TestYourFaith
F a l s e v s. s o u n d d o c t r i n e
Commentary on the New Testament
the Epistles - Page 1
the Messiah, who is GOD over all, forever praised
Romans 9,3-5
Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down)
Romans 10,6
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved
Romans 10,13
Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from GOD—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption
1st Corinthians 1,30 f.
for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory
1st Corinthians 2,8
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ
1st Corinthians 2,16
for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ
1st Corinthians 10,1-4
We should not test Christ
1st Corinthians 10,9
Now the Lord is the Spirit
2nd Corinthians 3,17 f.
that GOD was in Christ reconciling the world to himself
2nd Corinthians 5,19
Three times I pleaded with the Lord
2nd Corinthians 12,7-10
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of GOD, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all
2nd Corinthians 13,14
Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and GOD the Father
Galatians 1,1 + 11 f.
which for ages past was kept hidden in GOD, who created all things through Jesus Christ
Ephesians 3,9
When he ascended on high
Ephesians 4,8-10
Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
Ephesians 5,13 f.
Who, being in the form of GOD, did not consider equality with GOD something to be grasped
Philippians 2,5-11
He is the image of the invisible GOD (...) For in him all things were created
Colossians 1,15-20
in order that they may know the mystery of GOD, namely, Christ
Colossians 2,1 f.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and GOD our Father (...) encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word
2nd Thessalonians 2,16 f.
GOD appeared in the flesh
1st Timothy 3,16
the appearing of the glory of our great GOD and Savior, Jesus Christ
Titus 2,13
Let all GOD’s angels worship him (...) Your throne, O GOD
Hebrews 1,1-12
For this reason he had to be made like them
Hebrews 2,14-17
For every house is built by someone, but GOD is the builder of everything
Hebrews 3,1-6
Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life
Hebrews 7,3
and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being
Hebrews 8,1 f.
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt
Hebrews 11,26
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever
Hebrews 13,8
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison
1st Peter 3,18-20
of our GOD and Savior Jesus Christ
2nd Peter 1,1 f.
That which was from the beginning (…) concerning the Word of life
1st John 1,1-3
Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either
1st John 2,22 f.
Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh
1st John 4,2 f.
For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are one
1st John 5,6-8
He is the true GOD and eternal life
1st John 5,20
Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord
Jude 1,4
Romans 9,3-5
3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own flesh, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is GOD over all, forever praised! Amen.
This quote is rendered differently depending on the translation. While some associate the statement of praise to GOD (verse 5) with Jesus, others relate it to GOD the Father. In this context, it should be noted that there were no punctuation marks in the ancient manuscripts as we know them from translations today. Punctuation marks are crucial when it comes to indicating the meaning of a statement. If you use punctuation differently, the same words can have a completely different meaning. In addition, the word order has less meaning in Greek than in English.
Paul was a strict monotheist. In all his letters he clearly distinguishes between GOD and Jesus. Paul uses the word GOD (Old Greek: theos) over 500 times for the father. Paul would never call Christ GOD without explanation. Even less would he do so in this short sentence with which he begins a treatise on a completely different topic, which concerns Israel. Paul never used the expression over all (Old Greek: epi panton) nor the word derived from it, almighty (Old Greek: pantokratōr) for Jesus. No other New Testament author did this either. This would contradict Paul's statement that Christ is subordinate to GOD (1st Corinthians 3,23 / 1st Corinthians 11,3 / Ephesians 4,6). Likewise, neither Paul nor any other apostle used phrases such as praised or highly praised (Old Greek: eulogētos) for Jesus. Six of a total of seven praises in Paul's letters are clearly addressed to GOD, the Father (Mark 14,61 / Luke 1,68 / Romans 1,25 / 2nd Corinthians 1,3 / Ephesians 1,3 / 1st Peter 1,3 / 2nd Corinthians 11,31), which is also obvious in verse 5. Some Bibles therefore translate correctly:
4 Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah. GOD (the Father), who is over all, be praised forever! Amen.
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Romans 10,6 f.
Deuteronomy 30,12
6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 Or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
The core of this statement is about how to become righteous by faith. In verses 9-10, Paul explains that it is about believing the gospel message. This includes confessing that Jesus is Lord (Old Greek: kyrios) and believing that GOD raised him from the dead. This is the condition for being saved. GOD does not ask anything superhuman of us, such as bringing Christ back from heaven where he sits at the right hand of GOD. This is not necessary because Jesus has already brought us the gospel. Paul does not speak of the pre-existence of Jesus. Likewise, we do not need to raise Christ from the dead because GOD has already done so.
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Romans 10,13
Joel 3,5
13 (...) for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
This verse is a quote from Joel 2,32 in the Old Testament. There the statement refers to the LORD GOD (Yahweh). The context in Romans makes it clear that the Lord (Old Greek: kyrios) means the Lord Jesus Christ. From this it is concluded that Jesus is GOD. However, the actual meaning is different. In Joel 3,5, you can find the Hebrew word adonai which is used exclusively for the name of GOD, namely Yahweh. In Romans 10, however, we find the Greek word kyrios. From the context, it is clear that Paul uses the designation of Jesus as Lord (kyrios) in the sense of a royal title for humans and not as a name. If somebody translated kyrios in Psalm 110,1 / Romans 10,9 / Romans 14,9 / 1st Corinthians 8,6 and similar passages as "Yahweh", the statement would make no sense. Furthermore, Paul's statement does not necessarily have a reference to the prophetic word in Joel 3, but can simply be understood as a hint that it is necessary to call on the name of Jesus (Yahweh's mediator or representative) in order to be saved. This assumption is supported by the fact that Paul neither uses the phrase "as it is written" (Romans 1,17 / 1st Corinthians 2,9 / Galatians 3,10 / Ephesians 4,8, etc.) here, nor does he otherwise refer to the Old Testament (Galatians 3,8, etc.), as the apostles do in many other places in their letters.
In the Old Testament, people had to call on Yahweh to be saved. Today, a person must call on Jesus Christ, whom GOD has chosen as the Savior of all people. GOD saves through Jesus, as also expressed by Jesus' name (= Yahweh is salvation). The story of Joseph in Egypt was similar: Originally, it was Pharaoh who was responsible for the needs of the Egyptian people. After Pharaoh made Joseph his deputy, he called on his people to go to Joseph (Genesis 41,55) and obey his instructions. Just as Pharaoh had exalted Joseph, so GOD exalted His Messiah by appointing Jesus as Lord (King) and Judge (Acts 2,36) and transferring all authority to Him (Matthew 28,18). Thus, Jesus now acts in Yahweh's place / in Yahweh's name.
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1st Corinthians 1,30 f.
Jeremiah 9,23
30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from GOD—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Some connect this statement with Proverbs 8. However, this does not mean that Jesus is being referred to there. After all, wisdom is not the name of a pre-existent Messiah, but rather expresses a spiritual disposition. Wherever Old Testament statements are associated with Jesus Christ, the corresponding passage is often quoted, as verse 31 also shows. From the first moment of his life, GOD's Spirit worked in Jesus, increasing him in wisdom until Jesus ultimately surpassed all the scribes in wisdom. GOD the Father caused all wisdom and the knowledge of GOD to dwell in His human Son (Colossians 2,9), more than in any other human being before him (John 3,34). While in the world things like intelligence, success, and strength count, divine wisdom is revealed in humility and love (James 3,17-18). In Jesus' behavior, we recognize true wisdom, in which, in turn, lies true power (1st Corinthians 1,24-28).
Similar to Romans 10,13 and 1st Corinthians 10,31, verse 31 also connects a statement from the Old Testament concerning Yahweh with Jesus. This does not mean that the Messiah is Yahweh. The original quote from Jeremiah 9,23 is about knowing GOD. Knowing GOD means acting according to His will (Jeremiah 31,31-34). GOD's essential attributes are holiness, mercy, and justice. In Jesus' behavior, the character of the invisible GOD becomes visible. In this respect, Jesus serves as our model for wisdom, justice, sanctification, and salvation. By knowing Jesus, that is, by imitating him and becoming like him, we know GOD the Father (John 14,6-11) and prove ourselves to be children of GOD. For this we may boast (verse 31). In the knowledge of the Father, the only true GOD, and of His messenger Jesus Christ, lies eternal life (John 17,3). A more accurate translation could be: An analogous translation could be:
30 But through GOD you have been joined to Christ, whom he presented to us as a model of wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that we might boast that we know GOD by imitating our Lord Jesus.
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1st Corinthians 2,8
8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
The title Lord of Glory has nothing to do with Jesus' alleged divinity, but refers to his resurrection from the dead and his ascension to the right hand of GOD. It is GOD who bestowed glory upon Jesus (Lukas 24,26 / 1. Petrus 1,20 f.). After Jesus fulfilled his mission, he received the glory that had been predetermined for the Messiah in GOD's plan since the foundation of the world (Johannes 17,5). This glory is not to be equated with the glory of GOD (Epheser 1,17).
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1st Corinthians 2,16
Isaiah 40,13
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
While the first part of the verse clearly refers to Yahweh, the second part of the verse speaks of Jesus. This fact does not make Jesus GOD. Verses 10-16 are about spirituality. GOD wants every person to behave in accordance with His character and will. This demonstrates true knowledge of GOD. Jesus, the Son of GOD, serves as our example. Jesus had the same mind as GOD (John 8,29 / John 14,7-11). Anyone who has the mind of Christ, i.e., who thinks and acts just like Jesus, demonstrates that they know GOD (Yahweh) (John 14,7 / John 17,3 / Romans 12,2 / Ephesians 5,1 / 1 John 4,7 f.).
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1st Corinthians 10,1-4
Exodus 17,6
1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
The context of this section is about the Israelites and what happened during the Exodus from Egypt and what consequences the Israelites' unbelief had on them at that time, even though GOD miraculously provided for them in various ways. These should now serve as a warning and example for the believers in Corinth. Paul explains that the physical food - the manna - and the physical drink - the water from the rock - were not only important to the practical survival of the Israelites, but that they also had a spiritual significance that is closely tied to the Messiah. Ever since their ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Jews knew about the promise of the coming Savior (John 8,53-58). This message that accompanied the Israelites was the central truth to which they were to hold fast in faith, just as their forefathers did.
The good news of the coming Savior (Christ) was therefore the spiritual food and drink that is at issue here. The events in the desert thus represent a foreshadowing of future events that were fulfilled in Jesus. The fact that Christ is referred to as a rock (Old Greek: petra) is clearly to be understood symbolically. Nowhere in the Old Testament do we read that a physical rock followed the Israelites in the literal sense. It was the angel of the LORD (Exodus 23,20) who went before them and a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire that accompanied the people day and night (Exodus 13,21). Jesus is not identified by Paul as either the Angel of the LORD or a cloud. Other names that are attributed to Jesus are also to be interpreted in a figurative sense (e.g. light, bread, path, etc.). There is a spiritual meaning behind these words. But none of them imply that Jesus was GOD or pre-existed. An analogous translation could be:
4 (...) and they all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from the spiritual Rock which followed them, and the Rock was a type of the Messiah.
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1st Corinthians 10,9
Numbers 21,4-9
9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.
There are different copies of this verse. While the vast majority of the oldest manuscripts read Christ, others say Lord or GOD. It cannot be said with absolute certainty which is the original. Given the context, the word Lord would be the most obvious. On the other hand, this verse is closely related to verses 1-4 of the chapter. The context is about the spiritual meaning of the food with which GOD provided the Israelites in the desert and which was a symbol of Christ. In Numbers 21,4-9, which Paul refers to in verse 9, the Israelites complained that they were disgusted by the manna that GOD gave them to eat for 40 years. As a punishment for this rebellion, GOD sent fiery serpents, which killed many of the people.
When Paul speaks of the temptation of Christ, he means that the Jews tempted Christ by rejecting with disgust the manna, which is an image of Christ, and thus figuratively rejecting or blaspheming Christ as their Savior. Many had to die as punishment for this. Only those who looked at the bronze serpent that Moses made at GOD's command remained alive. This can also be interpreted as a picture of Christ (John 3,14). Hebrews 11,25 f. says that Moses preferred the reproach of Christ to the sinful life in Egypt. This statement does not mean that Moses knew Jesus personally, but rather that Moses figuratively accepted the same shame that Christ later did. In addition, the pronoun “him” does not appear in the original text. Thus, the word attempt can also refer to GOD the second time. Then it would say:
9 Let us not tempt Christ (today), as some of them tempted GOD (in those days) and were killed by snakes.
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2nd Corinthians 3,17 f.
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
In John 4,24, Jesus explains that GOD is spirit (Old Greek: pneuma). The word pneuma is also used for the Holy Spirit. Unlike us humans, who are made of flesh and blood, GOD is invisible and immaterial (Romans 1,20). Angels are also described as spirits (pneuma) (Hebrews 1,14). In several places in the New Testament, we read that believers are also spirit (pneuma) (John 3,6 / 1st Corinthians 6,17). This makes it clear that not every spiritual being is GOD. Jesus is also referred to as the Spirit (pneuma) several times (1st Corinthians 15,47 / Revelation 2,7 + 17 + 29 / Revelation 3,6 + 13 + 22). In 1st Corinthians 15,45, Paul explains that Jesus, the last Adam, became (ancient Greek: egeneto) a life-giving spirit, just as the first man, Adam, became (egeneto) a living soul. The context makes it clear that this statement refers to Jesus' resurrection. This contradicts the assumption that Jesus was already spirit before his birth. From 1st Corinthians 15,46 f. it is clear that Paul is applying the word spirit to the new, glorified body of Jesus. The fact that Jesus is referred to here as the last Adam and the second man from heaven makes it clear 1. that Jesus is fully human, just like Adam, 2. that Jesus has only one nature, not several, and 3. that first there was Adam (symbolizing the earthly) and then Christ (symbolizing the heavenly); not the other way around.
2nd Corinthians 3,17 f. does not state that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are identical, as the two are distinguished everywhere. Moreover, this would contradict the Trinitarian creed, according to which Jesus and the Holy Spirit are distinct divine persons. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul writes that the Corinthians are a letter from Christ. GOD's Holy Spirit had written something on their hearts (verse 6). In verse 17, Paul explains that the content of this is the Lord Jesus (Galatians 2,20 / Colossians 3,3 f.). Jesus embodies the perfect, sinless human being as God intended him to be. Thus, he is the example to whom all believers should become (verse 18). In this way, we attain the glory to which we are destined as GOD's image (Genesis 1,26 f. / John 17,22 / Romans 3,23 / 1st John 3,1 f.). This transformation brings freedom from sin (John 8,31-36 / Romans 6,22) and freedom from the law (Romans 8,1 f. / Galatians 5,1-3).