God in the Bible, but only one God. Either its the Trinity or you are guilty of polytheism.
Reply: Actually, in the Bible, prophets are called God (Ex 4:16; 7:1), as are Judges (Ex 21:6; 22:8; Ps 82:1) as are kings (Ps 45:6) as are angels (Ps 8:5; 97:7; 138:1). Even Satan is referred to as God (2 Cor 4:4). But we obviously do not refer to these as God. That is why the Bible uses the term "almighty," a term never used of Jesus Christ or any of the others mentioned above.
Jane Schaberg writes: "The term 'ELOHIM' is applied to Melchizedek five times in 11Q Melchizedek, and Philo calls Moses QEOS" (Jane Schaberg, The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit: The Triadic Phrase in Matthew 28:19b_,page 8).
"The pre-Arian discussion of the Angel-Christology did not turn simply on the question whether Christ was an angel, but on another issue, namely, in what sense could he, as an angel, rank as God. The explanation which was offered by the supporters of the Angel-Christology was that Christ, according to his nature, was a high angel, but that he was named 'God'; for the designation 'God' was ambiguous. The word 'God' did mean, in the first place, the absolute divine omnipotence but it was also used for the beings who served this deus verus [Latin, 'god true'= (the) true God]. That these were designated 'gods' implies reverence and recognition of Him who sent them and whom they thus represented. Consequently in the Scriptures (Exod. xxii, 28), not only angels, but even men could be called 'gods' [cf. Ps. 8:5; Heb. 2:7, 9; Ps. 82:6, 7; John 10:34, 35] without according them the status in the strict sense. Even Latantius [260-330 C.E.] had thought in this way2 ... 2 Latantius, inst. Epitome [The Epitome Of The Divine Institutes], 37."
-Martin Werner, The Formation Of Christian Dogma, p. 140.
"I said you are gods. Scripture gives the name of gods to those on whom God has conferred an honourable office. He whom God has separated, to be distinguished above all others [His Son] is far more worthy of this honourable title ... The passage which Christ quotes [at John 10:34] is in Psalm lxxxii [82], 6, I have said, You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High; where God expostulates with the kings and judges of the earth, who tyrannically abuse the authority and power for their own sinful passions, for oppressing the poor, and for every evil action ... Christ applies this to the case in hand, that they receive the name of gods, be- cause they are God's ministers for governing the world. For the same reason Scripture calls the angels gods, because by them the glory of God beams forth on the world ... In short, let us know that magistrates are called gods, because God has given them authority."
-John Calvin, Commentary on the Gospel According to John, p. 419, 20.
Which two lied?
Reply: The Spirit is not a person.
"Spirit is the principle of life and vital activity. The spirit is the breath of life (Gn 6:17; 7:15, 22; BS 38:23; WS 15:11, 16; 16:14). The breath is the breath of God, the wind, communicated to man by divine inspiration....The spirit of Yahweh or the spirit of God (Elohim) is a **force** that has unique effects upon man...and the spirit of Yahweh is a **force** which operates the works of Yahweh the savior and the judge. The spirit of Yahweh is often the **force** which inspires prophecy (Nm 11:17 ff; 24:2; 2 S 23:2; 1 Ch 12:18; Is 61:1; Mi 3:8; Ezk 2:2; 3:12, 14, 24; 8:3; 11:1, 5, 24; 37:1; 43:5; Ne 9:30; Zc 7:12). The prophet is a man of the spirit (Ho 9:7)."
Fortman says,
"The Jews never regarded the spirit as a person; nor is there any solid evidence that any Old Testament writer held this view....The Holy Spirit is usually presented in the Synoptics and in Acts as a divine force or power." The Triune God, pp. 6, 15
God did raise Jesus with His spirit, as he does all things with His power.
That is why the Good News Bible can call the Spirit of God the "power of God." Gen 1:2.
But what of John 2:19-21?
"As with His usage of parables, Jesus' cryptic statement most likely was designed to reveal the truth to His disciples but conceal its meaning from unbelievers who questioned Him (Matt. 13:10, 11). Only after his resurrection, however, did the disciples understand the real significance of this statement (v.22; cf. Matt. 12:40). Importantly, through the death and resurrection of Christ, temple worship in Jerusalem was destroyed (cf. 4:21) and reinstituted in the hearts of those who were built into a spiritual temple called the church (Eph. 2:19-22)."
-footnote at John 2:19, NKJV MacArthur Study Bible
Says A. T. Robertson in Word Pictures in the New Testament:
"Recall [John] 2:19 where Jesus said: 'And in three days I will raise it up.' He did not mean that he will raise himself from the dead independently of the Father as the active agent (Rom. 8:11)."-(New York, 1932), Vol. V, p. 183.
We have the prophet Ezekiel doing the same thing in Ezekiel 43:3, "I came to bring the city [Jerusalem] to ruin," that is, by predicting its destruction. Ezekiel actually did not destroy Jerusalem; but by prophecying it, he could speak of himself as doing it in a predictive sense. (cf. Jeremiah 1:10.) Similarly, the Father resurrected his Son, but Jesus could speak of doing so in a prophetic sense.
Question: Now there three in the Bible called God. First is the Father (2 Peter 1:17) Next the son John 1:1, Isaiah 9:6, John 5:18/10:30, and the Holy Spirit Acts 5:3,5. Before we get on active force again, please remember you cannot lie to an active force only a personality. You cannot lie to a table, chair, book or an active force, only a personality. Peter recognized the Holy Spirit as a person (Acts 13:2) Also, you cannot quote an active force.
Reply: Can you quote the Bible? Is the Bible a person? Is not the Bible given to us via God's spirit? (2 Pet 1:21). The scriptures are "God-breathed", theopneustos which comes from the word Pneuma/spirit. Can you lie/play falsely to the Scriptures and the Law? Yes, but does that make it a person?
"God's Word lives, and is active...it can judge thoughts and purposes of the heart." Heb 4:12 Beck.
Scriptures can speak to us...it say things (see John 7:38, 42; Rom 4:3; 9:17; 10:11; 11:2; Gal. 4:30; 1Tim. 5:18; Jas 4:5). Does this make it a person, or a force that impacts our lives?
The Bible is a book of the Sacred Name. The Name that you can give thanks to (Ps 106:47; 138:2), a Name that is blessed (Ps 113:2; 145:1), a Name that is praised (Ps 113:3; 135:3; 148:13; 149:3), a Name that is given glory (Ps 115:1), a Name that you can sing to (Ps 135:3), a Name that is exalted (Ps 34:3), a Name that saves ((Ps 54:1), a Name that is feared (Ps 61:5), a Name that is loved (Ps 69:36). The Name is part of God, just as is his breath/spirit. You cannot think of one without the other.
Does this make it a person though? "A record was written before him of those who feared him and had respect for his name." Mal 3:16 Revised English Bible
The Law, ...your Heart
Is the spirit God in Acts 5:3-4? Let us see what it says:
"But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God." ASV
Do you notice that the last part is directed towards Peter when it says, "thou has not lied unto men?" See, they lied to Peter, who was "filled with holy spirit" Acts 4:8
And when they lied to Peter, they lied to God. Later on, in the same chapter, we have a similar situation in vss 38 and 39 where these words were directed towards Peter and the disciples, "Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will be overthrown: but if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God." Peter and his men were not God, but representative standing in place of God, and when something is done against them, it is done against God. "Whoever touches you touches the pupil of his own eye." Zech 2:8 New Jewish Publication Society/ Tanakh That is why the Scofield Study Bible cross-references Acts 5:4 to Scriptures like Numbers 16:11, 1Samuel 8:7 and 1 Thess 4:8 which says, " Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you." ASV
Question: The OT condemns polytheism and declares that God is one and is to be worshipped and loved as such. (Deut. 6:4,5/ Isaiah 45:21) Please explain to me how there are three called God in the Bible, but only one God. Either its the Trinity or you are guilty of polytheism.
Reply: Actually, in the Bible, prophets are called God (Ex 4:16; 7:1), as are Judges (Ex 21:6; 22:8; Ps 82:1) as are kings (Ps 45:6) as are angels (Ps 8:5; 97:7; 138:1). Even Satan is referred to as God (2 Cor 4:4). But we obviously do not refer to these as God. That is why the Bible uses the term "almighty," a term never used of Jesus Christ or any of the others mentioned above.
Jane Schaberg writes: "The term 'ELOHIM' is applied to Melchizedek five times in 11Q Melchizedek, and Philo calls Moses QEOS" (Jane Schaberg, The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit: The Triadic Phrase in Matthew 28:19b_,page 8).
"The pre-Arian discussion of the Angel-Christology did not turn simply on the question whether Christ was an angel, but on another issue, namely, in what sense could he, as an angel, rank as God. The explanation which was offered by the supporters of the Angel-Christology was that Christ, according to his nature, was a high angel, but that he was named 'God'; for the designation 'God' was ambiguous. The word 'God' did mean, in the first place, the absolute divine omnipotence but it was also used for the beings who served this deus verus [Latin, 'god true'= (the) true God]. That these were designated 'gods' implies reverence and recognition of Him who sent them and whom they thus represented. Consequently in the Scriptures (Exod. xxii, 28), not only angels, but even men could be called 'gods' [cf. Ps. 8:5; Heb. 2:7, 9; Ps. 82:6, 7; John 10:34, 35] without according them the status in the strict sense. Even Latantius [260-330 C.E.] had thought in this way2 ... 2 Latantius, inst. Epitome [The Epitome Of The Divine Institutes], 37."
-Martin Werner, The Formation Of Christian Dogma, p. 140.
"I said you are gods. Scripture gives the name of gods to those on whom God has conferred an honourable office. He whom God has separated, to be distinguished above all others [His Son] is far more worthy of this honourable title ... The passage which Christ quotes [at John 10:34] is in Psalm lxxxii [82], 6, I have said, You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High; where God expostulates with the kings and judges of the earth, who tyrannically abuse the authority and power for their own sinful passions, for oppressing the poor, and for every evil action ... Christ applies this to the case in hand, that they receive the name of gods, be- cause they are God's ministers for governing the world. For the same reason Scripture calls the angels gods, because by them the glory of God beams forth on the world ... In short, let us know that magistrates are called gods, because God has given them authority."
-John Calvin, Commentary on the Gospel According to John, p. 419, 20.
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