Many Jehovah witnesses often quote John 14:28” Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me*, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. AS a proof text to deny the clear scriptural teachings on the essential Deity of Jesus.But does this scripture verse teach such a unbiblical doctrine?.there are three degrees of comparison; they are the composite, the comparative and the superlative , the last of these mentioned identifies the person or object spoken of the as existing the highest position possible. if Jesus was a created being as is contended by many, won’t it be obvious in when comparing himself to the person of Jehovah the superlative degree should of been used instead of the composite, which merely identifies on person greater, but not the greatest. In the Gospel of MATT 12:41-42 Jesus says he is greater than the prophet Jonah and king Solomon, now if Jesus is nothing more than a righteous man that Jehovah uses to accomplish his Divine will, apart from being sinless in what sense could it be said that he is greater than these two biblical character seeing that they are all men?
Discussion
7 comments
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I don’t know about any of these three whirligig options to explain Jesus’s position of the trinity.. it is simple Jesus.. was the Eternal Word made a man to fulfill the requirements of the law his entire commissioning on Earth was to glorify the Father so of course he positioned himself and he expressed himself as being subordinate to the Father because He was during His time on earth for the purposes of his death and Resurrection
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God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are all Infinite Divinity, the same substance with the same goals but just in different forms and functions. I believe Them to be One in Three and Three in One for the Divine purpose of creating man, teaching man and saving man who has a free will to choose. I personally choose to believe and have faith in Each One and to know Each One’s goal is to love me and provide a way back to them. It is up to me what I choose.It is up to you what you choose.
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Some what over thought for me. Scripture says that Jesus was sent by the Father. As Jesus pointed out, the one sent is not greater than the sender. L&P
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Context is king. John ch 13-17 occur in the upper room the night of Jesus arrest. This was one teaching. Every verse must be looked at as if existed in that teaching. Judas was dismissed to betray Him in chapter 13. Now Jesus is pouring into the 11 faithful. He is preparing them for what is to come as he hands the responsibility over to them. When 14:28 is spoken He has already been here:
John 14:5–11 (NKJV): 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
Christ Answers Philip
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.” -
If John 14:28 teaches difference in nature, then verse 12 (using the same word ‘greater’) would mean the disciples’ works would be superior. But we know no one can do better works than Jesus. They did greater works in numbers, but not better. So it is that Jesus was not saying His nature is different from the Father’s.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”
John 14:12 -
Philippians made it clear that Jesus although God did not force equality to God but instead became human and obedient to the death.
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