re: Re: John 1:1 & the Tetragrammatonm

From: Eric Weiss (eweiss@acf.dhhs.gov)
Date: Wed Aug 16 1995 - 17:39:02 EDT


Forwarded to: Internet[b-greek@virginia.edu]
          cc:
Comments by: Eric Weiss@OSP@ACF.DAL
Comments:

Alan Fuerbacher's and Gregory Jordan's comments on John 1:1c caused me to
raise some questions with Greg about the trinity and whether the Greek NT
really declares that Jesus is God, and if not, is there any harm in saying
that Jesus is not God? Does it affect salvation? Can Jesus be eternal and
worthy of worship, yet not God? Is our conception of the trinity more Nicene
than Pauline or Johannine?

Below is my last note to him, so you can see what I'm thinking and asking,
and so some others out there can maybe help me with these questions. Thanks!

   -------------------------- [Original Message] -------------------------
I guess some of my thoughts come from what I guess you would call a couple of
logical syllogisms or equations, i.e.:

YHWH in the OT is translated as KURIOS in the Septuagint.
KURIOS in the NT is often/frequently/almost exclusively applied to Jesus, and
never (or maybe just once or twice) applied to "God" (which is rendered by
THEOS and PATER).
Hence, the attributes of YHWH are applied to Jesus.
Hence, Jesus = God.

Exodus 3:15 has God telling Moses that YHWH is the name by which he is to be
remembered forever.
In the book of Acts things formerly ascribed to and done in the name of YHWH
are ascribed to and done in the name of Jesus.
Hence, the name of Jesus = the name of God (YHWH).
Hence, Jesus = God.

I don't know if this is sound logic or not. It really has nothing to do with
Nicene thought patterns (although since I read the text with the
presupposition, as I have been taught, that Jesus is God, which could be a
Nicene way of viewing things, I can't say that I'm not just seeing what I
expect to find).

It gets back to the questions I asked in my last message, and still find I am
asking myself: Does the NT really teach that Jesus is God, and if it does
not, does that really affect our salvation? If so, how? Does the Savior--
the means and person by which God reconciles us to Himself--also have to be
God Himself? Can Jesus be eternal and not God? Can He be worthy of honor
and worship (as the NT seems to deem Him), yet not be God?

Christianity has developed its whole theology based on the belief that Jesus
is God, and there are a few passages which some exegetes like A.T. Robertson
claim explicitly call Jesus God, though others say it's not crystal clear,
but if the New Testament can be honestly read as not to require ascribing
full equality and oneness of Jesus with God the Father, what is the harm or
benefit in reading it this way? I know if I were to say that Jesus was not
God, or that the NT doesn't teach that Jesus was God, I'd immediately be
looked upon as a JW or a member of The Way International or some such group,
and that would be false.

Help!



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