Explanations & Clarifications

This title does not of course mean that the Son of God is God, making two GODS! It describes the function of Jesus as God’s unique agent and revealer of God’s will for humankind. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Cor. 5:19). “God was in Christ,” not “God was Christ.” A lady in Proverbs 30:1 named her son Ithiel, which is Hebrew for “God is with me.” No one imagined the child was actually God! It was descriptive of the mother’s conviction that God had given her a son. No one in NT times imagined that God could be born, much less that He could die or be tempted!

Buzzard, Anthony. The One God, the Father, One Man Messiah Translation: New Testament with Commentary. Purchase on Amazon

Pastor Mark A. Jones and J. Dan Gill consider Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” and the Apostle Peter’s answer, “Jesus is the Christ – The Son of God.”

Dr. Joe Martin & J. Dan Gill consider Mk. 12:29, Jesus and the Shema. Why do most Christians not know this “foremost of all the commandments” as declared by Jesus, himself?

The greatest command is to hear and believe that God is one Person. This produces “the absolute simplicity of the entire inner life” (Lange). The Jewish scribe, who was not a Trinitarian (!), gives his wholehearted assent, repeating in other words exactly what Jesus had declared. Jesus confirms the scribe’s correct understanding by commending him. The declaration of Jesus defining God roots Jesus in the Hebrew Bible and in the Jewish view of God. “Salvation,” he said, is “of the Jews” (Jn. 4:22). The replacement of Jesus’ central teaching by later “church fathers,” turning God into a mysterious “Triune Being,” represents a disastrous departure from the pristine faith of and in Jesus. It can be easily repaired as ordinary readers grasp the staggering yet simple implications of Mark 12:29 echoed in John 17:3, and 1300 NT references to God as the Father and not Jesus. Repentance and a return to the creed of Jesus is the greatest possible challenge to the uncritically accepted traditions of many churches, which nevertheless claim to be following the Bible! If Sola Scriptura (the Bible only) is to be more than a hollow boast, Christians need to be heeding the words of Jesus in Mark 12:28-34. By affirming and authorizing Deut. 6:4, “Jesus stood in complete and conscious agreement with Phariseeism” (Schlatter, Das Wort Jesu, p. 221).

Buzzard, Anthony. The One God, the Father, One Man Messiah Translation: New Testament with Commentary. – Purchase on Amazon

John 1:1-18. J. Dan Gill and Anthony Buzzard consider John’s Prologue. This video reflects on John’s perspective as a Jewish writer coming from the perspective of the Hebrew Bible rather than the post-biblical perspective of later Gentile Christians. Additional study: Focus on John 1 (4 videos & 7 articles)

John 1:1-18. Sir Anthony Buzzard and J. Dan Gill continue their consideration of John’s Prologue. What does it mean that the word was made flesh? How have post-biblical Gentiles changed the significance of John’s “word.” Additional study: Focus on John 1 (4 videos & 7 articles)

Dustin Smith and J. Dan Gill discuss John’s words in John 1:18. Additional study: Focus on John 1 (4 videos & 7 articles)

Anthony Buzzard and J. Dan Gill consider Jn. 3:13 and Jesus’ statement the “No man has ascended up to heaven, except the son of man.”

Anthony Buzzard and J. Dan Gill consider Jn. 5:44 & related verses.

“My Father and I are one” (neuter in Greek), one thing, not one Person. The sense is that they are in perfect agreement, hand in glove. The relationship of unity is predicated of true believers in John 17:11, 22 and so the statement in 10:30 has nothing whatsoever to do with a unity in the Trinity. Jesus endorsed the unitary monotheism of his Jewish heritage (Mk. 12:29; Jn. 17:3, etc.). This text is not remotely connected to the idea of “one philosophical essence.” 1 Cor. 3:8 shows that those who “plant” and those who “water” for the Gospel are one.

Buzzard, Anthony. The One God, the Father, One Man Messiah Translation: New Testament with Commentary. Purchase on Amazon

Dr. Joe Martin & J. Dan Gill consider Jn. 10:30-36 and related verses.

Anthony Buzzard and J. Dan Gill consider Jn. 17:3 where Jesus declares his Father to be the “only true God” and himself, not as God, but as the Messiah, God’s Christ.

Dr. Joe Martin & J. Dan Gill consider Jn. 17:3 and Jesus’ declaration that his Father is the only one who is truly God, and that, Jesus is the Messiah, God’s Christ.

Carey Clark and J. Dan Gill consider John 17:3. They talk about how that this verse is pivotal for rightly understanding what Jesus really believed about God. Jesus declares his Father to be the “only true God” and himself, not God, but as the Christ – the Messiah of God.

Anthony Buzzard and J. Dan Gill consider Jn. 17:5. What is glory in prospect? What did Jesus mean speaking of the Glory he had with the Father before the world was? Why did Jesus say he had “already given” his disciples a future glory?

Anthony Buzzard and J. Dan Gill continue their consideration of Jn. 17:5.

Anthony Buzzard and J. Dan Gill consider Jn. 20:31 & related verses. These Video Commentaries are an easy way to better understand scriptures.

Pastor Mark Jones and J. Dan Gill consider Paul’s preaching about who Jesus is.

Dustin Smith and J. Dan Gill discuss Paul’s words in Romans 9:5. Is this an instance of Christ being called “God” or is it a doxology similar to others where the apostle is actually briefly praising God?

Pastor Mark Jones and J. Dan Gill consider “Who does Christ belong to?”

Pastor Mark Jones and J. Dan Gill consider that “God is the head of Jesus Christ.”

Paul’s alpha point in these verses concerns the minds and lives of believers at Philippi. Note verses 3 and 4: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

In the next four verses, Paul draws a mental picture of what “regarding others as more important” than themselves and looking out “for the interests of others” would ideally look like. The illustration he gives them is from the attitude and life of Jesus. Shortly after that, Paul will also write about his co-worker Timothy whose attitude in service was uniquely one of seeking the interests of others (Philippians 2:20-21). Read Entire Article

Pastor William Wachtel brings to the viewer a refreshingly clear understanding of Paul’s words to the Colossians regarding Christ. Was Paul writing of a Christ who was “preexistent” to his own birth? Or, was he speaking of the “man” Christ Jesus who has been now given ultimate “preeminence” by God?

Note that the same language about “the fullness of God” is applicable to believers also in Eph. 3:19. Having the fullness of God, via His spirit, thus does not mean that a person is God!

Buzzard, Anthony. The One God, the Father, One Man Messiah Translation: New Testament with Commentary. Purchase on Amazon

The KJV is based on a corrupted manuscript here, reading “God was manifested…” The Greek has “he who was manifested…” referring to Jesus as the Son of God, defined by Luke 1:35.

Buzzard, Anthony. The One God, the Father, One Man Messiah Translation: New Testament with Commentary. Purchase on Amazon

Joel Hemphill and J. Dan Gill consider “1 Jn. 3:16” & related verses.

Sean Finnegan & J. Dan Gill consider the Comma Johanneum, the “three heavenly witnesses.” Why is this statement missing in the early Greek manuscripts of the New Testament?

Sean Finnegan & J. Dan Gill tell us that Jesus is not “the only true God” but the “son” of the only true God. Jesus has come so we can know his Father – who is indeed “the only true God and eternal life” (John 17:3).

This is of course a reference to the Father, not Jesus who is mentioned separately in v. 5. Jesus is nowhere called “the Lord God,” and never called the Almighty, pantokrator in Greek or El Shaddai in Hebrew.

Buzzard, Anthony. The One God, the Father, One Man Messiah Translation: New Testament with Commentary. Purchase on Amazon

Dustin Smith and J. Dan Gill discuss Jesus’ words in Revelation 3:14. They tell us that the often-found translation “beginning of creation” would better be the “chief” or “ruler of the creation” – meaning God’s new creation in Christ Jesus.