The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Names of God

Unfortunately, this is a popular belief and one that is 100% erroneous. Yeshua (Jesus of Nazareth) has NOT always existed as the second person of the Trinity. In fact, Jesus Christ has not always existed. This is one of the FUNDAMENTAL doctrines of historic Christianity. The SON is eternally God and the second person of the Trinity..... !! But the historical Jesus was BORN at a specific date in history and was non-existent prior to that date. This is the very point that the apostle John wrote concerning the identity of the man Christ Jesus in the first chapter of his gospel. I've pointed this out on numerous occasions on this Board and elsewhere but I suppose it bears repeating: The "WORD" in John 1:1 is the SON of God; [not "Jesus"] ...... the second person of the Trinity Who is very God of very God, one with the Father and the Spirit etc., etc. He, the SON, the eternal and one true God took upon Himself human flesh and dwelt upon the earth for some 33 years. This act is called the INCARNATION and this is what John 1:14 is speaking about.

John 1:14 (ASV) "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth."

The SON became flesh, etc.....

Now, if one is still wanting to insist that the "Word" in John 1:1 is "Jesus" (or to accommodate you, Yeshua), then the 14th verse becomes total nonsense, for it would then read:

John 1:14 (DSV = Devised Standard Version) "And the Yeshua (Jesus) became flesh [Yeshua (Jesus)], and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth."

Jesus didn't become Jesus and dwelt among us. The SON of God became flesh and dwelt among us IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST. (cf. Phil 2:6-11; 1Tim 3:16). Notice also the promise given of His coming:

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV) "For unto us [color:blue]a child is born, unto us [color:purple]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."

The "Son" is eternal, the "child" was born. At the incarnation the eternal God was joined with an earthly man to become the person of Jesus of Nazareth.

The Chalcedonian Creed (451 A.D.)

Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.

PS... I wouldn't have let that booklet written by some Messianic Jews influence me to the point it has you. "Insous" is the Greek, not "Yeshua". The translators have done right. If you are able to translate Greek better than 100's of thousands of those who have gone before you, then perhaps you have missed your calling and should consider teaching Greek at the University Level? ]