Land and Bible

To listen to the podcast, click here : In a previous podcast, episode #7 , we saw that the phrase “in the beginning” of the Gospel of John 1:1 relates to the new beginning that God began with Jesus the Messiah. “In the beginning” of John 1:1, while being an intentional allusion to the Genesis creation, introduces a new beginning or new creation that begins with Jesus the Messiah. In this podcast we will examine further the New Creation theme in the Gospel of John, keeping in mind that biblical New Creation is not a demolition of the current heavens and earth followed by a total new re-creation of matter. Rather, biblical new creation is the rejuvenation or restoration of the current heavens and earth to the righteousness and goodness that God intends. More New Creation in the Gospel of John Biblical scholars have recognized the New Creation theme in the Gospel of John. I will read three quotes as examples from scholars who recognize that the Gospel of John is proclaiming God’s work of ...

Does Paul describe Jesus as the Creator in Colossians 1:15-19? No, rather Paul says that Jesus is the firstborn from the dead of the new creation. To listen to these notes in an expanded podcast, click here : https://anchor.fm/onegodreport-podcast/episodes/Is-Jesus-the-Creator-in-Colossians-115-19--No--but-Jesus-is-the-beginning-of-Gods-new-creation-eavruf 1. Interpreting Colossians 1 as saying that somehow Jesus was involved in the Genesis creation, and is therefore God, contradicts Paul’s other statements about the relation of Jesus to God. The “Genesis creation” interpretation also contradicts many other Scriptures. The Old Testament says nothing about a second god figure who created (cf. Deut. 32:6, Isa. 44:24). Jesus attributed the creation of humanity to “He who made them”, not “they” or “we who made them”.  In the letter to the Colossians, Paul distinguished Jesus  from God. E.g., Colossians 1:1-3. “God our Father” – all of God, not just one person of a...