Yeshua ≠ G-D

בס״ד

“For the children of Israel shall remain many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or teraphim. Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the L-RD their G-D, and David their king; they shall come in awe to the L-RD and to HIS goodness in the latter days.”

-Hosea 3:4-5

In seeking after both G-D and Yeshua with my whole heart, I have spent, day after day, an incalculable amount of time in prayer and in studying my Bible to try to understand my experiences based on G-D’s word and to align my actions in obedience to G-D’s instruction. I continually realize and am humbled by how wrong I’ve been in the past and penitently seek forgiveness, changing my actions to better conform myself to G-D’s will. By G-D’s grace, HE has led me and chastised me severely for my errors, but has not given up on me! HE continues not to do so! HE is a faithful and good FATHER to bring correction where needed, and HE gently supplies the perfect amount of grace to lead us where we’re supposed to be – if we are willing and submitted to HIS loving instruction.

In my search for truth, many questions have arisen, due to which I have diligently and whole-heartedly sought answers from G-D.

One of the questions, which I struggled with for a long time, comes from John 1:18, where it says, 

“No one has seen G-D at any time. The only son, who is in the bosom of the FATHER, he has declared HIM.”

And also, 1 Timothy 6:14-16,

“… that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Yeshua the Messiah’s appearing, which HE will manifest in HIS own time, HE who is the blessed and only POTENTATE, the KING of kings and LORD of lords, who ALONE has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.”

But in John 6:36, Yeshua says, 

“… But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe…”

I was confused because if Yeshua is G-D, then why does the Bible say that no one has seen or can see G-D at any time, and yet we know that Yeshua was seen?

Another question comes from Mark 13:32, where the Master says,

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the son, but only the FATHER.”

But in 1 John 3:20, 

“For if our heart condemns us, G-D is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”

If Yeshua is G-D, then why does he not know all things as the Bible says G-D does? Would we worship a god who doesn’t really know all things?

In Mark 5:29-33, Yeshua genuinely does not know who touched his clothes and looks around for the person,

Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Yeshua turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth.

Let’s keep looking…

In Revelation 5:9-10,

“And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,

and to open its seals;

For you were slain,

And have redeemed us to G-D by your blood

Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

And have made us kings and priests to our G-D; And we shall reign on the earth.””

But in the same chapter, verse 14, 

“Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped HIM who lives forever and ever.”

In the same chapter it says that G-D lives forever and ever and yet it also says the Lamb was slain. Can G-D, who never dies, but was, and is, and is to come, ever die? Do we believe in a god who can truly die? Did the Lamb really die for our redemption, if the Lamb is G-D who never dies, but lives forever and ever?

I’m only asking questions and I do not believe G-D is at all afraid of or discourages our questions. It is the man who seeks to force his beliefs on others who suppresses questions. These are really important questions and demand sensible, well-supported answers from true followers and lovers of Yeshua.

Continuing, in Matthew 28:18,

“And Yeshua came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”

If Yeshua is G-D, then why does he need authority to be given to him on heaven and on earth? It doesn’t seem logical for anything to be given to G-D, either on Heaven, or on earth, if everything comes from G-D and already belongs to HIM in the first place. Isn’t that a pretty fair question?

In the same vein, John 5:26,

“For as the FATHER has life in HIMSELF, so HE has given the son to have life in himself.”

And, John 6:57,

“As the living FATHER sent me, and I live because of the FATHER, so he who feeds on me will live because of me.”

How does the FATHER have life in HIMSELF? As a human being? No, but as spirit. Yeshua spiritually and physically lives because of the FATHER. Does G-D need anyone else to live? Is HE dependent on anyone else to live? But Yeshua himself says he is? This is utterly confusing if Yeshua is G-D…

In John 5:30-32, Yeshua says,

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of HIM who sent me. If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that HIS testimony to me is true.”

How can G-D do nothing on HIS own, as Yeshua says he can do nothing on his own? Here, Yeshua says that he does not seek his own will, but G-D’s will, implying that his will can be different than G-D’s. So how can he be G-D?

Not only can Yeshua’s will be different than G-D’s, but it is different in Matthew 26:38-39,

Then he [Yeshua] said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.” He went a little farther and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “O my FATHER, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as YOU will.”

In John 4:22-24, Yeshua says, 

“You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the FATHER in spirit and truth; for the FATHER is seeking such to worship HIM. G-D is Spirit, and those who worship HIM must worship in spirit and truth.”

Here, Yeshua includes himself as a worshipper of G-D (“we worship”), who he identifies as his FATHER. Yeshua says, “true worshippers will worship the FATHER,” not, “the FATHER and me, the son.” Why doesn’t he say that? Yeshua says, “the FATHER is seeking such to worship HIM.” If Yeshua is G-D, why is he worshipping another? Can G-D be G-D and worship another? Or why does Yeshua not seek others to worship himself, if Yeshua is G-D? These are really important questions that need good answers, I think…

Also, in John 8:50, Yeshua says,

“And I do not seek my own glory; there is ONE who seeks and judges.”

Again, in Hebrews 5:4-5,

“And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by G-D, just as Aaron was.

So also Messiah did not glorify himself to become High Priest, but it was HE who said to him:

“You are MY son, Today I have begotten you.””

Yeshua says he does not seek his own glory, but the FATHER does seek HIS own glory. Is it possible for G-D not to seek HIS own glory or not to glorify HIMSELF? Doesn’t G-D always seek HIS own glory, since our wellness depends upon us glorifying the ONLY ONE truly worthy of glory? Then how is Yeshua G-D, if G-D seeks HIS own glory, but Yeshua does not?

I believe these are all reasonable questions to ask and I’m sure I’m not the only one who has asked some of these same questions… These need reasonable, well-thought-out answers, not to be ignored or disregarded as heretical.

But wait, didn’t Yeshua say in John 10:30,

“ I and my Father are one.”

Yes, but he also says about his oneness with the FATHER in his prayer in John 17:20-23,

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word; that they all may be one, as YOU, FATHER, are in me, and I in YOU; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that YOU sent me. And the glory which YOU gave me I have given them, that they may be one just as we are one: I in them, and YOU in me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that YOU have sent me, and have loved them as YOU have loved me.”

Here, Yeshua says that he wants us to be one in himself and in the FATHER, just as Yeshua and the FATHER are one! Does that make us G-D? No, it can’t possibly! So perhaps it’s a different kind of oneness other than the simple equality that the Church teaches? Perhaps it’s a unity of heart, purpose, mind, spirit, and will? 4 times in only 3 verses, Yeshua expresses his desire that we would be one in each other, in Yeshua, and in the FATHER, just as Yeshua and the FATHER are one… Wow!

Yeshua also says that the same glory that the FATHER has given Yeshua, Yeshua has given to us. So does that mean we’ve been given the same glory as G-D?

Doesn’t the Scripture say in Isaiah 48:11,

“For MY own sake, for MY own sake, I will do it; For how should MY name be profaned? And I will not give MY glory to another.”

G-D says HE will not give HIS glory to another, and yet, Yeshua says he has given us the same glory he has! So Yeshua clearly must have a different glory than the FATHER.

But Yeshua doesn’t plainly deny equality with G-D, does he?

In John 14:28, Yeshua says, 

“You have heard me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the FATHER,’ for my FATHER is greater than I.”

Here, Yeshua plainly says the FATHER is greater than him and that he is not equal with the FATHER. Yeshua said if we truly loved him, we would rejoice at this truth! I do! I do love him and rejoice that the FATHER is greater than Yeshua!

In John 17:3, Yeshua prays,

“ And this is eternal life, that they may know YOU, the ONLY TRUE G-D, and Yeshua the Messiah whom YOU have sent.”

First of all, if Yeshua is G-D, why does he pray to and worship G-D? Second, why does Yeshua call the FATHER, “the only true G-D,” if Yeshua himself is also the only true G-D?

In James 1:13, the apostle James writes,

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by G-D”; for G-D cannot be tempted by evil, nor does HE HIMSELF tempt anyone.” 

Yet, in Luke 4:1-2a,

“Then Yeshua, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil.”

Also, in Hebrews 4:15, it says,

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

James writes that G-D cannot be tempted, yet Hebrews says that in order for Yeshua to be our High Priest, he had to be tempted in all points as we are. Interesting…

Also worth mentioning, Luke 4:5-8,

“Then the devil, taking him [Yeshua] up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to him, “All this authority I will give you, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if you will worship before me, all will be yours.” And Yeshua answered and said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the L-RD your G-D, and HIM only you shall serve.’”

Wow. This is a far cry from what we see in the Book of Job, where Satan requests permission from G-D to tempt Job. Can you imagine anything more unbiblical and unrealistic than Satan coming up to the MOST HIGH and offering all authority and glory to HIM, tempting the MOST HIGH to worship him? That is a completely unscriptural, blasphemous, and ridiculous proposition! How can Satan say that all will only be G-D’s if G-D will worship Satan? And yet, that’s what we’re supposed to believe, according to the Church?! Yeshua replies that Only ONE is worthy to be worshipped, and he clearly is not referring to himself…

In Matthew 19:16, Mark 10:17-21, and Luke 18:18,

“Now as he [Yeshua] was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

So Yeshua said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but ONE, that is, G-D. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”

And he answered and said to him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

Then Yeshua, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow me.”

In these passages, the only instance in all of the Gospels where someone calls Yeshua, ‘good,’ Yeshua clearly refuses to be called ‘good,’ saying only ONE, G-D, is good. Why is he refusing to be called ‘good’ if he is indeed G-D? After the man corrects himself and omits the word, ‘good,’ when speaking to the, ‘teacher,’ why does Yeshua respond positively instead of with reproof (“loved him”), if Yeshua is the only one and good G-D? These same words of Yeshua appear in all three Synoptic Gospels.

But isn’t Yeshua called, ‘god?’ Such as in John 1:1-2 and John 20:28-29a?

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with G-D, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with G-D…”

“… And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Yeshua said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed…”

Here, Yeshua is definitely called, “God.” This can’t be ignored and it can’t be denied. So what is the word, “god,” in Hebrew and in Greek? In Hebrew, it is, ‘elohim,’ and in Greek, it is, ‘theos.’ However, there is something missing in most English translations of the Greek text in John 1:1…

the word, “The.”

What John 1:1-2 should be translated to, if translated literally, is,

“In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word was with the God (tou Theou), and the Word was (a) God (Theou).He was in the beginning with the God (tou Theou).”-John 1:1-2

So here in this verse, the Word (Yeshua) being, “God,” is contrasted with the Word (Yeshua) being with, “the G-D.” Two times in two verses, we are told the Word (Yeshua) was with the G-D. If Yeshua was equal with the G-D, why aren’t we told twice Yeshua was, “G-D?” Why aren’t we ever told Yeshua was, “the G-D,” but rather, “a god?” Is it possible because a clear distinction is being made in this passage between Yeshua, ‘a god,’ and the G-D?

Amazingly, the most famous Jewish commentator of the Bible in Yeshua’s time, Philo of Alexandria, wrote about this exact same phenomenon in the Greek and Hebrew writings about G-D,

“… Examine it accurately, and see whether there are really two Gods. For it is said: “I am the God who was seen by thee;” not in my place, but in the place of God, as if he meant of some other God. (229) What then ought we to say? There is one true God only: but they who are called Gods, by an abuse of language, are numerous; on which account the holy scripture on the present occasion indicates that it is the true God that is meant by the use of the article, the expression being, “I am the God (ho Theos);” but when the word is used incorrectly, it is put without the article, the expression being, “He who was seen by thee in the place,” not of the God (tou Theou), but simply “of God” (Theou); (230) and what he here calls God is his most ancient word (Logos), not having any superstitious regard to the position of the names, but only proposing one end to himself, namely, to give a true account of the matter; for in other passages the sacred historian [Moses], when he considered whether there really was any name belonging to the living God, showed that he knew that there was none properly belonging to him; but that whatever appellation any one may give him, will be an abuse of terms; for the living God is not of a nature to be described, but only to be.”

–On Dreams 1:39:228b-230

Philo even says that the Word (Grk. Logos) is called, ‘god,’ but that the Logos is not the “true G-D” or equal to HIM. So why is Yeshua, “the Word (Grk. Logos) become flesh,” called, “God (Grk. Theos; Heb. Elohim),” at all?

What we miss, not knowing the Hebrew and the Greek, is that multiple people are called, “God/Theos/Elokim,” in the Bible, apart from the FATHER.

In Exodus 7:1, Moses is called, “god/elohim,”

“So the L-RD said to Moses: “See, I have made you God (Heb. elohim) to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.”

In Psalm 45:6-7, the King of Israel is called, “god/elohim,”

“Your throne, O god (Heb. elohim), is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore G-D, your G-D, has anointed you With the oil of gladness more than your companions.”

This verse is used in Hebrews 1:8-9, in reference to Yeshua.

In Psalm 8:5, the angels are called, “gods/elohim,”

“For YOU have made him a little lower than the angels (Heb. elohim), And YOU have crowned him with glory and honor.”

In Exodus 22:8-9, the judges of the people are called, “gods/elohim,”

“If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges (Heb. elohim) to see whether he has put his hand into his neighbor’s goods.

“For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges (Heb. elohim); and whomever the judges (Heb. elohim) condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.”

In 2 Corinthians 4:4, even Satan is called, “god/theos,”

“… whose minds the god (Grk. theos) of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the good news of the glory of Messiah, who is the image of G-D, should shine on them.”

So what does the word, “god/elohim/theos,” in the Bible even mean, if it is not exclusively used for the ONE TRUE and LIVING G-D? The word, “elohim,” can mean, as we have seen from the above passages, ‘ruler, judge, power, magistrate, angel, mighty, or great one.’

So why is Yeshua called, “God?” Is Yeshua a Prophet like unto Moses? Yes, he is (Acts 3:22)! Isn’t Yeshua called the King of Israel? Yes, he is (John 1:49)! Isn’t Yeshua an angel (which specifically means, “messenger”)? Yes, he is (Malachi 3:1, Galatians 4:14, Exodus 23:20-22)! Isn’t Yeshua called a judge of the people? Yes, he is (Acts 10:42)! Isn’t Yeshua in greater authority than Satan? Yes, he is (Matthew 28:18)!

If Yeshua is all of these things, then he, more so than any other aforementioned person besides G-D in the Bible, deserves to be called, “God/Elohim!” As we have seen from many examples, this does not necessarily mean he is the ONLY G-D, however.

Perhaps this is why Yeshua said what he said in John 10:33-36,

“The Judeans answered him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone you, but for blasphemy, and because you, being a man, make yourself God.”

Yeshua answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’? If HE called them gods, to whom the word of G-D came, and the Scripture cannot be broken, do you say of him whom the FATHER sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am G-D’s son’?””

Here, Yeshua quotes that all human beings are called, “gods,” in the Scripture (Psalms 82:6), and yet they were accusing him of blaspheming because he said, “I am G-D’s son.” Here, he is not equating himself with the “only true G-D,” but affirming the contrary, he is G-D’s son, a title also given to many, i.e. all people, throughout Scripture.

Also, perhaps this is why the apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 8:4-6,

“Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one G-D, the FATHER, of WHOM are all things, and we for HIM; and one Lord Yeshua the Messiah, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.”

Here, Paul affirms the biblical understanding that there is only one true God. He also confirms that there are many “gods,” yet he says that our only G-D is the FATHER. He does not say, “the FATHER and the Son” (let alone the Spirit). Paul adds that Yeshua, being Messiah, is our Lord, which further distinguishes him from the one G-D, who Paul indisputably says is the FATHER. ‘Lord’ (Grk. kyrios) clearly then does not mean G-D, but refers to an earthly ruler, which is the role of the Messiah son of David and King of Israel.

Can it get any clearer for us who the ONE G-D is?

If not, let’s take Yeshua at his own words again…

In Mark 12:28-34,

“Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that he [Yeshua] had answered them well, asked him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”

Yeshua answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the L-RD our G-D, the L-RD is ONE. And you shall love the L-RD your G-D with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

So the scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one G-D, and there is no other but HE. And to love HIM with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Now when Yeshua saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of G-D.”

But after that no one dared question him.”

When asked what the greatest commandment was, Yeshua recited the Shema passage from Deuteronomy 6. Here, Yeshua affirms the traditional understanding of this verse, which had been among the Jewish people since it was first given to Moses: that G-D is ONE and there is no other but HE. Yeshua never says anything about the Trinitarian doctrine, which was completely foreign to the Jewish people of Yeshua’s time. Why didn’t he seize this perfect opportunity to reveal who G-D is, including himself? Why did Yeshua not only contradict the Trinitarian doctrine, but also refuse to speak the truth that he also is equal to G-D, if he truly is? Yeshua clearly does not refer to himself, but another, when he recites this passage. The scribe also does not speak of Yeshua, but rather of another, and Yeshua sees this as a wise answer. Not only that, but Yeshua says, “Our G-D,” including himself and that this is also his own G-D.

Does Yeshua ever say he has his own G-D at any other time?

Yes, he does! In John 20:17,

“Yeshua said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my FATHER; but go to my brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my FATHER and your FATHER, and to my G-D and your G-D.’”

Here, Yeshua says that just as the FATHER is his FATHER, HE is our FATHER as well. Yeshua says that in the same way that the FATHER is his G-D, the FATHER is our G-D. That is plainly the opposite of claiming equality with G-D, and this is even after Yeshua’s resurrection! 

Also, in Revelation 3:12,

“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the Temple of my G-D, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of my G-D and the name of the City of my G-D, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my G-D. And I will write on him my new name.”

Here, Yeshua says he himself has his own G-D. How can G-D have HIS own G-D? Wouldn’t that clearly contradict that HE is the ONLY TRUE G-D? But we’re told to blindly follow all these obvious contradictions? Is that what G-D wants for us? Isn’t HE the AUTHOR of Peace, and not confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33)?

So what is Yeshua’s new name? It’s the name of his G-D and the name of the City of New Jerusalem! So how do we know what that is? Well, we’re only told of one name of G-D being given to both the Messiah and Jerusalem…

In Jeremiah 23:5-6, 

““Behold, the days are coming,” says the L-RD,

“That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;

A King shall reign and prosper,

And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 

In his days Judah will be saved,

And Israel will dwell safely;

Now this is his name by which he will be called:

THE L-RD [yud-kei-vav-kei, TETRAGRAMMATON] OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.””

In Jeremiah 33:15-16,

“‘In those days and at that time

I will cause to grow up to David

A Branch of righteousness;

He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

In those days Judah will be saved,

And Yerushalayim will dwell safely.

And this is the name by which she will be called:

THE L-RD [yud-kei-vav-kei, G-D’s NAME] OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’”

In both of these passages in Jeremiah, we are told that the name given to Jerusalem and to the Messiah will be the four letter name of G-D, ‘yud-kei-vav-kei.’ This is the same name that Yeshua says he will give to those who overcome and this is Yeshua’s new name.

Where else do we see Yeshua being given the name of G-D? In Philippians 2:5-11,

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Messiah Yeshua, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with G-D, but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore G-D also has highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every name, that at Yeshua’s name every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Yeshua the Messiah is Lord, to the glory of G-D the FATHER.”

This translation can be confusing, so let me give you a more clear translation from the Greek by world-renowned scholar and expert, Dr. Bart D. Ehrman,

““Let this mind be in you which was also in Messiah Yeshua, who, being in the form of a god, did not regard equality with G-D something to be grasped after (robbed), but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore G-D also has highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every name, that at Yeshua’s name every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Yeshua the Messiah is Lord, to the glory of G-D the FATHER.”

In this verse, Paul is comparing Yeshua’s being in the ‘form of a god/elohim/mighty one’ with being in the form of a bondservant. There is no definite article, or “the,” in front of, “god,” so it could be translated as, “the form of a god,” just as it is also translated, “the form of a bondservant.” We know the angels are called the sons of the MOST HIGH, as well as, “gods/elohim (Psalm 8:5, Psalm 82:6, John 10:33).” This would make sense if Yeshua did not grasp after equality with G-D. Why would Yeshua have to grasp after equality with G-D if he was already equal with G-D? That doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. In addition, why would G-D have to exalt Yeshua and give him G-D’s Name, the NAME above every name, which Yeshua calls, “His new name (Revelation 3:12),” if Yeshua was already G-D? How can G-D be exalted by G-D? How can G-D be given a new name if HE already had the name before, especially the name above every name? All of this is really confusing and contradicting if Yeshua is equal with G-D, the FATHER.

Also, why did Yeshua have to be obedient to G-D if he was G-D? And who was he obedient to, if not the true G-D?

In Hebrews 5:7-9,

“… who, in the days of his [Yeshua’s] flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to HIM who was able to save him from death, and was heard because of his godly fear, though he was a son, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered. And having been perfected, he became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him.”

Again, if Yeshua was equal with G-D, why did he pray to G-D? Why did he fear G-D, if he was equal to G-D? The Messiah is prophesied to fear G-D in Isaiah 11:2-3. Can the ONLY TRUE G-D fear anyone? Why did Yeshua have to learn obedience to G-D if he was G-D? Can G-D learn anything HE didn’t already know? Why did Yeshua have to be perfected if he was already the perfect G-D? Do we worship ONE as the ONLY TRUE G-D if HE at one time was not yet perfect?

Who made Yeshua Lord? G-D, the FATHER, as seen in Acts 2:36,

““Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that G-D has made this Yeshua, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.””

So Yeshua was made Lord, which implies he wasn’t Lord until G-D made him to be. And who receives the glory that Yeshua is Lord? G-D, the FATHER.

“… that every tongue should confess that Yeshua the Messiah is Lord, to the glory of G-D the FATHER.”

Why are we, as followers of Yeshua, asked to blindly swallow a bunch of contradictions too numerous to count? Should I share more evidence? Well, I can, if there isn’t enough already…

What about verses that supposedly prove the Trinity, like Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7-8?

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.”

As for Matthew 28:19, none of the earliest church fathers quote this verse as saying, “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” but only, “in the name of Yeshua,” which is exactly what we see the apostles doing in Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, and 19:5. Do we think the apostles disobeyed Yeshua’s command how to baptize, only baptizing in the name of Yeshua? Also, the Gospel of Matthew found written in Hebrew (Shem Tov’s), which proves in some ways to be a more accurate copy of the original Matthew written in Hebrew, totally omits baptizing “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

For 1 John 5:7-8, textual critics have discovered that the verse, “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one,” was added to manuscripts later in history and is not found in any of the earliest manuscript copies of the original 1 Letter of John. Both Trinitarian passages in 1 John 5:7-8 and Matthew 28:19 were added later by Orthodox and Catholic scribes who needed to invent Scriptural support for their unbiblical Trinity doctrine.

So who or what is the Holy Spirit anyways?

In 1 Corinthians 2:10-12, Paul writes,

“But G-D has revealed them to us through HIS Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of G-D. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of G-D except the Spirit of G-D. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from G-D, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by G-D.”

Here, Paul says that the Holy Spirit is G-D’s Spirit. He says that just as a man has his own spirit, so G-D has HIS own Spirit. This is the Holy Spirit, G-D’s own Spirit, just as a man has his own spirit. It is very simple. So why does Paul say, “the Spirit who is from G-D?” He doesn’t. In Greek, he actually doesn’t say, “who,” but, “which,” “the Spirit which is from G-D.” This is a very common intentional mistranslation found in many different versions and all throughout the New Testament. Whenever the Spirit is spoken of in the Greek text, it is not a, ‘he,’ or, ‘who,’ but an, ‘it,’ and, ‘which.’ The translators intentionally add personality to the spirit, which is not a person. This is intentional manipulation of the Scriptures in order to insert doctrinal beliefs. The Spirit is not a separate person from G-D, but it is G-D’s own Spirit, as spoken by Yeshua in Matthew 10:20,

“… for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your FATHER who speaks in you.”

This is the ancient, traditional Jewish understanding of the Holy Spirit and this is why the Spirit descended on Yeshua at his baptism in Matthew 3:16,

“When he had been baptized, Yeshua came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of G-D descending like a dove and alighting upon him.”

This is also why blaspheming Yeshua is forgivable, but blaspheming the Holy Spirit is unforgivable in Luke 12:10,

“And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.”

This was a reference to Numbers 15:30-31, the only sin mentioned that is incapable of being atoned for,

““‘But an individual who does something wrong intentionally, whether a citizen or a foreigner, is blaspheming the L-RD. That person will be cut off from his people. Because he has had contempt for the word of the L-RD and has disobeyed HIS command, that person will be cut off completely; his offense will remain with him.’””

The spirit Yeshua had was the Holy Spirit from G-D, but Yeshua also had his own spirit, as seen in Luke 23:46,

“And when Yeshua had cried out with a loud voice, he said, “FATHER, ‘into YOUR hands I commit my spirit.’” Having said this, he breathed his last.”

Do we need more evidence than this? Perhaps, but we can say with confidence that none of the verses that I have mentioned above, support Yeshua being equal with the FATHER. In fact, they all strongly, evidently refute that theology. Do we need more than two or three witnesses? But there have been many more than two or three witnesses and we could go on and on…

Some people say that the equality of Yeshua with the FATHER is just a mystery that no one can figure out or know, but the evidence from the Scriptures already provided strongly refutes that. I’ll share more evidence…

Time and time again, the apostles said the mystery of Messiah, which was once hidden, has now been revealed to us (Romans 16:25, Ephesians 1:9, Ephesians 3:5, and Colossians 1:26).

In Colossians 2:2-3, Paul writes,

“… that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of G-D’s mystery, both of the FATHER and of Messiah, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Paul says that we are supposed to have “all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the knowledge of both the FATHER and of Messiah!” In fact, Yeshua calls this knowledge, “eternal life (John 17:3)!” It is not supposed to be a mystery to us anymore!

So, what is a mystery? 

Babylon the Great, as written in Revelation 17:5,

“And on her forehead a name was written:

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

We are also told in Revelation 18:4-5,

“And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her [Mystery, Babylon the Great], my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and G-D has remembered her iniquities.”

We are told to come out of Mystery, Babylon the Great, which has everything to do with the object of our worship and mixing the worship of other gods with the worship of the ONE TRUE G-D. We are not supposed to commit harlotry against the ONE TRUE and LIVING G-D in our worship. We are not supposed to worship Mystery, but the FATHER ONLY, the G-D of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who Yeshua himself worships.

In Revelation 10:7,

“… but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of G-D would be finished, as HE declared to HIS servants the Prophets.”

It is written that before the sounding of the seventh angel, the last trump, which will usher in the coming of Yeshua (1 Corinthians 15:52), the mystery of G-D would be finished, as HE declared to HIS servants the prophets. I believe this is approaching now in our day. We are coming out of Mystery, Babylon the Great, and the mystery of G-D will be revealed to us again, just as it was once revealed to the Prophets, but once was lost to us because of the confusion of Babylon and Rome.

Does Yeshua refuse worship? If the above evidence isn’t enough to convince,

In Revelation 22:6-16,

“Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true. And the L-RD G-D of the holy prophets sent HIS messenger to show HIS servants the things which must shortly take place. Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the messenger who showed me these things.

Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship G-D.” And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alef and the Tav, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who do HIS commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. I, Yeshua, have sent my messenger to testify to you these things in the congregations. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

The last title that Yeshua gives himself and that the New Testament gives Yeshua is, “the Bright and Morning Star,” which is a clear Biblical allusion to the angels, as seen in Job 38:4,7,

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell ME, if you have understanding… When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of G-D shouted for joy?“

The same one who refuses worship belonging to G-D is the same one who says, “And behold, I am coming quickly… I am the Alef and the Tav… I, Yeshua…”

Who is Yeshua’s messenger, who will “testify to you these things in the congregations?” John, as seen clearly in Revelation 1:4a,

“John, to the seven congregations which are in Asia…”

So who is the L-RD G-D of the Holy Prophets’ messenger? Yeshua. In Revelation 1:1-2,

“The Revelation of Yeshua the Messiah, which G-D gave him [Yeshua] to show HIS [G-D’s] servants—things which must shortly take place. And HE sent and signified it by HIS messenger [Yeshua] to HIS servant John, who bore witness to the word of G-D, and to the testimony of Yeshua the Messiah, to all things that he saw.”

Yeshua is G-D’s angel (messenger) and John is Yeshua’s angel (messenger). We see this clearly in other verses, as well…

“So Yeshua said to them again, “Peace to you! As the FATHER has sent me, I also send you.””

-John 20:21

“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives HIM who sent me.

-Matthew 10:40

“Whoever receives one of these little children in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but HIM who sent me.”

-Mark 9:37

The same one, Yeshua, who appeared to John in Revelation 1:9-20, is given the same exact description as the “Man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river,” in Daniel 10:4-21 and Daniel 12:1-13. He is described like the one who was in the beginning with the G-D (Proverbs 8:22), appeared to Abraham (Genesis 15:1), Isaac (Genesis 22:11), Jacob (Genesis 32:24), Moses (Exodus 3:2), Yeshua (Joshua 5:14), Gideon (Judges 6:11), Manoah (Judges 13:3), Elijah (1 Kings 19:7), David (1 Chronicles 21:16), Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:35), to the Prophets (Zechariah 3:1), to the apostles (Luke 9:29), and who will appear again to us with the voice of an archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Yeshua is the perfect angel (messenger) of G-D, in John 12:49,

“For I have not spoken on my own authority; but the FATHER who sent me gave me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.”

He is a fellow servant of G-D, in Matthew 12:18, quoting Isaiah 42:1,

“Behold! MY servant whom I have chosen, MY beloved in whom MY soul is well pleased! I will put MY Spirit upon him, And he will declare justice to the Gentiles.”

He is a fellow Prophet, in Luke 24:19b,

“The things concerning Yeshua of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before G-D and all the people…”

He is a fellow keeper of G-D’s word, in John 8:55,

“Yet you have not known HIM, but I know HIM. And if I say, ‘I do not know HIM,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know HIM and keep HIS word.”

And most important of all, he is a fellow brother, our firstborn brother and the firstborn son of G-D, in Romans 8:29, Colossians 1:15, and Hebrews 2:10-12,

“For whom HE foreknew, HE also predestined to be conformed to the image of HIS son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

“He is the image of the invisible G-D, the firstborn over all creation.”

“For it was fitting for HIM [G-D], for WHOM are all things and by WHOM are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Captain of their salvation [Yeshua] perfect through sufferings. For both he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason he [Yeshua] is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying:

“I [Yeshua] will declare YOUR [G-D‘s] NAME to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to YOU.”

There is so much more I have written on this topic, but did not include here, and so many more refutations of claims and interpretations of verses used to show that Yeshua is equal with G-D. There is not a single claim to Yeshua’s equality with G-D that I cannot easily disprove. I will continue to write more on this topic and dispel the lies that have been endlessly reproduced for nearly two millennia, including the lies that G-D has rejected HIS Law (the Torah), HIS Land (Israel), HIS People (the Jews), and HIS City – Jerusalem. For now, this should suffice to help, at the very least, some begin to ask the questions that need to be asked…

Then comes the end, when he [Messiah] delivers the kingdom to G-D, the FATHER, when he puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For “HE has put all things under his feet.” But when HE says “all things are put under him, ” it is evident that HE who put all things under him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to him, then the son himself will also be subject to HIM who put all things under him, that G-D may be all in all.”

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‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭15:24-28