Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
2 Peter 1:1
"Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jehoshua Messiah, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and [the] Saviour Jehoshua Messiah" This is one of the passages Trinitarians use to prove that Jehoshua is God. If we take this one verse by itself it's understandable how one can come to this conclusion, however we must take all of scripture into account. In the above verse the word "the" is supplied by the translators as they understand this passage to be referring to two distinct beings, one being God and the other being His Son Jehoshua. Verse 2 actually helps us solve the question whether verse 1 is talking about one or two people. 2 Peter 1:2 "Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jehoshua our King" It is clear from this verse that Peter is referring to two different people, one being God and the other being Jehoshua our King. This is also how we should understand verse 1 even though it could appear to be talking about one person. 1 Peter 1:1-3 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, In verse 2 Peter identifies the Father as God and then in verse 3 he says that the Father is the God of Jehoshua Messiah. So here we have a clear identification of who Peter says God is. Peter says that the Father is the God of Jehoshua Messiah. Peter says that Jehoshua was raised from the dead, this alone shows that Peter doesn't believe that Jehoshua is not God since God cannot die. For Peter, Jehoshua is the Son of God and himself has a God. Who does Peter identify as the one who raised Jehoshua from the dead? 1 Peter 1:18-21 18 knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, [even the blood] of Christ: 20 who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of times for your sake, 21 who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God. Whereas Jehovah God is eternal, Peter says that Jehoshua was foreknown meaning predestined. Peter says that through Jehoshua we are believers in God. Peter is making a sharp distinction between Jehoshua and God. We must remember that faith in Jehoshua is a means to an end and that end is God. To have belief and hope in God is the goal and the Messiah is how we get to that goal. In verse 21, Peter says that God raised Jehoshua from the dead. Again, Peter is making a clear distinction between the two, God and Jehoshua. Jehoshua is not God but was raised from the dead by God. 1 Peter 2 3 if ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious: 4 unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious, 5 ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jehoshua Messiah. Here in verses 3and 4, Peter identifies the Lord Jehoshua as the elect of God rather than him being God himself. If we cannot understand this simple distinction between the two then we cannot understand the gospel. In verse 5, Peter says that we offer spiritual sacrifices to God through Jehoshua Messiah. This shows that it is God the Father who is the object of the saints worship. Jehoshua is the mediator of that worship. Isaiah 42:1 "Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations" This is Jehovah God speaking through Isaiah. This is a prophecy of Jehoshua. Notice what is being said here, Jehovah God is identifying Jehoshua as his elect (chosen) servant. This is one of the passages Peter is gleaning from in 1 Peter and therefore Peter believes that Jehoshua is the elect servant of Jehovah God rather than Jehovah God. 1 Peter 3:18 "Because Messiah also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit" Peter says that Jehoshua suffered for us so that he can bring us to God. Peter is making a clear distinction between God and Jehoshua. 1 Peter 3:21-22 21 which also after a true likeness doth now save you, [even] baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jehoshua Messiah; 22 who is one the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. Peter says that Jehoshua is on the right hand of God. This was obviously shows that Peter believes that Jehoshua and God are two distinct entities (beings). He says that when we are baptized we obtain a good conscience toward God through the resurrection of the Messiah. God is the goal and the Messiah is the means by which we obtain that goal. Peter is referencing Psalm 110:1 which is a prophecy of the Davidic covenant being fulfilled. That verse also shows that Jehoshua isn't Jehovah but rather is set on the right hand of Jehovah God. 1 Peter 4:11 "if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; is any man ministereth, [ministering] as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jehoshua Messiah, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen." The whole purpose of Jehoshua was not to glorify himself but that His God and Father would be glorified through him (Jehoshua). When we do the works of Messiah it ultimately is God the Father that gets the glory. Again, Peter posits God as the end goal and the Messiah as the means to get there. Peter speaks as if God and the Messiah are two seperate beings. 1 Peter 4:10-11 10 And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Messiah, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.11To him [be] the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Peter again posits God as the goal of the Messianic as says that we are called into His (God's) glory in Messiah. This is a reoccurring theme in Peter's epistle in that we are called into God's glory by having faith in His Messiah. I. 1 Peter 1:3, the tone was already set by Peter with the Father being the God of Jehoshua, so this is how we should understand the identity of the Messiah. The Messiah's function is to bring us into the glory of the Father who Peter says is the God of Jehoshua. 2 Peter 2:16-17 16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jehoshua Messiah, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he 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. Peter identifies God as the Father. Who is Jehoshua according to Peter? He is the beloved Son of God. This is the gospel in it's simplicity, one God who is the Father and His only begotten Son who is His (God's) Messiah (anointed one). Jehoshua got his glory and honor from God the Father showing that at one time he didn't have it. This clearly shows that Jehoshua is dependent on God the Father, thus proving he is not God but rather gets his power from God. The testimony of God is that Jehoshua is His beloved Son. Do we believe God? If we do then we will believe that Jehoshua is God's Son not God. This is what Peter believes. In his epistle John warns against denying the witness of God that Jehoshua is His begotten Son. The phrase "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased" is adapted from Psalm 2:7. Psalm 2:7 is a coronation hymm of a Davidic king, showing clearly that the Messiah's identity is not God but rather God's anointed Davidic King that He (God) coronates/enthrones. Peter, being a good Israelite, knows that God is one and that the prophesied Messiah was a human being of Israelite stock. We should read 2 Peter 2:1 within the understanding that Peter is a commandment keeping Israelite who knows what the bible teaches concerning the nature of the Messiah. ReplyForward
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
November 2021
Categories |