Tag Archive | angels

Jesus Christ – lower or better than the angels? Hebr. 2:7

angel Thou madest him A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS (Hebr. 2:7)

Jesus was temporarily (and in one aspect) made a little lower than the angels when he by free will was made in the likeness of a human beings. Jesus made himself in the form of a servant for our sake!

Rom. 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Col. 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Jesus chose to lay down his own life by following a commandment given by his Father to do so. As a man living on earth Jesus was in contact with God the Father through prayers just like us, but unlike us Jesus has always shared the Godhead together with his Father. Jesus lived even before Abraham (John 8:58) but not in form of a human being. Jesus existed before the world even was, together with his Father. Moreover, God the Father is said to not share his glory with anyone, but gladly shares it with Jesus! The only way to solve this apparent contradiction is to accept that Jesus is God, which in fact is what his Father calls him in Hebr. 1:8 when he addresses the son with “O God”.

John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.— 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.— 24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Is. 42:8 I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I NOT give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Even though Jesus temporarily was made lower than the angels here on earth, he became better and higher than the angels after his resurrection. He also got a taste of it here on earth when we can also read that angels were told to worship him. We are also made aware in the Bible that we serve and worship God alone (Matt. 4:10-11) which makes sense since God is one and the only Creator. The reason why Jesus was born on earth (despite having preexisted in another form) was “for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man”. This means ALL can be saved if they truly repent for their sins and believe that Jesus Christ has come in flesh.

Matt. 4:10: Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Hebr. 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?7 Thou madest him A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.9 But we see JESUS, who was made A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

pink bible and candle The previous chapter claims that Jesus was so much better than the angels, so he had a higher standing:

Hebr. 1:4 Being made so much BETTER than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment

Jesus is before all things – visible or invisible. Sure our Creator God fits in to one of those categories since he is at least “something”? If Jesus has always existed with the Father in the godhead, he was indeed “before all things” and the Father was not before him. In Isaiah we can read that no one helped the Lord in his creation. The persons in the godhead were and are intertwined.

Hebr. 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Col. 1:16 For BY HIM were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: ALL THINGS were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is BEFORE ALL THINGS, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things HE might have the preeminence.

Is. 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens ALONE; that spreadeth abroad the earth BY MYSELF

Is 45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.

PLANETS in the creation account, wandering STARS, fallen angels – Jude 13

Dec9

“Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; WANDERING STARS, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever” (Jude 13)

“Wandering” derives from the Greek noun πλανήτης (planétés, Strong’s 4107), and is only used in the Bible in Jude 1:13, where we can read about wandering stars. About this word we can read in Biblehub that it derives from the verb πλανάω (planáo, Strong’s 4105) with the meaning of go astray, deceive, get off course, wander or cause to wander. This verb is used 39 times in the KJV. It can be used to signify a star that is wandering (a planet), and in a figurative sense it could mean a false teacher exploiting other aimless people leading them to go astray. This verb is also used to describe the Israelites’ wandering around in the desert during the Exodus.

Matt. 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive (planáo, Strong’s 4105) you.⁵For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive (planáo, Strong’s 4105) many. — ¹¹And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

2 Tim. 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving,(planáo, Strong’s 4105) and being deceived (planáo, Strong’s 4105).14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

Ja. 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err (planáo, Strong’s 4105): from the truth, and one convert him;20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

2 Pet. 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray (planáo, Strong’s 4105), following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

This is where the English word “planet” is coming from, and it is a word which we can also recognize in numerous other languages (with minor differences in spelling).

Planets in the Bible?

Many have asked why planets are not mentioned in the Bible, but only the earth, the sun and the moon. Should they not get a mention? If the planets are in fact “stars” they are already mentioned. The Bible seems to refer to the planets (what we today understand as planets) as wandering stars in Jude 13, in contrast to the other stars in the sky. Most stars are not wandering at all but are fixed in their proper places – many of them belong in certain star constellations which can be seen from earth – yet certain stars are considered to be wandering. The planets/the wandering stars are seven in number just like our weekdays: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. They are all tied to various gods in ancient times.

The earth is described as being created prior to light on the first day and is a place which God intended to be inhabited (Isa. 45:18), which means that he did not wait to accomplish this goal for billions of years. The stars (the fixed stars and the wandering ones) on the other hand were created on the 4th day, and they are something entirely different than our unique earth.

The purpose of the earth was to be inhabited with human beings, animals and vegetation. The purpose of the sun and the moon (each described as lights) was to divide the day from the night, to be signs (for certain seasons, days and years) and to give light on the earth. The purpose of the stars was apparently to help out providing light and signs for the inhabitants of earth. We can read about the stars “he made the stars also” just after describing the purpose of the sun and the moon, and the author goes on to say “God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness” which works out well for all the celestial lights.

Based on the book of Enoch and the Bible, the sun is referred to as He, and the moon as She.

Is. 13:10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

Ez. 32:7 And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.

Judg. 5:31 So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.

Seven stars?

Amos 5:8 Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name:

The above could of course signify an open star cluster called the Pleiades (the seven sisters), in the constellation of Taurus. It is the cluster most obvious to the naked eye in the sky. Orion is, like Taurus, a star constellation. Maybe it could also refer to the seven wandering stars.

Gen. 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.—14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

Fallen angels

The Bible mentions angels which kept not their first estate but left their own habitation. Jude also compared with the unnatural way that the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrha lived their life with sexual perversion (homosexuality):

Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Jude ¹⁴And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

Jude refers to Enoch as “seventh from Adam”, showing that he understood the history in Genesis as being literal (Enoch is indeed the seventh generation from Adam). Jude had no reason to doubt that the description of the sons of God (angels) was literal as well:

Gen. 6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Also the book of Enoch and the book of Jasher confirm this story and provide even more details.

The sun (or the stars) were not needed to illuminate the earth the first 3 days (the sun was created on Day 4), and we know from the book of Revelation that the lamb of God (Jesus) will be the one to give us light in the new Jerusalem where a sun will not be needed.

Satan, a beautiful star

Satan, a beautiful star, fell from heaven due to his rebellion. Now he walks about it trying to deceive people.

Luke 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

1 Pet. 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, WALKETH ABOUT, seeking whom he may devour

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (also Job 2:1-2)

The prince of Tyrus and the prince of the air (Satan) show a similar life pattern to each other as can be seen below. Satan was indeed a bright star:

Ez. 28:2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:— 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

According to Christian flat earth supporters, they believe the stars are smaller and closer to earth, placed in (not above) the firmament. (Read about the Biblical meaning of “firmament” – raqia – in this blog article.) If the stars were larger, they would not be able to fall down to earth but they would cause the earth to burn up long before approaching. This means that we would not be able to read about various events taking place on earth AFTER the stars had fallen down on it since the earth would then have become non-existent. Still, according to the Bible the life on earth goes on even after the stars will have fallen down on it.

Rev. 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

Rev: 8:10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

Rev. 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. — ⁹And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Mark 13:25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. See also Matt. 24:29

Dan. 8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.

Ps. 147:4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

The book of Enoch explains that seven particular stars, who were disobedient to God, will receive a terrible punishment in the future:

1 Enoch 21:1. And I proceeded to where things were chaotic. 2. And I saw there something horrible: I saw neither a heaven above nor a firmly founded earth, but a place chaotic and horrible. 3. And there I saw seven stars of the heaven bound together in it, like great mountains and burning with fire. 4. Then I said: ‘For what sin are they bound, and on what account have they been cast in hither?’ 5. Then said Uriel, one of the holy angels, who was with me, and was chief over them, and said: ‘Enoch, why dost thou ask, and why art thou eager for the truth? 6. These are of the number of the stars of heaven, which have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and are bound here till ten thousand years, the time entailed by their sins, are consummated.’ 7. And from thence I went to another place, which was still more horrible than the former, and I saw a horrible thing: a great fire there which burnt and blazed, and the place was cleft as far as the abyss, being full of great descending columns of fire: neither its extent or magnitude could I see, nor could I conjecture. 8. Then I said: ‘How fearful is the place and how terrible to look upon!’ 9. Then Uriel answered me, one of the holy angels who was with me, and said unto me: ‘Enoch, why hast thou such fear and affright?’ And I answered: ‘Because of this fearful place, and because of the spectacle of the pain.’ 10. And he said unto me: ‘This place is the prison of the angels, and here they will be imprisoned for ever.’

Why do stars twinkle? It actually looks like they are placed in a layer of water. “God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament:—And God said, Let there be lights IN the firmament of the heaven.” Read about “the circle of the earth” (not translated as a ball, globe, or sphere) in Is. 40:22 here. If you want a list with all Bible verses in chronological order which support a geocentric flat earth model, please see this list with comments.

Stars as they really are, without using CGI the way NASA does:

Jesus free will “subordination” to the Father doesn’t contradict the TRINITY

Jul31

Jesus lived in another shape long before his start as a human being in Mary’s womb

We know that Jesus Christ didn’t start to exist only some 2000 years ago when he by his own free will was placed as a seed inside Mary, but he existed long before then – from all eternity – albeit not in flesh.

John. 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee BEFORE the world was.— 24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me BEFORE the foundation of the world.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.—14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

He was also together with the Israelites during the Exodus, probably in the form of the Angel of the Lord (not a created angel). This also occurred long before he was born in flesh.

1 Cor. 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;—4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST. — 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

We also know that there is ONE GOD alone, and we know that 1) the Father, 2) Jesus Christ the son, and 3) the holy Spirit, have each been referred to as GOD in the Bible. The only way to combine these truths is to use the concept of the Trinity, and this is also what the early church Fathers did as can be seen here. It’s hard to know exactly how the Godhead functions since it’s the Almighty GOD we are talking about (and we are not required to know exactly how our Creator GOD works as long as we don’t believe in contradictions), but at least we know that Jesus is fully GOD – which is also confirmed by his own Father in Hebr. 1:8.

Col. 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the GODHEAD bodily.

The fact that Jesus always chose to do the Father’s will doesn’t contradict the Trinity, nor does it mean Jesus is of another nature than his Father

Wouldn’t it be more strange if Jesus did NOT do the Father’s will? God the Father remained in heaven when Jesus chose to be born as a baby on earth, and as a man Jesus was lower in rank than the angels – which means that during this time Jesus must have been lower in rank than his Father. However, that’s certainly not the position that Jesus held prior to being born in flesh.

If Jesus would have claimed that he always spoke on his own initiative, there would be reasons to doubt his shared life with the Father, but Jesus often claimed to do the works of his Father – just a he also claimed to have a will of his own. This means that every “he sent me”, and “I only do as told” and “I speak not from myself” should not be construed as evidence against the Trinity, because these expressions are statements of continuity with the Father, rather than indications of their discontinuity. Jesus had no personal agenda to carry out, and he wanted his audience to understand this. That’s why he constantly spoke to them about “God’s kingdom” and “my Father”, in order to highlight that he didn’t come to preach about a new religion or a new God. Jesus emphasized that he always chose to act according to his Father’s will, because he wanted his audience to realize that his words were trustworthy – being completely those of God the Father – the God that the israelites had worshiped all along.

What would his audience think if Jesus would have said: “I have come to do MY will, not the Father’s will! I have come without being sent by the Father–but on my own initiative. The gospel that I preach is my own, and NOT that of the Father. I have come in my own name, and not in the name of the Father”? The son would never take any actions that would interfere with the will of the Father, or in any way place himself over the Father. If the son is capable of choosing to do whatever the Father does, he must be as divine as the Father since he obviously has the power to obey or disobey GOD himself!

Jesus chose to give his own life for us, which means that he had the power to choose to do otherwise

If Jesus wouldn’t be able to choose to lay down his own life, it would be dishonest to claim that this is exactly what he did for us. Either he had this free will capability to make this decision, or he was forced to lay down his life by his Father, having no choice in the matter. Even if the Father first had to make him “willing”, it would still be filed under “Forced” since it would involve a manipulation of the will.

John. 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Gal. 2:²⁰I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Matt. 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Let’s also remember that both God and Jesus are referred to as having created the heavens and the earth “with his own hands” (see for instance Hebr. 1).

Being SENT by someone doesn’t indicate that you’re of another nature than the Sender

Human messengers sent by human rulers, are certainly not LESS human themselves, and if someone by free will places himself in a lower rank than another person, neither does this humble free will decision make him any less human. It’s absolutely possible that the persons in the Godhead made a joint decision to carry out the creation in a certain way that they felt pleased about, and also to carry out the salvation plan in their own preferred way. Such a decision would mean that the Father and the son couldn’t BOTH be born as babies on earth, and the Father and the son couldn’t BOTH remain in heaven while none of them stepped down to earth to live as a man in flesh.

It’s a good thing for us that the persons in the Godhead decided to adopt separate roles within their own nature. “The Father is greater than I” should not be taken to mean that Jesus is not God. Neither would anyone assume that a statement like “the prime minister is greater than I“, would indicate that he is more human than the speaker, nor that he is greater than all others in ALL areas of life. On top of this, a prime minister isn’t a prime minister for eternity, and he can choose to step down and take on a much less authoritative position.

A Managing Director is “greater” in authority than all his employees at work, but off duty he might be a Board member in a Boat club where he is “only” a secretary, and one of his employees (from work) might be the Head of the Board with greater authority when it concerns the Boat club. Maybe this particular Managing Director even had the opportunity to be the Head of the Board for this Boat club but declined, or maybe he even used to be the Head of the Board but stepped down by free will to offer his position to this other person – despite that he had the chance to continue in the highest position. Moreover, this Managing Director – particularly if it’s a female – might not be the top authority in her own home but only at work. Just because you’re in the highest position at work doesn’t mean you’re in the highest position at home. It’s absolutely possible to voluntarily grant another person the authority over oneself – at least in part. As soon as we accept a job position, we will likely have a boss as an authority over us who is much greater in rank at work (and not outside of work).

Let’s say that three friends would like to start a business together, where all three individuals would not be able to fill all job positions in the company. It’s a lot smarter to split the duties to make the company work so much better, and this method wouldn’t change the fact that they are all equal co-owners of the company that they founded together (equal shareholders). Maybe one of them by free will offers to be the one who travels across the world to meet new customers, and he must therefore leave the daily administration of the company to his colleagues, and maybe also all the fancy titles. Again, this doesn’t mean that he is of an another nature than his partners, and neither does it mean that he is inferior to them. They just have a mutual goal to make the company work fantastic, and that’s why every single one of them can’t hold the highest position of the company. Splitting the duties and the titles would be beneficial for all of them and for the entire company. It’s also possible to make an arrangement where they take turns holding the various positions and job titles, or they could decide to keep their positions until the very end, and let only one of them do the hard work away from the office (but also make the decision to reward this particular person abundantly when the final goal has been achieved).

The point is that it’s not possible to use statements such as “the Father is greater than I”, or “I will put everything under his feet”, as evidence for the idea that Jesus is not God. That would be like comparing apples with oranges, because Jesus nature doesn’t have anything to do with the free will arrangement within the Godhead (whether in short-term or long-term). Jesus was in the form of GOD but decided to step down from his position in heaven to become a servant and in the likeness of men. This means that Jesus would start to exist in a completely new form and under totally different circumstances compared with before – by his own free will. Suddenly he lived as a man just like other human beings, and he started out as a little baby just like the rest of us. I don’t think he reasoned and behaved like a 30-year-old man trapped in the body of a little baby, but I truly believe he was like any other human baby with corresponding mental limitations. He still grew up without sin, and probably started to realize exactly who he was when he matured. Luckily God the Father didn’t have to go through the same stages, and God wouldn’t have the ultimate control of this universe if the entire Godhead would suddenly end up as a little baby and could only reason as a baby.

If Jesus wouldn’t be God (which the Father says he is), then it’s strange that the Father wants every knee to bow down before Jesus rather than himself? Is it only to confuse us into believing that Jesus is God?

Phil. 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7 But MADE HIMSELF of no reputation, and TOOK UPON HIM THE FORM OF A SERVANT, and was made in the likeness of men:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When Jesus lowered himself and washed the feet of the disciples, this was a voluntary action and doesn’t mean that he therefore was a lesser human being than his disciples and inferior to them. In Romans 15:8 Paul says “For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth”, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that Jesus was inferior to the Jews. There is a non-correlation between “submission” and “inferiority”. The Holy Spirit is said to be sent by the Father, and also said to be sent by the Son. Does this in any way make inferiority-assertions about the Spirit of God? No, since it’s only a matter of free will roles within the Trinity.

Jesus speaks of “my Father” and “your Father”, but never “our Father”

Suggesting that God is “our” Father might simply mean that he is our God, but Jesus often spoke in such a way that his audience understood that he made more serious claims than that. Jesus made himself EQUAL with God and he made himself GOD. (If you’re called God you’re either the creator-God or a false god which you can read more about here and here). The jews didn’t understand his words to express subordination to God, but to full equality and being no one else but God. That is the reason they wanted to kill Jesus – due to blasphemy. It can’t be more clear than that.

John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

John 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

Phil. 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God

John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. (NASB) (KJV “only begotten son”)

It’s also well-known that Jesus used God’s own name on himself (IAM, and the alpha and omega) and constantly allowed people to worship him.

The Shekinah glory of the OT is the very presence of God – in the form of a cloud

Jesus is called “the glory of the Father” alluding to the Shekinah glory which was the very presence of God in the tabernacle/temple – not just a representation or manifestation.

When God in form of the angel of the Lord (probably Jesus as can be seen here) appeared to Moses in a burning bush, surely the heaven was not devoid of a GOD? If God was in the burning bush, does this mean that he was unable to appear also before other people at the same time, or does it mean that he was unable to behold each person’s activities on earth because he was too occupied with the conversation that he had with Moses? Is it hard to imagine that our holy Creator can be in multiple places at the same time, and that this divine power doesn’t turn him into several gods?

Ex. 3:2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

In Exodus God also appeared in the form of a cloud during the day and as fire during the night. In some verses GOD is said to have done it, in other places the angel of the Lord is said to have done it and in 1 Cor. 10 even Jesus Christ is said to have done it. Either the Bible is confusing (and we have several gods) or the cloud can be explained by the Trinity-God.

Ex. 40:38 For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

1 Cor. 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;—4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST. — 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

We can also read about the real presence of God in form of a cloud, being in the midst of the priests in the house/temple of the Lord. God was in this cloud (just like he was in the fire in the burning bush) and spoke to those who were present in the form of the Almighty God. The same questions can be asked here. Surely the heavens and the rest of the earth were not devoid of a God, when God was in the form of this holy cloud? Surely God can be in several places at the same time without being accused of being several gods? Surely the God in the burning bush and in the holy cloud was not a lesser God than God in heaven or of another nature? Would we consider the God in the burning bush or in the cloud to be subordinate to God in heaven? Or would we consider the God in the cloud to be inferior to God in heaven only because the former was “sent down”?

2 Chron. 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord;14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God. (+ 1 King 8:10-11)

Ez. 10:3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.4 Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord’s glory.5 And the sound of the cherubims’ wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.—18 Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord’s house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

Ez. 43:2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: —4 And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.5 So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house.6 And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me.7 And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.

Jesus is able to be in the midst of two or three persons who gather in his name, but what happens if more than one group of people gather in his name? Is Jesus only able to visit one group at a time? OR, does he have the power to attend several meetings at the same time and still not be charged of being several “sons”?

Matt. 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

He has put all things under his feet?

Jesus has gone through several stages in his life time, and certain stages are yet to come in the future. Jesus never stopped being God throughout these stages but it has been necessary to say no to some of his divine powers, like when he was in the stage as a human being – and especially as a little baby with reduced mental capabilities. As a human being he was lower than the angels, but before and after this stage the angels were inferior to him and were supposed to worship him (no one should worship anyone else but GOD). Jesus….

He is the Creator of the world and absolutely nothing was before him (1 Col. 1:16, 1 Hebr. 1:8, etc)
He has lived in the form of the angel of the Lord (called Jahve) and communicated with Jahve in heaven
He has by free will been placed as a human seed inside Mary
He has been a baby, a little boy and a full grown man
He has proved to be the promised Messiah
He has shared the gospel of God on earth
He has died a physical death
He has resurrected from the dead
He has been glorified
He will return once again to earth and destroy Antichrist and bring home his Bride
He will reign in the new Jerusalem, where no sun is needed because the LAMB will be the source of light

Much has been made of 1 Cor. 15:27, and people are ready to ditch all sorts of clear verses about the deity of Christ due to this verse which they prefer to interpret in the wrong way.

1 Cor. 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.24 Then cometh the end, when he [Jesus) shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Remember again, that Jesus chose to be born as a baby on earth to carry out a mission, which means that he left his secure place in heaven and some of his divine powers and became even lower than the angels in rank. This means that he must be restored once again when he has completed his task, and who else can restore him but God the Father in the same Godhead? At no time did God the Father lower himself from his highest position that he had together with his son, but always had all the power in the world. As a mediator Jesus will lay down his office at the feet of the Father when he (Jesus) has completed his work to the very end, because the dominion of Christ will one day terminate. Jesus will finally reclaim his divine sovereignty when he has overthrown his enemies – including Antichrist himself (2 Thess. 2:8). Submission can be a voluntary act, and Jesus life on earth was also meant to serve as a model for believers to follow.

The last verse above might tell us that Jesus is actually not subject to his Father at this particular point but later “when all things shall be subdued unto him, THEN SHALL the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him”. This looks like the redemptive post-resurrection son is currently not under the subjection of the Father. This means that Jesus is not and has not been eternally subordinate to his Father, but that his redemptive work has something to do with it. The fact that the son is said to become subject unto the Father in the very end of this stage is because “God may be all in all”. It probably means that they will no longer be separate with a need for one of them to be in the form of an angel of the Lord or as a human being, but they will be united in one permanent role in the Godhead.

Jesus has been given the authority to judge, not because he is the son of God but because he is the son of man who has successfully accomplished what he has purposed to do for mankind. (John 5.27). It looks like Jesus can create, forgive sins, judge, give eternal life, be worshiped, be called IAM just like God the Father, despite that God clearly states that he shares his glory with NO ONE. Only the Trinity can solve this puzzle.

Jn 5.20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.—27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

Rev. 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

The Father and the son are ONE in a totally different way than the body of Christ is ONE

We can be “one” in various ways and the context of “I and my Father are one” in John 10:30 is entirely different from John 17:21-22. In the latter the context is about having the same goal and attitude (as in not having divisions among christians), but in the former passage it’s about being one with the same authority, spirit and nature. The jews understood this too well since they immediately picked up stones to kill him after having made this statement. No one deserves a death sentence for claiming that believers should have the same goals and attitudes, but it’s certainly a death sentence for claiming to be equal with God. God is not the author of confusion, and he is able to express himself in a way that listeners and readers can understand.

John 10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.—28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.30 I and my Father are one.31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Moses was supposed to be LIKE A GOD to Aaron, unlike Jesus who IS God (Hebr. 1:8)

May31

If someone is called GOD, he is either the supreme Creator or a false god – so which category applies to Jesus?

The only way for anti-Trinitarians to make an attempt to solve the problem that Jesus is called God in Hebr. 1:8, John 20:28, etc, is to try to make an inflation out of the word “God”, with the hope that it will lead to a position where it’s not a big deal to be called God since people are called God left and right. They are incorrect, however, since the Bible shows that there are only two alternatives that could apply to Jesus – the true God or a false god, and false gods are no gods at all.

The only verse that they could possibly use as support is a psalm (82:6), which POETRY naturally couldn’t make the case that other beings than the true God can be called God – unless we’re talking about false gods. Godly judges or priests wouldn’t dream about being called God by anyone. (See further down below.) So if someone tells you that judges, priests and angels are also called gods (outside poetry) they are greatly mistaken. The only angel that was called God (even JAHVE) was the Angel of the Lord, and he was not a created angel but actually a manifestation of God himself – probably Jesus,who was with the Israelites during the Exodus – 1 Cor. 10:4. Read more about the Angel of the Lord here.

False gods are no gods at all

244 times in the KJV, Elohyim is translated as “god” instead of “God”, indicating that it’s not the true God that is referred to but a false god (or just an idea of god, such as when Satan told Adam and Eve that they would be as gods if they ate of the forbidden fruit).

Ex. 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Please note, that oftentimes people (and sometimes even Jahve himself) might refer to other things as gods even though they don’t actually believe there exist more gods than GOD. When people worship idols, those idols are called gods also by those who don’t really view those idols as anything else but stone, wood or hay. Demons are of course real, and they are at times also called gods since they are idols that are being worshiped. Again, by referring to these idols as gods is by no means a confirmation of that these created things or demons are in actuality real gods of any kind!

Gen. 35:2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

2 Chron. 32:19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.

Ps. 95:6 FOR ALL THE GODS OF THE NATIONS ARE IDOLS: but the Lord made the heavens.

Ps. 97:7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.

Deut. 32:17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

Ex. 12: 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.

Ex. 23:24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.

Deut. 10:¹⁷For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:¹⁸He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.¹⁹Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.²⁰Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

Take special notice of the last few verses where God is called God of gods in order to make a statement about the many gods that the strangers in Egypt were worshiping. Jahve is the true God of all! Which god are you worshiping? God is the God of that god, because there is only one real God and he is over ALL.

1 Cor. 8:4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is NOTHING in the world, and that there is no other God but one.5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. (NKJV)

(Also read this article where we can read that God alone is, or is doing something … and yet Jesus is also, just as we can read that Jesus alone is, or is doing something… and yet God is also.)

Moses was told to be LIKE A GOD (or instead of God) to Aaron and Pharao

Both Ex. 4:16 and Ex. 7:1 use the word Elohiym, and most Bible translators have translated the below highlighted passages to ”as God”, and others “instead of God”. The fact that words such as “as”, and “instead of” are not in use in Hebrew, doesn’t mean that prepositions should neither be used in other languages – where such words indeed are in use. If Bible texts would be handled in that way, the end result would not be grammatically correct and extremely confusing to read. It’s simply not possible to always translate a language word for word into another language, and sometimes words can hold a number of alternate meanings. I believe we have no reason to doubt that the world’s translators, and experts in Hebrew have done a good job, or is there any particular reason to not trust them? Because we don’t like the outcome?

Note below that Moses is never called God according to these verses, but he was to be AS God for Aaron (and Pharao). Moses was supposed to be his spiritual leader, and he were supposed to turn to him since Moses was acting on Gods behalf. Whenever the translators have phrased themselves as “instead of God”, they of course don’t suggest that Aaron was supposed to drop the real God (Jahve) altogether and instead put Moses there in his place and start to worship him, but rather that Moses was the mediator between God and man. This is an entirely different story than Hebr. 1:8, where Jesus is directly CALLED God by his own Father.

1) Ex. 4:¹⁶So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him AS GOD. (NKJV)

Ex. 4:16 Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be AS GOD to him. (NASB)

Ex. 4:¹⁶And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. (KJV)

¹⁶Y él hablará por ti al pueblo; él te será a ti en lugar de boca, y tú serás para él en lugar de Dios. (Reina -Valera, 1960)

¹⁶Il sera ton porte-parole devant le peuple, il te servira de bouche, et tu seras pour lui comme le dieu qui parle à son prophète. (La Bible du Semeur)

¹⁶Und er soll für dich zum Volk reden und soll dein Mund sein, und du sollst für ihn an Gottes Statt sein. (Schlachter, 1951)

2) Ex. 7:1 So the Lord said to Moses: “See, I have made you AS GOD to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. (NKJV)

Ex. 7: 1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I make you AS GOD to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. (NASB)

Ex. 7:1 And the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. (ESV)

Ex. 7:1 But Adonai said to Moshe, “I have put you in the place of God to Pharaoh, and Aharon your brother will be your prophet. (Complete Jewish Bible)

Ex. 7:1 And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet (KJV)

Elohiym (Strong’s 430)

KJV translates the word : God (2,346x), god (244x), judge (5x), GOD (1x), goddess (2x), great (2x), mighty (2x), angels (1x), exceeding (1x), God-ward (with H4136) (1x), godly (1x).

When we check these options, we can see that Jesus (who was not called by a description/adjective, but was addressed with THEOS = GOD in Hebr. 1:8) was either called a TRUE God or a FALSE god. It’s one or the other. Isn’t the most likely option that Jesus was called a TRUE God, considering that all the angels were supposed to worship him and that Jesus was often also worshiped by men?

Hebr. 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and MY GOD.29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Let’s check all KJV options for GOD:

goddess (2x) – there are no female Gods so this is evidently about false gods as well (Ashtoreth to be exact)

great (2x), mighty (2x) –

Gen. 30:8 and Rachel saith, `With wrestlings of God I have wrestled with my sister, yea, I have prevailed;’ and she calleth his name Napthali. (Young’s Literal)

1 Sa. 14:15 and there is a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people, the station and the destroyers have trembled — even they, and the earth shaketh, and it becometh a trembling of God. (Young’s literal)

Gen. 23:6 `Hear us, my lord; a prince of God [art] thou in our midst; in the choice of our burying-places bury thy dead: none of us his burying-place doth withhold from thee, from burying thy dead.’ (Young’s Literal)

Ex. 9:28 make ye supplication unto Jehovah, and plead that there be no voices of God and hail, and I send you away, and ye add not to remain.’ (Young’s Literal)

Evidently Jesus wasn’t called any of the above descriptions in Hebr. 1:8. He was plainly called GOD.

exceeding (1x)

Jon. 3:3 and Jonah riseth, and he goeth unto Nineveh, according to the word of Jehovah. And Nineveh hath been a great city before God, a journey of three days. (Young’s Literal)

Jesus wasn’t called this description either.

God-ward (1x) (with H4136) – only with the combination of H4136.

godly (1x) –

Mal 2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lordwhich he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.— 15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.16 For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. (KJV)

It’s the seed that is “godly”, and neither this verse is suggesting that other people/beings than God is a God.

angels (1x) –

When Jesus walked as a man on earth, he was made lower than the angels, and if you’re lower than the angels you’re naturally lower than GOD because God the Father certainly isn’t lower than his own created angels. Gen. 8:12 and Gen. 32:1 both translate ”Malak Elohiym” with “the angels of God”, and it makes sense to also translate Elohiym in Ps. 8:5/6 here below with ”God”, to prevent the text from saying “God’s gods”. This is also what we will see in many Bible versions across the world. Young’s Literal is interesting since “Godhead” is used, and it’s certainly true that Jesus left the Godhead (the trinity) in order to be born as a baby boy on earth and become one of us. He didn’t cease to be God, but he left his first estate. Also the German version concedes that the name is in plural.

Psalm 8:4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet (NASB)

Psalm 8:5 And causest him to lack a little of Godhead, And with honour and majesty compassest him.6 Thou dost cause him to rule Over the works of Thy hands, All Thou hast placed under his feet. (Young’s literal)

Psalm 8:5 je me dis: Qu’est-ce que l’homme, pour que tu en prennes soin, et qu’est-ce qu’un être humain pour qu’à lui tu t’intéresses? 6 Pourtant, tu l’as fait de peu inférieur à Dieu, tu l’as couronné d’honneur et de gloire. (La Bible du Semeur)

Psalm 8:5 Hiciste al hombre poco menor que un dios, y lo colmaste de gloria y de honra. (Reina Valera Contemporánea)

Psalm 8:5 Was ist der Mensch, daß du seiner gedenkst, und des Menschen Sohn, daß du auf ihn achtest? 6 Du hast ihn ein wenig Gottes entbehren lassen; aber mit Ehre und Schmuck hast du ihn gekrönt; (Schlachter 1951)

(Gottes, hebr. Elohim, ein Name in Mehrzahl zur Bezeichnung Gottes (LS)

judge (5x) –

The KJV translators have translated Elohiym to ”judges”, unlike many other Bible versions where they have consistently translated Elohiym to God (in their own respective languages) also here. KJV is usually a very good translation, but it would have made more sense to translate Elohiym to God, as it’s done in more than 2.346 other times in the Bible. The translators were likely referring to the fact that God doesn’t actually come down to earth himself to sort out disputes between men, and when for instance the servant/slave is to be brought before God he is actually brought before the judges who are acting on behalf of God. However, the judges were definitely NOT gods and neither were they called gods by anyone else (unless we’re speaking about a certain poetic verse…). So when people are asked to stand up before God to sort out an errand and/or to get a judgment, where do they go now when it’s impossible to actually stand right before the living God? Do they stand before the rest of the family? Before a tree? Before a house? No, naturally it makes sense to stand before those individuals who are supposed to give them the verdict, and those are the judges/priests. That’s why it’s not wrong to say that the Israelites were supposed to “come before the judges” to sort out a problem, because this is what was actually done – as long as we understand that the original text doesn’t actually say “judges” but GOD, and judges and priests never referred to themselves as god and neither were they called god by anyone else.

1) Ex. 21:⁶then his master shall bring him to GOD, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently. (NASB)

Ex. 21: 6 then his master is to bring him before God; and there at the door or doorpost, his master is to pierce his ear with an awl; and the man will be his slave for life. (Contemporary Jewish Bible)

Ex. 21:6 then hath his lord brought him nigh unto God, and hath brought him nigh unto the door, or unto the side-post, and his lord hath bored his ear with an awl, and he hath served him — to the age. (Young’s literal)

Ex. 21:6 entonces su amo lo traerá a Dios y lo traerá a la puerta o al quicial. Y su amo le horadará la oreja con una lezna, y él le servirá para siempre. (La Biblia de las Américas)

Ex. 21:6 ich will nicht freigelassen werden, so bringe ihn sein Herr vor Gott und stelle ihn an die Tür oder den Pfosten und durchbohre ihm seine Ohren mit einem Pfriem, daß er ihm diene ewiglich. (Schlachter 1951)

2) Ex. 22:8 If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to GOD to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. 9 For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before GOD. The one whom GOD condemns shall pay double to his neighbor. (ESV)

Ex. 22:⁷⁽⁸⁾But if the thief is not found, then the trustee must state before GOD that he did not take the person’s goods himself. ⁸⁽⁹⁾In every case of dispute over ownership, whether of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, clothing, or any missing property, where one person says, ‘This is mine,’ both parties are to come before GOD; and the one whom GOD condemns must pay the other one double. (Contemporary Jewish Bible)

Ex. 22:8 `If the thief is not found, then the master of the house hath been brought near unto God, whether he hath not put forth his hand against the work of his neighbour;9 for every matter of transgression, for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, for any lost thing of which it is said that it is his; unto God cometh the matter of them both; he whom God doth condemn, he repayeth double to his neighbour. (Young’s literal)

Ex. 22:8 Dans toute affaire frauduleuse, qu’il s’agisse d’un bœuf, d’un âne, d’un mouton, d’un vêtement ou de n’importe quel objet perdu dont deux personnes revendiqueront la propriété, les deux parties porteront leur litige devant Dieu; celui que Dieu déclarera coupable restituera le double à l’autre.9 Si un homme confie en garde à son prochain un âne, un bœuf, un mouton ou tout autre animal, et que celui-ci meurt, se casse une patte ou se fait capturer par des voleurs sans qu’il y ait de témoin,(La Bible due Semeur)

Ex. 22: 8 Ist aber der Dieb nicht zu finden, so soll man den Hausherrn vor Gott bringen [und ihn darüber verhören], ob er sich nicht vergriffen habe an seines Nächsten Gut.9 Wird irgend etwas gestohlen, sei es ein Ochs, ein Esel, ein Schaf, ein Kleid, oder was sonst abhanden gekommen sein mag, wovon einer behauptet: Der hat’s! so soll beider Aussage vor Gott gelangen; wen Gott schuldig spricht, der soll es seinem Nächsten doppelt ersetzen. (Schlachter, 1951)

3) 1 Sam. 2:²⁵If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?” Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the Lord desired to kill them. (NKJV)

1 Sam. 2:²⁵If one man sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the Lord desired to put them to death. (NASB)

1 Sam. 2:²⁵If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lordto put them to death. (ESV)

1 Sam. 2:25 If a man sin against a man, then hath God judged him; but if against Jehovah a man sin, who doth pray for him?’ and they hearken not to the voice of their father, though Jehovah hath delighted to put them to death. (Young’s literal)

1 Sam. 2:²⁵Wenn jemand wider einen Menschen sündigt, so wird Gott Schiedsrichter sein; wenn aber jemand wider den Herrn sündigt, wer will sich für ihn ins Mittel legen? Aber sie folgten der Stimme ihres Vaters nicht; denn der Herr wollte sie töten. (Schlachter 1951)

1 Sam. 2:Si un homme pèche contre un autre, Dieu est là pour arbitrer, mais si quelqu’un pèche contre l’Eternel lui-même, qui interviendra en sa faveur? Mais les fils ne tinrent aucun compte de l’avertissement de leur père, car l’Eternel voulait les faire mourir. (La Bible due Semeur)

Satan is out to fool us into believing that Jesus has NOT come into flesh and that he is NOT God

Satan is doing what he can to deceive the people of the earth, and he is grateful to get help from false teachers. Some christians might not be aware of their errors (much like Peter, when Jesus said “Get thee behind me, Satan”), but others are more actively serving Satan by purposely seeking out false teachers who can serve them the false doctrines that they are looking for. They are not interested to amend their ways and be corrected by the Bible, but they have much energy to twist the Bible in such a way that it serves their purpose. They are only interested in feeding themselves with food from these false teachers in order to find more tasty arguments for their falsehood, and they are not interested to be fed by other teachers who are presenting simple Biblical truth. They also love to look around for disciples, who can learn about these falsehoods and hopefully continue to spread them to more and more people. We are living in the last days, and Satan is doing what he can to destroy us. Be prepared, and question yourself which teacher you allow to get the last word? Often we let that particular teacher get the final word, who teach us what we want to hear – according to our itching ears.

2 Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears

There are mainly two lies that Satan is presenting to us. 1) We are NOT going to die even if we sin, and 2) Jesus Christ is not God who has come in the flesh and lived as a man

Satan doesn’t have any problems with accepting that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the holy one of God, the son of God or that God is ONE, (see Mark 1:23-24, Ja 2:19, Luke 4:41), but he does not confess that Jesus Christ has started out with God the Father (often called just GOD), and humbled himself and BECAME man in the flesh, and died on the cross for mankind.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.2 HEREBY KNOW YE the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

1 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Isaiah 7:¹³And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?¹⁴Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Matt. 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 The same was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.—14 And THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

John. 17:And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee BEFORE the world was.—Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me BEFORE the foundation of the world.

Phil. 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

It’s no mystery why Satan wants to spread the word that Jesus is NOT the IAM (the true God – the alpha and the omega), because if people have a chance to accept him as such and still refuse, it certainly looks like they will die in their sins. I’m not talking about innocent people who might live in an area where it’s hard to find a Bible, and who consequently might not understand all details about who Jesus really is (but according to Romans 2, we do have a conscience when it comes to our life styles), but I’m talking about those who have all the chances in the world to understand the basics of the Bible, but still choose to feed themselves with falsehood which they also spread to others. God can see our hearts.

Joh. 8:24 I said, therefore, to you, that ye shall die in your sins, for if ye may not believe that I AM [he],c) ye shall die in your sins.’25 They said, therefore, to him, `Thou — who art thou?’ and Jesus said to them, `Even what I did speak of to you at the beginning;26 many things I have to speak concerning you and to judge, but He who sent me is true, and I — what things I heard from Him — these I say to the world.’27 They knew not that of the Father he spake to them;28 Jesus, therefore, said to them, `When ye may lift up the Son of Man then ye will know that I am [he]; and of myself I do nothing, but according as my Father did teach me, these things I speak;29 and He who sent me is with me; the Father did not leave me alone, because I, the things pleasing to Him, do always.’30 As he is speaking these things, many believed in him; (Young’s Literal)

From Bible Gateway under c) (translation from Swedish) Read more about the IAM here.

c) The I Am term is referring to Ex. 3:14, where it’s used for God himself. It’s connected to the most supreme and divine name, JHVH, which is a never pronounced out of respect for God, but was substituted with ”Adonai”, which means the Lord.

You can read in this article about Jesus reference to “gods” in John 10:34-35, which is a quote from a poetic POEM from Ps. 82:6. The Jews who wanted to kill Jesus naturally knew about that psalm, and when Jesus made a reference to it they again picked up stones to kill him.

John. 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself GOD.

Did they miss the inflation that has happened to the word GOD, and that loads of people can be called this name?

Also the early church fathers believed in the deity of Jesus, as can be seen here. (Quotes in English)