Introduction
In this segment, Dr. Badawi uses Emlyn and Briddle as an excuse to repeat many of the arguments that he made in earlier sections. Most of the arguments in this section are closer to the beliefs of the Jehovah's Witnesses than the Unitarians.
Jamal Badawi: John Locke, the one who wrote the Social Contract. He was persecuted for his political views and had to leave England until he returned in 1688 after the revolution. He was worried about religious persecution because he was a Unitarian and was very cautious. He wrote a monograph about reason, which the authorities did not like. He kept on good terms with the Church which some believe was instrumental in the passage of the Toleration Act in 1689. Another was Sir Isaac Newton, but like Locke he did not profess his belief openly. Some historians say that in 1690 he wrote a letter to Locke in which he comments on two texts in the Bible. 1 John 5:7, the one that was used to prove Trinity, and he said in spite of the severe argument at the time of Jerome about the Trinity, no proponent ever referred to this text to support his view. This verse appeared for the first time in the third edition of Erasmus' New Testament. In 1952, the RSV omitted this verse.
This passage is recognized by a majority of Christian scholars as an extrapolation since 1 John 5:7 is not found in any early Greek manuscripts. This text appeared in a fifth century Latin translation, one century after the Church established the doctrine of the Trinity. This verse most likely found its way into the Bible through a "gloss" (a comment written in the margins of a page in a Bible) which was accidentally included in the Latin Bible. Erasmus included the verse in his translation of the Greek Bible, under political pressure, but against his better judgement. 1 John 5:7 found its way into the King James Version since it was, in part, based on Erasmus' text. The most important fact to remember is that 1 John 5:7 WAS NOT mentioned at the Council of Nicea and was not used to formulate the doctrine of the Trinity, or to defend it.
Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
In addition to the King James, the NASB and NIV translations also use the Greek word eusebeia as godliness, which is the correct translation of this word.
I am not sure if, or why, people did or did not cite this verse during the Arian controversy. Dr. Badawi continues to distort the views of Arius when he claims that Arius believed that Jesus was only a human being. According to Arius, Jesus is neither fully divine nor fully human. It is important to remember that Arius believed that Jesus was the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected on the third day.
Jamal Badawi: He was born in 1663 in Dublin, he was a preacher and was very popular. One of his congregation noted that he avoided any statements about the Trinity and he was questioned. He answered that he believed in the one God and Jesus derived all power from God alone. He moved to England and was arrested in 1703 for heresy. He was guilty of publishing "An Humble Inquiry in the Scriptural Account of Jesus Christ". That book was based on one verse John 14:28 where Jesus said that the Father was greater than I. Jesus was a mediator, not God. He was not allowed to defend himself at the trial and was accused of writing an infamous and scandalous Bible that Jesus is not the supreme God. He had a choice of one year in prison or a fine of 1000 Pounds. He appealed but he was publically humiliated and his fine was reduced to 70 Pounds.
"You heard that I said to you, `I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I."
Once again, Dr. Badawi brings out his favorite Jehovah's Witness argument against the divinity of Jesus. The term greater, in this passage refers to Jesus' position, not His nature. The term better refers to nature. If we read Philippians 2:6-8 we find that Jesus though He was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied Himself and submitted Himself to the Father and took on the form of a servant. Though Jesus emptied Himself, He was always in nature God and equal to the Father in nature. If Jesus wanted to say He was inferior to God in nature, He would have said, "The Father is better than I."
If the Bible wanted to say that God was better than Jesus, this verse would be similar to Hebrews 1:4 :
In this passage, we see that Jesus is superior to the angels, so the term better is used. For more information on the Jehovah's Witnesses distortion of the Bible, which is also the source of much of Dr. Badawi's material, please read Jehovah's Witnesses and the Trinity.
Jamal Badawi: He said that God owes nothing to anyone. He warned that the term god is sometimes used to refer to someone who has subordinate authority in the Bible and is sometimes used in plural to refer to angel and humans as in Psalm 82:1-6, 8:5; Exodus 7:1; and John 10:34-35. He said that Satan is called the god of this world. God alone is above all that and is the God of gods. In what way was God used to refer to Jesus who never said that he was God, never. How was the term used? Jesus was described as god because he had subordinate authority 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 where there is a difference between Jesus and God. Did Jesus have any God above Him with more power and authority. He said yes and gave three evidences:
Before we look at the "evidence", we need to clear up several issues. The word "god" is indeed used in the Bible to refer to other beings that God. However, the context in which this term is used must be kept in mind when a passage is interpreted. Jesus DID claim divinity in many passage, including :
But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned him as worthy of death.
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Did Jesus object to Peter's statement? No!
Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
How did Jesus respond?
Please think about what Jesus said in this passage and put aside Dr. Badawi's attempts to distort it out of context. Jesus cannot do anything by himself and can only do what the Father does because He and the Father are One. Jesus does not say that he can only do what the Father tells Him to do, He can only do what the Father does, making Him equal to the Father. In fact, Jesus is doing what God is doing, which makes them One! If you question my interpretation, ask yourself one question: why did the Jewish leaders want to execute Jesus for blasphemy if He was merely saying that He can do only what God allows, or tells, Him to do? Unlike Dr. Badawi, these men understood exactly what Jesus was saying, but like Dr. Badawi, they did not believe.
Jesus cried out in anguish when he asked God why he had been forsaken. I cannot imagine the pain that the Lord endured since he was fully human as well as fully God.
Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, `I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
Once again, read the entire Chapter, especially verses 26-31:
Jesus and God the Father are One, that is why Jesus can do nothing by Himself. The words which Jesus speaks are the words of God and the actions that are performed by Jesus are the actions of God the Father. Jesus can only do and say what the Father does and says because they are One.
Perhaps Jesus did not know the hour because he assumed our human nature and, like all of us, needed to live by faith and obedience. Jesus could have been unaware of the hour simply because He did not want to know. I believe that Jesus was trying to tell us that it is presumptuous, for humans to attempt to determine ( by mathematical calculation and over-analyzing prophecy) what the Son of God did not know, or did not want to know.
Jamal Badawi: He was born in 1723 in England. He organized the first Unitarian congregation in England. His first service was attended by many prominent people including Priestly and Benjamin Franklin. Lindsey was impressed with his audience and it led to other congregations.
Host: How did Lindsey interpret Jesus and his relationship to God?
Jamal Badawi: According to Park's "The Ethic of Unitarianism" Lindsey said, in an address to students at Oxford, which he called the facts, clear and plain. He had three important facts:
1. There is one single person who is God, sole creator.
2. Jesus was a man of the Jewish nation and a servant of God.
3. The Holy Spirit was the extra ordinary power/gift of God.
Lindsey said that these were the fundamental doctrine taught by the Apostles.
No. The Apostles taught that Jesus was also the creator (John 1:3 and Colossians 1:15-17) and the Holy Spirit is called the creator in Job 33:4 and 26:13. The Holy Spirit is much more that a gift, in fact, the Holy Spirit is called God in Acts 5:3-4.
Jamal Badawi: Yes, he had three books. "Two Dissertations" (1779), "An Historical View of the State of Unitarian Doctrine" (1783), and "A List of False Readings from the Scriptures" (1790). He negates that Jesus ever claimed to be God, nor does He say that through Him all things were made.
He was wrong, Jesus did claim divinity, please refer to Mark 14:61-64:
We already agreed on 1 John 5:7. Paul also believed that Jesus was the creator in Colossians 1:15-17:
John did say that Jesus is God in other passages. Once again, please read John 20:26-31:
I recommend that Dr. Badawi puts away his Jehovah's Witness literature and picks up a Bible before he makes more silly, and untrue, statements!
The Son of God always existed. He became Jesus when He was incarnated.
Jamal Badawi: Based on his reading John 20:17, Luke 11:1-2, 1 Kings 8:27, he asks those who worship Jesus how they would react if Jesus appeared and asked why they direct their devotion to him, did he ever ask for such a thing? Did he ask the disciples to pray to him or call him God?
Jesus wanted His followers to realize who He was. In the end, the disciple recognized Jesus as God.
Responses to Jamal Badawi's "Radio Al-Islam Channel RA 200"
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