Dirty Penguin
Master Of Ceremony
You are throwing a ton of scripture out there and asking questions that would take many pages to cover. Let's get back to what is actually being discussed here...
"1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
So, let's consider your position with just this passage. If, in fact, 'the Word' here simply means that Jesus was God's messenger, then that has simple implications that I find illogical:
Why would you find that illogicial? Is it because you have a hard time excepting that simple phrase as being a direct description of what Yeshua represented and what the writer believed he represented? It is the interpretation by you and others that, that verse means Yeshua is God. In John 17:14 Yeshua tells us he gave them God's (logos). He was not referring to his own word or himself because he says they hated God's (logos) because (*IT*) was not of this world. We know he was not referring to himself because at the end he say "even as I am not of this world"...So he reveals to us that the logos was somethingthat he was given to give to the people. This logos he was to give to the people explains why he said his doctrine was not his....he was commanded what he should say....he was taught that which he had seen with God..... If the writer simply wanted us to believe Yeshua was the logos then in John 17:14 he could have substituted (word) for (instructions or message)....but instead shows clarification as to 1:1 by revealing Yeshua's statement in 17:14...Yeshua never saw himself as God either in heaven or on earth. If he is omniptotent then there is no "logical" reason for him to say "all power is given to me in heaven"...... So his role in heaven was not that of God but as God's servant.
The scriptures are so plain and simple to read and what is attributed to Yeshua saying is direct. In the begining was the word and the word was with God and God was the word........and God's word is truth. This is simple and it is in the scripture. Yeshua was charged with bringing God's simple truth, God's word, to the people. This is all in the scripture. We know that to be the case because the doctrine he spoke was from God. He tells us he speaks that which he was taught and commanded to say. He tells us he spoke that which he had seen with God. Logic would tell us that this is not God talking but the student of God.
1: Jesus existed before creation, before he actually had a purpose (since there was no one there to give the message to).
The information that exist is that Yeshua had glory with God (Not as God) before the world was created. Again, this denotes a servant. One that is below God. To think him to actually be God is pure speculation and interpretation. He shows us he is seperate from God in heaven and on earth. This is all done trhough his words and his actions.
2: Creation included the host of heaven, so unless you want to put Jesus in a special class all to himself between angel and God, then you must conclude that he was, in fact, God.
This, again, is where you are incorrect. If I need clarification as to how Yeshua saw himself before he came here and while he was on earth then it can be found. John's personal statement in his prologue does little to convince me Yeshua saw himself as God........but when I find Yeshua saying "all power is given to me in heaven".......I draw the conclusion that Yeshua is not God. I am justified in that belief when I read other statements he made and the ones from his followers who described him as being a servant of God or the son of God. John 17 (His Prayer To God) tells a lot about his character and how he saw himself in relation to God. He reveals the truth of John 10:30 and tells us of a oneess he has with God and he prayed his followers would share that oneness because they accepted the word of God he had given to them and believed that God sent him. Logic also should tell you that if one is sent then there is a sender. If one is taught then there must be a teacher. If one is instructed or commanded then there must be an instructor or commander. One who is omnipotent and omniscient can't not be commanded or given power. Think that an omnipotent omniscient can be taught or given power is illogical.
To do otherwise would contradict mountains of scripture explicitly stating the existence of one, and only one, God.
There is a mountain of scriptual evidence from Yeshua that tells us he is not God. Most by him and some by those that followed him. God's position in the OT was to constantly tell the people who he was. Yeshua never said to his followers he was God. He said to the contrary. His followers understood this. They knew that whatever he had was given to him by God. This is the beuty of Martha's statement and her understanding as to who he was and who God was. The beuty of his own statement saying "my god and your god"....."my god, my god why have you left me?".......are pefect indicators as to how his followers saw him and how he saw himself. Since some like to quote the letters of Paul, his statement was perfect when he said "the god and father of Yeshua the Massiah:.....
3: I can't think of anything that can simultaneously be "with" someone and actually "be" someone.
Exactly.......!!!!! Yeshua does reavel himself this way which is another indicator that he is not God. To be "with" some one does not mean you are that person. OT says husband and wife are one. Does that mean one person....? No....It means one in purpose...one in spirit......
Your analogy must mean that the second and third clauses are referring to the same noun in a different way, which is in no way explicit in that verse. You can't just say that "this scripture means this" or "that scripture means that" without having something other than a nice tight fit with your message.
I'm not sure what you mean. You may have to explain.
I want to know one example of something that can be both "with" someone and actually "be" that same something simultaneously.
The OT does not reavel God this way nor does Yeshua reveal himself this way in the NT. If you see that as a connection then it is your interpretation. Yeshua reveals himself seperate from God in heaven and on earth.
You cannot say that "the Father and Son had different wills so Trinity is out" for example, because the concept of Trinity came into being to explain this difference (in light of the rest of scripture).
John 6:38
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
This lets me know that (*before*) Yeshua was sent here by God he had his own will. This is before he existed in the flesh so the concept of trinity does not apply. One in purpose does not mean one in the same. He did not teach he and God were the same. He does not equal himself to God......