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John 16,13-15

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13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

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Here Jesus speaks of the gift of the Holy Spirit, which would later be poured out upon the apostles at Pentecost. While in the Old Testament the Holy Spirit only rested "on" individuals, in the future it was to dwell within people (John 14,17). In this way, Jesus would remain united with his disciples even after his ascension to the Father. For the Holy Spirit embodies the personal presence of Christ in the life of every believer (John 14,18-21 / Galatians 2,20 / Colossians 1,27). He takes over the task that Jesus previously had while he was with his disciples. This consists of teaching, guiding, reminding, and glorifying the believers (John 14,26 / John 15,26 / John 16,13).

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Verses 13-15 refer to the teachings of Jesus. GOD revealed His entire will to Jesus, which Jesus, in turn, proclaimed to humanity (John 1,18). Just like Jesus, the Holy Spirit also functions as a mediator through whom Jesus communicates figuratively with believers. Everything Jesus taught comes from the Father (John 5,30 / John 7,16 / John 12,44 / John 14,24 / John 17,8 + 14). In this respect, the teachings of the Father are also the teachings of the Son (verse 15). The Holy Spirit, too, teaches only what is consistent with the teachings of Jesus (and thus of the Father) (verse 13); as if Jesus himself were speaking to the believers. For this reason, Jesus describes the work of the Spirit in a personifying way, even though, contrary to the dogma of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is not a "person" in the narrow sense, but the living power of the Father.

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John 16,28

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28 "I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

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Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father (John 1,18). He was conceived by GOD in Mary's womb instead of a man. Jesus' statement that he came from the Father and came into the world does not mean that Jesus existed before his birth, but rather that GOD anointed him and sent him into the world with a mission. It's about Jesus' mission. Jesus also sent his disciples into the world (John 17,18), i.e. they went out from him to proclaim his message. Jesus knew from the Scriptures and the revelations he received from GOD that he would go to the Father after his resurrection. Jesus explained this to his disciples during their last meal together, shortly before his arrest and crucifixion. None of the apostles wrote in their letters that Jesus “returned” to GOD as if he had been physically in heaven before. A analogous translation is:

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28 "The Father begot me (by His Spirit) and sent me into the world; now I leave the world and go to the Father who begot me."

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John 17,5

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5 "And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."

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This formulation expresses divine predestination. In Hebrew thought, things that are prophesied of the future can be viewed as already existing or fulfilled before they are reality. Many such prophetic formulations can be found in the Bible. GOD knew David (Psalm 139,16) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1,4) before they existed. The believers were already chosen by GOD and their names were written in the book of life even before there was one of them (Matthew 25,34 / Ephesians 1,4-6 / 2 Timothy 1,9 / Revelation 13,8). The works of believers were also prepared for them before the creation of the world (Ephesians 2,10). Various prophecies in the Old Testament are also formulated as if they were already reality back then, although they should be fulfilled later (Isaiah 9,5 f. / Psalm 110,1 / Isaiah 53 / Hosea 11,1). The situation is similar with GOD's promises regarding events whose fulfillment is still imminent from today's perspective. So it is said that all who believe in Jesus have eternal life (= life in the age to come) although in fact they only receive it in the resurrection (Mark 10,30). It goes on to say that the saints are blessed with all heavenly blessings (Ephesians 1,3 / Ephesians 2,6), which also refers to life in the future age of the new earth that GOD promises to His children. The Messiah was already chosen, sacrificed and glorified in GOD's plan before GOD created the world, even though Jesus was born (= flesh) at a later date (John 1,14) to fulfill the prophecy. In verse 24, Jesus says that the Father loved him before the foundation of the world. The word loved (Old Greek: agapaō) can also be understood in the sense of chosen (Romans 9,13). It does not say that GOD “begotten” Jesus before the foundation of the world. The idea of ​​the existence of immortal souls comes from Hellenistic mythology and philosophy. John, who was a Jew, understood the pre-existence of the Messiah in the Hebrew or ideal sense, and not in the Greek or literal sense.

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The word glory (Old Greek: doxa) has different meanings in the Bible, depending on whether it refers to GOD or to created beings. The glory of GOD the Father as almighty Creator is unique. Angels and humans also possess glory (Romans 3,23 / 2nd Peter 2,11). Paul explains that the heavenly bodies have a different glory than the earthly ones (1st Corinthians 15,40). All statements about the glory of Jesus that are foreshadowed in the Old Testament refer 1. to Jesus' status as King and image of GOD (Matthew 17,5 / John 1,14 / Hebrews 1,3), 2. to the signs and wonders that Jesus performed through GOD's power (Acts 10,38), or 3. to Jesus' resurrection and exaltation by GOD (Hebrews 2,5-9); nowhere, however, do they refer to a time before Jesus' birth. Scripture foretold that GOD's Messiah would first suffer and only then be glorified (Luke 24,25 f. / 1st Peter 1,11). Furthermore, Jesus' glory comes from GOD and not from himself (John 17,1 and 24 / 1st Peter 1,16-18). Jesus asks the Father to grant him the glory that GOD had already provided for the Messiah in His providence, even before Jesus existed. Abraham, King David, Daniel, the prophet Isaiah, and other prophets foresaw the Messiah's glory in visions and dreams. They did not see a real, pre-existent Messiah. John 17,22 states that Jesus gives his disciples the same glory that the Father gave him. Paul even writes that believers should receive the glory of Jesus (2nd Corinthians 3,18 / 2nd Thessalonians 2,14). This shows that the word glory (doxa) is not synonymous with "deity". It refers to Jesus' glory as a human being, not as GOD. It refers to the future glory of imperishable life, which Jesus, as the first of all people, has already attained (Romans 6,9 / 1st Corinthians 15,20 / Colossians 1,18) and which the saints will also receive in the resurrection of the righteous (Romans 8,18 / Philippians 3,20 f. / 1st ​​John 3,2). A similar translation is:

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5 "And now, Father, give me the glory (= immortal life) that you planned for me before the creation of the world."

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John 17,10

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10 "All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them."

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This verse does not speak of Jesus' nature. The point is that everything Jesus has comes from the Father (John 17,1-11). The same formulation regarding people can be found in Luke 15,31.

 

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John 17,11 f.

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11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by Your name, the name You gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name You gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

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If a person is named after GOD, it does not mean that person is GOD. In the Bible, there are various people and groups of people who bear GOD's name. These include the people of Israel (Numbers 6,27 / Deuteronomy 28,10 / Isaiah 43,7 / Jeremiah 14,9 / Daniel 9,19), the angel of the LORD (Exodus 23,21), the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 15,16), and the church in the New Testament, consisting of Jews and non-Jews (Acts 15,15-18 / Revelation 3,12 / Revelation 14,1). Being named after GOD expresses that a person knows GOD and is connected to Him. Furthermore, it means acting on GOD's behalf and with GOD's authority (Matthew 23,39 / Mark 11,9 / John 5,43). GOD sent Jesus as His representative to bless His people through the Messiah (Acts 3,26).

 

Jesus came on behalf of the Father to reveal His name to humanity. This does not refer to the nickname (YHWH) with which GOD introduced Himself to Moses and the Israelites in the Old Testament and which was known to all Jews. The name of GOD can also stand for His personality or His will. The Jews at the time of Jesus lived according to the Mosaic Law. Jesus, on the other hand, came to fulfill the Law and to reveal GOD's complete will to humanity (verses 6,25 f.). Believers also act in the name or on behalf of Jesus by spreading His Word (verses 17 f.). If Jesus were the eternal GOD YHWH, He would not need to be named after the Father. Furthermore, Jesus makes it clear that He receives everything from the Father. This includes power over all people (verses 1 f.), all the work he does (verse 4), all the disciples he teaches (verse 9), the word/teaching he imparts (verses 6-8 + 14), and the glory he receives (verse 22). This fact makes it clear that the Father is the only true GOD, while Jesus is his human messenger, as verse 3 and many other quotes clearly express.

 

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John 18,6-8

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6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7  Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. 8  Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”

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Similar to John 8,58, there is no reason to believe that Jesus revealed himself as Yahweh. Jesus' words are an answer to the soldiers' question. Jesus asked who they were looking for, and they answered that they were looking for Jesus of Nazareth. Then Jesus confessed to them that he was the one they were looking for. The man born blind in John 9,9 also identified himself with the same words, I am he (Old Greek: ego eimi) as Jesus did here. This does not make Jesus or the man born blind GOD. John 7,32-46 shows that there was indecision among the people regarding Jesus. The chief priests and Pharisees had previously sent officers to arrest Jesus (John 7,32). However, they returned without Jesus. The soldiers' answer as to why they did not arrest Jesus shows that they were obviously very impressed by Jesus' preaching and his demeanor (John 7,45).

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It can be concluded that these men, who were Temple Guard soldiers and not Romans, were afraid to arrest Jesus because they recognized that he might be GOD's anointed one and as such their king - the King of Israel. After all, no Jewish soldier wants to arrest his own king. Jesus' bold response to their question unsettled them, causing them to fall to the ground because it was not yet clear to them whether Jesus was actually the promised King of the Jews or not. A person's falling backwards can be symbolically understood in Scripture as a sign of judgment. The fact that they did arrest Jesus makes the soldiers' conflict clear. It was most likely their fear of the Pharisees that ultimately led them to bow to pressure from their religious leaders to arrest Jesus, despite internal resistance.

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John 20,28

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28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my GOD!”

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In John 14, Jesus explained to his disciples that GOD the Father lives in Jesus through His Holy Spirit and that in this way GOD speaks through Jesus and does His works (meaning signs and wonders). In addition, Jesus made it clear that everyone who saw or recognized him saw or recognized GOD, the Father. With this, Jesus did not want to say that he was GOD, but rather show that GOD acts through him and that GOD's essence - love - becomes visible in what Jesus does. The disciple Thomas was also present at this conversation. When Thomas now sees his risen Lord standing before him in the flesh, he addresses both Jesus (my Lord) and the Father (and my GOD) who lives in Jesus, who raised him from the dead and glorified himself in this way. Thomas recognized GOD, the Father in Jesus; not Jesus as GOD. Thomas' statement can be understood as reverence for Jesus and GOD the Father. Thomas praises the tremendous omnipotence of GOD, which He revealed by bringing the dead Jesus back to life. Remarkably, Thomas does not prostrate himself in worship before Jesus, as one would expect if he had believed Jesus to be GOD Almighty.

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Some cite Psalm 35,23, in which David refers to Yahweh, whom he invokes in prayer, using almost identical phrases. This overlooks the fact that the phrase my Lord and my GOD can also refer to two people rather than one, even though it says that Thomas is speaking to Jesus. This is precisely the case in John 20,28. It is normal language to address a statement to a person present and yet include another person in the statement; for example, in the sentence: “Peter says to Mary: ”You and your father...”. A few verses earlier, Jesus makes it clear that it is the Father who is both our GOD and Jesus' GOD (John 20,17). The fact that Jesus did not contradict Thomas' statement is not evidence that Jesus confirmed his alleged deity, but shows that Jesus clearly understood that when Thomas said my GOD he meant the Father in him and not Jesus himself. In this respect, there was no need for Jesus to contradict Thomas. Besides, in John 8,55 Jesus calls his Father the GOD of the Jews.

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In the context of the chapter it is about the belief in the resurrection of Jesus or Thomas' unbelief (verse 25) and not about the fact that Jesus is GOD. Therefore, Thomas's words should not be understood as a Trinitarian creed, especially since Jesus is not referred to anywhere else in the New Testament as "my GOD", "our GOD" or "Lord and GOD". Jesus calls those happy (verses 29 f.) who believe that he has truly risen from the dead, even if they have not seen him in the flesh. The chapter ends with the confession, attested several times in the Gospel of John, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of GOD; not GOD (verse 31). Here too, the meaning of Son as a synonym for Christ (= the anointed One) becomes clear.

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