How do Biblical Unitarians respond to passages like 2 Peter 1:1 and Titus 2:13, which seem to call Jesus 'God'?
score:1
A proof text is a passage of scripture presented as proof for a theological doctrine, belief, or principle.[1] Prooftexting (sometimes "proof-texting" or "proof texting") is the practice of using quotations from a document, either for the purpose of exegesis, or to establish a proposition in eisegesis (introducing one's own presuppositions, agendas, or biases). Such quotes may not accurately reflect the original intent of the author... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prooftext
Biblical Unitarians don't need to proof-text to explain God or His son Jesus. When the bible is considered as a whole, consistent narrative, inspired by God and delivered by several writers in concert, the message becomes very clear.
Several ideas are based on proof-texts that have no clear and persistent biblical revelation, and on extra-biblical sources like creeds formulated 100's of years after the Apostolic Church Fathers.
- The pre-existence of Jesus.
- The Jesus who is a man and God at the same time in the one person.
- The holy spirit is a person as 1 part of a 3-in-1 God.
These ideas, while readily dismissed by context and honest appraisal of the scriptures, remain the foundation to extend beliefs found in traditional teaching. That they are readily dismissed seems irrelevant by those adhering to a traditional belief.
How do Biblical Unitarians respond to passages like 2 Peter 1:1 and Titus 2:13, which seem to call Jesus 'God'?
The response is to show that these verses are used in isolation and do not represent the entire narrative.
The amount of time the NT points out that Jesus has a God, that he is not the 'one true God', Jesus, Paul and others, refer to often far outweighs the two or three verses that seem to say otherwise. What choice do we have in this scenario?
- Use an ambiguous verse as the basis for doctrine?
- Use the broad base of all other verses on this matter to inform the very few confusing ones?
Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those having obtained a faith equally precious with ours, through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ: 2Pet 1:1
In the very next verse shows the distinct separation of God from Jesus - as Paul does in every letter he writes. Did he think Jesus was God? Not remotely possible based on what he has written. Do any other writers or Jesus himself? No, again.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. v2
Jesus HAS a God - always did - still does! Does God have a God? Extrabiblical writings might say so, but the bible does not. Which one should a Christian choose as the basis for determining good doctrine? Biblical Unitarians know to choose the bible and seek out good and well-supported beliefs.
looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Christ Jesus Titus 2:13
Proof-texters seem not to notice the glaring, persistent wording in the actual verse.
- What is Paul 'looking for'? "the appearing of the glory of"
- Of what or who? "the glory of our great God and Saviour"
- The what? "the glory"
- Of who? "of God"
- Who IS the glory of God? Jesus is.
Jesus is the glory of God and he will be appearing - this is what Paul is looking for - Jesus. Jesus is the glory of God and he will be appearing and Paul is encouraging us to wait eagerly, expectantly!
The son is the radiance of God's glory and the representation of His nature Heb 1:3
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen. Rom 16:27
every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:11
Yes, to the untrained eye, these verses may seem to be 'calling Jesus God'. If we are grabbing at proof-texts' without so much as reading them in context or including them with other verses, then we will jump to poor conclusions and miss out on the abundant truth God has provided about Himself and His son.
Content principles from https://www.biblicalunitarian.com/
More post
- 📝 What is "Christ Consciousness", and which branches teach it?
- 📝 Demon Possession in the Old Testament?
- 📝 Why was the name of Pontius Pilate included in the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed?
- 📝 How can John the Baptist be the greatest man born of woman, when Jesus was also born of woman?
- 📝 In the book of Job, it suggests that angels sin. Do they?
- 📝 What's the Biblical basis for calling God by the name of Jesus in prayers?
- 📝 According to Trinitarianism, should prayers always be directed at one Person at a time, or can we pray to the whole Trinity simultaneously?
- 📝 How does the Bible teach us to direct our prayers?
- 📝 Where did people who lived in Jesus's time go to when they died?
- 📝 Why did so many early church fathers say that sex was a consequence of the Fall?
- 📝 Is there any evidence to support the authenticity of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
- 📝 In Catholicism is salvation by grace alone or by following the ten commandments and confession?
- 📝 What is the Protestant view of the miracle at Fátima?
- 📝 What was the difference between Ratramnus's view of the Eucharist and that of Calvin?
- 📝 Why did Jesus predict martyrdom of some of his disciples?
- 📝 Why do many bishops oppose the Vatican ban on blessing same-sex marriages?
- 📝 Why (how) does Jesus' coat have no seam?
- 📝 Who believes the incarnation and resurrection wouldn't have happened without Mary's faith?
- 📝 How do Roman Catholics reconcile Acts 15:20 with transubstantiation?
- 📝 What was the hour of the Annunciation?
- 📝 Is Cain saved or he will go into the eternal perdition?
- 📝 Jesus says, that God the Father is a Spirit AND Paul says there is one (1) Spirit. How do trinitarians understand who or what the Holy Spirit is?
- 📝 If God controls our decisions, does this mean we don't have free will?
- 📝 When is earliest mention of the Church tradition that Jesus was born in a cave?
- 📝 What is the SBC's stance on what/how salvation is/works?
- 📝 Roman Catholic: Is piracy of information and media wrong in all circumstances?
- 📝 Can humans fall in love with each other in heaven?
- 📝 Does the Bible provide an age of consent?
- 📝 What part do Monks play in the Christian church?
- 📝 Are there theological explanations for why God chose the Church to preach the gospel instead of more effective and efficient alternatives?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians respond to passages like 2 Peter 1:1 and Titus 2:13, which seem to call Jesus 'God'?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians understand the connection between Mark 1:1-4 and Malachi 3:1-5?
- 📝 How do Trinitarians respond to passages in the Bible that seem to clearly distinguish between God and Jesus after his ascension?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians respond to translations of Hebrews 1:8 which have God calling the Son 'God'?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians understand verses that appear to identify God (the Father) and the Holy Spirit as different beings/entities?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians interpret 1 Corinthians 2:10-14 with regard to God and the Spirit of God?
- 📝 How did Peter recognize Elijah and Moses?
- 📝 What is the background of the words "notitia," "fiducia," and "assensus" and how do they relate to the biblical notion of "faith"?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians deal with the fact that the early church accepted the divinity of Christ?
- 📝 How do Congregationalists explain 1st Tim 1:3 and Titus 1:5?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians understand what some theologians refer as the Kenosis in Philippians 2?
- 📝 How would Biblical Unitarians answer the questions of Proverbs 30?
- 📝 How should other churches respond to a pastor and congregation who live contrary to the Gospel?
- 📝 How do the church fathers reconcile the accounts of Jesus calling Peter and Andrew to be apostles?
- 📝 How would Biblical Inerrantists resolve perceived tensions between 2 Timothy 3:16 and Hebrews 7:18?
- 📝 According to Jehovah's Witnesses and Unitarians and all who deny that Jesus is the Almighty God, how can He be in you and live in you?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians contextually explain Thomas' exclamation at John 20:28?
- 📝 How do continuationists respond to the 'closed canon' argument against the continuation of special revelations and sign gifts?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians understand "the glory of the Father's own self" that Jesus claims he had before the world was?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians rebut the following soteriological syllogism for the deity of Christ?
- 📝 If Satan is not omnipresent and supposedly wanders around like a roaring lion, how can he tempt and interact with all humans?
- 📝 How do Unitarians respond to quotations from Ignatius of Antioch that seem to show Ignatius believes Jesus is God?
- 📝 Do Biblical Unitarians believe Jesus rose and ascended in a "real" body?
- 📝 How do Catholics and other Christians respond to the US Bishops' teaching that Matthew was not written by it supposed author?
- 📝 How does a biblical literalist interpret the tale of David and Goliath?
- 📝 How does scholars' denial of the possibility of NT autographs affect the Christian doctrines of biblical inerrancy and infallibility?
- 📝 My question is for Biblical Unitarians and is based on their website as it relates to Philippians 2:6-8
- 📝 According to Biblical Unitarians who was seen walking in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?
- 📝 How do adherents of sola scriptura respond to "extra" biblical beliefs?
- 📝 How did the "dubia cardinals" accuse and respond to Pope Francis's «Amoris Lætitia»?