Just the Bible
F a l s e t e a c h i n g s e x p o s e d
Commentary on the New Testament
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 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
that GOD was in Christ reconciling the world to himself
2nd Corinthians 5,19
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
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
For GOD was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him
Colossians 1,19
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 1,1-14
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brothers
Hebrews 2,14-17
Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life
Hebrews 7,1-3
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 German.
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. Therefore the correct translation is:
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 ‘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 a 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 the Old Testament, people had to call on Yahweh to be saved. Today a person must call on Jesus Christ, whom GOD has appointed as Savior for humanity. It was similar in the story of Joseph in Egypt: originally it was the Pharaoh who was responsible for the concerns of the Egyptian people. After Pharaoh made Joseph his representative, he told his people to go to Joseph (Genesis 41,55) and listen to his instructions. Just as Pharaoh had exalted Joseph, so GOD exalted His Messiah by appointing Jesus as Lord and Judge (Acts 2,36) and transferring all power to Him (Matthew 28,18). In this way, the human son, having proven himself during his earthly ministry, now assumes, as GOD's representative, many of the tasks that Yahweh previously had.
Accordingly, various statements from the Old Testament that speak of GOD's authority are applied to Jesus in the New Testament because GOD gave Jesus the authority / authority or because he acts in the name of the LORD (Yahweh). In addition, most translations of the Old Testament use the word "LORD" instead of the name of GOD as in the original. This is also the case in the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament from which Paul quotes in his letter to the Romans. Paul used the term "Lord" (kyrios) as a title for a leader/ruler/judge; but not in the sense of the original name of GOD.
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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, which speaks of the wisdom of GOD. In reality, however, there is no connection between these two sections. Wherever Old Testament statements are associated with Jesus Christ, the relevant passage is often quoted, as verse 31 shows. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit of the Father in Mary's womb. From the first moment of his life, GOD's spirit worked in him, similar to that of John the Baptist. GOD'S Spirit caused Jesus to increase in wisdom until Jesus eventually surpassed all the scribes in wisdom. At the age of approximately 30, Jesus was anointed for his ministry with the power of the Holy Spirit. Now Jesus was even able to perform extraordinary signs and wonders that were supposed to glorify GOD and also certify that Jesus was the Messiah. GOD the Father made all wisdom and knowledge of GOD dwell in His Son (Colossians 2,9). In this way GOD Jesus made us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and salvation. Jesus is the perfect human being, as he should be according to GOD's creation plan. If we follow his example, we have fellowship with GOD the Father.
Similar to Romans 10,13 and 1st Corinthians 10,31, a statement from the Old Testament about Yahweh is also referred to Jesus in verse 31. This does not mean that the Messiah is Yahweh. GOD (Yahweh) made the Messiah Lord and therefore His representative (Acts 2,36). The original quote from Jeremiah 9,23 is about knowing GOD. GOD's characteristics are holiness, mercy and justice. Since we humans are made in the image of our Creator (Genesis 1,27), these characteristics should also be expressed in our thoughts and actions. While things like intelligence, success and strength count in the world, divine wisdom is shown in humility and love (James 3,17 f.). Therein lies true power and wisdom (verses 24-28). Jesus embodies all the characteristics of wisdom in his person. That's why GOD made Jesus the model for our lives so that through him we could understand the wisdom of GOD and imitate him. In John 14,6-11, Jesus explains that through him we know the Father. That is why Jesus is referred to in various places as the image / likeness of GOD (Colossians 1,15 / 2nd Corinthians 4,4). Jesus' disposition perfectly reflects the character of GOD. The essential characteristics of the invisible GOD become visible in his behavior. By acting like Jesus, we show ourselves to be children and images of GOD, just as Jesus is. This is a reason for which we humans can boast (verse 31). Eternal life lies in the knowledge of the Father, who is the only true GOD, and his messenger Jesus (John 17,3). 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 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 an angel 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 that GOD gave to 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, whose bites 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 basic text. So the second attempt can also be related to GOD. Then it would say: "(...) how they tempted GOD back then".
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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.
The word "spirit" (Old Greek: pneuma) in this case does not mean the Holy Spirit, since he and Jesus are distinguished from each other in the Bible. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul writes that the Corinthians are a letter from Christ. The Holy Spirit of GOD had written something on their hearts (verse 6). In verse 17 Paul explains that the content of this is the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3,3 f.). Because Jesus embodies the perfect, sinless person as GOD intended him to be. He is therefore the model into which all people should be transformed (Romans 8,29 / Colossians 3,3f. / Hebrews 12,2). This transformation brings freedom from sin (John 8,31-36 / Romans 6,22) and freedom from the law (Romans 8,1f. / Galatians 5,1-3).
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2nd Corinthians 5,19
19 (...) that GOD was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
This verse does not say that GOD is Jesus or that Jesus is GOD, but that GOD was in Christ. This verse is about spiritual connection between the Father and His Son. GOD worked through His Holy Spirit in Christ (John 5,30 / John 14,10 f.). It was the Father who did the works through Jesus and Jesus who carried them out. Just as GOD was in Christ in the spiritual sense, so Christ is and works in the believers in the spiritual sense (John 15,4 / John 17,20 f.).
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2nd Corinthians 13,14
13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of GOD, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
This final verse is a solemn exclamation and a typical conclusion to the Pauline letters. Galatians, Philippians and both letters to the Thessalonians close with the words: "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ". In verse 13 three different things are mentioned, but it is not said that they are “one” or “of one substance” or that they form “one GOD”. Similar to Matthew 28,19, this is not a Trinitarian formula. Peter, James and John are also often mentioned together, as are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. There is not a single verse in the entire Bible that states that the Father, Jesus, and the Spirit are “one GOD". This is about the fellowship that Christians have with one another because the Holy Spirit of the Father is present in each of them. The expression fellowship of the Spirit also occurs in Philippians 2,1. There is no mention of a third divine person here. Nowhere else is the Holy Spirit mentioned in a greeting or a farewell word. The Holy Spirit is the power and gift of GOD that connects all believers together.
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Galatians 1,1 + 11 f.
1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and GOD the Father, who raised him from the dead— (...) 11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
This statement points to the divine authorship of the gospel. Paul does not claim that Jesus is anything other than a human being, especially since he explicitly describes Jesus as a human being in several places in his letters (1st Corinthians 15,21 / 1st Timothy 2,5), but he wants to make it clear that his authority as an apostle does not come from an earthly authority, but from heaven, i.e. from GOD, the Most High, and Jesus Christ, whom GOD has made Lord over all (Acts 2,36 / 1 Corinthians 15,28). This is what Paul means when he writes that the gospel is not of human origin. This in turn is a significant aspect in the dispute with the Judaizers, who confused believers with their human teachings, for example by demanding that they be circumcised and observe the Mosaic Law in order to be saved. This was contrary to the message of the gospel, which states that a person is saved by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul explains that he received the gospel he proclaimed by revelation from the highest authority. At the same time, Paul distances himself from the teachings of the Judaizers, who, in contrast, spread a false gospel.
John introduces the book of Revelation with similar words (Revelation 1,1). It says: Revelation of Jesus Christ, which GOD gave him. Here too, GOD and Jesus are clearly distinguished. GOD taught Jesus and Jesus passed the teaching on to John through an angel. Paul was instructed directly by GOD through Jesus. From this it is clear that GOD (the non-human) origin of the gospel and Jesus Christ is the human mediator through whom GOD conveys his message. Jesus is fully human. But Jesus' authority is not human, i.e. not given by humans, but divine or given by GOD. After all, Jesus was not made Lord and Messiah by humans, but by GOD the Father. It is He who gives Jesus His glory and gives Him power and authority over the universe. An analogous translation could be:
1 Paul, an apostle, not by earthly/human authority, but by Jesus Christ and GOD the Father, who raised him from the dead (...) 11 For I make known to you, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preach is not of human origin. 12 For I did not receive it or learn it from ordinary man, but by a heavenly revelation from Jesus Christ.
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Ephesians 3,9
9 ...and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in GOD, who created all things through Jesus Christ (…).
This translation gives the impression that Jesus is the one who created everything. However, this contradicts many statements in which GOD, the Father, is called the Creator without any connection to Jesus (Matthew 11,25 / Hebrews 11,1 / Revelation 4,11 / Revelation 14,7). In most translations the word "GOD" (Old Greek: theos) is used instead of "him". But the word "him" in this verse would also clearly refer to GOD, the Father and not to Jesus. The following translation translates this verse correctly and unambiguously:
9 ...and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in GOD, who created all things (…).
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Ephesians 4,8-10
Psalm 68,18
8 This is why it says, “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.
This verse speaks of Jesus' death and ascension; not about his alleged incarnation. Jesus died and was buried. On the third day he was resurrected by GOD and taken into heaven. The Messiah had to first suffer and then be glorified in order to fulfill all the prophecies of Scripture. The expression depths of the earth is at this point a euphemism for the realm of the dead, Hades. In Romans 10,7 the same word for "descending" (Old Greek: katabainō) is used in connection with the death and resurrection of Jesus.