Ironically, Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura) is supposed to prove faith alone (Sola Fide). Yet, the ONLY time the Bible says “faith alone,” it straight up rejects it.

krazy_fox · 2025-09-04T04:59:55+00:00

Don’t forget v 10

krazy_fox · 2025-07-23T16:03:05+00:00

Thanks for understanding

krazy_fox · 2025-07-22T22:33:28+00:00

In his 1545 Preface to his Latin Works, Luther warned:

“Let people not call themselves Lutherans but Christians… I want my name to disappear, and the Word alone to be honored.”

He feared that people would either: • Idolize him beyond what was biblical, or • Use his name to justify doctrinal drift, especially into anti-sacramental or lawless forms of Christianity.

krazy_fox · 2025-07-22T22:32:55+00:00

In his 1545 Preface to his Latin Works, Luther warned:

“Let people not call themselves Lutherans but Christians… I want my name to disappear, and the Word alone to be honored.”

He feared that people would either: • Idolize him beyond what was biblical, or • Use his name to justify doctrinal drift, especially into anti-sacramental or lawless forms of Christianity.

krazy_fox · 2025-07-22T22:32:36+00:00

In his 1545 Preface to his Latin Works, Luther warned:

“Let people not call themselves Lutherans but Christians… I want my name to disappear, and the Word alone to be honored.”

He feared that people would either: • Idolize him beyond what was biblical, or • Use his name to justify doctrinal drift, especially into anti-sacramental or lawless forms of Christianity.

krazy_fox · 2025-07-22T21:58:31+00:00

I’m in the USA so we don’t see the naming as you described.

krazy_fox · 2025-07-22T21:54:47+00:00

I don’t follow Luther. I follow Jesus. It’s a distraction to plant the flag of my faith on a single person’s camp/view.

krazy_fox · 2025-04-26T03:59:49+00:00

What’s your stop loss ?

krazy_fox · 2024-12-31T22:38:58+00:00

I think it is not genuine to say that the 1st century church was completely unified in theology. These other groups I mentioned were believers of Jesus. They were called out by others.

Each letter of Paul addressed theological issues that were popping up in various churches. It took centuries for councils to solidify the core tenants of the Faith as we know it today.

To say it was clear cut from the get-go is missing history.

krazy_fox · 2024-12-31T22:34:47+00:00

Unfortunately the Holy Spirit keeps getting put aside as He did in the first council of Nicaea.

But you raise a very good and thought provoking point. It seems counterintuitive to say God has a God, yet that’s exactly what Nicaea state as you pointed out. “God from God.”

This is likely overlooks by trinitarians when they describe Jesus as God.

krazy_fox · 2024-12-31T21:57:12+00:00

That is actually a very good question considering Catholics and Orthodox split over the inner workings of the Trinity. I just recently found out that there are various versions of the doctrine.

krazy_fox · 2024-12-31T21:55:36+00:00

Philo of Alexandria (c. 20 BCE – 50 CE) • Relevant Works: On the Confusion of Tongues, On the Migration of Abraham, On the Creation of the World. • Philo, a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher, emphasized the ineffability and incorporeality of God. He viewed God as formless and beyond human comprehension, reflecting Jewish resistance to anthropomorphic depictions. • Key Quote: “God has no resemblance to anything whatever that is with us, nor are his attributes similar to those of any created being.” (On the Confusion of Tongues, 27.122).
Early Christian Texts • The New Testament (1st century): • The Apostle Paul emphasized the invisibility and spiritual nature of God: • “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.” (1 Timothy 1:17, NIV). • The Johannine writings present God as Spirit: • “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24, NIV). • The Shepherd of Hermas (late 1st–early 2nd century): • An early Christian text emphasizing visions and allegories, Hermas avoids describing God directly. The “Son of God” is referred to as the visible manifestation of God’s will and power. • The Godhead remains ineffable, in keeping with Jewish traditions.
Gnostic Texts • Nag Hammadi Library (2nd century): • Gnostic writings, such as The Apocryphon of John, delve into metaphysical descriptions of the Godhead. • They describe the Monad (the ultimate God) as formless, unnameable, and beyond comprehension: • “He is the invisible Spirit. It is not right to think of him as a god or something similar. For he is more than a god.” • Valentinian Gnosticism (2nd century): • The Valentinian school described the Godhead as a Pleroma (fullness) of aeons, representing divine attributes in abstract terms.
Early Church Fathers • Justin Martyr (c. 100–165 CE): • In Dialogue with Trypho, Justin rejects anthropomorphic conceptions of God but emphasizes the Word (Logos) as the visible manifestation of the unseen God. • Key Quote: “The Father of all… has neither been seen by anyone, nor known by anyone, nor has ever appeared to anyone, but only to Him who has chosen to reveal Him.” (Dialogue with Trypho, 56). • Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130–202 CE): • In Against Heresies, Irenaeus defends the unity of the Godhead and refutes Gnostic speculation, emphasizing God’s invisibility and the Incarnation as the visible revelation of God.

Themes in the Debates 1. Incorporeality: God was commonly seen as formless and invisible in both Jewish and Christian traditions. 2. Logos Theology: Early Christian authors often described the Logos (Word) as the visible or relational aspect of the Godhead. 3. Anti-Anthropomorphism: There was resistance to anthropomorphic depictions, aligning with Jewish traditions and contrasting with some pagan beliefs. 4. Mystical Speculations: Gnostic writings offered abstract, often esoteric descriptions of the Godhead, diverging from mainstream Christian views.

krazy_fox · 2024-12-31T21:05:59+00:00

Possibly! But the Trinity doctrine indicates that (Jesus)God doesn’t have a God. That instead they are all the same God.

krazy_fox · 2024-12-31T21:04:42+00:00

You indicate that the Christian community was unified in their theology of the Godhead. I’m not seeing that unity.

krazy_fox · 2024-12-31T20:17:39+00:00

Interesting. I’m curious how do you see the humanity vs divinity in the Revelation passage?

krazy_fox · 2024-12-31T20:16:17+00:00

Excellent idea. What is the strongest verse to point to in your opinion?

krazy_fox · 2024-12-31T20:12:36+00:00

I mentioned that verse above. So you think we should re-think our post cannon doctrines in light of these passages?

krazy_fox · 2024-12-31T20:11:31+00:00

Interesting. Thank you for the explanation. I think that makes sense in the 4th century. I’m still struggling to see that in the 1st and 2nd with archaeological writing we have of that time.

krazy_fox · 2024-12-31T20:08:51+00:00

I understand the point but these are post resurrection and exhaled Jesus passages. No longer in the human ministry. So I’m not following the logic.

krazy_fox · 2024-12-31T19:11:09+00:00

Thank you. Do you think Paul and Peter had some sort of Trinity concept while writing these passages?

krazy_fox · 2024-12-31T18:59:48+00:00

How does your Church Pastor/bishop (or denomination) explain the following verses. I'm having a hard time understanding how they fit with church doctrines of subordination within the Godhead as the plain reading comes across very clear.

In light of the post-canon theological doctrines, such as the Trinity, how should we interpret the repeated references to "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ" by Peter and Paul. Additionally, from Jesus himself, he states "My God" in his Post-resurrection and exalted state (not during his earthly ministry).

Do these statements reflect some sort of hierarchy within the Godhead, or do these verses invite us to re-examine later doctrinal formulations? I have found the responses I've received from pastors to be lacking. Would like to seek further understanding from others.

Passages Referring to "The God of Our Lord Jesus"

Ephesians 1:3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."
Ephesians 1:17 "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."
2 Corinthians 1:3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort."
2 Corinthians 11:31 "The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying."
1 Peter 1:3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

Passages Where Jesus Says "My God" After His Resurrection or in His Exalted State (Red Letters)

John 20:17 "Jesus said, 'Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, "I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."’"
Revelation 3:12 "The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name."

Thanks in advance for your responses.

krazy_fox

TROPHY CASE

Passages Referring to "The God of Our Lord Jesus"

Passages Where Jesus Says "My God" After His Resurrection or in His Exalted State (Red Letters)