Was Jesus God?

This article comes from Submission.org  It was written by Lisa Spray.      Unless otherwise specified, the biblical quotes are from THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE, Translated from the Original Languages with Critical Use of All the Ancient Sources, Catholic Biblical Association of America, Catholic Press, 1970. Sometimes known as the Catholic Bible, this version was chosen only because it is readily available and, unlike the King James version, it is translated from the oldest available sources rather than from previous biblical translations. Most of the Quranic quotations are taken from QURAN: THE FINAL TESTAMENT, Authorized English Version, Translated from the Original Arabic, translated by Rashad Khalifa, Islamic Productions, 1989                                   ------------------------------------    The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we have seen his glory: the glory of an only Son coming from the Father filled with enduring love. [John 1:14]     This verse makes a clear distinction between the Word and the Father. In no way does it argue for the divinity of Jesus. The Word comes from God, and thus reflects the glory of the Creator, much as our creations reflect our skills and talents. But the Word cannot logically be considered divine anymore than our handiwork is human. The first verse of John is more misleading in this regard: In the beginning was the Word; The Word was in God's presence, and the Word was God. [John 1:1] An objective reading of this verse raises the question: "If the `Word' was `in God's presence,' how could it be God?" When something is in your presence, it has to be, by definition, separate from you. The logical understanding is that the `Word' emanates from God, or represents God. When we obey the Word of God, we obey God. This understanding is confirmed by the fact that throughout the Gospels, Jesus emphasizes that he did not speak on his own, that God told him what to say. This clearly indicates that Jesus delivered the Word of God, not that he was God. Here is an illustration from John: Jesus proclaimed aloud: "Whoever puts faith in me believes not so much in me as in him who sent me; and whoever looks on me is seeing him who sent me. I have come into the world as its light, to keep anyone who believes in me from remaining in the dark. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I am not the one to condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save it. Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words already has his judge, namely, the word I have spoken- it is that which will condemn him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own; no, the Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to speak. Since I know that his commandment means eternal life, whatever I say is spoken just as he instructed me." [ John 12:44-50] A distinction is made here among the Word of God, Jesus and God. Perhaps that distinction can be expressed this way: Jesus brought to the world God's Word, and thus, whoever puts faith in that Word, puts faith in God. This distinction is reinforced by the following quotes, again from the Gospel of John: I cannot do anything of myself. I judge as I hear, and my judgment is honest because I am not seeking my own will but the will of him who sent me. [John 5:30] "My doctrine is not my own; it comes from him who sent me. Any man who chooses to do his will will know about this doctrine- namely, whether it comes from God or is simply spoken on my own. Whoever speaks on his own is bent on self-glorification. The man who seeks glory for him who sent him is truthful; there is no dishonesty in his heart." [John 7:16-18] In John 8:40, Jesus describes himself as "a man who has told you the truth which I have heard from God.&" Thus again we see that Jesus delivered the Word of God. A significant understanding, and one whose relevance cannot be ignored here, occurs in the Quran. The Quran calls Jesus a `Word' from God. Among Quranic scholars, the prevalent understanding of this description of Jesus is that Jesus was created inside Mary's womb as the result of a `word' from God, the word `Be.' Jesus was then formed inside Mary's womb, without the need of a human father: The angels said, "O Mary, God sends to you good news: a word from Him to be called the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary. He will be prominent in this world and, in the Hereafter, he will be among those close to God." [Quran 3:45] The creation of Jesus, as far as God is concerned, is the same as the creation of Adam; God created him from clay then said to him, "Be," and he was. [Quran 3:59]      For more, see Jesus