To Omega
Psalms 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me,
Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. So when was Jesus begotten? the answer to this question is dependant on the word “DAY” God transcends time and lives beyond time, He cannot be limited to a 24-hour day. So this word means an eternal day.
That statement is as contradictory as Origen’s phrase
”eternally begotten”
Psalms 2:7 does not say, “In a day have I begotten thee” but rather
THIS DAY! Surely you must see that this is speaking of a specific 24-hour day or at least a
specific time ... you can’t turn the expression ‘this day’ into
an eternal day! This makes nonsense of language, whether English, Hebrew or Greek.
Anyway, no need to despair ... the Apostle Paul clarifies this totally ... turn your bible to (Acts 13:21-33) And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. 22 And when he had removed him,
he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 23 Of this man’s seed hath
God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: …32 And we declare unto you glad tidings,
how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, 33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
GOD fulfilled his promises by raising up a Saviour, Jesus of Nazareth. Note how the expression ‘raised up’ is used in Scripture – please note:
Acts 13:33 is nothing to do with the resurrection. That is dealt with in verse 34 onwards. Please ignore the word ‘again’ in verse 33 – it is not in the Greek text.
Verse 33 simply reads God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
F.F. Bruce wrote:The promise of Acts 13:23, the fulfillment of which is here described [Acts 13:33] has to do with the sending of the Messiah, not his resurrection, for which see v. 34.
The KJV translators added the word ‘again’ to Acts 13:33 giving the
false impression that this verse is speaking about the resurrection of Christ, when indeed, it is actually speaking about
the event of the birth of Christ being the fulfillment of GOD’s promises!
Acts 13:33 when left alone clearly states that the Son was ‘begotten’ and that
there was a time when he was begotten; hence
the Son had a beginning. This of course, goes against the trinitarian doctrine of
’an eternally begotten Son, who is the 2nd person of the trinity’ hence the need for some manipulation on the translators’ part. Now, when a translator would ‘add a word’ which is not in the original Greek, they would place it in
italics. However, they would not do this consistently i.e. the word
AGAIN does not appear in the original Greek of Acts 13.33-37! Its Greek word
palin (Strong’s 3825) is simply not there!
Hence what I am saying is this: To sway the reader from the obvious
implications of Acts 13:33, that the Son had a beginning i.e.
he was begotten in time on a certain day; the translators added the word
AGAIN, therefore causing the reader to read ‘the resurrection’ into the verse.
Now look again at Acts 13:33
without using the word ‘again’, and hopefully you will see that Acts 13:33 is not speaking about the resurrection at all!
The word that
does appear in both verse 33&34 is the word 'raise [up]'
'Raise' in reference to mankind, is generally used in the scriptures, in two main contexts:-
- In the OT & NT, it is generally used to speak of an individual coming into existence, and/or the setting up or exaltation of this individual to a position of leader, king, priest, etc. - and sometimes this is described as being inaugurated by GOD himself
- Mostly in the NT - speaks of resurrection, raising someone from the dead
Hence when the NT writers used Greek words for ‘raise’ in the context of the resurrection, they generally qualified its use with additional words equivalent to ’from the dead’ or something similar to make that context obvious.
In the case of Acts 13, Verse 33 is using
context 1 i.e. the coming of the Messiah
Verse 34 is using
context 2 i.e. his resurrection
Let’s see how the word ‘raise [up]’ is used for
context 1:-
In the OT, the following all use the same Hebrew word
quwm, Strong’s 6965 - translated
raise (up), rear (up),
(a-)rise up, set (up), etc
- (Exo 1:8 ) Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
- (Deut 18:15) YAHWEH thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken
- (Deut 18:18 ) I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
- (Deut 34:10) And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom YAHWEH knew face to face,
- (Judg 2:16) Nevertheless YAHWEH raised up judges, which delivered them ...
- (Judg 2:18 ) And when YAHWEH raised them up judges , then YAHWEH was with the judge, ...
- (Judg 3:9) And when the children of Israel cried unto YAHWEH, YAHWEH raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.
- (Judg 3:15) But when the children of Israel cried unto YAHWEH, YAHWEH raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: ...
- (1 Sam 2:35) And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.
[i.e. Samuel]
- (2 Sam 3:10) To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.
- (2 Sam 23:1) Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed [Heb. messiah/mashiach] of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
- (1 Ki 8:20) And YAHWEH hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as YAHWEH promised, and have built an house for the name of YAHWEH God of Israel.
[i.e. Solomon]
- (2 Ki 23:25) And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to YAHWEH with all his heart ... neither after him arose there any like him.[i.e. Josiah]
- (2 Chr 6:10) YAHWEH therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as YAHWEH promised, and have built the house for the name of YAHWEH God of Israel.
[i.e. Solomon]
- (2 Chr 21:4) Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.
And the list goes on ... even into the NT; e.g. Acts 2.30; Acts 3:26; Acts 3.22, 7.37 quoting Deut 18:15,18; ... etc
- (Luke 1:68-70) Blessed be YAHWEH God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
- (Acts 13:22-23) And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 23 Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:
You can see how the word
‘raised’ (Heb
quwm) is used
in this context, especially in regards to the kingdom of Israel, the throne of David, and kings/prophets in general -
in this context, it is definitely not speaking of ‘resurrection’ at all!This therefore, is the context, of Paul’s usage of the word ‘raise’ in Acts 13.33!
Let’s look again at Acts 13:33-37 with the word
’again’ removed :-
(Acts 13:32-37) And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that
the promise which was made unto the fathers, 33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath
raised up Jesus; as it is also written in the second psalm,
Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. 34 And as
concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise,
I will give you the sure mercies of David. 35 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: 37 But
he, whom God raised, saw no corruption.
In verse 33, Paul is simply stating that GOD has fulfilled His promise as spoken via David & the prophets, by bringing about ‘the Messiah’ - he was begotten in the fulness of time. Then in verse 34, Paul
then speaks about the Messiah’s resurrection.
Hence verse 33 - Messiah’s birth; verses 34-37 - Messiah’s resurrection
Note, GOD did not make a promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David; that he would raised the Messiah from the dead! He made them a promise that through their lineage he would ‘raise up’ i.e. bring into the existence, the Messiah from their lineage.
Yes I know that David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah in Psalms 16; however
this Psalm was NOT speaking of the promise concerning the Messiah & David’s throne!
Let’s look again at this promise that was made to David ...
- (2 Sam 7:12-14) And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up [Heb. ruwm] thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. ...
14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. ... [Cp. Heb 1.5]
- (1 Chr 17:11-14) And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raised up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. ... 13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee: 14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.[Cp. Heb 1.5]
- (Psa 132:11) YAHWEH hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
GOD made an oath
to David that of his lineage He would
raise up His Son to sit upon David’s throne.
’Raise up’ here, is most definitely being used in the sense that in the fulness of time, a particular ‘son of David’ will come into existence, who will fulfill all the promises that GOD had spoken to David, the patriarchs & the prophets. This son, therefore, will be also GOD’s son.
Jesus of Nazareth confirmed this promise - GOD is his Father - Jesus of Nazareth is GOD’s Son (Heb 1:5). GOD
raised him up i.e. Jesus of Nazareth was brought into existence in the fulness of time, to confirm the promises that GOD had made. (Rom 15:8 )
Hence we have verses such as ...
- (Luke 1:32-33) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and YAHWEH God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
- (Acts 2:30) Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
Note v.30 is speaking of the coming of the Messiah; verse 31 then quotes Psa 16 in regards to the resurrection
- (Acts 3:25-26) Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Note v.26, Messiah was first raised then sent hence the context can’t be speaking of the resurrection!
- (Acts 13:23) Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:
Note the parallel usage of the word ‘raised’ in verse 22 in regards to David. (Acts 13:22) And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; …
Therefore, just as in Acts 13.23, where Paul speaks of GOD raising up a Saviour, Jesus the Messiah, from the seed/lineage of David; Paul is repeating the very same thing in Acts 13.33 - in this case he quotes Psa 2.7, which speaks of
the day that the Messiah was begotten!
Note what Paul
then says in verse 34 ... And as
concerning that he raised him up from the dead, …
Now he speaks of the Messiah’s resurrection, in fulfillment of Isa 55:3 and
another Psalm i.e. Psalm 16:10.
The very fact that he says,
“concerning that he raised him up from the dead”; he let’s us know that he is changing the context, and is now speaking about the Messiah’s resurrection.
Hence verse 33 was a different context using a different Psalm to bring about a different point i.e.
the Messiah has indeed come, just as God had promised! He was born ‘this day’
In conclusion then ...
- Always remember when reading our English bibles, that they were translated by trinitarians; hence, sometimes they would attempt to place ‘their theology’ into the translation - this happens by sometimes adding a word or using a poorer equivalent English word which more aligned with their theology ... there are many examples of this
- By adding the word again to raised up Jesus in Acts 13:33, they attempted to give the impression that ‘this day’ was speaking of another day besides the birth of Christ into the world! i.e. it was speaking of his resurrection
Or as some put it; it was speaking of an eternal day.
- In fact, in every case of the NT phrase “raise ... again” the word again is not in the Greek text!
- Note the context, how the word ‘raised’ is being used ... is it speaking of GOD raising someone up i.e. setting someone up for a particular purpose/position or is it speaking of ‘resurrection’?
- The NT writers would always qualify the word ‘raised’ when it is being used in the context of the resurrection.
Therefore, at a specific time, on a particular day, David was born. Hence, GOD raised him to be King. In like manner, at a specific time in the fulness of time, Jesus, son of Mary, was born. Paul puts it this way: GOD fulfilled His promises, in that, on a specific day, GOD raised up Jesus of Nazareth. Paul quotes Psalms 2:7 showing that
‘that day’ had arrived i.e. the day Jesus was begotten/conceived (Matt 1:20 for that which is
begotten in her is of the Holy Ghost; Luke 1:35
begotten of thee shall be called the Son of God) was the day GOD fulfilled His promises.
Omega, Psalms 2:7 most definitely does speak of a specific
24-hour day, the day of Christ’s birth.
Please beware of the leaven of trinitarianism; which makes nonsense of
language and propagates impossible concepts such as ’eternally begotten on an eternal day’