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Was the divinity of Jesus voted on ?
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Harry3142
Regular Member
The divinity of Jesus was ascertained by his words and actions:
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (The Gospel of St. Matthew 16:13-16,NIV)
What led St. Peter to say this? It was the result of what he had actually witnessed Jesus accomplishing during his ministry. He had healed the sick; he had raised the dead; he had cast out demons, who themselves identified him as he was casting them out; he had fed the multitude; he had even calmed the storm. As well, his teachings showed a wisdom that far exceeded that of the other rabbis.
So his divinity didn't have to be voted on even at that point in his ministry. Those who saw what he was capable of doing realized that they were in the presence of a divinity. His actions identified him as such far beyond any argument which might be posed against his title as Son of God.
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (The Gospel of St. Matthew 16:13-16,NIV)
What led St. Peter to say this? It was the result of what he had actually witnessed Jesus accomplishing during his ministry. He had healed the sick; he had raised the dead; he had cast out demons, who themselves identified him as he was casting them out; he had fed the multitude; he had even calmed the storm. As well, his teachings showed a wisdom that far exceeded that of the other rabbis.
So his divinity didn't have to be voted on even at that point in his ministry. Those who saw what he was capable of doing realized that they were in the presence of a divinity. His actions identified him as such far beyond any argument which might be posed against his title as Son of God.
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football5680
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No. I could easily prove the Divinity of Jesus based on the bible but this question centers more around what the earliest Christians believed. The Divinity of Jesus was well established and accepted by the earliest Christians and this is clear if you read the early church fathers. Eventually heresies arose and the Church had to come together to make a definite statement of what the true belief was.
Even in the earliest heresies that arose most did not deny that Jesus was Divine. The arguments were more centered around to what extent he was divine. The most famous one would be Arianism which was created by a Heretic named Arius and he did not deny that Jesus was Divine, he just didn't think Jesus was equal with the father. The Nicene council was convened to address this heresy and the position of the church was explicitly defined.
Even in the earliest heresies that arose most did not deny that Jesus was Divine. The arguments were more centered around to what extent he was divine. The most famous one would be Arianism which was created by a Heretic named Arius and he did not deny that Jesus was Divine, he just didn't think Jesus was equal with the father. The Nicene council was convened to address this heresy and the position of the church was explicitly defined.
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B
Bible2
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The Biblical Christian belief in the divinity of Jesus isn't based on a vote, but on God's own Word the Bible, which clearly shows that Jesus Christ is God (John 1:1,14, John 10:30, John 20:28, Titus 2:13, Philippians 2:6, Matthew 1:23). And he's uncreated God, just as God the Father is uncreated God. For everything created was created by Jesus (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16-17). Because Jesus is uncreated, there was never a time when he was not. He has always existed. He is YHWH the Holy One, from everlasting (Habakkuk 1:12a, Acts 3:14, Micah 5:2c). He is YHWH the only Savior (Isaiah 43:11, Titus 2:13), YHWH the good shepherd (Psalms 23:1, John 10:11, Mark 10:18), YHWH who will set his feet on the Mount of Olives at his return (Zechariah 14:3-4, Acts 1:11-12), YHWH the first and last (Isaiah 44:6, Revelation 2:8), YHWH the great I AM (Exodus 3:14, John 8:58), the great God (Titus 2:13), the mighty God (Isaiah 9:6), one God with God the Father (John 10:30, John 20:28), equal in divinity with God the Father (Philippians 2:6).
Just as the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19) is the 3 distinct, coexisting Persons (Mark 1:9-11) of God the Father (Galatians 1:3), God the Son (Hebrews 1:8), and God the Holy Spirit (cf. Mark 13:11 and Matthew 10:19-20; Acts 5:3-4), so the Trinity is YHWH the Father, YHWH the Son, and YHWH the Holy Spirit. For YHWH is the only God (Isaiah 45:5-6). He has always been and forever will be the only God (Isaiah 43:10b).
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There are so many different ways to illustrate the Trinity it shouldn't be difficult for every Christian to get at least some realization of it. While there's no sufficient analogy to completely explain God (Isaiah 40:18), how he can be one God and 3 Persons at the same time, the Bible does refer to God speaking things into existence (Genesis 1:24; Hebrews 11:3). What he spoke was his Word, who is that Person of the Trinity who has become flesh in Jesus Christ (John 1:1,14; 1 Timothy 3:16, Luke 24:39). But God the Word existed even before God the Father spoke anything into existence, for all things created were created by God the Word (John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16-17). And the original Greek word in John 1:1,14 for "Word" is "Logos", which refers not only to spoken words, but also to any ordered thoughts. God has always had ordered thoughts, so God the Word has always existed.
So a human analogy for God would have God the Father as the mind, and God the Word as the ordered thoughts, speech, and writings (incarnate words) of that mind. God the Holy Spirit would be analogous to the breath (spirit) which is inextricable from human speech and also from ordered thought, in that a non-breathing person is dead and his brain has no thoughts. God the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4) is one God with God the Father and God the Word because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father (Matthew 10:19-20 and Mark 13:11) and the Spirit of the Word (John 14:16-18, Romans 8:9). While an individual human isn't 3 persons, the truth about God can still be grasped by looking at man's design, for man was made in God's image (Genesis 1:26). Just as an individual man has his word (Revelation 12:11) and his spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23), so the one God has his Word (John 1:1) and his Spirit (Romans 8:9). But the one God is so infinitely greater than man (Isaiah 40:17) that the Word of God and the Spirit of God are distinct Persons within his being.
Besides the analogy of a single human's mind, thoughts/speech/writings, and breath, the Trinity can be compared to the single sun's sphere, light, and heat. The Father would be analogous to the sun's sphere, which is invisible to humans except for its visible light, which is analogous to the incarnate, visible Word (Colossians 1:15, John 14:9). And the sun is felt by humans via its invisible, infrared rays, which would be analogous to the Spirit. The Trinity can also be compared to water, which even though it's one substance, it can exist in 3 states of solid, liquid, and gas at the same time (such as in a water pitcher 2/3 full with water and ice cubes, and with water vapor filling the top third of the pitcher). The Trinity can also be compared to space, which even though it's one area, it consists of 3 dimensions at the same time. The Trinity can also be compared to 1 x 1 x 1 =1, or to 1a x 1b x 1c = 1abc.
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John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
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asiyreh
God is salvation
One of the earliest creeds of The Christian Church was - Jesus is Lord (Kurios)
A term of divinity. This creed can be historically verified on top on the events of the crucifixion. I believe it was The Sunday before the Church was born Jesus appeared to the apostles again and when Thomas felt the wounds he exclaimed my Lord and My God - Ha Theos. A term usually reserved for the Father in politie Greek/Christian vernacular. But given here to Christ to reveal who exactly he was in His Risen and glorified Body. Who he always was. But understand the mission and sacrifice of God.
As heresies developed and became popular in the history of the Church councils would be called.
Have you ever heard the expression not one iota? Not one small thing.
What that council you were referring to was fighting over was a Greek letter an iota. How do I explain this, trying to recall from memory, do some research. But was Christ like the perfect image of God, or was he true God from true God.
There was a small faction called Arians at the council, with a small handful of votes among hundreds that wanted to say, Jesus wasn't God.
Modern day JWs basically.
Jesus was always God even the Jews knew this would be, before Christ was born.
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. Isaiah 9:6
A term of divinity. This creed can be historically verified on top on the events of the crucifixion. I believe it was The Sunday before the Church was born Jesus appeared to the apostles again and when Thomas felt the wounds he exclaimed my Lord and My God - Ha Theos. A term usually reserved for the Father in politie Greek/Christian vernacular. But given here to Christ to reveal who exactly he was in His Risen and glorified Body. Who he always was. But understand the mission and sacrifice of God.
As heresies developed and became popular in the history of the Church councils would be called.
Have you ever heard the expression not one iota? Not one small thing.
What that council you were referring to was fighting over was a Greek letter an iota. How do I explain this, trying to recall from memory, do some research. But was Christ like the perfect image of God, or was he true God from true God.
There was a small faction called Arians at the council, with a small handful of votes among hundreds that wanted to say, Jesus wasn't God.
Modern day JWs basically.
Jesus was always God even the Jews knew this would be, before Christ was born.
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. Isaiah 9:6
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