The Inescapable Trinity

[darinhouston]

Hi Paidion,

So what did Jesus empty Himself of?

his reputation and the things due him as the true child of the King - he humbled himself in contrast to the first Adam who sought to be like God.

[dwight92070]

Paul said "He existed in the form of God" and "He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped."

Well, there you have it! Jesus, though in the FORM of God, had no desire to try to be EQUAL with God.
So He knew He was NOT equal with God. Thus if He was not even equal with God, how could He be God Himself?

Dwight - That's not how I read it. Coming to earth, He could have grasped or held on to His privileges and His prerogatives, since He was equal to God, but instead He chose to empty Himself and humble Himself to a low level, and to die for our sins.

[darinhouston]

Paul said "He existed in the form of God" and "He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped."

Well, there you have it! Jesus, though in the FORM of God, had no desire to try to be EQUAL with God.
So He knew He was NOT equal with God. Thus if He was not even equal with God, how could He be God Himself?

Dwight - That's not how I read it. Coming to earth, He could have grasped or held on to His privileges and His prerogatives, since He was equal to God, but instead He chose to empty Himself and humble Himself to a low level, and to die for our sins.

That's a presupposition and begs the question.

[dwight92070]

Well, there you have it! Jesus, though in the FORM of God, had no desire to try to be EQUAL with God.
So He knew He was NOT equal with God. Thus if He was not even equal with God, how could He be God Himself?

Dwight - That's not how I read it. Coming to earth, He could have grasped or held on to His privileges and His prerogatives, since He was equal to God, but instead He chose to empty Himself and humble Himself to a low level, and to die for our sins.

That's a presupposition and begs the question.

Dwight - "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God (He could not think this, if He wasn't equal with God), but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men (even though He was God). And being found in appearance as a man (even though He was God), He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." Philippians 2:5-8

Dwight - If Jesus was not equal with God, then it would be totally unnecessary for the scripture to bring up the subject of equality with God. But the subject is brought up here and in John 5:18, where John clearly tells us that Jesus was "making Himself equal with God" EVERY TIME HE CALLED GOD HIS OWN FATHER. How many times did Jesus call God His own Father? Tons of times, and EACH TIME JESUS IS MAKING HIMSELF EQUAL WITH GOD.

Dwight - Also there are similar statements: John 10:33 - " ... and because You, being a man, make yourself out to be God." and "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" and several others.

[dwight92070]

What man is "guilty" of making people think that Jesus is God?

Oh wait, IT'S JESUS HIMSELF!!!

[Paidion]

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:5-7 ESV)


DID NOT COUNT EQUALITY WITH GOD A THING TO BE GRASPED.

If Jesus had been equal with God, then not grasping for it or not grasping for it, would not have been an issue.

[darinhouston]

About 98% of Christians see the Trinity in the Bible. About 2% do not. It appears that the non-Trinitarians are not acknowledging the truth that is right in front of them.

Interesting article on this subject. This should show you that measuring the soundness of any doctrine by how many people profess a belief in it (or worse, belong to professing denominations) is dangerous ground.

https://www.christianpost.com/news/most ... study.html

[dwight92070]

I'm not saying that the Trinity doctrine is correct because the majority holds to it. So I escaped the "dangerous" ground there. I am saying that it appears that far more true believers hold to it, than those believers who do not.

[Homer]

Darin,

You wrote:

So what did Jesus empty Himself of?

his reputation and the things due him as the true child of the King - he humbled himself in contrast to the first Adam who sought to be like God.

You appear to assume Jesus did not exist before He was born of the virgin Mary.

[dwight92070]

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:5-7 ESV)


DID NOT COUNT EQUALITY WITH GOD A THING TO BE GRASPED.

If Jesus had been equal with God, then not grasping for it or not grasping for it, would not have been an issue.

Dwight - The F.F.Bruce commentary says that the phrase "who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped" means that "The Son of God could not possibly divest Himself of the form of God at His incarnation without thereby ceasing to be God ... He did not regard His being on equal conditions of glory and majesty with God as a prize and treasure to be held fast, or as a dignity to be coveted and seized, as did the first Adam, or as something to be exploited to His own advantage."