Let’s take a look at a few references, and let’s keep in mind that “scripture cannot be broken.” (John 10:35, King James Version) [As a side note, the word here translated “broken” is the Greek word “luo,” which means “loosen.” In other words, what has been said cannot be unsaid, it cannot be dismissed, and it is not lacking in accuracy.]

The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth, “If it is right to boast, I will boast of the things of my infirmity. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ knows, He who is blessed forever, that I am not lying.” (2 Corinthians 11:30-31, Green’s Literal Translation) Many scholars believe that Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians was completed sometime around 55 A.D. If Jesus ascended between 30-33 A.D., as the great majority of scholars agree, Paul’s preaching (i.e., public declaration) some 22-25 years after Jesus ascended and sat down at the right hand of the Father, was that there is “the God,” not just “the Father” of the Lord Jesus. Ask yourself. Is your priest, pastor, or minister telling you the same thing Paul told his congregation? Or is he telling you something different?

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he write, “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies with Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3, Green’s Literal Translation) Again, if it is true that this particular letter was completed sometime around 60-61 A.D., then Paul, even 28-31 years after Jesus was exalted to the right hand of God (Acts 2:33), Paul still speaks publicly of “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Why have many today changed the Good News to another “Good” News? Notice that at verse 17 of this very same chapter in Ephesians, Paul, without question, states he mentioned in his prayers that he prayed, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation to acquire knowledge of him.” (Ephesians 1:17, Original New Testament) Does your priest, pastor, or minister speak to you in the same way as Paul spoke to his Ephesian congregation? If not, he is declaring a different “Good” News.

The apostle Peter, along with James and John, were “eye-witnesses” of Jesus’ majesty when Jesus “received from God the Father honor and glory, when there was borne such a voice to him by the Majestic Glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (2 Peter 1:16-17; Matthew 17:1-5, American Standard Version) Peter goes on to say, “and this voice we ourselves heard borne out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount.” (2 Peter 1:18, American Standard Version) If there is any question about whether or not Jesus has a God, this “eyewitness” thus lays it to rest. As a matter of fact, Peter writes in his first letter, “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to the abundance of His kindness did beget us again to a living hope, through the rising again of Jesus Christ out of the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3, American Standard Version) It is clear that Peter spoke nothing of a “Trinity,” but rather gives “eyewitness” testimony that there is a “God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This particular letter was completed sometime around 64 A.D., which means that 31-34 years after Jesus was glorified, Peter spoke of Jesus’ God.

Thus far, we have the testimony of both Paul and Peter, that Jesus has a God. Because their testimony is revealed to us in the inspired word of God, we should, without question, accept them to be true. [Unless of course, we’re not claiming to be Christian. If we claim to be “Christian,” i.e. “follower of Christ,” by definition alone, we are saying that we believe the Scriptures are the word of the only true God, for Jesus certainly did.] Yet most importantly, there is also the testimony of the “faithful and true witness” himself (Revelations 3:14) -- Jesus! If there was ever a man to walk this earth who spoke nothing but truth, it is Jesus the Messiah.

Jesus makes incredible statements about his God. One statement is made after he was raised from the dead, but before he ascended into heaven. Our Lord said to Mary Magdalene, “Stop clinging to me. For I have not yet ascended to the Father. But be on your way to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God.” (John 20:17, New World Translation) The “faithful and true witness” clearly tells Mary that his Father is her Father, and his God is her God. Should we believe what many leaders in Christendom are telling us today? Or should we believe Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, the “faithful and true witness?”

Jesus’ next two statements as even more convincing. Most Bible authorities are in agreement that Revelations was completed sometime around 95-96 A.D. Some make claim that it was completed as early as 68 A.D., but they are by far the minority. If the date of 95-96 A.D. is correct, and Jesus ascended around 30-33 A.D., then Jesus appeared to John some 62-66 years later! This is extremely important to keep in mind when we read exactly what Jesus instructs John to record. Take for example, what Jesus tells John to write to the messenger of the congregation at Sardis: “. . . I have not found your affairs satisfactory in the sight of my God.” (Revelations 3:2, Original New Testament)

Also, consider what Jesus says in reference to the congregation at Philadelphia: “I will make the victor a pillar in the Temple of my God, and he shall never go outside it again. And I will engrave on him the name of my God, and the name of the City of my God, New Jerusalem, which will descend from heaven from my God, and my own new name.” (Revelations 3:12, Original New Testament) So, we see that there are at least six times Jesus himself definitely declared that he has a God (John 20:17; Revelations 3:2, 12).

In the present day, given the testimony of Paul, Peter, and especially that of Jesus Christ himself, we should accept no teaching that contradicts these three witnesses, regardless of from whom it may come. <blink>M.W.</blink>