Trinity DebateJesus as the embodied pre-existent SonBeliever, you are putting a lot of emphasis on the word "form" in Philippians 2. The Greek word translated "form" is "morfee" (morphe), which in Koine Greek means "external appearance or station in life". The Koine translated "first-born" (firstborn) is "proototokos" and the Koine translation "creation" or "creature" is "ktisis". It is generally agreed that the Septuagint was the most use edition of the Hebrew Scriptures in the first century. In the Septuagint Jacob is the "proototokos" and Ephraim is the "proototokos" even though Esau was Isaac's firstborn and Manasseh was Joseph's firstborn. So we see that "proototokos" can mean "first in position" or indicate "preeminence". Now "ktisis" can mean "institution or ordinance" (1 Peter 2:13), "creation" (Romans 1:20), and something created (Romans 1:25). Now we know from other Scriptures that Jesus is the firstborn (proototoks) of the dead (Colossians 1:18) and that Jesus instituted (created) and mediates the New Covenant (Luke 22:20, 1 Corinthians 11:25, Hebrews 8:8, 8:13, 9:15, 12:24). Another section of Scripture used to show the preexistence of the Lord is John 1:1-18. However how did first century Greeks and Jews understand "logos"? In 600 B.C. the Greek philosopher Heraclitus introduced the concept that "logos" is "the divine reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe". This concept is identical to Jewish thought since to the Jews God's word as expressed in His law was created before God created the universe and was how God created the universe. Therefore just as your words exist with you and are you God's "logos" existed with God and was God. So what existed in the beginning was God's plan for the redemption of mankind and this plan became flesh and a visible image with the birth of Jesus once again showing that Jesus' preexistence was in the mind of God not a preexisting entity. The deity of Jesus and the Trinity are the result of Greek philosophy and the pagan influences of men who did not grasp the significance of the Hebrew foundation of Christianity. Superman, John 6:38 must be understood in light of Hebrew culture as well as other NT Scriptures. God told the Jews that if they brought the full tithe to the Temple He would “open the window of heaven and pour out blessings”. James wrote that every: Jesus is the gift of God to mankind and like God's blessings did not preexist as an "entity". |
🌈Pride🌈 goeth before Destruction
When 🌈Pride🌈 cometh, then cometh Shame