Salvation
Jesus says that the Father is greater than he is, which proves that he cannot be God.
Quick answer
The assertion that the Father is greater than the Son assumes a unipersonal view of God, which is not necessarily true. In Trinitarian theology, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons within one divine Being, allowing for a relational dynamic where authority can be granted without negating divinity.
Full argument
The argument presented assumes that God is a uni-personal deity, which is a premise that needs to be proven. The Christian perspective holds that the Bible reveals a Triune God, where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God yet distinct in their relationships. Therefore, when Jesus speaks of receiving authority, it does not contradict his divinity but rather reflects the relational dynamics within the Godhead. The Scriptures affirm that all authority is ultimately God's, and the delegation of authority among the Persons of the Trinity does not diminish their divine nature. Thus, the relationship between the Father and the Son can be understood as one of authority and submission without compromising the belief in the full divinity of Christ.
Key verses
Matthew 28:18bible
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
John 1:1bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Romans 11:36bible
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
Related articles
More in Salvation
- The Bible condones rape because it instructs a rapist to marry his victim in Deuteronomy 22:28-29.
- Jesus himself admitted that the Father is the only true God, which proves that he denied being God.
- If Yahweh was the one true God who alone created the heavens and the earth and sent Jesus as his servant, then how can Jesus be God?
- How can Jesus be God when he will be in eternal subjection to God as stated in 1 Corinthians 15:28?
- How can Jesus be God when he denies being all-powerful, saying he can do nothing by himself?