My Lord and My God: Grasping Equality With God

In the most recent episode of Unbelievable on Premier Christian Radio, Dr. James White squared off against Sir Anthony Buzzard over the doctrine of the Trinity. The debate was concurrently both edifying and frustrating: the former because Dr. White is a powerful defender of the faith, and I always learn something from his appearances; the latter because, as I felt compelled to tweet in the midst of the show, "So frustrating listening to non-Trinitarians debate the Trinity, their arguments are so vapid!"

I highly encourage you to listen to the show, both in general and this episode in particular. You can listen at the link above, or subscribe to the podcast. I like to listen to the podcast on my way to and from work. I wish I was aware of something similar in the States so I could listen to these kinds of debates more often (and not quite so frequently fail to understand some of the cultural references; but I do enjoy the accents).

If you listen, you'll hear Dr. White and his opponent discuss the Septuagint's rendition of Psalm 102. You'll notice that the claim is made that whereas our Bibles, based on the Masoretic text, depict the psalmist as speaking to God in verses 23 and following, the Septuagint has the direction of speech reversed. Buzzard, denying the Trinity, claims this proves that God is calling someone else the eternal "Lord," a verse the author of Hebrews says was spoken of the Son. I felt compelled to email the host of the show, letting him know that Buzzard is wrong. If you're interested, check out my previous post in this series, "You, LORD, in the Beginning." (The host agreed to read my comments on the air next week--all the more reason for you to listen!)

Moving on, during the course of the debate Dr. White presented several texts which, I agree, prove that Jesus is God. These are pretty easy to present, and don't take a lot of time to write up. Since my blog posts have been fewer and farther between than in times past, I figured I'd try and bang out a few posts in an attempt to hold your interest--those few of you, if any, who read regularly :). Today, we're going to look at Philippians 2:3-9. In my preferred translation, this reads as follows:

(3) Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; (4) do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (5) Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, (6) who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. (8) Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (9) For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name. (Philippians 2:3-9)

My Lord and My God: You, LORD, in the Beginning

In "Introducing the Trinity" we started this series by looking at Thomas' response to the risen Lord when he touched Jesus' crucifixion wounds. Specifically addressing Jesus, Thomas called Him, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28). We were introduced to the historic, orthodox Christian doctrine of the Trinity: there is one and only one God; the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit God; and the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are eternally distinct and interpersonally relate to one another.

For a long time I have considered one particular argument from Scripture as the proverbial "slam dunk" (above innumerable other "slam dunks"), and have pointed to it regularly. I had planned to start this series in earnest by first laying down the foundation for this doctrine, namely the biblical insistence that there is one and only one God. However, recent events have caused me to reconsider my "slam dunk," and having done so I now believe even more strongly in this argument. Before I continue with this series in the manner I had intended, I'd like to share my excitement with you.

My Lord and My God: Introducing the Trinity

When the disciples of Jesus gathered after witnessing the resurrected Christ, Thomas was doubtful. "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe" (John 20:25). He soon got the proof he needed:

Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." (John 20:27-29)

When Thomas responded to Jesus' invitation to touch His wounds, he exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" He didn't merely express shock in the way we today might say, "Oh my God!" No, he "answered" him. The word rendered "answered" is the Greek apokrinomai, and means "to give an answer." Thomas was specifically addressing Jesus and was calling Him his Lord and his God. And far from admonishing Thomas for improperly identifying Him as God, Jesus commends him for it, but assures a greater blessing for those who, like us today, have believed without seeing.