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Does the Gospel of John declare that God is a Trinity?

Do verses in the Gospel of John declare that God is a Trinity, three "God-persons" in one? Does the Gospel of John declare that one of those three "God-persons" has two natures, a God nature and a human nature? If not, do verses in the Gospel of John at least declare the "deity" of Jesus?  On these two podcasts (below) Sean Finnegan and I discuss how neither the Trinity nor the deity of Jesus are declared in verses like John 1:1 ("In the beginning was the word..."), John 5:18 ("made himself equal with God"), John 8:58 ("before Abraham was, I am"), John 17:5 (glory that I had with you"), John 20:28 (Thomas' statement: "My Lord and my God"). Podcast 1: John 1:1, 1:14, 1:18, 5:18, 8:58 Podcast 2: John 10:30-33, John 20:28, 1 John 5:20 Here is a one hour teaching dealing with the statement in John 5 that Jesus made himself "equal with God".  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Loac2l3_GF4&t=889s

Son of God or God the Son?

The biblical phrase “Son of God” does not describe the essence of a person. To call someone the “Son of God” does not mean that someone is God or is a deity. Rather “Son of God” in the Bible relates to the relationship or status that a human being has with God. Orthodox Christianity of the last 1700 years or so, including Catholicism and Protestantism, has tragically misunderstood the title Son of God in the manner of essence , making Jesus “God”. Trinitarianism claims it was “God the Son” in Jesus. The Bible says that it was God the Father (the only God) who was in Jesus (John 10:38). Trinitarianism says that when you see Jesus, you see “God the Son”. The Bible, including Jesus himself, say that when you see Jesus you “see the Father” (John 14:9-10). There is no such thing as “God the Son”.

Podcast Interview on Restitutio (Sean Finnegan)

A few weeks ago I was interviewed by Sean Finnegan on his Restitutio podcast . I'm looking forward to meeting Sean and among others, Dale Tuggy, Lord willing, at the theological conference in Atlanta next week. Dale was formerly a philosophy professor at a New York university. On his recent "Trinities" podcast, Dale discusses the "Biblical Words for God and His Son". Here is the YouTube version , which includes slides. Good stuff!

Our Authority? God and Jesus via the Scriptures

After listening to my lecture on the "Son of God in the Bible" (see previous post) a facebook friend asked me: " With charity and love for you, may I ask you to express your convictions for why your argument for the non-deity of "the Son of God" (with the definite article), should be respectfully received when for twenty-three-plus years you have publicl y espoused His deity? Here's my answer, slightly edited: In short, indeed, it is the study of Scripture that has brought me to understand that “For us there is one God, the Father … and one Lord, Jesus the Messiah…”(I  Cor. 8:6). “For there is one God , and there is one mediator between God and men, a  man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5). Verses like these are all over the Bible. In the talk on the Son of God, you can see that I am approaching the topic from a biblical perspective. What does the Bible say? People can speculate that Son of God has some other, to quote trinitarians, “ontological” meaning, but

Son of God in the Bible

"Son of God" is a name, title, and position defined in the Bible. The title in the Bible always refers to created beings, particularly humans. Unfortunately, "Son of God" has been re-defined in Greek philosophical terms beginning about the middle of the 2nd century AD, that is, 100s of years after Jesus lived on earth. Biblically, the name does not imply deity. In the Bible, there are a number of humans called the Son (or Sons) of God. In the Old Testament, this is especially the case for the nation of Israel and of a descendant of King David whom the LORD God appoints as Messiah King. The title finds it's the fullest meaning in the uniquely begotten Son of God, Jesus the Messiah. I've posted a video lecture called the "Son of God in the Bible ." It's time we return to the biblical understanding of such an important concept and person as "Son of God", and not rely on a definition created by philosophically-Greek-thinking Gentiles in
This is a more personal note that gives a bit of an introduction as to why I planned to resign from my position after 23 years at The Master's University - Israel Bible Extension. Many people have asked me and my wife "What's up?". Let me first say that I am grateful to The Master's University for their interest and investment in the Israel program all these years. I know that God has worked in many peoples' lives through the program. It is sad (but I see God's sovereignty even here) that my intended resignation turned into a nasty termination. I would have preferred a parting of "thanks much and God bless" from both sides but alas, it was not to be. I pray for the ministry of The Master's University and the IBEX program. May the Lord God of Israel bless you! I can assure friends and former students that I have not "rejected our Lord". My faith in God the Father and in His Son the Lord Jesus the Messiah is as strong, yea verily, s