“Christ appeared in human form”
(1 Tim 3:16b, WNT)
We are currently looking at what the “mystery of godliness” (1 Tim 3:16) entails. The first manifestation thereof, according to the New King James translation, is: “God was manifested in the flesh”. We often skim over this detail without thinking about its incredibly important implications. This is a correct translation of the original Greek, the word theos which does not point to Christ, but to God. One of the biggest problems that the Jews have with Christianity is related to this point. Deut 6:5 (KJV) spells it out accordingly – “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD”. In other words, they argue that God cannot be multidimensional, or in our terms, a Trinity.
For this reason the Jews have a great resistance against a Messiah figure that would claim that He represents God in the flesh. They expect an earthly messiah from the bloodline of David to ascend the throne, not a figure that descends directly from God.
Thus we find John the Baptist, when thrown into prison and starting to doubt, sending his disciples to Christ to ask “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Matt 11:3).
This matter was disputed all throughout the period in which Christ lived, from his birth up until just before his death. King Herod was very troubled when he heard that a son had been born, wise men from the East visiting the infant because they had read in the stars that the King of the Jews had been born (Matt 2:1-2). In his interview with Jesus, before the crucifixion, Pilate tried to find out if He was planning on establishing an earthly kingdom. Listen to their conversation in John 18 (33-34, 36-37):“Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me? … My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’” In Luke 17:19-20 Jesus echoes this Old Testament statement: “The LORD our God is one LORD”. But then He later unequivocally declares – “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30). What does this seeming contradiction mean?
- Sela: Define for yourself what this seeming contradiction means.
- Read: 1 Chr 8; Jer 34; Eph 4
- Memorise: Eph 4:4-6 (Note how this passage links to the teaching!)
