An Apologists guide to Islam

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Well, I wouldn’t say God wants them to read the corrupt text, he wants them to read the last revelation the Quran. Because Allah doesn’t want to force Islam on anyone, he allows them to read their corrupt scriptures and to judge by them, giving people a choice. That seems like the wisdom behind it. This is my reflection.
Qur’an 5:47And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient.

Can you explain the bolded for me please? It seems like a command, and those who don’t judge by what we have in our Gospel today are defiantly disobediant.
 
Whatever that means…
What is it you don’t understand here?
In essence there is no difference, between God the Son and God the Father, they are the same, because they are one. If they are not the same you don’t believe in One God, but three Gods, and thus you do not worship the God of Israel who is One God.
Jesus became Man through the incarnation by human birth ( New Adam). Jesus (The Word) and the Father are one from beginning of time (one essence), So God The Father sent His only begotten Son into the World (Thus 100% Man and 100% God) when the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and Jesus was brought into the World.
One cannot experience the Son without experiencing the Father, and one cannot experience the Father without Experience the Holy Spirit, because they are One, and that is what I understand about Christian Theology I guess according to the Orthodox church.
So you cannot kill the son unless you kill the father, because they are one, or the sacrifice is null and void. Because according to Catholic theology, the sacrifice has to be equal to that which one sinned against. This is the whole reason why Jesus must die or be sacrificed. So in order for the Son to be equal to God, the Son would have to be God, and there no God but the Father.
See above. Jesus who was on earth was Man and God. Jesus however humbled himself to do his Father’s will as Man. It all fits only if you wish to see it in context Biblically especially the New Testament. In particular the Gospel of John as well as by Peter and Paul also explain it in the book of Acts.

MJ
 
Be you perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect, actually makes sense to me. The reason for crucifixion doesn’t make sense.
Good so for the first part you accept to be perfect as the Father. But do you really understand what this saying by Jesus means and its context? I would say you missed the point of it when you can’t make sense of the crucifixion because it is completely connected!

We are called to be Saints through our acceptance of Jesus who humbled,himself leaving it to the Will of the Father to be the sacrifice for the Redemption of Man. We are thus to grow in holiness and in love which is now made possible through our faith in Jesus Christ beconing children of God.

Read Colossians 1: 15-23 - He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities–all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

"He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. **For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. **

"And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds** he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard**, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:15-23)

MJ
 
Thanks for sharing some of this. I am planning on reading through the Qur’an to learn to combat my muslim friends. Have you ever done so?
Why do you feel the need to combat your friends? I don’t think anybody likes to be approached in an adversarial manner.
 
You see, the Christian beliefs are cohesive with the old Jewish law. Essentially, God had to die on the cross, because He said that He would.

If you know anything about Judaism you know that the Jews are still awaiting their new covenant:,

31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to[a] them,**”
declares the Lord.
33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”
**

This new covenant happened at the time of the Messiah:

Mark 2:18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”

19 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.

21 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”

And

Matthew 5:1717 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

So let’s look at what God said about Jesus:
Isa 9
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.

Isaiah 53:4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

…10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e];
by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g]
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[h]
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.


Daniel 7:13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,[a] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power;** all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.**

So basically, Jesus had to die for us because God said that He would.

I don’t see a connection between those quotes and the crucifixion.
 
Qur’an 5:47And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient.

Can you explain the bolded for me please? It seems like a command, and those who don’t judge by what we have in our Gospel today are defiantly disobediant.
I already explained it.
 
What is it you don’t understand here?

Jesus became Man through the incarnation by human birth ( New Adam). Jesus (The Word) and the Father are one from beginning of time (one essence), So God The Father sent His only begotten Son into the World (Thus 100% Man and 100% God) when the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and Jesus was brought into the World.

See above. Jesus who was on earth was Man and God. Jesus however humbled himself to do his Father’s will as Man. It all fits only if you wish to see it in context Biblically especially the New Testament. In particular the Gospel of John as well as by Peter and Paul also explain it in the book of Acts.

MJ
Perhaps part of the problem is that I don’t see Jesus as God. When I read the Gospel independent of Christian theology, I don’t see how Christians can call him God. Just relying on his words.
 
Good so for the first part you accept to be perfect as the Father. But do you really understand what this saying by Jesus means and its context? I would say you missed the point of it when you can’t make sense of the crucifixion because it is completely connected!

We are called to be Saints through our acceptance of Jesus who humbled,himself leaving it to the Will of the Father to be the sacrifice for the Redemption of Man. We are thus to grow in holiness and in love which is now made possible through our faith in Jesus Christ beconing children of God.

Read Colossians 1: 15-23 - He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities–all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

"He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. **For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. **

"And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds** he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard**, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:15-23)

MJ
So Christianity (Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant) is really Paul’s understanding of Jesus’ teachings. Am I correct in saying that? Your proof is a quote from Paul.

To be honest, I never understood why Paul’s writings are considered scripture, he wasn’t Jesus.
 
Perhaps part of the problem is that I don’t see Jesus as God. When I read the Gospel independent of Christian theology, I don’t see how Christians can call him God. Just relying on his words.
I don’t you will ever get it, unless you believe in EVERYTHING he spoke. He also said that his flesh is real food and his blood real drink. And that if one does NOT eat HIS Flesh and drink HIS Blood, will have NO LIFE in them. Do you know what he meant when he said “No life in you”?

John 6:53 - Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and **drink **his blood, you have no life in you.

MJ
 
So Christianity (Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant) is really Paul’s understanding of Jesus’ teachings. Am I correct in saying that? Your proof is a quote from Paul.

To be honest, I never understood why Paul’s writings are considered scripture, he wasn’t Jesus.
I cannot speak for Protestants (as in 20,000 denominations the U.S.A. kind :p), but for Orthodox and Catholics. We take Jesus’ words in it’s entirety.

Also you need to stop talking about St. Paul alone to put a point across. Scriptures in their entirety must be kept in context.

MJ
 
I don’t you will ever get it, unless you believe in EVERYTHING he spoke. He also said that his flesh is real food and his blood real drink. And that if one does NOT eat HIS Flesh and drink HIS Blood, will have NO LIFE in them. Do you know what he meant when he said “No life in you”?

John 6:53 - Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and **drink **his blood, you have no life in you.

MJ
Well, I don’t think it is a literal expression, but a metaphorical expression. I know Catholics/Orthodox relate it to the Eucharist, and take it literally.

For me, it is just we have to be like Jesus in all things. Just like when Jesus said “be ye perfect as your father in heaven is perfect.”

Jesus said, “I and my father are one.” And the Jews wanted to kill for that.
Then Jesus pretty much told them that they were the same as him, one with the father, when he said, “Is it not written in your law, I said Ye are gods.”

Jesus was perfect, he was a perfect human being, and we to are called to be perfect. But we believe this about all Messengers of God, be he, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad, were all perfect Human beings. If we use the analogy of stones, all humans are stones, but Messengers of God, are not mere stones, they are gems and rubies. Made perfect. While we have to achieve perfection.

We are called to cover our attributes with God’s Attributes. Our Mercy and Love must be like God’s Mercy and Love. Prophet Muhammad taught us this too.

But this can only be done with the help of God. In Islam, we say, a believer will only encounter four things, and with these four things, is responding to these four thing properly.
  1. Bad deeds, the proper response is repentance, proper repentance, turning to God, and correcting our mistakes.
  2. Good deeds, the proper response, is realizing God has done us a favor, by giving us the strength to do these good deeds, for without his help, we would not succeed in doing good deed. Be thankful to God for this favor, realizing He covered your weakness, with his strength.
  3. Trials and Tribulation, the proper response, patience and prayer.
  4. Blessings, the proper response, thankfulness. Not just the thankfulness of the tongue, but thankfulness of the limbs. We are to embody this thankfulness, by continuing to do good deeds.
It is necessary to be with God at every moment of one’s life. To emulate the Messenger of God, until God loves one, and when God love’s one, God becomes the believer’s hand by which he seizes, He becomes the believer’s feet by which he walks, He becomes the believer’s tongue by which he speaks.

God cover’s believer’s attributes with His Attributes.

Be Ye perfect as your father in Heaven is perfect.

God is very real to the Muslim. He is not a figment of our imagination.

Knowledge is not what you quote, knowledge is but a light that God places in the heart of the believer. Have God consciousness, and God will teach you. Be mindful of God and you will find Him right in front of you.
 
Perhaps part of the problem is that I don’t see Jesus as God. When I read the Gospel independent of Christian theology, I don’t see how Christians can call him God. Just relying on his words.
The Gospel is the witness of Christ’s presence on earth. The Catholic Church is the witness of Christ and the Gospel. The Church is the body of Christ of which He is the head.

The problem is that you are looking at the writings and not looking at the witnesses of the writings. When you look at the Church and its history, you will notice how it all comes together. We have witnesses to the Church before these writings were confirmed as the inspired Word of God. You can read Clement, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus, and many others who confirm and testify to what the Church has been since Christ walked the earth in the flesh. His resurrection is witnessed by more than 500. His ascension was witnessed by His Apostles. The Gospel did not just suddenly appeared, it was witnessed and practiced first - confirmed in writing later by those who learned from the Apostles and who are in direct succession from them - appointed to carry on the message of the Gospel of Christ - the Good News.

I am fairly certain things will look different when you take all this in to view.
 
Well, I don’t think it is a literal expression, but a metaphorical expression. I know Catholics/Orthodox relate it to the Eucharist, and take it literally.

For me, it is just we have to be like Jesus in all things. Just like when Jesus said “be ye perfect as your father in heaven is perfect.”
It wasn’t until after 1,500 years of the Church that some dissenting Christians expressed that this was only metaphorical. It is not metaphorical.
Jesus said, “I and my father are one.” And the Jews wanted to kill for that.
Then Jesus pretty much told them that they were the same as him, one with the father, when he said, “Is it not written in your law, I said Ye are gods.”
This is more in line with Mormon theology. We believe to be in union with Christ. No one gets to the Father except through Christ.
Jesus was perfect, he was a perfect human being, and we to are called to be perfect. But we believe this about all Messengers of God, be he, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad, were all perfect Human beings. If we use the analogy of stones, all humans are stones, but Messengers of God, are not mere stones, they are gems and rubies. Made perfect. While we have to achieve perfection.
Jesus was perfectly human and perfectly God. The Prophets testify of Christ before His incarnation. The Apostles testify of Christ after His resurrection and ascension. The Church testifies to the Apostles and Christ.
We are called to cover our attributes with God’s Attributes. Our Mercy and Love must be like God’s Mercy and Love. Prophet Muhammad taught us this too.

But this can only be done with the help of God.
It can be said we believe this as well. We must produce the good fruit “works” of the Father. Christ is the vine and we are the branches. Through the Holy Spirit we are vessels of the Gifts of God the Father. His Love and Mercy is manifested through is Grace and channeled by Faith. All good comes from the Father, like Christ said: Only the Father is good. So whatever is good can only come from God.
It is necessary to be with God at every moment of one’s life. To emulate the Messenger of God, until God loves one, and when God love’s one, God becomes the believer’s hand by which he seizes, He becomes the believer’s feet by which he walks, He becomes the believer’s tongue by which he speaks.
Amen. That is the purpose of our lives: to worship and praise God. And His 2 greatest commandments: Love the Lord your God without all your mind, with all your heart and with all your strength. And love your neighbor as you love yourself.
God cover’s believer’s attributes with His Attributes.
We call this the Gifts of His Spirit.
Be Ye perfect as your father in Heaven is perfect.

God is very real to the Muslim. He is not a figment of our imagination.
We believe this as well. But we also believe all of God’s Revelation.
Knowledge is not what you quote, knowledge is but a light that God places in the heart of the believer. Have God consciousness, and God will teach you. Be mindful of God and you will find Him right in front of you.
Knowledge can be many things we make it to be. In our own understanding it will always be incomplete. Only in God can the knowledge be truly translated into understanding. Wisdom is a gift from God as well.
 
TheSufi,

Here is one example of Jesus claiming to be God (Christians believe Him.)
[56] Abraham your father rejoiced that he might see my day: he saw it, and was glad. [57] The Jews therefore said to him: Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? [58] Jesus said to them: **Amen, amen I say to you, before Abraham was made, I am. **[59] They took up stones therefore to cast at him. But Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.
(St. John 8:56-59)

Source: drbo.org/chapter/50008.htm (emphasis mine.)

This declaration by Jesus “before Abraham was made, I am” is a claim to be God. This Jews understood this because “They took up stones therefore to cast at him.” They thought He was blaspheming and, He would have been had He not been God. Thus one is stuck with the option that Jesus must be Lord (i.e. God), lunatic, or a liar (for who but these three would claim to be God?) Christians believe that He is Lord (i.e. God).

His audience here realized that He was using the name God gave to Himself at the burning bush with Moses:
[13] Moses said to God: Lo, I shall go to the children of Israel, and say to them: The God of your fathers hath sent me to you. If they should say to me: What is his name? what shall I say to them? [14] God said to Moses:* I AM WHO AM*. He said: Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: HE WHO IS, hath sent me to you. [15] And God said again to Moses: Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me to you: This is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
(Exodus 3:13-15)

Source: drbo.org/x/d?b=drb&bk=2&ch=3&l=2#x

the notes to the italicized and underlined text help explain verse 14; this from the Douay-Rheims Bible online:
I am who am*: That is, I am being itself, eternal, self-existent, independent, infinite; without beginning, end, or change; and the source of all other beings.
(ibid.)

Regarding St. Paul, He met the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9: 3-5), and Christ said of St. Paul, “… this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15.)

Source: drbo.org/chapter/51009.htm

What is more, St. Paul was received by Jesus’ Disciples (Galatians 1:18-19, Acts 15.) So if St. Paul would have preached something contrary to the truth than they would have taken him to task. Also, St. Peter shows us that St. Paul’s epistles are inspired by God (2 Peter 3:16).
 
The Gospel is the witness of Christ’s presence on earth. The Catholic Church is the witness of Christ and the Gospel. The Church is the body of Christ of which He is the head.

The problem is that you are looking at the writings and not looking at the witnesses of the writings. When you look at the Church and its history, you will notice how it all comes together. We have witnesses to the Church before these writings were confirmed as the inspired Word of God. You can read Clement, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus, and many others who confirm and testify to what the Church has been since Christ walked the earth in the flesh. His resurrection is witnessed by more than 500. His ascension was witnessed by His Apostles. The Gospel did not just suddenly appeared, it was witnessed and practiced first - confirmed in writing later by those who learned from the Apostles and who are in direct succession from them - appointed to carry on the message of the Gospel of Christ - the Good News.

I am fairly certain things will look different when you take all this in to view.
👍
 
This is more in line with Mormon theology. We believe to be in union with Christ. No one gets to the Father except through Christ.
Within every human being is Christ (if I accept the bible as 100% truthful), therefore, we all have a bridge to God. And this bridge exist, whether we utter the name of Christ or not. Which is to say, I do not need Christian theology to access God,
 
TheSufi,

Here is one example of Jesus claiming to be God (Christians believe Him.)

(St. John 8:56-59)

Source: drbo.org/chapter/50008.htm (emphasis mine.)

This declaration by Jesus “before Abraham was made, I am” is a claim to be God. This Jews understood this because “They took up stones therefore to cast at him.” They thought He was blaspheming and, He would have been had He not been God. Thus one is stuck with the option that Jesus must be Lord (i.e. God), lunatic, or a liar (for who but these three would claim to be God?) Christians believe that He is Lord (i.e. God).

His audience here realized that He was using the name God gave to Himself at the burning bush with Moses:

.
Jesus explained what he meant by this in John 10:30-35. He wasn’t saying he was God, the Father, who I am that I am, is. But rather, that he, Jesus, is one with the Father. And then Jesus explained that we are the same thing he is, when he said, Is it not written in your law, I said, ye are gods (Elohim).

We are all Elohim. (Psalms 82:6). Moses was called Elohim as well. (Exodus 7:1). Elohim created the heavens and the Earth (Genesis 1:1).
 
I don’t see a connection between those quotes and the crucifixion.
Isaiah 53 is a clear connection, I quoted the rest to show that He will be called Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Mighty God.
So Christianity (Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant) is really Paul’s understanding of Jesus’ teachings. Am I correct in saying that? Your proof is a quote from Paul.

To be honest, I never understood why Paul’s writings are considered scripture, he wasn’t Jesus.
Paul was confronted by Jesus was he not? Paul was extremely sincere in what he said about his mission.
Jesus explained what he meant by this in John 10:30-35. He wasn’t saying he was God, the Father, who I am that I am, is. But rather, that he, Jesus, is one with the Father. And then Jesus explained that we are the same thing he is, when he said, Is it not written in your law, I said, ye are gods (Elohim).

We are all Elohim. (Psalms 82:6). Moses was called Elohim as well. (Exodus 7:1). Elohim created the heavens and the Earth (Genesis 1:1).
If you look at the direct context of this chapter you’ll see that Jesus was claiming to have existed before Abraham and taking the title, “I Am.” Then the Jews wanted to kill Him.

I’m curious, what’s the Islamic position on Jesus existing before Abraham or John the Baptist?

John 1:30This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he existed before me.’

John was older than Jesus, can you explain how this is possible?

Also, Muslims reject Jesus as the literal Son of God. Explain Mark 14:62 to me?

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62** “I am,**” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Tell me, is Jesus quoting Daniel 7:13-14?

13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an** everlasting dominion **that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
 
Within every human being is Christ (if I accept the bible as 100% truthful), therefore, we all have a bridge to God. And this bridge exist, whether we utter the name of Christ or not. Which is to say, I do not need Christian theology to access God,
More importantly, Christ also said that no one can come to the Father, except through Him. Further, no one can come to Christ, unless the Father draws him.

You need Christ to access the Father.

It is also said that: No one speaking by the Spirit of God can say: “Jesus be cursed”, and no one can say: “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.
 
Jesus explained what he meant by this in John 10:30-35. He wasn’t saying he was God, the Father, who I am that I am, is. But rather, that he, Jesus, is one with the Father. And then Jesus explained that we are the same thing he is, when he said, Is it not written in your law, I said, ye are gods (Elohim).

We are all Elohim. (Psalms 82:6). Moses was called Elohim as well. (Exodus 7:1). Elohim created the heavens and the Earth (Genesis 1:1).
Are we all “I am”? Of course not. Neither did we create the Heavens and the Earth. I never said, Jesus is saying that He is God the Father. He is God the Son (Most Holy Trinity is 1 God in three Persons- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.) Jesus says nothing about the previous incident in John 10:30-35, and far from denying His Divinity here, He affirms it.

But that is why Jesus established a Church (Mt. 16:18-19, Mt. 18) and promised that the Holy Spirit would guide the Church into all truth (John 16:13). He showed that this Church would be visible, authoritative, and available for all Christians to have recourse to (Mt. 18: 15-17), until the end of time (Mt. 28:20). If we want to know what He truly meant today, we must go to the Church He established.

This authoritative Church was built upon St. Peter (Mt. 16:18), and we see that it settles Theological disputes in councils (Acts 15) which are binding on the faithful. The true teaching of Christ and His Divinity was one of the things defined by the Council of Nicaea, the First Ecumenical Council (the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 being a proto-Ecumenical Council, so to speak.) This is the Catholic Church, headed today by Pope Francis, the successor of St. Peter, the most recent Ecumenical Council being Vatican II .

And the Bible warns us, in the Second Epistle of St. Peter, that, regarding St. Paul’s epistles:

“[16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.” (2 Peter 3:16.)

Source: drbo.org/chapter/68003.htm

Therefore it is folly to try and interpret the Scriptures against the teaching of the Church and against Sacred Tradition. As St. Irenaeus (a contemporary of St. Polycarp whom himself was a disciple of the Apostle John who wrote the verse we are debating) wrote in the 2nd century:
  1. Since therefore we have such proofs, it is not necessary to seek the truth among others which it is easy to obtain from the Church; since the apostles, like a rich man [depositing his money] in a bank, lodged in her hands most copiously all things pertaining to the truth: so that every man, whosoever will, can draw from her the water of life. Revelation 22:17 For she is the entrance to life; all others are thieves and robbers.
Source: newadvent.org/fathers/0103304.htm
 
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