Vol. 1, No. 2 Evidence for the Existence of Jesus "The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us" If you’re looking for a good conversation starter, try asking, “Who is the most important person in history?” and follow it up with, “Why do you say that?” After reading this issue, you will be EQUIPPED to discuss these questions and answer the most important question: “Who do you say … [Read more...]
Debating Christianity and Islam on Spice FM: A Conversation on the Deity of Christ
I was recently invited to do a debate on a local radio station that airs in Tyneside, England, called Spice FM. Every Thursday, a Muslim program, called "Eye on the East", run by Muslim activist Daniel Johnson of the Islamic Diversity Center airs. In the video above, I take on Daniel Johnson and Muslim apologist Majid Younus on the identity of Christ and the validity of the … [Read more...]
The Deity of Christ in the Gospel of Mark
A view often propounded by contemporary skeptics is that the deity of Christ is not presented by the gospel of Mark and that the Christology of the gospels evolves from Mark's gospel (generally thought to be the earliest written), which does not present Jesus as divine, to John's gospel (generally thought to be the latest written), which does present Jesus as divine. To what … [Read more...]
The Divinity of Jesus. Part Three: Did the Council of Nicaea Vote to Make Jesus God?
A lot of confusion has arisen over exactly what took place at the Council of Nicaea, with some making the assertion that Christians voted to make Jesus God in 325 AD. This was a very tumultuous time period in early church history, and the scope of this article cannot address all the various facets of events which contributed to it. However, this article will focus on the early … [Read more...]
The Divinity of Jesus. Part Two: Did Jesus Claim to be God?
Did Jesus claim to be God? This is a weighted question. The God of the Jews is “God the Father” from a Christian perspective. Did Jesus ever claim to be God the Father? Confusion over this issue has led to modalism, known today as the “Oneness” doctrine, which in the simplest terms is the idea that God was the Father in the Old Testament, the Son in the Gospels, and the Holy … [Read more...]
The Divinity of Jesus. Part One: Did Jesus Claim the Divine Name?
Many Christian scholars believe that Jesus claimed the divine name spoken to Moses from the burning bush, most specifically using the example in John 8:58, where Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” The passage from which the divine name originates is Exodus 3:14: “And God said unto Moses, I AM [THAT] I AM: and he said, Thus shall you say … [Read more...]
How 1 Peter 3:15 Teaches The Deity of Christ
It is a verse that all of us who are involved in apologetics have grown to love and cherish. 1 Peter 3:15 is the New Testament's mandate for being always ready to offer a rational defense for the Christian worldview. It is unfortunate, however, that we have come to be so familiar with this verse that we miss its full significance, for the text teaches far more than the need to … [Read more...]
Musings on a Filioque
Ok, I realize that the title should more properly be “Musings on the Filioque Debate” but I desired to go with the flow here and keep the title artsy and musical after having used the word musings. I have recently been involved in a number of discussions on the Trinity and particularly on the filioque clause that describes the relationship within the Trinity between the … [Read more...]
Defending the Trinity
[This post is a work in progress as part of the CAA Catechism.] [Add the title only in the title field, not in the body of the post.] Summary in 400 words or less: The doctrine of the Trinity is a cornerstone doctrine for the Christian faith. Although it is sometimes seen to be a contradiction, this could not be further from the truth. This accusation is often leveled because … [Read more...]
Ask the Alliance: Does the virgin’s conception suggest divinity?
:::Ask the Alliance Question #4::: In September, Peter submitted questions concerning the nature of the conception of Christ in the broader context of the true nature of Christ. The Alliance has tried to avoid the major pitfalls associated with this topic. Why the Complicated Virgin Birth Process? In the case of Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel, and Elizabeth, God intervened on the … [Read more...]