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 ...

Many trinitarians believe that Jesus’ prayer in the Gospel of John 17:5 shows that Jesus pre-existed: “and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made” (RSV). Podcast explanation of John 17:5 (and John 10:30), see here . For a video presentation on John 17:5, see here . As with any difficult biblical passage, we must consider the context of Jesus' statement in this prayer to God (the Father). Just two sentences before, as recorded in John 17:3, Jesus prayed to God: “Father (17:1) …this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God , and Jesus the Messiah whom you have sent.” In John 17:5, two sentences after Jesus said that the Father is the only true God, it would be very strange for Jesus to imply that he too, Jesus himself, is also God. Father = God Jesus’ prayer in John 17 is directed to the “Father”. In the New Testament, Jesus’ Father is synonymous with “God”. When Jesus says, "Fat...