History

The Church History indicates that initially Christianity was considered a minor sect among many pagan religions. However, by the fourth century, Christianity spread so much that the pagan Roman Emperor Constantine decided to support it. This enabled Christians to build state sponsored church structures and hierarchies to establish order among the citizens.

However, to encourage Christianity and to restore peace in the empire, certain aspects got merged with pagan religions. For example, Jesus was considered the emperor's sun god so that both Christians and pagans have the freedom to continue their traditions.

This led to great debates about the divinity of Jesus. Bishop Arius challenged the view that Jesus was co-eternal with God. These debates caused a split in the church such that Arius's less popular view was considered Arianism.

A few decades later, Arianism spread to the gothic nations. This motivated the Nicene Christian Roman state to associate Arianism with their enemies such that in July 381, the First Council of Constantinople expanded the Nicaea Creed to address Arianism disputes. This version clearly defined the Trinity doctrine and proclaimed Jesus as God and as such the first Latin Bible (Vulgate) was translated in 382 in favour of the Nicaea Christianity's views.

A few centuries later the "Arian" nations were either destroy or converted by the Roman Empire. As a result, Arianism among many other religions were gradually rooted out during the Dark Ages.

Since the fourteenth century, the Nicaean Bible was translated into vernacular languages to reduce dependence on the state church and to support reformations.

Today, the majority of Christian churches still base their Trinitarian doctrines upon those of the early church fathers of the Nicene Christianity's creeds and the Vulgate. While certain Unitarian movements continue to challenge these views. Each denomination obviously translated the Bible in favour of their own interpretation, therefore one cannot proof the divinity of Jesus from isolated bible verses alone. For example the NIV translate Titus 2:13 that "Jesus is our great God", while many other bibles translate it differently.

Popular Trinitarian biased bible translations include: All the Catholic bibles as well as the ASV, BSB, CEV, CSB, ERV, ESV, GNT, HCSB, ISV, KJV, LSV, NASB, NET, NIV, NKJV, NLT, SLT, WEB, WORD, YLT, and so forth.

Less popular Arian biased bible translations include:

• NEV used by the Christadelphians
• NWT used by the Jehovah's Witnesses

Unpopular Unitarians biased bible translations include:

• Belsham's Unitarian New Testament and Newcome's Translation used mainly for historical theological studies
• REV used by Spirit & Truth Fellowship International

Fortunately, today we have access to interlinear bibles that provide word-by-word translations of Hebrew and Greek manuscripts that pre-dates the Vulgate and Nicene Creed. Some of these can be found online at websites like Bible Hub, Blue Letter Bible, STEP Bible and Bible Study Tools or downloaded from Berean Bible, MySword and Scripture4All.

Concerns

Trinitarians call Unitarians "heretics" or "antichrists" and condemn them to hell because the church creeds state that one needs to believe Jesus is God to be saved.

However, the Bible records:

• Jesus converted a woman without telling her that he is God (Luke 7:36-50).
• Peter converted 3000 people without telling them that Jesus is God (Acts 2:14-47).
• Paul converted many people without telling them that Jesus is God (Acts 13:13-44; 17:22-34).

From a Unitarian viewpoint, the Trinitarians are idolising Jesus. Jesus never said that he "is" the Father, but rather that he represent the Father as His Son. That is why Jesus act under the authority of God as our Lord.

God's glory

Both groups agree that the purpose of the creation is to glorify God.

Which version gives the most glory to God?

Evidence

Prophecies of about Jesus

Moses prophesied:

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’

“And the LORD said to me: What they have spoken is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which he speaks in My name, I will require it of him.

-- Deuteronomy 18:15-19 (NKJV)

Jesus quoted this prophecy himself:

So Jesus said to them... "For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?" -- John 5:19,46-47 (ESV)

This interpretation of the prophecy was also confirmed by Peter (Acts 3:22-26).

In addition, it was also prophesied:

• that the Christ would be a human as promised to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15) and Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15-19 & John 5:46-47, Acts 3:22-26)
• that the Christ would be a Jew (Jeremiah 30:21; Micah 5:2-5; Matthew 2:5-6) because his forefathers would be Judah (Genesis 49:10; Jeremiah 30:21; Micah 5:2-5 & Matthew 2:5-6) and Jesse (Isaiah 11:1)
• that the Christ would be born (Psalm 2:7) and confirmed by (Acts 13:16, 32-33)
• that the Christ would have a God (Psalm 110:1; Micah 5:2-5 confirmed by Matthew 2:5-6; Matthew 22:41-46 (ESV); Mark 12:35–37; Luke 20:40–44)
• that the Christ would serve his God (Psalm 16:8-11 confirmed by Acts 2:22,25-34; Isaiah 42:1-4 confirmed by Matthew 12:15-21; Isaiah 52:13-53:12 confirmed by Luke 22:37)
• that the Christ would be distinct from God (Psalm 110:1 confirmed by Mark 16:19)
• that the Christ would depend on his God (Isaiah 11:1-2; 42:1-2; 61:1)
• that the Christ would be anointed by the LORD God (Isaiah 61:1-2 confirmed by Luke 4:17-21)
• that the Christ would be sent by the LORD God (Isaiah 61:1-2 confirmed by Luke 4:17-21)

Now, some may argue that Christ is just "God's human body" or the "man"-part of God like an avatar. However, some prophecies picture interaction between the Christ and God as distinct persons, for example Daniel 7:10-14,27; Revelation 1:1,4-5

In addition, some prophets saw visions where God and Christ was positioned at different locations at the same time, for example:

• Jesus presented himself while God was seated on His throne (Daniel 7:9,13)
• Jesus stood next to God (Acts 7:55-56)
• Jesus stood while God was seated on His throne (Revelation 4:2,5:2-6)

Introducing Jesus

The book of Matthew starts with an ancestor registry (Matthew 1:1-17) to proof that Jesus was the expected Christ born form the prophesied family linage. Matthew even uses the word Greek "genesis" (beginning) to describe when Jesus's life began. This is usually translated as "birth" in Matthew 1:18, but at that moment when Mary was conceived, Jesus was not born yet.

Mark 1:1 introduces Jesus as "the Son of God" which implies he is not God Himself.

Luke 1:26-35 mentions a human son that Mary would give birth to. Gabriel is silent about the divinity of this son.

However, Trinitarians often quote John 1 to proof Jesus' divinity. They argue that "the Word" is Jesus in John 1 and that John supposedly describes how God reincarnated into flesh. However, they often ignore John 1:18 that states "No one has seen God at any time" after "the Word became flesh". John simply explained that Jesus was part of God's word (promise) since the beginning (John 1:1-2) and that Jesus was no accident from an unmarried couple (John 1:13; 8:41), but instead God kept His word (promise) such that His plan realised ("became flesh") with Jesus (John 1:14). The fact that people also mistake John for the Christ proof that a human Christ was expected (John 1:6-8,15,19-28).

Paul also introduces the Son as a human Christ that fulfilled the prophecies (God's word):

The gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh... -- Romans 1:1-3 ESV

The term, "the word" is used multiple times throughout the book of John and the gospels, but it always refers to something someone had said. John was not giving a clever word puzzle, but instead the purpose of his book was to give a testimony of Jesus, therefore one would expect that the meaning of "the word" should be consistent throughout this testimony.

Acts starts with Jesus leaving his disciples behind to return to God. This by itself proof that Jesus is distinct from God and that Jesus is not omnipresent like God.

Every letter of Paul, start with an introduction that mentions both God and Christ as distinct persons, for example:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... -- Ephesians 1:3 (ESV)

1 Peter, opens with a blessing: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!" This state that Jesus has a God Who is a distinct Father to him.

The other authors also introduce Jesus distinct from God, for example:

• The book of Hebrews starts with: "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by his Son"
• The book of James starts with: "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ."
• The book of 1 John explain at the beginning that the purpose of the book is: "... so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ."
• The book of Jude starts with: "Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ."
• The book of Revelation starts with: "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place."

Jesus' identity

The phrase "a son of man" refers to any general human throughout the Hebrew Old Testament, for example Numbers 23:19; Job 25:6, 35:8; Psalms 146:3; Jeremiah 49:18,33; Ezekiel 2:1,3,6,8; Daniel 8:17

But "the Son of Man" refers to the prophesied Christ. "Man" refers to "Adam" (Genesis 1:27; 2:7-8,15-23) and God gave His word in Genesis 3:15 on what the Christ as "the woman's offspring" will accomplish. This term is also used in Daniel 7:13 in his prophecy about Christ. The highlights that the Jews expected a human Christ. Throughout the Gospels Jesus repeatedly referred to himself as "the Son of Man" (Matthew 13:41), which implies he is "the" prophesied man (Matthew 16:27-28; 24:37-44; Luke 17:22-30).

The phrase "God as the Son" does not exist in the Bible. However, many has identified Jesus as "the Son of God", for example:

The way people interacted and treated Jesus also hint that they did not believe he was God, for example:

• Jesus close disciples doubted Jesus. (Matthew 14:25-33; Mark 6:35-37)
• Judas Iscariot sold Jesus. (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11)
• Jesus close disciples forsook him, which shows they did not believe he in control as God. (Matthew 26:34-35; Mark 14:27-29)
• Jesus close disciples did not take him seriously. (Mark 14:32-42)
• Peter argued with Jesus, something you do not do with your God. (John 13:8-17)
• Thomas did not believe that Jesus was omnipresent. (John 14:8-9)
• Peter denied Jesus, which shows he did not believe Jesus was in control as God. (Luke 22:55-62; John 18:15-18)
• The disciples were surprised to see Jesus alive, which shows they did not believe he was an immortal God. (Luke 24:13-32; John 20:25)

Now, some argue that Jesus had a "dual-nature" as "the Son of Man" and "the Son of God". If this was true:

• then Adam would also have a "dual-nature" as "the son of God" (Luke 3:38) and
• Jesus would have been his own Father (Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:9-11; 9:7; Luke 3:21; John 1:51; 2 Peter 1:16-18; 1 John 5:20)

Instead:

• Jesus said that he is a man (John 8:39-40)
• Jesus said that he is not God (Matthew 19:17; John 5:19,43-47; 8:49-50,54; 17:1-3)
• Jesus said that he has a God (John 20:17)
• Jesus prayed to his God (Matthew 5:45-6:9; 26:39,42,53; Luke 6:12; John 11:41, 17:1)

The term "only-begotten son" comes from the Greek words monos (alone) and genos (offspring) which could technically mean "the only offspring of God". Jesus was not just another "son of God" like Adam, Israel and many others. Jesus was "the only-begotten son of God" (John 1:14; 3:16 (KJV); 1 John 4:9 (KJV)) which implies he must have inherited something directly from God at his conception. This is significant because:

• It means Jesus did not inherit sin from Adam (1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 3:5), because his Father was God Himself.
• It means Jesus accurately represented the Father as His Son, unlike any prior prophet.

Interaction with Jesus

If the Father and the Son were to different modes of God (the way God represent Himself), then we would expect no interaction between these two modes as distinct persons. Yet, there are many examples of God and Jesus interacting with each other, for example:

• God anointed Jesus (Acts 10:38)
• God publicly declared His love for Jesus (Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21; John 1:51)
• God publicly glorified Jesus (John 12:27-28)
• God resurrected Jesus (Acts 2:32, 13:30, 17:30-31; Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:15)
• God separated Himself from Jesus (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)
• Jesus cried to God (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)
• Jesus grew in favour with God (Luke 2:52)
• Jesus mediates between man and God (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5)
• Jesus prayed to God (Matthew 5:45-6:9; 26:39,42,53; Luke 6:12; John 11:41, 17:1)
• Jesus returned to God (Mark 16:19)
• Jesus served God (John 17:1-3; Acts 3:13, 4:27-30; Romans 6:10; 1 Corinthians 11:3, 15:28)
• Jesus witness with God (John 8:17-18)
• Jesus worshipped God (by keeping feasts Luke 2:41-42; Matthew 26:17-20; John 7:1-10)

Incompatible attributes

It is a paradox to claim that Jesus is simultaneously 100% God and 100% human because these attributes are incompatible:

Jesus serve God

Trinitarians belief that the Son is "equal" to the Father, but this clash with the Bible, because:

• Isaiah prophesied that the Christ would be God's servant (Isaiah 42:1, 52:13-53:12).
• Jesus himself said that he was "sent" (commissioned) by the Father (John 3:16-18, 4:34, 6:57, 8:29, 14:24, 17:1-3; 1 John 4:14). This implies the Father has more authority than Jesus.
• Jesus obeys the Father (John 4:34, 5:19, 6:38, 8:55, 10:37, 14:31).
• Jesus trusted (depends on) God (1 Peter 2:23 ESV,HCSB) or Jesus stayed committed to God (1 Peter 2:23 ASV,KJV,NET,REV,YLT)

Now, some Trinitarians will argue that it was only the human-part of Jesus that served God and that it is no longer the case because Jesus is now exalted.

However, Paul who wrote his letters after Jesus' exaltation, teaches that even though Jesus is our Lord in his exalted state, he still has to submit and serve God (1 Corinthians 3:23; 11:3; 15:28; Romans 6:10).

This is also confirmed by Peter (Acts 3:13; 4:27-30 ESV), although some translations translated "servant" as "child".

Jesus' purpose

If Jesus was God, he would have recruited disciples for his own benefit, but instead God sent Jesus (Galatians 4:4-5) to preach the good news of the kingdom of God (Luke 4:42-44).

Jesus identified himself as "the way... to the Father" (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5) which implies there is a bigger God (1 Corinthians 3:23; 11:3; 15:28).

God had given up His only and beloved Son, and God had to watch him suffer and die at the crucifixion to save a world of sinful people (John 3:16-17)! Jesus, who was no demi-god, must have been really suffered like a mortal human. This explains why Jesus was distressed at the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22). This is why Jesus has the right, as a human who understand our experiences, to judge us (John 5:26-27).

Jesus temptation

God cannot be tempted (James 1:13), yet Jesus was tempted (Hebrews 4:15).

Matthew 4:1-10 and Luke 4:1-12 describes how the devil tempted Jesus.

In short the devil was basically saying:

1. That God is a bad God, because God "failed" to provide bread to Jesus.
2. Then the devil offered an alternative plan to Jesus: authority, glory and deliverance of all the kingdoms in exchange for worshipping the devil instead of God. When Jesus declined,
3. the devil tried to make Jesus doubt in God's protection.

None of these temptations would make any sense if Jesus was God. Yet the devil did not make a mistake, but knew exactly who God was (James 2:19).

If Jesus was God:

• Jesus would have led the Spirit, instead of the Spirit leading Jesus (Matthew 4:1; Luke 4:1).
• The devil would have asked Jesus to proof that he is God, instead the devil asked to only proof that he is the Son (Luke 4:3,9).
• Jesus would have quoted the wrong scripture which are only applicable to man (Luke 4:4 quoting Deuteronomy 8:3).
• The devil would have quoted the wrong scripture (Matthew 4:5-7 & Luke 4:9-11 quoting Psalm 91:11-12) and Jesus would have no need to respond.
• The devil's offer for kingdoms (Matthew 4:9; Luke 4:5-6) would not have been a temptation at all, because God already owns everything (Psalm 24:1).
• Jesus would have referred to himself as God, but instead he refers to God as Someone distinct** (Matthew 4:6-7,10; Luke 4:12).

Jesus inheritance

If Jesus was God Himself, he would own everything, yet it was prophesied that Jesus would inherit from God (Psalm 2:7-11). This understanding is also confirmed by Paul (Romans 8:17).

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. -- Romans 8:17 (ESV)

Relating to Jesus

Worship

Many people confuse:

All of the above are often referred to as "worship" by modern English speakers which is the root cause of confusion and debates regarding the topic why the disciples 'worshipped' Jesus.

The disciples were paying obeisance to Jesus as their king. This is indicated by their actions, but often translated described as "worship" in the Greek source text. The distinction is that this kind of worship is "worship" only without "serving" a sacrifice.

There are no scripture of anyone that has "worship and serve" (with a sacrifice) Jesus like they did to God as it was in the case of Deuteronomy 8:19-20; Luke 4:8; Exodus 23:25 and so forth. Instead, Jesus rebuked this kind of worship to anyone other than God (Luke 4:8).

Prayers

Neither Jesus nor any of the apostles every instructed anyone to pray to Jesus. Instead, prayers have always been directed to God the Father (Ezra 9:5-6; Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-2; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4).

Yet, we have the examples of Stephan, Paul and John who communicated with Jesus after his ascension, but in all these instance they were directly speaking to Jesus in a vision like people do when they speak to angels.

Jesus' name

Praying or acting "in the name of Jesus" is no way of addressing Jesus. In modern English "name" means designation, but the original Greek phrase means to act in the authority of someone more important. For example, when the Roman officials taxed the Jews in the name of Caesar, it means they have his permission to act as delegates to do their job. Likewise, when Jesus' disciples act or pray in the name of Jesus, it means they are requesting God to do something so that they can act with the permission of Jesus.

Jesus' divinity

For many centuries, there were extensive studies done to defend Jesus' divinity. It will be impractical to list every argument here, therefore I will only briefly summarise some of the most important ones:

Salvation

Forgiveness

Some bible translations render that Jesus have "power on earth to forgive sins" (Mark 2:10 NKJV; Luke 5:24). The assumption is that only God has the power to forgive sin, therefore Jesus must be God.

The confusion is caused by the Greek word translated as "power" which actually means "delegated authority" according to the Strong's Concordance. Many other bible translations like the NIV, NTL, ESV, BLB, NASB, CEV, etc. simply render the word "authority" or "the right".

The scribes and Pharisees misunderstood Jesus. They thought he was forgiving sin in his own authority by blaspheming god (Mark 2:5-7). Jesus did not say "I will proof to you that I am God". Instead, he corrected them by saying that he was not doing this on his own, but with authority that was given to him (Matthew 28:18; John 3:35, 17:2) as the prophesied "Son of Man". Then he demonstrated his authority by commanding healing.

Jesus had "the right" to forgave sin as a delegate of God. This is also how the crowd reacted after Jesus made this statement.

This is not the first instance where God delegated this kind of authority. For example, the angel of the LORD also took Joshua the high priest's "iniquity" away on behalf of "the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 3:1-10). God can delegate His authority to whomever He wishes (Daniel 7:27; John 14:12)

Saviour

Many Trinitarians quote Isaiah 43:11 out of context to proof that there can only be one saviour which is God, therefore when Jesus is called a "saviour" (Titus 2:13) they conclude it means Jesus is God.

However, Isaiah refers to salvation from the Egyptians (Isaiah 43:16), while Titus refers to salvation from iniquity (Titus 2:14).

The same Bible also mentions other human "saviours", for example Nehemiah 9:27; 2 Kings 13:5; Obadiah 21.

This should not to be confused with the fact that there are only one "way" to eternal salvation.

See also:

• Essence of Jesus
• More evidence