As one who, lamentably, has forgotten everything he learned in his solitary Greek class (ancient Greek, too, not koine) in the fall of 1987, I am intrigued by the careful examination of what the text of John 1 actually says when translated into English. My own preferred translation, the Concordant Literal New Testament, reads “In the beginning was the word, and the word was TOWARD [emphasis added] God, and God was the word.” Is there any validity to that reading?

Thank you. Sorry for the delay. I’ve been studying Biblical Unitarianism for several years now. I now believe it expresses the biblical data concerning Jesus more accurately. I have degrees from two Trinitarian university’s and I saw the confusion. Oneness is not much better…. Thanks

Hi brother Dey,

Again, I apologize for not responding sooner.

My knowledge of Koine Greek is limited. I use Logos Bible Software, interlinears, Koine Greek grammars, and exegetical and technical Bible commentaries. In addition to diligent study, I sometimes consult with others who know Greek or Hebrew.

To answer your question, it is important to define the word ‘God.’ This is because your question centers on John 1:1 and the disputed use of θεός (god or God) for Jesus.

My answer to your question depends on the meaning of the word ‘God.’ Based on my understanding of John 1:1, ‘the word’ (who John goes on to identify as Jesus) is called θεός. But this does not mean that the author of John is calling Jesus ‘God’ in the absolute sense. Based on western culture, and the meaning of the word ‘God’ today, I believe that John is not saying that Jesus is God in John 1:1. But John wrote his Gospel in the first century where words had different meanings in a different culture.

I could show from the Old Testament how the word ‘God” was used for those who spoke for God, who were not GOD in the absolute sense. But I’ll stick to the New Testament.

Trinitarians love John 10:30 where Jesus said that he is one with the Father. But I think there is a serious Trinitarian mistranslation behind the scenes in verse 33 that I may make a video on someday.

“33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” I think verse 33 should say, “make yourself a god.” In the verses that followed, Jesus defended himself from the false charge of blasphemy. In his defense (v. 34), Jesus reminds them that others are called ‘god’. This confirms my suspicion that John 10:33 is a mistranslation (“make yourself a god”). But there is more.

The Greek word for ‘God’ (lemma:θεός) is used five times in four verses (one verse has θεός twice) in this chapter. Every use for God Almighty has “the God.” Every other use of ‘god’ (when not used of God almighty) does not have the direct article before the word ‘god.’ Here is the breakdown:

“Make yourself God.” Jn 10:33. (No direct article before the word ‘god.’)
“I said, you are gods’?” (Jn 10:34). (No direct article before the word ‘god.’)
“If he called them gods to whom the word of God came” (Jn 10:35). (No direct article before the first word ‘god,’ the second word ‘god” has “the God” in Greek)
“Because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? (Jn 10:36). (It has “the God” in Greek).

Based on this observation, it appears that John 10:33 should say, ‘a god’ which matches the response of Jesus and is in line with the Old Testament where those who spoke for God where sometimes called ‘god.’ This is further confirmed by non-canonized writings of the Ante-Nicene Fathers (from the early church to 325) who sometimes referred to Jesus as ‘god’ but not in the absolute sense as almighty God.

You wrote, “John didn’t just write a few verses; he wrote the whole Gospel of John. If you read John’s gospel you can see he didn’t think Jesus was God.” A agree wholeheartedly. If John did communicate (as I understand) that that word is god (speaking of Jesus), it should say, “a god.” “A god” in that culture (in the context) would not equal God as we understand in our western culture. In biblical interpretation we should seek to understand what the author communicated to the original audience. This is because thousands of years have passed and languages and cultures have come and gone.

You wrote, “Why would John start his book telling you Jesus is God, and not support it throughout his Book, and even tell you that Jesus is the anointed one of God, when he tells you the reason for writing the book.” Again, I could not agree more. I’m sorry I failed to community well in the video that that words ‘a god’ for Jesus would not mean Almighty God.

You wrote, “Therefore, John is not talking about Jesus being “the Word” but the Word Jesus gave us is the “Word of God”. So, are you saying that what I believe is wrong by the way John 1:1 is written in Greek?” Jesus spoke the word of God because God was in him. Jesus was an agent sent by God to speak for God. John is very clear that Jesus is the messiah. A messiah is someone anointed and sent by God. Jesus is the son of God, not the God that he was the son of.

In Christ!

Joseph, First I want to think you for responding. This just popped up today, sorry if you have been waiting since 17 Jul. It is not that I can’t understand how God can be a triune god. To me it would be simple, if he said it. God says there is no other, he even said that he looked around and sees no other. I would think that if there was three that make one, he would say so. Like, I look around and I see only the other two of me, or I see only me. Anyway, New Testament. Jesus never claimed to be God, the disciples didn’t think he was God and Paul didn’t think he was God, man decided Jesus was God. John tells us that Jesus is the Messiah, and even tells us that is why he wrote his gospel.
Jesus NEVER told us that he was God, actually just the opposite. He tells us over and over that he is not God. As for the miracles he tells us the Father does all the works. I have read that John wrote the Gospel of John to tell us that Jesus was God; but as stated above it isn’t. John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. Sometimes I read post and they seem to use Christ as Jesus last name or something. Actual, Christ is who Jesus is, the Messiah. Let’s look really quick at Deuteronomy 18; I will summarize (18-22) but Please Read It in your Bible with your own eyes. God will rise up a Prophet from his brethren, like Moses, and he will speak to them everything that God commands him. God tells us we must hearken to the Words that he speaks in God’s name. Verses 20-22, basically say that this Prophet can lie, but God tells us he speaks presumptuously and we can trust him.
Now we know what John is wanting us to get out of his Gospel.
John 1:1 man’s Holy Grail to prove the trinity? John starts his Gospel telling us that the Word is God’s word. Which is the Words that God will put in the Messiahs mouth. He also tells us that Jesus said that he Speaks God’s Word. John 12:49-50 KJV – For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
What else does Jesus say?
John 14: 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
John 14:28 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
John 17 is Jesus praying to the Father, it is so powerful and if you have not read it, it is worth your time. Remember, Jesus is praying to the Father, and what he is praying will come to pass. To keep it short I will touch on the highlights but please read it all.
John 17: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John 17: 6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
John 17: 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
John 17: 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Look at these verses in John 17 what does Jesus tell us. Jesus clearly tells us in verse 3 that the Father is the only True God. In verse 8 he tells God the Father that he has given us the words which the Father gave to him. In verse 20 he tells the Father that he is praying for us, that believe because of the words that the disciples share with us. In John 17:20 – 23, he is praying to God the Father and in verse 22 makes it clear, that he is praying that WE will be One with the Father, the way that he is One with the Father. Do you think Jesus is praying that all of us will be equal to God? Of course not, so being one with the Father does not make Jesus God, John says that Jesus is the Messiah, and everything Jesus says supports that. Please, take off the lens that man has made for you, and read the Bible with your own eyes, see what it is really telling you. Remember, two things God said the Messiah spoke presumptuously and we know that Jesus did not lie, so every word he says MUST be true. Thanks again for responding and may God Bless you and guide you.

Hi brother Dey,
.
I’m sorry I have not responded. I don’t log into the back-end of the website very often. When I do, new comments are waiting for approval. Months back, I saw your original question asked on January 28th, 2021. Back then, you said I could take my time to respond. Also, what you wrote was long, so I chose not to respond at the time. I’m sorry —since then I forgot about your question.

Since then, I have logged in to approve new comments. But I did not see your new replies because they were no longer highlighted by WordPress. This is because once I approved your first comment, all subsequent comments are no longer flagged for my review and are instantly posted. So your new comments were not highlighted. So I’m sorry I did not realize that you keep asking for an answer to your question. Today I logged in and saw that someone had answered. I then connected the dots and realized that I had been ignoring you. Even though this was not my intent!

I hope to answer your question in the next few days. I apologize for not answering your original question.

In Christ!

My understanding, though I dont know greek, is this. Jesus is wholly man and wholly God (2nd person of Tri). It is a bit of a mystery, as I would say because we are finite trying to grasp the infinite, yet it most easily explains ALL of the miracles and displays of power demonstrated throughout the Gospel.

Also, God being infinite in the first place means that 3 infinite “persons” could easily coexist perfectly in Unity in the eternal essence of God. I also liken it to this. Since we are created in the image of God, we can imperfectly use ourselves to catch a taste. Think of me. I have my word, which sums up the “what I do” of my being, an image. I have a spirit, which is the “how” I do it, an image. Then there is the royal me, who embodies all of that. All are me. Now I am imperfect, so those things are not unified. SOme days I laugh. SOme days I cry. Some days Im a complete terror. Others I try my best to be a complete Vulcan.

Take that to an eternal, selfexistent, all powerful, all KNOWING, omni everything Being, and by virtue of perfection, they would be 3 in 1 in the same, yet distinctive.

A perfect example of distinction without a difference.

My humble take. Thanks for taking the time to consider. 🙂

Well I got my answer to my question on April 18, 2021 at 2:26 pm. In a round about way that is. The Admin does monitor this page. Someone replied to some ones statement on March 24, 2021 at 4:01 pm and the Admin replied on March 30, 2021 at 1:53 am. So my question now is? Admin, it has been almost 4 months since I asked the question above. Why have you not replied? Do you need more info (verses). Do you need me to rewrite what I am asking because you don’t understand the question? Please let me know, or I see other peoples remarks that seem to know Greek, PLEASE, any one who knows Greek, jump in.

Does the admin still monitor this page, it has been almost three months since I posted this? Does anyone who knows Greek, have any commit on what I have written above?

Hi brother Thomas,

I apologize for the delayed response. I commend you for being willing to swallow a bitter pill for the truth. The truth is worth the cost!

Since I don’t come from a Oneness background, I’m limited with the assistance I can provide. I do know that several Biblical Unitarians were former Oneness believers. On of my pastors is a former Oneness believer. His name is Dan Gill. He has a YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg6yFkiTiiuXk-7lr0SkRPg His website has a video on Oneness: https://www.21stcr.org The website contains his contact information. He is a godly man that loves God. He also wrote a book that is very popular.

There is also the https://www.unitarianchristianalliance.org They host a podcast that is very popular. I highly commend their podcast. You can register in their directory and check if there are any Biblical Unitarians in your area.

May God bless you as you follow his human Messiah!