Trinity in Old Testament

2

AMRIDGE UNIVERSITY

BIBLICAL POSITIONS PAPERDOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY

IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS

A PAPER SUBMITTED TODR WILLIAMS IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT

FOR BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONSFD 9300

TURNER SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

BYJOHN R NEAL

CHRISTIANA TNAPRIL 2012

2TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 1PURPOSE OF POSITIONS PAPER helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 3KEY WORDSUSED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 5THE THREE PERSONALITIES WITHIN THE TRINITY OLD TESTAMENT helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 14THE THREE PERSONALITIES WITHIN THE TRINITY NEW TESTAMENT helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 36CONCLUSION helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 51BIBLIOGRAPHY helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 53

2

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

Ardn-t-Gingrich-Danker A Greek-English Lexicon Of The

New Testament and Other Early

Christian LiteratureBHS Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensia

B-D-B Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew and

English LexiconGNT The Greek New Testament

TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament TNIDNTT The New International Dictionary Of New Testament Theology

2

2

Introduction

This is a Biblical Doctrines Positions Paper on the theology of God the

Father the Son and the Holy Spirit as discussed primarily in the Old

Testament (commonly referred to as the Doctrine of the Trinity1) with a

subtopic of the Godhead in the New Testament One might refer to this as

my ldquocredordquo on the Doctrine of the God In this paper the author is using the

Biblical Theology Method2 Biblical theology refers to a separate division of

theology in general that explains the biblical concepts or ldquodoctrinesrdquo in a

ldquonon-dogmaticrdquo manner As a discipline biblical theology examines the

1The word Trinity carries the idea of ldquotri-unityrdquo or ldquothree-in-onenessrdquo Wayne Grudem Systematic Theology an introduction to biblical doctrine (Grand Rapids Zondervan 2000) 226 For a good history of Trinitarian theology and a good argument that the Trinity is the center of biblical theology see Colin E Gunton The Promise of Trinitarian Theology (New York T amp T Clark Ltd 1991 Repr 2006) 1-8

2Kaiser lists four types or approaches to Old Testament Theology (1) There is the Structural Type which gives a straightforward ldquooutlinerdquo of the Old Testamentrsquos belief system by using a systematic sociological or other ldquotheologicalrdquo assumption and then map out ldquoits relationship to secondary conceptsrdquo (2) The Diachronic Type looks at theology from the succeeding ldquotime periodsrdquo and development of Israelrsquos history (3) The Lexicographic Type investigates scripture from the biblical authorrsquos particular ldquotheological vocabularyrdquo (such as looking at the J E P D vocabulary in the Pentateuch) (4) The Biblical Themes Type attempts to look beyond a single key word (vocabulary) by examining a whole group of ldquowordsrdquo surrounding a common theme Walter C Kaiser Jr Towards an Old Testament Theology (Grand Rapids Zondervan 1991) 9

54

2ldquoinner coherencerdquo and development of various biblical themes while at the

same time focusing upon ldquokeyrdquo ideas This particular division of theology

also looks at the course of ldquohuman historyrdquo that is often referred to as

ldquosalvation history Unlike the

systematic approach to scripture a biblical approach attempts to trace the

ldquohistorical trustworthiness of biblical events and documents and examines

the choice sequence and arrangement of biblical textsrdquo This branch of

theology gains popularity during the twentieth century3 A diachronic

method (as opposed to a synchronic view) of studying scripture (from dia

meaning ldquothroughrdquo and chromos meaning ldquotimerdquo) sorts out the different

time periods of the Bible in an attempt to uncover the various themes

chronologically or historically4 While every theologian is in some way

3 George T Kurrin Ed Nelsonrsquos New Christian Dictionary The Authoritative Resource On The Christian World (Nashville Thomas Nelson 2001) sv ldquoBiblical Theologyrdquo 100

4Walter C Kaiser Jr The Christian and the ldquoOldrdquo Testament (Psasadena CA William Carey Library 1998) 12 Kaiser breaks down the Old Testament into eleven different eras of epochs of time (1) Prepatriarchal (Gen 1-11) (2) Patriarchal (Gen 12-50) (3) Mosaic (Exodus-Deuteronomy) (4) Premonarchical (Joshua-1 Samuel) (5) Davidic (2 Samuel 16-2 Kings Psalms) (6) Sapential (Job Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon) (7) Ninth Century Prophets (Obadiah Joel) (8) Eighth Century Prophets (Amos Hosea Jonah Micah Isaiah) (9) Seventh Century Prophets (Nahum Zephaniah Habakkuk Jeremiah) (10) Exilic Prophets (Ezekiel Daniel) and (11) Postexilic Prophets (Haggai Zechariah Malachi Chronicles Ezra-Nehemiah and Esther)

2doing biblical theology yet as a specific discipline we are striving to exegete

scripture in light of her diverse ldquoleitmotivsrdquo5

Purpose of Positions Paper

This research paper examines the traditionally held Trinitarian view

(from my personal observations) of God in the Bible and proposes to ask the

question ldquoIs the concept of the trinity (the three personalities of God) as

revealed in the New Testament as clear and distinct in the Old Testamentrdquo

At present the author does not know if the Old Testament gives a clear

distinction of an Old Testament Trinity For the limitations of this present

study this project examines the 39 books of the Old Testament canon (the

English Bible) or the 36 books of the Hebrew canon (36 Books in the BHS)

and the 27 books of the Greek New Testament I am writing from an

evangelical perspective one who believes in the verbal plenary inspiration

of both Testaments Although many theologians automatically dismiss a

conservative approach to doing theology there is a need today for a sound

approach to doing Old Testament theology in both the academy as well as

the church Time will not allow for an exhaustive study of the Old Testament

Trinity so I will begin by giving an overview of the Godhead from the Pre-

Patriarchal Era the Patriarchal Era and the Mosaic Era Then we will move

into the development of the Godhead in the New Testament Since I do

5William Dyrness Themes in Old Testament Theology (Downers Grove IL InterVarsity Press 1979) 16

2believe that the theological center of the Old Testament (as well as the New)

is God I am choosing to write on the Doctrine of the Godhead as revealed in

scripture

Definitions

What do we mean when we use the word Trinity The English word

ldquoTrinityrdquo comes from the Latin word trinitas which is a term that combines

the ideas of ldquothreeness and onenessrdquo or a ldquotri-unityrdquo The classic form of

the Trinitarian doctrine did not arise until the second century AD during the

era of the church fathers Yet later on in the fourth century when the ldquoArian

controversyrdquo arose those church fathers were forced to ldquomake a definitive

statement of belief in the manner of Trinitarian relations and the character

(particularly the status) of the persons of the Trinityrdquo Although this is not a

biblical term the idea is not foreign to the scriptures6 Arius is the fourth

century bishop who claims that God the Son is created by the Father and

does not share in his ldquodivine substancerdquo but is of ldquolesser rank and glory than

the Fatherrdquo7

The most common terms used in the New Testament (that may closely

relate to a triune God) are ϑειος (meaning ldquodivine beingrdquo or ldquodivinityrdquo used

6 John Anthony McGuckin The Westminster Handbook on Patristic Theology (Louisville Westminster John Knox Press 2004) 338

7Patrick W Carey and Joseph T Lienhard Ed Biographical Dictionary Of Christian Theologians (Westport CT Greenwood Press 2000) sv ldquoAriusrdquo by Kelley McCarthy Spoerl 29

2in the New Testament in Acts 1727 and 2 Peter 13) ϑειότης (meaning

ldquodivine naturerdquo or ldquodivinityrdquo found in Romans 120 and Colossians 29) and

ϑεότης (related to ϑεός meaning ldquodeityrdquo or ldquodivinityrdquo occurring in Colossians

298 The traditional term for those who grew up on the King James Version

is rendered in these passages with the English term ldquoGodheadrdquo Broyles

points out that this is not the best rendering for the above terms and is also

an antiquated word (dating back to Middle English) this word would be

rendered as ldquoGodhoodrdquo today9 In this paper we will attempt to use the

word God Divine Nature or Trinity when referring to the triune God

8 William F Ardnt and F Wilbur Gingrich A Greek-English Lexicon Of The New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature 2nd Ed Revised and Augmented By F Wilbur Gingrich and Frederick W Danker From Walter Bauerrsquos Fifth Ed 1958 (Chicago The University of Chicago Press 1979) sv ϑειος pg 353 sv ϑειότης pg 354 and sv ϑεότης pg 358

9Stephen Broyles ldquoWhat do we mean by ldquogodheadrdquo Evangelical Quarterly 50 (Oct-Dec 1978) 226-29

Key Words Used of God in the Old Testament

Since my major in the Turner School of Theology is Old Testament I

would like to begin by examining the words that are used for the Godhead in

the Hebrew Bible We will notice in particular seven terms in the Hebrew Old

Testament that the inspired writers use to refer to the triune Godhead (the

Father Son and Holy Spirit) We will try to answer the question at the end

of the paper as to whether there is indeed a well defined Trinity in the Old

Testament or not

אלהים

This first word we want to look at is אלהים (אל( and some of the various

derivatives of the name for God in the Old Testament This term occurs

approximately 2600 times10 in the Hebrew Bible and is the most frequently

used term The name is possibly (with the inclusion of the h) a ldquoplural formrdquo

of either l) (a singular noun God) or singular form of hOl) The plural form

for God can refer to either pagan gods or the God of Israel (only the context 10 John R Kohlenberger III and James A Swanson The Hebrew-English Concordance To The Old Testament With The New International Version (Grand Rapids Zondervan 1998) 98

54

6can tell us) This ldquodivine namerdquo may describe ldquoa plural of intensity or plural

of majestyrdquo11 The word l) is the most common word for deity within the

Semitic language of the Ancient Near East The word functions for both the

personal name of God and for the gods of the Canaanites12

Brown-Driver-Briggs gives the meaning of this word (with the article)

as ldquothe (true) Godrdquo13 or that Yahweh is ldquoGod in truthrdquo14 This word is found

in the opening verse of Genesis ldquoIn the beginning God created the heavens

and the earthrdquo (Genesis 11 JRN)15 The name Elohim is found 28 times in

chapter one with ldquoeach time describing what God did said or intendedrdquo

The opening chapter of Genesis not only ldquointroducesrdquo us to God but also

ldquoidentifies and defines Him as the Creatorrdquo16 In the creation narrative God

creates (ex nihlio out of nothing) He speaks (ie ldquoGod saidrdquo Genesis 13 6

9 11 14 20) and creates man into His own ldquoimagerdquo (Genesis 126)17 The

argument that Elohim is used in scripture as both a reference to pagan gods

and the one true God can be found in Ruth 115-16 where Naomi urges Ruth

to follow Orpahrsquos example and return to ldquoher godsrdquo Ruth tells Naomi that

11 Horst Dietrich Preuss Old Testament Theology Vol 1 Trans by Leo G Perdue (Louisville Westminster John Knox Press 1995) 139 12 Larry Richards Every Name Of God In The Bible (Nashville Thomas Nelson 2001) 18 13 F Brown S Driver and C Briggs The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Peabody MA Hendrickson 2008) 4314 Ibid 44 15 Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (Stuttgart German Bible Society 1987) 1 16 Richards 18-19 17 Ibid 19-20

7ldquoyour peoplerdquo would be ldquoher peoplerdquo and ldquoyour God my Godrdquo Elohim is

used in both cases to speak of idols and the true God18

אל

The term El is a masculine singular noun that occurs some 236 times in

the Hebrew Bible19 and is used in the Old Testament to describe God as the

ldquogreat Godrdquo (ldquoha rsquoel haggadolrdquo) or ldquothe God of heavenrdquo (ldquorsquoel hashmayimrdquo)

or the ldquoGod of eternityrdquo (ldquorsquoel `olamrdquo)20 This is perhaps the ldquooldest Semitic

designation for Godrdquo in all the Old Testament The basic idea of this word

refers to a ldquomighty leaderrdquo a ldquogovernorrdquo His ldquopower over naturerdquo and

emphasizes the ldquodistance between God and manrdquo21

אלה

This noun is found approximately 57 times22 in the Old Testament and

is a name for God normally used in the poetic passages of the Old

Testament23

יהוה

18 Jiri Moskala ldquoToward Trinitarian Thinking in the Hebrew Scripturesrdquo Journal of the Adventist Theological Society 211-2 (2010) 249 19 The Hebrew-English Concordance 95 20 Richards 18 21 Dyrness 4522 The Hebrew-English Concordance 114 23 Dyrness 43

8The second word that we want to examine is the word Yahweh Some

scholars see the word יהוה as coming from the verb הוה literally meaning to

ldquobecomerdquo24 The God of Israel (the first personality of the Godhead) has as a

Personal Divine Name יהוה This name first occurs in Genesis 24 but is not

until God appears to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 34) that the reader

is told the significance of this name25 The designation of God as Yahweh

occurs some 6828 times in the Old Testament by far the most numerous

name or title for God26 A unique feature about the word Yahweh is that this

name is used ldquoexclusivelyrdquo for the God of Israel and never for the ldquopaganrdquo

deities of the surrounding nations27 The thought of God being the ldquoI Amrdquo

(Exodus 314) carries the idea of I will be who I will be (Yahweh would reveal

Himself through the ten plagues He would send upon Egypt)28 He

pronounces a blessing upon those whom He calls His children (see Numbers

622-27 Deuteronomy 1018 2 Samuel 1618) In the Ancient Near Eastern

mindset the name (of a deity person) is an extension of a personrsquos

ldquonaturerdquo No one really knows how His name is pronounced (usually referred

to as the Tetragrammaton) but the loss of pronunciation probably comes

about as a way to ensure that the Jews would not violate the third

commandment in Exodus 107 which is taking the Lordrsquos name in vain The

24 B-D-B 217 Some take this verb to be a Hiphil of הוה meaning ldquothe one bringing into being lifegiver hellip giver of existence creator hellip he who brings to pass hellip performer of his promiserdquo 21825 Horst Detrich Preuss 13926 The Hebrew-English Concordance 630 27 Moskala ldquoToward Trinitarian Thinking in the Hebrew Scripturesrdquo 24928 Horst Detrich Preuss 139

9LXX renders this word as kyrios The name יהוה is pointed with the vowels of

the word a pluralldquo) אדני intensification with the first person singular suffix

attached to the plural and this possibly with a pausal accentrdquo) thus making

the name of God unpronounceable29 The combining of Yahweh and Elohim

normally rendered in English as ldquoLORD Godrdquo (to distinguish this reference to

God from ldquoLord Godrdquo or ldquorsquoAdonai Yahwehrdquo) occurs around 595 times This

is an ldquoexaltedrdquo depiction of God from the Old Testament writers30

יה

There is a ldquocontracted formrdquo of יהוה which occurs some forty-nine times

in the Hebrew Bible and that term is the masculine singular noun יה This

shortened form of the name LORD occurs twice in Exodus four times in

Isaiah and the other instances of are found in the book of Psalms The יה

name is popular in the expression from the Psalms ldquoPraise ye the LORDrdquo or

ldquoHallelu-yahrdquo31

The LORD of hosts A phrase common with the name Yahweh or LORD

is the designation ldquothe LORD of Hostsrdquo or ldquothe LORD Almightyrdquo or even the

ldquoLORD God (YHWH Elohim) Almightyrdquo This term (צבא) is found some 285

29 Ibid 140 30 Richards 31

31The Hebrew-English Concordance 623 R Laird Harris Gleason L Archer and Bruce K Waltke Ed Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament Vol 1 (Chicago Moody Press 1980) sv ldquoYahwehrdquo by J Barton Payne 210-11

10times in reference to the LORD as being Almighty and seems to carry the

idea of a military term (a military commander)32

אדני

The third word used to refer to God in the Old Testament is rsquoAdonai

From the Hebrew masculine singular noun אדון this noun carries the idea of

ldquoownerrdquo ldquolordrdquo or ldquomasterrdquo While the word can be used in a non-religious

sense as referring to household servants husbands and even kings yet

should be understood as a proper noun when used in reference to the God of

Israel33 The name Lord is used of Israelrsquos God some 442 times in the

Hebrew Bible Perhaps the Jewish name carries the sense of the Akkadian

equivalent of ldquomightyrdquo A combination of ldquoLord Godrdquo ( as found in (יהוה אדני

Genesis 152 is sometimes translated ldquoSovereign Godrdquo34 (supporting the

notion that אדן carries the idea of might)

רוח

The fourth word we want to examine (in connection with the third

personality within the Godhead) in the Old Testament is ldquoSpiritrdquo (רוח) which

is found some 378 times in the Hebrew Scriptures35 This feminine noun can

mean ldquobreathrdquo ldquowindrdquo or ldquospiritrdquo We should not consider that every use of

32 The Hebrew-English Concordance 1351-135433 Theological Workbook of Old Testament Vol 1 sv ldquorsquoadonrdquo by Robert L Alden 12 Brown-Driver-Briggs 10-11 A cognate of the Akkadian adannu and the Ugaritic rsquoadn34 The Hebrew-English Concordance 29-32 35 Hebrew-English Concordance 1461

11Ruah is a reference to the Divine Spirit In fact this word speaks of human

as well as animal ldquospiritrdquo (see Genesis 617 715 22) including the wind

that blows in nature (Genesis 38 81) There is no life in the physical body

apart from the spirit (see Psalm 7839 1464 Ecclesiastes 321 88 Isaiah

3816)36 The Ruah or ldquowindrdquo of God ldquois often strong and violentrdquo and very

ldquomysteriousrdquo (see Exodus 1013 the Ruah brought in the locusts and Job

2118 where Job says the Ruah carries us away like straw) Yet the Spirit is

at all times under Godrsquos ldquocontrolrdquo (see Amos 413) Ruah is a servant of God

(Psalm 1044)37 The ldquobodyrdquo returns to ldquodustrdquo and the spirit of man returns

to God (Ecclesiastes 127)38 One might say that the spirit of human kind is

that essence that we cannot see with the physical eye but we can tell when

that essence is gone (apart from the spirit there is no life) The Spirit of God

is found in the creation narrative of Genesis 12 and is the personality

connected with prophecy (Numbers 1125-29) or the miraculous outpouring

of the Spirit (Joel 228-29)

משhיח

The fifth word we want to explore (in reference to the third personality

of the Godhead) is יחhמש or Messiah This term means ldquoanointedrdquo The main

ldquoideardquo behind the verb form (with the exception of two occurrences Isaiah

215 and Jeremiah 2214) is that of the consecration of ldquoobjects or persons

36 Brown-Driver-Briggs 924-26 The Hebrew- English Concordance 1461 Dyrness 201

37Dyrness 201-02 38Brown-Driver-Briggs 924-26

12for sacred purposesrdquo (such as an altar or basin) The noun form of this verb

applies only to ldquoanimate objectsrdquo such as those whom God consecrates to

serve as kings priests or prophets39

There are a number of Old Testament scholars who argue that the

word ldquoMessiahrdquo is used by the Biblical authors in a much more broad or

ldquogeneral senserdquo as a description of prophets priests and kings (for example

the Persian King Cyrus Isaiah 451) who are anointed for their task rather

than in a more narrow or ldquotechnical senserdquo we read of in the New Testament

However the Old Testament text does not seem to support their argument in

at least nine passages (the word occurs some 39 times) In nine passages in

particular (1 Samuel 210 35 Psalm 22 206 288 849 Habakkuk 313

Daniel 925-26) the inspired writers do give us a glimpse at a future

ldquoanointed onerdquo who would come from the lineage of King David and ldquowho

would be Yahwehrsquos kingrdquo40 The term ldquomessiahrdquo attains a ldquotechnical statusrdquo

in the period of the United Monarchy after Saul is rejected by God as king

over Israel God seeks for Himself a man who is ldquoafter his own heartrdquo

(according to 1 Samuel 1314) David the son of Jesse is the man with the

right heart Samuel the prophet anoints David as king (1 Samuel 1613) first

to reign over Judah (2 Samuel 24) and later over both Judah and Israel (2

Samuel 53) Before this time Saul is referred to as the Lordrsquos ldquoanointedrdquo (1

Samuel 146[H 7) 10 [H 11] 269 11 16 23 2 Samuel 114 16) From

39Walter C Kaiser Jr The Messiah in the Old Testament Studies In Old Testament Biblical Theology (Grand Rapids Zondervan 1995) 1640 Ibid

13here on out David is referred to as Godrsquos ldquoanointedrdquo The Lordrsquos Spirit

comes upon David (1 Samuel 1613) and he is called the Lordrsquos anointed

some ten times41 From the above passages the Hebrew Scriptures

anticipate a coming ruler who would fulfill all three groups who were

anointed prophet priest and king

Servant of the Lord

A sixth term in connection with the second personality within the

Godhead (which is equally as important as the word Messiah) is the

expression Servant of the Lord The term Messiah is ldquoneither the most

frequent nor the clearestrdquo in the Old Testament to portray the coming King

who would sit upon the throne of David The most frequent phrase to refer

to an offspring of JesseDavid is the phrase ldquoServant of the Lordrdquo42 or lsquoebed

YHWH occurs in Isaiah 411-9 491-7 504-9 5013-5312 (the Suffering

Servant Passages Isaiah 5213-5312)43

נצר

A seventh word found in the Old Testament (that refers to the second

personality within the Godhead) and similar to that of Servant is the word

translated Branch (נצר) The word Nezer occurs only four times in the whole

41 Ibid 42 Ibid 43 The Suffering Servant Passages (1) Isaiah 5213-15 ldquoThe Success of the Servantrdquo (2) Isaiah 531-3 ldquoThe Slighting of the Servantrdquo (3) Isaiah 534-6 ldquoThe Suffering of the Servantrdquo (4) Isaiah 537-9 ldquoThe Submission of the Servantrdquo (5) Isaiah 5310-12 ldquoThe Satisfaction of the Servantrdquo James E Smith The Minor Prophets The Old Testament Survey Series (Joplin MO College Press 1972) 149-50 See also Moskala 265

14Hebrew Bible (and one might argue that Nezer is interrelated theologically to

the other two Messiah and Servant) and each time is a reference to Godrsquos

promised Messiah Three times Isaiah speaks of this Branch (Isaiah 111

1419 6021) and once in the prophecy of Daniel (Daniel 117) The one who

is to come in the future would be a descendant of King David44

44 Hebrew-English Concordance 1108

The Three Personalities within the Trinity Old Testament

The Unity of the Godhead

The Old Testament teaches there is unity and harmony within the

Godhead The great ldquoShemardquo passage of Deuteronomy 64 proclaims

ldquoHear O Israel Yahweh our God Yahweh is onerdquo One author refers to this

passage as the ldquobasic confession of faithrdquo which Jewish men and women

would ldquoreciterdquo at least two times a day This verse stresses the very

ldquoonenessrdquo of God45 The unity of God is found in the use of the Hebrew word

here for ldquoonerdquo (echad) The word echad suggests three things about the

nature of God First Yahweh is ldquouniquerdquo in that He alone is holy The book

of Leviticus demonstrates the holy manner in which man is to approach a

holy God Throughout this book the children of God are reminded to be

holy ldquoFor I the LORD your God Am holyrdquo (Leviticus 1144-45 192 207)

Second since Yahweh is the one true God He is to be exclusively worshiped

(coinciding with Exodus 203-6 putting no other god before Him) Third this

passage teaches that there is ldquounityrdquo within the triune God The word echad

does not mean one in the sense of singular (as in a single man or a single

45Moskala ldquoToward Trinitarian Thinking in the Hebrew Scripturesrdquo 247 Not ldquoonenessrdquo in the sense of the ldquoJesusrdquo only group

54

15woman) solitude or isolated but one in the sense of Godrsquos ldquoonenessrdquo The

word is used in Genesis 224 where a man and woman are to become ldquoone

fleshrdquo (echad) This does not mean husband and wife becomes one singular

being or entity but that they are united in a relationship46

The PluralityDiversity of the Godhead

Before we examine the three personalities within the Godhead we

need to further look at passages that support the idea of the plurality and

diversity within the Trinity We noticed that Genesis opens the book by

proclaiming ldquoIn the beginning God helliprdquo (Genesis 11) Contrary to what some

of our religious neighbors teach this passage does not teach a doctrine of

three gods The word Elohim may suggest as noted above a ldquoplural of

intensityrdquo or ldquomajestyrdquo47 Perhaps a better way to describe the word Elohim

is a ldquoPlural of Fullnessrdquo48 There are at least five occasions in the Hebrew

Bible where God speaks using the pronoun weusour First of all in Genesis

126 the text states ldquoAnd God said lsquolet us make man in our image

46Ibid 259-261 Other passages where echad is used to express being peoplenations being unified Genesis 111 6 3416 Exodus 243 Numbers 1323 Ezra 264 Jeremiah 3238-39 Ezekiel 1119 3717 19 22 Compare these passages with the psalmist extolling the virtue of unity in Psalm 1331 There is the term yachid used twelve times in the Hebrew Bible (the word used to refer to Isaac in Gen 222) carrying the idea of ldquoonlyrdquo or that of ldquosingleness solicitude and exclusivityrdquo Yahweh is not one in that sense (of being alone or ldquolonely) There is ldquoloverdquo and ldquofellowshiprdquo within the triune God Ibid 261

47Horst Dietrich Preuss 139 48Derek Kidner Genesis Tyndale Old Testament Commentary DJ

Wiseman Gen Ed (Leicester England InterVarsity Press 1967) 4

16according to our likeness helliprdquo49 Notice God (Elohim) uses the expression us

or our three times in this verse lsquolet usrsquo (cohortative) lsquoour imagersquo and

lsquoaccording to our likenessrsquo Secondly after Adam and Eve sin and are driven

from the Garden of Eden the ldquoLORD Godrdquo says that man has become like

ldquousrdquo in that he knows good and evil (Genesis 322 to know yada in the

sense of through experience) The third and fourth examples are both found

in Genesis 117 (the tower of Babel narrative) where God says ldquolet us go

downrdquo and ldquolet us confoundrdquo Fifth in Isaiah 68 the prophet Isaiah hears

the Lord ask ldquoWho will go for usrdquo Do these examples contradict the

Biblical teaching of monotheism or do these passages support the concept

of a ldquotriunerdquo Godhead What does the ldquopluralityrdquo say about the God of the

Old Testament50

49The terms ldquoimagerdquo (tselem) and ldquolikenessrdquo (demuth) do not refer to ldquotwo different entitiesrdquo but rather are used in Genesis 126-27 51 3 96 ldquointerchangeablyrdquo ldquoThe Image of Godrdquo by Charles Lee Feinberg Bibliotheca Sacra 129 (1972) 236-37 While not everyone will agree on what the ldquoimage of Godrdquo refers to my personal belief is that this is what distinguishes mankind from animal and plant kind Humans have that innate desire to worship something (whether or not we worship the correct being or not)

50Moskala 249-50 Various attempts have been made to explain the plural form of ElElohim (1) There is the old argument that Elohim has roots in paganmythological origin (2) Others view this as a direct reference to Christ (3) A reference to God communing with the Holy Spirit (4) God ldquoaddressingrdquo or speaking to the earth (5) A so-called ldquoPlural of Majestyrdquo as when the Queen of England uses the royal ldquowerdquo or simply a literary device (6) That God is addressing His ldquoHeavenly Courtrdquo such as the angelic beings (7) God uses a device known as a ldquoPlural of Self-Deliberationrdquo where God speaks to Himself (speaking as one being) (8) A so-called ldquoPlural of Fullnessrdquo or a ldquoPluralityrdquo within the Divine Godhead Derek Kidner was perhaps the first to coin this phrase echoed by Moskala Gerhard Hasel and others Ibid 250-55 Gerhard Hasel ldquoThe Meaning of ldquoLet Usrdquo In GN 126rdquo Andrews University Seminary Journal 106 (1975) 59-65

17

The First Personality in the Godhead

The Pre-Patriarchal Age

The Bible opens with the statement ldquoIn the beginning God (Elohim)rdquo51

This name or reference to God is found consistently throughout the Hebrew

Bible (with the exception of Song of Solomon) The combination of the name

LORD God (Yahweh Elohim) is found some 595 times in the Old Testament52

The LORD God is the one who ldquocreatesrdquo or ldquoformsrdquo man and places him in

the garden (Genesis 27-8) who declares that man needs a companion

(Genesis 218) and creates woman to be his wife (Genesis 221ff) The

reader finds in Genesis 3 that the serpent (Satan) in his conversation with

Eve never addresses God with His Divine name LORD God (Yahweh God)

but only as ldquoGodrdquo The LORD God confronts Adam and Eve by asking them

where they are (God knows but He is trying to get them to realize where

they are) the LORD God passes judgment upon all three (Genesis 314-19)

and prohibits man from partaking of the tree of life (Genesis 322-24)

The Patriarchal Age

We read where the LORD (YHWH) appears to Abram in Genesis 18

(when the last promise is made about the covenant son before the birth of

Isaac) Yet the Bible states that the LORD appears unto the patriarch in the

51B H S 1 52Richards 31

18form of ldquothree menrdquo (Genesis 182) The LORD is the spokesperson for the

three men (see vs 17ff) and pronounces His judgment upon Sodom and

Gomorrah53 God tests Abraham over in Genesis 22 by commanding him to

take his promised son Isaac and offer him upon an altar When Abraham

later on asks his eldest servant to find a suitable bride for Isaac from among

ldquohis peoplerdquo he reminds his servant that the LORD God promised this land

to his offspring (Genesis 247) When the servant is speaking to Laban

Rebekahrsquos brother he tells him that the LORD is the one who blessed

Abraham abundantly (Genesis 2435)

A reoccurring theme in the Old Testament is that of barrenness The

LORD intercedes in behalf of Isaac and Rebekah and blesses them with twin

boys Esau and Jacob (Genesis 2521ff) We find this theme again where the

LORD gives conception and closes up the womb in the Leah and Rachel

narratives (Genesis 2931-3035) The LORD appears to Jacob after seizing

his brotherrsquos birthright and fleeing to Padan Aram in a dream (Genesis

2812-15) Jacob sets up an altar and names the place Bethel (lsquohouse of

Godrsquo) because the LORD dwells here (vs 16) God appears to Jacob a second

time at Bethel (Genesis 35) and changes his name to Israel (Genesis 359-

12) In spite of all the evil Jacobrsquos sons selling Joseph and him ending up in

Egypt (Genesis 3727-36) yet the LORD was with him (Genesis 392-4) God

shows him the meaning of pharaohrsquos dreams (Genesis 4125) We see the

53 This author believes the other two manifestations of the Godhead are the Son and the Holy Spirit This will be elaborated upon further in this paper

19providence of God throughout the life of Joseph Although his brothers

meant to do him ldquoevilrdquo God meant all of this for ldquogoodrdquo (Genesis 5020)

The Mosaic Age

Moving from the era of the patriarchs to the era of Moses we find the

theme in Exodus where God provides He provides for the Hebrew midwives

because they feared the Lord more than pharaoh (Exodus 117-28) The

LORD is the one who provides for Israel their bread (Exodus 164) water

(Exodus 171-7) and meat (quail Numbers 11) There are numerous

appearances or manifestations of God in the book of Exodus The LORD

appears to Moses at Horeb in a burning bush and proclaimed to be the ldquoI

amrdquo (Exodus 31-14) God reveals Himself as the I am through miracles

(beginning with turning Mosesrsquo staff to a serpent and plagues which He

sends upon pharaoh by the hand of Moses (the ten plagues Exodus 7-12)

He is the one who strikes dead all the firstborn in the land of Egypt both

man and beast (Exodus 1329) The LORD leads them during the wilderness

wandering by a pillar of cloud by day and a fiery cloud by night (Exodus

1321-22) He reveals Himself at Mt Sinai through thundering lightning and

quakes (Exodus 1916) In the song of Moses the leader of Israel proclaims

that the LORD triumphed over pharaoh and his army at the crossing of the

Red Sea (Exodus 151ff) The LORD God also enters into a covenant

relationship with Israel (Exodus 20-31 34-40 Leviticus Numbers 5-10 15-

19 28-31 34-36 Deuteronomy is a second giving of the law to the

20generation under the age of twenty who grow up in the wilderness and are

about to enter the promise land)

The book of Joshua opens up with the LORD appointing Joshua as

Mosesrsquo successor and the one to lead them to divide up the land of Canaan

which God is giving them for an inheritance (Joshua 16) The promise is

made to be with them and prosper them so long as they observe His law In

the book of Judges the reader finds where Israel faithfully serves the LORD

throughout the life of Joshua and the elders who outlive Joshua (Judges 27)

but then a generation arises who does not ldquoknowrdquo the LORD (Judges 210)

but forsake Him for the pagan deities of the Canaanites God gives them

over to the hands of the surrounding nations due to Israelrsquos unfaithfulness

(Judges 211-23)54

He is the ldquoLORD of Hostsrdquo or ldquoAlmightyrdquo This designation first occurs

when Elkanah goes up every year to offer his sacrifice to the ldquoLORD of Hosts

at Shilohrdquo (1 Samuel 12-3 JRN)55 Hannah prays to the lsquoLORD of Hostsrsquo for

a son and vows to lsquogive himrsquo to the lsquoLORD of hostsrsquo all the days of his life (1

Samuel 111) Even the contextual usage of the verb צבא seems to show a 54A parallel to the idea of Israel being faithful until Joshua and the

elders is found in Deuteronomy 6 (the great ldquoShemardquo passage) where God commands Israel to keep the statutes themselves teach them to their children and their grandchildren (Deuteronomy 61-2) This theme of the unfaithfulness of the ldquofourthrdquo generation (you your son your grandson Moses Joshua Joshuarsquos elders) comes to pass in the book of Judges Brown-Driver-Briggs gives ldquowage war serverdquo as possible definitions pg 838 This verb is probably a cognate of the Akkadian masculine noun meaning ldquogangrdquo ldquoarmyrdquo or ldquotroopsrdquo John Huehnergard A Grammar of Akkadian Harvard Semitic Museum Publications Lawrence E Stager Gen Ed (Winona Lake Indiana Eisenbrauns 2000) 519

55BHS 443

21military meaning since the same term is used of the ldquocommanderrdquo of

Siserarsquos ldquoarmyrdquo or host (1 Samuel 129) Abener is the ldquocommanderrdquo of

Saulrsquos ldquoarmyrdquo or host (1 Samuel 1450) This word is found throughout Kings

and Chronicles to refer to both Israelrsquos and Judahrsquos army The prophets

especially love this designation of God Out of the 485 occurrences in the

Old Testament half of the references are to the first personality within the

Godhead Does this term reflect the idea that Yahweh has an angelic army

at his disposal While the Old Testament passages examined for this paper

may not come right out and state this the Bible as a whole does teach that

God has a mighty army56

Yahweh also plays an important role in the writings of the Hebrew

prophets The eighth century prophet Hosea uses the motif of God being the

Groom of the Bride of Israel and Father to the children of Israel God

(Elohim) tells the prophet to take a wife of harlotry (Gomer) and have

children (called ldquochildren of harlotryrdquo) these children typify Israelrsquos future

relationship with God as spiritual adultery (typical of Israelrsquos relationship to

God the spiritual idolatryadultery they were found guilty committing)

When Gomer goes back to her old ways Hosea redeems her from bondage

Israel once was Godrsquos ldquovirgin Bridgerdquo before she went after various pagan

godsgoddesses This narrative is a witness of Godrsquos love and mercy for His

rebellious Bride57

56The Hebrew-English Concordance 1351-54 B-D-B 839 For evidence of Godrsquos mighty army see Matthew 2531 2 Thessalonians 17-957 James T Dennison Jr ldquoProphetic Narrative Biography and Biblical Theology The Prophet Hoseardquo KERUX THE JOUNRAL OF NORTHWEST

22

The Second Personality in the Godhead


The Second personality within the Godhead is not a created being He

is there along with the Father and Spirit in the beginning (Genesis 126-27)

There are numerous references to ldquoChristrdquo in the Old Testament58 Some of

the descriptions we want to examine are the AngelMessenger the Messiah

the Son and the Servant Perhaps the first direct mention in the Hebrew

Bible to the ldquoSonrdquo is Genesis 315 In this passage the ldquoLORD Godrdquo is

handing out punishment upon the serpent Eve and Adam God tells the

serpent ldquoAnd I will put hostility between you and between the woman and

between your seed and between her seed He shall crush your head but

you shall bruise His heelrdquo (JRN) With the promise of a curse upon mankind

for his sin there is also the hope of salvation This verse may be said to be

the first promise in the Bible (the ldquoprotoevangeliumrdquo) of Godrsquos ultimate

victory over Satan (ldquobruise your headrdquo) Kaiser sees the difference between

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Vol 22 No 2 (September 2007) 3-8 58 The 19th century Old Testament expert Alfred Edersheim claims that rabbinic scholars counted some 456 prophecies which apply to the Messiah in the Old Testament They counted 75 from the Pentateuch 243 from the prophets and 138 from the writings The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 2 (Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1962) 710 While this work is a little dated and not all rabbinic Messianic references are certain yet I do believe his approach still has merit today Kaiser in his book The Messiah in the Old Testament 237-41 puts forward some 75 strong solid prophecies concerning the Messiah in the Old Testament

23the ldquocrushingrdquo to the head and the ldquocrushingrdquo (same Hebrew word) to the

heel as the ldquodifference between a mortal blow to the skull and a slight injury

to the victorrdquo59 Moskala refers to this promise of a seed the promise that

God would eventually be victorious over ldquoSatanrdquo and evil as the ldquotheological

centerrdquo of the Old Testament60 Some would also cite Genesis 425 where

Eve states that God has blessed her with ldquoanother seed instead of Ablerdquo as

another Messianic reference61

The Patriarchal Age

The underlying principle in the Old Testament connects the second

personality of the Godhead with the promise made to Abraham in Genesis

121-4 (the promise of seeddescendants in conjunction with the covenant

offered by God to Abraham)62 I believe the second personality in the

Godhead is one of the three manifestations that appears unto Abram in

59Clyde M Woods Genesis-Exodus The Living Way Commentary on the Old Testament (Shreveport Lambert Book House 1972) 15-16 Kaiser The Messiah in the Old Testament 41 While this is a prophecy of what Paul later describes as the ldquosecond Adamrdquo this does not imply that this is a prophecy concerning the ldquovirgin birthrdquo of Christ

60Jili Moskala ldquoThe Message of Godrsquos People in the Old Testamentrdquo Journal of the Adventist Theological Society 191-2 (2008) 4 Moskala also refers to this passage as the ldquofoundational hoperdquo in the Hebrew Bible (see Genesis 41 Numbers 2417 Deuteronomy 1815 18 Isaiah 714 96 Micah 52) pg 4

61BHS 5 7 Edersheim 711 Another more modern treatment of the Messiah is Richard S Hess and M Daniel Carroll R Ed Israelrsquos Messiah In The Bible and The Dead Sea Scrolls (Grand Rapids Baker 2003) This book gives a good treatment of the Messianic debate

62 Willis J Beecher The Prophets And The Promise (New York Thomas Y Crowell amp Company Publishers 1905) 200-10 Some of the references to this promise in Genesis are Genesis 1315 172 5 7-8 19 4814 Paul picks up on this idea of the promise fulfilled in Jesus in Galatians 316 19

24Genesis 18 and there is a good possibility he is one of the two ldquomessengersrdquo

(often translated angels messengers) we read of in Genesis 191ff who warn

Lot to leave the city We have our first direct reference to the ldquoAngel of the

LORDrdquo in Genesis 2211 (where Abraham is called upon not to sacrifice his

son) The difficulty in translation is that terms rendered in English versions

often carry a lot of negative baggage (like angel) The Hebrew and Greek

terms both mean ldquomessengerrdquo This does not imply that I believe the

Messiah is a created being The Angel of the LORD tells Abraham to refrain

from sacrificing Isaac (vs 11-12) and then calls out to him a second time and

says ldquoBy myself I have sworn oracle of the LORD for because that which

you did in this matter and you did not withhold your son your only onerdquo (vs

12 JRN)63 The Angle here is speaking as if He is the LORD or a

representative of the LORD (vs 15) He is not an angelic being but rather a

manifestation of the LORD Perhaps this is what Abraham means when he

tells his eldest servant to choose a wife for Isaac from among his own

people promising that the LORD would send His ldquoangelrdquo or ldquomessengerrdquo

along with him (Genesis 247) This will help lay the ground work for future

references to this Messianic Messenger throughout the rest of the Old

Testament

In Genesis 31 Jacob relates a dream to Rachel where the LORD tells

him to return to his family and country (vs 3) In this dream Jacob says that

the ldquoAngel of Godrdquo spoke to him in this dream (vs 11) Then the Angel

63BHS 32

25declares ldquoI am the God of Beth-el which you anointed there a standing

stone which you voted to me therehelliprdquo (Genesis 3113)64 Again the Angel or

Messenger of God is equated with God El or Elohim When Jacob prepares to

meet Esau after years of separation we read where Godrsquos ldquoangelsrdquo or

messengers meet him along the way (Genesis 321) I would argue that

these are the same begins we read about in Genesis 18-19 I also believe

that the ldquomanrdquo Jacob wrestles (Genesis 3224-32) is also the Messenger of

God Jacob clearly states that he has seen Godrsquos face (Genesis 3230) not

the face of an angelic heavenly being One of the earliest Messianic

prophecies during the Patriarchal Age is that made by Jacob before his death

In his blessing upon Judah he speaks of a ldquoscepterrdquo coming from Judah

called Shiloh (whom the people would obey) There is a reference here to

tying his donkey to a vine and washing his clothes in the ldquoblood of grapesrdquo

(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age

During the Mosaic era we again run across the AngelMessenger of the

LORD In Exodus 3 the text states that the LORDrsquoS Angel is the one who

appears to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 32) ldquoAnd the Messenger of

the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire from the midst of the thorny

bush And he looked and behold the thorny bush was burning with fire but

64Ibid 49

26the bush was not consumedrdquo (JRN)65 To show that this Messenger is

Divine one notices that verses 4-7 the LORD (Yahweh) addresses Moses

from the midst of the bush He identifies himself as the God of Abraham

Isaac and Jacob (vs 6) Here the Messenger is also connected with the

LORD (Yahweh) who is the ldquoI Amrdquo (vs 14) The Messenger of God is that

pillar of cloud that divides Israel from pharaohrsquos army (Exodus 1419) One

could argue then that this pillar of cloud is the Messenger who leads Israel

all through their wilderness wandering (Exodus 1321-22) God promises to

send his Messenger with Israel during their journey through the wilderness

(Exodus 2320-21) and would fight for them (vs 23) This Messenger is no

angelic being for if you provoke him to anger then he will not forgive you of

your transgressions (vs 21) Who can forgive sins but God Moses even

states over in Numbers 2016 that this very same ldquoAngelrdquo brought them up

out of the land of Egypt

The Messenger of God plays a role during the period of the Judges

The Messenger reveals to the Israelites that the LORD will no longer fight

their battles due to their idolatry and breaking of the covenant (Judges 21-

7) The LORDrsquoS Messenger appears to Manoah and tells the wife of Manoah

(the first time) and to Manoah (a second time) that they will have a son who

will be a Nazarite from his birth (Judges 13) They were afraid they would

die for they had seen God (vs 22) The Man that appears to Joshua who is

the commander of the LORDrsquoS army may also be this same Messenger

65BHS 88

27(Joshua 514-15) He tells Joshua to take his shoes off (vs 15) as the

Messenger told Moses back in Exodus 3 Isaiah proclaims that Godrsquos

Messenger ldquosavedrdquo his people (Isaiah 639)66

The term ldquoAnointed Onerdquo (חhמש) or ldquoMessiahrdquo (יחhמש) is used to refer to

the anointing of a priest (Exodus 3030) a king (Judges 915 2 Samuel 53)

or prophet (Elisha 1 Kings 191) Although Isaiah may be the typology of the

one anointed to proclaim ldquogood newsrdquo to Israel (Isaiah 622ff) Jesus applies

this passage to himself (as the antitype) when reading from the scriptures

one Sabbath at the synagogue in his home town of Nazareth (Luke 414-21)

The psalmist asks why does the heathen nations align themselves against

the LORD and his Anointed One (Psalm 22) This noun is popular

throughout the Psalms (Psalm 22 1850 206 288 849 8938 8951

10515 13210 17) These passages are to be looked upon as being

typological of the Christ who is to come Out of the ten times the noun is

found in the Psalms three passages seem to be the strongest references to

the Christ of the New Testament (Psalm 22 Psalm 13210 17 esp vs 17)

The next strongest prophecy about the Messiah comes from Daniel 924-27

66 The term messenger is used of the one who would prepare the way for the coming Messiah (Malachi 31) According to the New Testament John the Baptizer is that messenger (Matthew 1110) Mark combines the prophecy in Malachi with Isaiah 403 The prophet Malachi actually makes reference to two Messengers (which of course is fulfilled in the New Testament in John and Jesus) This section is from my own personal research but later on found my thoughts confirmed in Paul Louis Metzger Trinitarian Soundings in Systematic Theology (London T amp T Clark 2005) chapter 3 ldquoThe Trinity in Hebrew Scripturesrdquo by Paul Blackham 35-48

28(the seventy weeks prophecy) The last reference to the ldquoAnointed Onerdquo is

Habakkukrsquos prayer in Habakkuk 31367

There is another name to describe the second personality within the

Godhead (that is only found in the Mosaic period specifically from the

prophet Isaiah and the book of Daniel) and that word is Branch (from the

masculine noun נצר meaning a ldquoshootrdquo or ldquosproutrdquo)68 used here in a

metaphorical sense of offspring69 Isaiah 111 states ldquoAnd a twig will come

out from the stem of Jesse and a Branch from his roots will be fruitfulrdquo

(JRN)70 Notice the parallelism in this verse the classic synonymous

parallelism found throughout the wisdom literature and the prophets

Synonymous parallelism refers to a theme that is stated in the first line is

stated or repeated in the second or ldquosuccessive stitchesrdquo71 Berry classifies 67The Hebrew-English Concordance 1033-34 In Peterrsquos sermon in

Acts 425-28 he connects this with the crucifixion of Jesus The verb form occurs some seventy times while noun masculine form יחhמש occurs some thirty-nine times Kaiser speaks of three types of Old Testament prophecies (concerning the Messiah) (1) Direct prophecy as is the case of where the Messiah would be born (Bethlehem Micah 52) (2) Typical or Typological prophecy as in Melchezedek being a type of Christ (Hebrews makes Jesus the antitype) (3) Application prophecy as in ldquoout of Egypt have I called my sonrdquo (Hosea 111Matthew 215) For further explanation see Kaiser The Messiah in the Old Testament 33-35 Beecher points out that even during the Maccabean period following the desecration of the altar that they were looking for a prophet to rebuild the altar (1 Macc 446 1441 927) which implies he has not come yet See Beecher The Prophets And The Promise 65

68B-D-B 665-66 69HWF Geseniusrsquo Hebrew And Chaldee Lexicon To The Old Testament

Scriptures Trans by Samuel Prideaux Tregelles (Grand Rapids Baker Repr 1988) 564

70BHS 692 71George Arthur Buttrick Ed Interpreterrsquos Dictionary of the Bible K-Q

(New York Abingdon 1962) sv ldquoHebrew Poetry by Norman K Gottwald 833

29this as ldquoprophetic poetryrdquo72 The idea here is of a new sprig that grows from

a fallen tree and produces fruit that will ldquoprosperrdquo The Messianic Branch

has his roots in Jesse the father of David73 In Isaiah 1419 we read ldquoAnd

you yourself have been cast down from your grave as a branch abhorred to

be clothed with the ones slain being pierced by a sword going down unto the

stones of the pit as a corpse trodden downrdquo (JRN)74 The context is clearly

a taunt by Israel against Babylonrsquos king that he will one day be brought down

(the ldquomorningrdquo star of vs 12) This may not be a direct prophecy (as Isaiah

111) but perhaps an indirect reference to the nature of his death (similar to

Isaiah 53) The third Isaianic reference to the Branch comes from Isaiah

6021 where God promises that his people would inherit a land where his

Branch is planted75

The second person in the Godhead is depicted as a son The Hebrew

word for ldquosonrdquo ( qן occurs some 4921 times in the Hebrew Bible A frequent (ב

designation for Godrsquos people Israel the Jews is the expression ldquosonsrdquo or

ldquochildren of Israelrdquo (sometimes simply translated in modern versions as

72Donald K Berry An Introduction To Wisdom And Poetry Of The Old Testament (Nashville Broadman amp Holman Publishers 1999) 209 212 Berry lists five different categories of Hebrew poetry (cultic prophetic love wisdom and a fifth category that includes a broad range of Old Testament literature law dramatic etc)

73Edward J Young The Book of Isaiah The English Text With Introduction Exposition And Notes Vol 1 Chapters 1 to 18 (Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1965 Repr 1993) 378-79

74BHS 696 75Beecher notes that the main purpose of the prophets is to transmit or

pass along the doctrine of God (law torah) to Israel The foundation of Israelrsquos doctrine is that of ldquomonotheismrdquo the belief in one God not a plurality of gods Part of this doctrine the prophets proclaimed included that about the coming Messiah The Prophets And The Promise 133

30ldquoIsraelitesrdquo) first occurs in Exodus 1176 Going all the way back to Genesis

315 (the seed of woman is prophetic of the crushing blow deal out to Satan)

and then in Genesis 41 (as noted earlier) where Eve states she has born a

ldquoman childrdquo by the LORDrsquoS help this begins the promise of a coming son

One example of this Old Testament theme is found in the promise

made to David that a son would be born to him (Solomon) and that he would

build a house for the LORD and God would establish his kingdom forever as

foreshadowing of the Messiah (see 1 Chronicles 229-10) A similar promise

is made to Solomon at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem that

faithfulness on his part would ensure a manson would sit upon his throne

(see 1 Kings 815-21 24-26 see also the parallel account in 2 Chronicles 64-

11 15-17) Psalm 89 reflects upon God anointing David whom he calls ldquomy

servantrdquo (Psalm 8920) the inspired writer reminds Israel of the

consequences of her sons not keeping Godrsquos commandments (vv 30-37)77

The son is also a king who belongs to God (Psalm 27) Isaiah speaks of the

birth of a ldquosonrdquo who would be born of a ldquovirginrdquo (Isaiah 714) and would also

76The Hebrew-English Concordance 278-30877Ibid 246-47 Beecher notes that while there are many prophecies

concerning the Messiah in the Old Testament there is only one underlying prophecy (the one made to Abraham in Genesis 121-4 and runs throughout the rest of the Old Testament) He also distinguishes between Messianic Prophecy Messianic Prediction and Messianic Doctrine The so-called Messianic Doctrine is that covenant promise made to Abraham (Genesis 12) continues down through the rest of Old Testament history and into the New Testament The doctrine of Christ preached is the fulfillment of the messianic doctrine spoken by the prophets See Beecher pg 176-79

31bring about a government of peace that descends from the Davidic throne

(Isaiah 96)78

There is the term ldquoServantrdquo used to describe the coming one The

word for servant is found some twenty times in the first fourteen chapters of

the last half of the book (Beecher begins at Isaiah chapter 39) always

singular in number Yet in the last few chapters of Isaiah (beginning around

chapter 54) the word servant occurs in the plural some ten times In the

twelve out of twenty occurrences of servant (in the singular) the context is

ldquodenoting Israelrdquo When the context uses the plural servants then the

meaning is to the ldquoIsraelitesrdquo (perhaps in some instances of those who have

been ldquoadoptedrdquo)79

There are twelve instances (in eight scriptural passages) where the

term Servant is referring to Israel rather than to a coming Messiah80 What is

the prophetrsquos message in these prophetic poetic passages Why is Israel

depicted as a servant The purpose for this prophetic ldquopoemrdquo is to bring

about consolation to the suffering (see Isaiah 401) and thus to wake up a

78The Hebrew English Concordance 278-308 There is great disagreement among scholars on the meaning of almah in Isaiah 714 Yet the point of this passage is the prophetic aspect Kaiser lists three categories of prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the Messiah (direct typical and application) However one interprets this verse this passage meets the definition of prophecy (Matthewrsquos fulfillment Matthew 223) The Messiah in the Old Testament 33-35 See Beecherrsquos explanation of the second Psalm pg 250 and his use of the term ldquoMessianic Doctrinerdquo to refer to all Messianic prophecies including Isaiah 714 and 91-7 pg 252

79Beecher 270 80See Isaiah 418-10 441-3 4421 544 (in this context the prophet is

speaking of Cyrus whom God calls his ldquoanointedrdquo but he is ldquodistinguished from the Servantrdquo) 4820 4218-19 439-10 Beecher 270-71

32spirit of ldquocourage and conscience and aspirationrdquo within Israel81 The end

goal of these servant passages is to point out ldquothe formally stated subjectrdquo

(alluded to in Isaiah 408) and that subject is ldquoThe Word of Our God

Standeth Foreverrdquo God declares to his people (servants) that his promises

will come to pass Israel can be called Godrsquos servants because they are part

of the covenant people (Abraham JacobIsrael on down to David) ldquothe

children of the promiserdquo 82

There is a secondary category of servants who although they are

Israelites they may be natural born Jews or ldquoadoptedrdquo From chapters 54 on

to the end of the book these servants who are mentioned are considered as

ldquosharing in the promiserdquo of God to Abraham but they may not be an Israelite

in ldquoan ethnical senserdquo but a spiritual sense83

A third category of servant passages sees the ldquoServant speaking in the

first personrdquo There are four such Servant passages (Harrison refers to them

as the ldquoServant oraclesrdquo) The first Servant oracle is Isaiah 421-4 He is

called ldquoMy Servantrdquo and is the one in whom the Lord has place ldquoMy Spiritrdquo on

him (vs 1) His mission is to bring forth ldquojusticerdquo (vs 1 3 and 4) The

second of these oracles is Isaiah 491-6 (Beecher says vs 1-7) Here the

Servant is said to be called by the LORD from the womb (vs 1) who was

shaped in the womb (vs 5) His mouth is like a sword (vs 2) he brings

81Ibid 271 82Ibid 272 83Ibid 278-79 The servant passages under consideration are Isaiah

5417 566 6317 658-15 and 6614 Others argue that the ldquofaithfulrdquo in Israel is what Isaiah has in mind

33salvation to the Gentiles (vs 6) and is Israelrsquos Redeemer (vs 7) God

describes his people as a wife (ldquomotherrdquo) given a bill of divorcement and

sold to creditors (vs 1) Yet the Lord God will give ldquohelprdquo (vs 7) In verse

10 Isaiah seems to connect the LORD (Yahweh) with the Servant (through

parallelism) The third prophecy is found in Isaiah 501-11 (some limit this

context to vs 4-9) Finally the fourth of these oracles (and perhaps the best

known) is found in Isaiah 5213-5312 In this last oracle the Servant is

promised to be exalted but also be put to death violently and buried with the

wicked (some commentators will divide this section into the exalted servant

and the suffering servant)84

The Third Personality in the Godhead85


The third personality within the Godhead is never referred to as a

created being He is there in the beginning ldquohoveringrdquo over the waters

(Genesis 12) as a mother would hover over her younglings (which suggest a

close ldquointimaterdquo relationship between the Father and Holy Spirit)86 He is

there in Genesis 126-27 (ldquolet us make man in our imagerdquo) and in Genesis

84Ibid 279 RK Harrison Introduction To The Old Testament (Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1969 Repr 1991) 488-89 Harrison has a good chapter on ldquoProblems In Old Testament Theologyrdquo where he deals with the issues of covenant and the concept of Messiah pg 476-91

85Dyrness argues that while there is a ldquoconceptionrdquo of Ruah in the Old Testament the ldquofull expressionrdquo is not found until the New Testament especially as Jesus reveals him in John 14-16 and sees his outpouring in Acts 2 pg 201

86Ibid 203

34322 (ldquothe man has become like us helliprdquo) Mankind depends upon Godrsquos Ruah

or ldquopresencerdquo for God states in Genesis 63 ldquoMy Spirit will not judge

(contend) with man forever because he is flesh [or by their going astray he

is flesh] and his days shall be 120 yearsrdquo (JRN)87 God would walk about in

the Garden of Eden in the Ruah or ldquowindrdquo of the day (evening Genesis 38)

Godrsquos wind or Ruah would blow over the earth and cause the waters to

recede after the flood (Genesis 81)88

The Patriarchal Age

Evidence for the Spirit of God during this era is sparse Although he is

not specifically mentioned by name the Holy Spirit also seems to be there in

Genesis 18 and 19 (one of the three manifestations) when the LORD

promises to Abraham and Sarah that the covenant son will be born to them

and the wrath He will pour out upon Sodom and Gomorrah The Spirit of God

is involved in revelation and visions as far back as the Patriarchal Age When

Joseph is able to interpret pharaohrsquos dream pharaoh credits the Ruah of God

as the one who enables Joseph to know these mysteries (Genesis 4138)89

The Mosaic Age

The Spirit of God gives talents or ldquoabilitiesrdquo that are not limited to

interpreting dreams or receiving revelations We find in Exodus 313 and

3531 where Godrsquos Ruah gives Bezalel the son of Uri the ldquoartisticrdquo ability to

87BHS 8-9 Dyrness 203

88The Hebrew-English Concordance 1461 89Dyrness 203

35build the tabernacle and all of the utensils used in worship to the Lord In

Numbers 11 Yahweh commands Moses to take the seventy elders to the

tabernacle and there the LORD put the Spirit that was upon Moses and put

upon them and (the text says) the elders prophesied Two men by the name

of Eldad and Medad did not go with them but the Spirit came upon them in

the camp and they likewise prophesied The Spirit that God gave them is

described as the ldquoSpirit of the LORDrdquo or ldquoYahwehrdquo (see Numbers 1116-17

25-29)90

In the histographic or historical books in the Old Testament (some

would include Deuteronomy Joshua-2 Kings 1-2 Chronicles-EzraNehemiah)

Block shows that while these historical books make up one-third of the

Hebrew Bible while only 18 percent (or 68 times) does the term ruah occur

in this section (out of a total of 378 words) The ration of ruah in the Old

Testament as compared to ldquototal number of wordsrdquo is 1785 however the

ratio in the history section is 11494 We should not conclude Block says

that the historical books have a ldquoless spiritual outlookrdquo than the prophetic

and poetic books91 Remarkably the word ruah occurs ten times in the book

of Judges eleven times in the Samuel narrative (1 Samuel 11-1623 1918-

24 283-25) five times during Davidrsquos rise to power (1 Samuel 171-1917

201-282 2 Samuel 11-525) three times during the Davidic rule (2 Samuel

90Ibid 111 Dyrness 203 Mosesrsquo gift of the Spirit seems to be that of leading Godrsquos spiritual flock

91Daniel I Block ldquoEmpowered by the Spirit of God The Holy Spirit in the Histographic Writings of the Old Testamentrdquo The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Vol 1 No 1 (Spring 1997) 42

3661-913 2023-2425) and none during the time of King Davidrsquos ldquofamilyrdquo

turmoil (2 Samuel 101-2022)92 ldquoIn the Old Testament the Spirit is a term

for Godrsquos outgoing energy creative and sustainingrdquo (see Job 334 Psalm

10430)93

The ldquosemantic rangerdquo of the word ruah in the historical books is (1)

ldquoMeteorologicalrdquo in the sense of ldquowindrdquo (see 2 Samuel 2211 1 Kings 1745

1 Kings 1911 2 Kings 317) or with the meaning ldquosiderdquo (1 Chronicles 924)

(2) in an ldquoAnthropologicalrdquo sense of breath (see Judges 1519 1 Samuel

3012 1 Kings 105 1 Kings 215 2 Chronicles 94) with the idea of the

heart mind or soul of man (see Deuteronomy 230 Joshua 211 51 Judges

83 1 Samuel 115 1 Chronicles 526 2 Chronicles 2116 3622 Ezra 15)

(3) in a ldquoTheologicalrdquo sense of ldquoAgencyAgent of Providence (Divine

Breath)rdquo see 2 Samuel 2216 The ldquoAgencyAgent of Wisdom Instruction

Admonitionrdquo (see Deuteronomy 349 Nehemiah 920) ldquoAgencyAgent of

Prophetic Inspirationrdquo as in ldquoNormative Prophecyrdquo (see 2 Samuel 232 2

Kings 29 15 1 Chronicles 1218[19] 151 2 Chronicles 2014 2420

Nehemiah 920) or as in the case of ldquoEcstatic Prophecyrdquo (see 1 Samuel

1010 1810 1920 1923 2 Kings 2224 2 Chronicles 1823) or in the

sense of being a ldquoMember of the Heavenly Courtrdquo (see 2 Kings 2221-23 2

Chronicles 1820-22) or as an ldquoAgencyAgent of Disasterrdquo (see Judges 923

92Ibid 61 93 Derek Kidner Genesis An Introduction amp Commentary The Tyndale

Old Testament Commentary DJ Wiseman Gen Ed (Leicester England Inter-Varsity Press 1967) 45

371 Samuel 1614-16 23 1 Samuel 199 2 Kings 197) or as an

ldquoAgencyAgent of Messianic Adoptionrdquo (see 1 Samuel 1613-14)94

How does the Spirit operate in the books of history According to

Psalm 1397 we cannot flee or escape from His Ruach or His facepresence

The Spirit places a role in providence In 2 Samuel 222-51 David reflects

back upon Yahwehrsquos control over nature and delivering him from his

enemies just as He did for Moses and the children of Israel at the Red Sea

crossing (Exodus 158) according to 2 Samuel 2216 Yahweh parted the

waters by His ruah (Exodus 1421)95 The work of the Spirit also works as the

ldquoAgent of Conveyancerdquo The work of Godrsquos Spirit that comes that bears the

closest relation to the term Ruah is ldquowindrdquo and involves the Spirit ldquopicking

up an individual and transporting that person to another placerdquo This idea

occurs twice in connection with the prophet of Elijah In 1 Kings 1812 the

prophet Obadiah meets Elijah and the man of God commands him to bring

King Ahab to him The prophet Obadiah objects because if he goes and gets

King Ahab then the Spirit of Yahweh will ldquocarry him awayrdquo (Heb word ) to

some place that is unknown and endure the wrath of the king Then

in 2 Kings 216 following Elijah being carried away by ldquofiery chariots

and horsesrdquo in heaven the ldquosons of the prophetsrdquo suggests that the

LORD has lifted the prophet up (again the word ) and thrown () which means ldquoto castrdquo might suggest they think that a strong ldquodivinerdquo

94Ibid 95Ibid 44

38wind-storm has carried Elijah away rather than a chariot of fire96 The Spirit

also works as an ldquoAgent of Empowermentrdquo or ldquoConscriptionrdquo Block says

that the ldquoformulardquo for the ldquocharismatic endowmentrdquo by the Lord is written

ldquothe Spirit of the LORD came upon helliprdquo (see Judges 310 1129) or ldquothe Spirit

of the LORD rushed upon helliprdquo (see Judges 146 19 1514 1 Samuel 116)

There is a figurative sense where the LORDrsquoS Spirit clothed the individual in

question (Judges 634) Some scholars might argue this is simply a ldquostylisticrdquo

feature of the author but the two phrases portray ldquodifferent imagesrdquo The

verb that is found in these passages occurs only two other times in the

Old Testament (once in 2 Samuel 1918 but the meaning here is not for

certain) Yet the other occurrence Amos 56 is clear Here the inspired

writer uses this verb as of ldquofire breaking out and consuming everything in its

path suggesting a sudden burst of unrestrained energyrdquo The description of

Gideon being ldquoclothedrdquo by the Spirit brings to mind a prophet who is

ldquowrapped in divine spiritual garbrdquo97

Block disagrees with the argument that the Spirit in the Old Testament

overwhelmed people while in the New Testament the Spirit dwells within

people He sees these examples during the period of the judges and the

united monarch as exceptions and not the rule The reason why the Spirit of

Yahweh comes upon people so forcefully in Old Testament is due to the

situation98

96Ibid 97Ibid 44-4598Ibid

39

The Three Personalities within the Trinity New Testament

Unity and Diversity in the New Testament

The New Testament speaks of the unity of the Godhead just as the Old

Testament does We remember the statement in Deuteronomy 64 (the

great Shema passage) where Moses declares that the LORD God is one99

Paul echoes this unity over in the book of Ephesians In Ephesians 44-6

Paul states ldquoThere is one body and one Spirit just as you are also called in

one hope of your calling One Lord one faith one baptism one God and

Father of all who is over all and through all an in allrdquo (JRN)100 Here we

read of the Spirit (Holy Spirit) the Lord (kyrios) and God the Father They

are one just as there is one faith and baptism

99 Emil Brunner claims that there is no ldquoexplicitrdquo doctrine or reference of a Trinity in the New Testament He states that this is a church doctrine ldquoestablished by the dogma of the ancient Church and thus is neither a biblical doctrine nor a church doctrine The Trinity is ldquoa theological doctrine which defends the central faith of the Bible and of the Churchrdquo Since this is not part of the ldquomessagerdquo of the church this belongs in the ldquosphere of theologyrdquo Brunner The Doctrine of God Dogmatics Vol 1 Trans by Olive Wyon (Philadelphia The Westminster Press 1946) 205-06 I personally do not hold to Brunnerrsquos view

100 Barbara Aland Kurt Aland Johannes Karavidopoulos Carlo M Martini and Bruce M Metzger eds The Greek New Testament 4th Revised Ed (Stutgart German Bible Society 1994) 662

54

37The doctrine behind the great Shema passage is acknowledged by

Jesus when he answers the question (in Matthew 2237-40) about what is the

greatest commandment in the law He says the first greatest

commandment is to ldquoloverdquo God (a direct quote from Deuteronomy 65) In

John 841 the crowd confesses their belief in only ldquoonerdquo God but they do so

because they misunderstand Jesusrsquo claim to be one with the Father (they are

probably thinking in terms of paganism or idolatry) Jesus claims to be one

with the Father in John 1030 and the crowd try to stone him

Yet the New Testament also teaches the diversity within the Godhead

(just as in the Hebrew Bible) The three personalities within the Godhead are

first found in the baptism of Jesus (recorded in Matthew 316-17 Mark 19-

11 Luke 321-22) Here we see Jesus coming up out of the water the Spirit

descending like a dove and the Father speaking from heaven In Matthewrsquos

account of Jesusrsquo divine commission to the apostles he tells them that they

are to baptize in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew

2819) The very last verse in 2 Corinthains speaks of ldquoThe grace of the Lord

Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit [be]

with you allrdquo (JRN)101 Paul makes numerous other references to the Triune

Godhead throughout his epistles (Romans 89-11 2 Timothy 114-16

Ephesians 113-14 314-19) Peter mentions the Father Son and Spirit in

the ldquosalvationrdquo process (1 Peter 12)102 The book of Jude says ldquoBut you

101T G N T 637102Dennis Fortin ldquoGod the Trinity and Adventism An Introduction to

the Issuesrdquo Journal of the Adventist Theological Society 171 (Spring

38beloved building up yourselves in your most holy faith praying in the Holy

Spirit Keep yourselves in the love of God while waiting for the mercy of our

Lord Jesus Christ into eternal liferdquo (Jude 20-21)103 The doctrine of the Trinity

does not teach as some accuse us of advocating the concept of three gods

(as in arithmetic 1+1+1=3) Rather that God exists as three divine

personalities (1x1x1=1)104 The Father Son and Holy Spirit and one in

ldquoessencerdquo but they are ldquodifferent in functionrdquo105

The Father

The first person in the Godhead is often referred to in the New

Testament as Father (πατήρ) He is addressed in the vocative case (lsquoO

Fatherrsquo) some thirty-three times106 This may be the connection with Paulrsquos

usage of the Aramaic equivalent Abba in Galatians 46 (ldquoAbba Fatherrdquo) 2006) 6

103Ibid 830 104I heard this statement in a debate a number of years ago between

Jack Evans and a Muslim Another suggestion to help explain to people that the Biblical word ldquoGodrdquo implies a plurality is to look at the traditional definition for the word family As most of us were brought up a family implies a plurality (mom dad siblings at least) You canrsquot be a family of one person This is something I thought up in my recent studies

105Norman L Geisler and Frank Turek I Donrsquot Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist Foreword by David Limbaugh (Wheaton IL Crossway Books 2004) 350-52

106John R Kohlenberger Edward W Goodrick and James A Swanson Exhaustive Concordance to the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids Zondervan 1995) 771 See Matthew 69 1125-26 2639 42 Mark 1436 Luke 1021 112 1512 18 21 (Parable of Lost Son) 1624 27 30 2242 2334 46 John 1141 1227-28 171 5 11 21 24 25 Acts 72 221 Romans 815 Galatians 46 1 John 213-14 Out of the some 413 times father occurs in the New Testament 153 of the time the term refer to earthly fathers

39meaning ldquoTheO Father Fatherrdquo The numerous references to the first

person in the Godhead as Father support the Old Testament idea of there

being ldquoone Godrdquo but three different persons A person would be hard

pressed to take the position that there is only one person within the

Godhead primarily the ldquoJesus onlyrdquo doctrine when one finds Jesus (while in

the Garden of Gethsemane) praying to God the Father in heaven (addressing

him as ldquoO Fatherrdquo) unless Jesus is simply talking to himself in the garden

He is ldquoGod the Fatherrdquo some forty-two times107 In the gospel of Matthew

seven times he is designated as ldquoheavenly Fatherrdquo (a popular phrase for

Matthew particularly in the Sermon on the Mount)108

The gospel of John contains one of the strongest theological evidences

for there being a distinction in roles or functions between the Father Son

and Holy Spirit The author of this gospel seems to go out of his way to

clarify any misunderstanding about the distinct roles between the three The

Father is the Designer the Son is the Redeemer and the Holy Spirit is the

Revealer Perhaps this is why John is the one who records twice that the

Jews wanted to stone Jesus (John 859 for claiming to exist before Abraham)

In John 1030-31 they try to stone him because he claims to be ldquoonerdquo with

the Father (Jesus calls him here ldquoMy Fatherrdquo) They understand his claim for

107Ibid John 627 842 Romans 17 156 1 Corinthians 13 86 1524 2 Corinthians 12-3 1131 Galatians 11 3-4 Ephesians 12-3 46 520 623 Philippians 12 211 420 Colossians 12-3 317 1 Thessalonians 11 3 311 13 2 Thessalonians 11-2 216 1 Timothy 12 2 Timothy 12 Titus 14 Philemon vs 3 James 127 1 Peter 12-3 2 Peter 117 2 John vs 3l Jude vs 1 Revelation 16

108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239

40they accuse him of blasphemy (for claiming to be God vs 33) No sane or

honest person would claim to be equal with the Father In Lukersquos account of

the early years of Jesus we run across the occasion when the young twelve

year old boy is left behind in Jerusalem following Passover and his parents

end up finding him in the temple (Luke 243-47) When they ask him why he

had put them through all of this he reminded them that he was about his

Fatherrsquos (again ldquoMy Fatherrdquo) business (or in his house vs 49)109 The gospel

of John alone refers to the first person in the Godhead as Father some 122

times (137 times the word father is found total) the greatest number of any

other New Testament book (Matthew uses this term 64 times Mark 18 and

Luke 56)110

While Jesus could say that he and the Father are ldquoonerdquo in essence

(John 1030) yet during his time on earth the Father is greater than the Son

(John 1428) The Son speaks the Fatherrsquos teachings (John 838 40 1249-

50 1424) and receives his ldquocommandsrdquo (John 1018 1431 1510)

Everything the Son does is in the Fatherrsquos ldquonamerdquo (John 1025) The Son

sought not to bring glory to himself but to glorify the Father (John 1227-28

1413 174)111 The Son is obedient to the Father and willing to undergo the

cross because of the Fatherrsquos will The fourth gospel also states (some 41

109 The fourth gospel shows that the Fatherrsquos will (as the Designer) sends Jesus to earth (John 530) The Son (as the Redeemer) fulfills the Fatherrsquos will (John 316-17) by dying on the cross to offer eternal life to believers (John 314 651-58 1011) The Holy Spirit is the Revealer of the Fatherrsquos will (John 1416-18 25) See Brunner 206-07

110Leon Morris New Testament Theology (Grand Rapids Zondervan 1986 Repr 1990) 248

111Ibid 249-50

41times) that the Father sent the Son (again emphasizing the will of the

Father) The Father is depicted in John 15 as being the ldquovine-dresserrdquo who

tends to the spiritual vine As his children we are to be fruitful and show

forth the Fatherrsquos attributes in our lives One particular feature about Johnrsquos

gospel is he portrays the Father as a Deity who is concerned for his children

(in the mythology of the Greek gods they were too busy to be concerned

with the affairs of humanity see John 517 19)112 This is what Guthrie refers

to as part of God the Fatherrsquos ldquoprovidential carerdquo Nothing falls to the

ground without his knowledge (Matthew 1029) He feeds the birds of the air

and he will feed and clothe us (Matthew 626ff) The Father sends the rain

on the inhabitants of the earth (Matthew 545) Because the Father cares for

us we can go to him in prayer (Matthew 611 Luke 113) The epistles also

speak of the care of our Heavenly Father (Romans 119ff James 117

Romans 828)113

A casual reading of the New Testament also finds the Father simply

referred to as ldquoGodrdquo (ϑεός) John uses this word for the second person in the

Godhead 83 times (second only to ldquoFatherrdquo in the fourth gospel) For

example John 316-17 the reader is told ldquoFor God so loved the world hellip For

God sent not his Sonrdquo (JRN)114 Thus God here is the equivalent to saying

that the Father sent the Son In John 410 Jesus tells the woman at the well

112Ibid 250-51113Donald Guthrie New Testament Theology (Downers Grove IL

InterVarsity Press 1981) 79-80114T G N T 330

42ldquoIf you knew the gift of God helliprdquo(JRN)115 Godrsquos gift Jesus is referring to is

probably God the Father Jesus tells his disciples in John 141 that if they

believe in him then they must also believe in God Then the next verse

Jesus talks about his Fatherrsquos house (thus calling him God in verse one and

Father in verse two) John makes a connection between the Son (Jesus) and

God the Father in that Jesus is the ldquoSon of Godrdquo (John 134) Jesus is the

ldquoLamb of Godrdquo (John 129 36) he is also the ldquobread of Godrdquo (John 633) and

he is ldquothe holy one of Godrdquo (John 669)116

In Acts 318 Peter distinguishes between ldquoGodrdquo and the prophecies

about ldquoChristrdquo in the Old Testament (probably a reference to the Father) In

Stephenrsquos defense in Acts 7 he says simply that ldquoGodrdquo appeared to

Abraham and gave the inheritance to his descendants (Acts 71-6) Even in

Paulrsquos letter to the Romans he distinguishes between ldquomy Godrdquo and Jesus

Christrdquo (Romans 18) Jesus after his resurrection ascended to Godrsquos right

hand according to Peterrsquos sermon in Acts 233 The Father is also known as

Lord (kyrios) in the New Testament just as Jesus wears the same title (see

Acts 429-30 where Peter and Johnrsquos prayer distinguish between God and

Jesus your Servant) Perhaps the Lordship of the Father is tied up in his

being Judge and King throughout the New Testament117 The

interchangeability of referring to the Father as God Lord and Father at

115Ibid 333116Morris 249 117 See Guthriersquos comments on the Father being King and Judge 84-90

43various times is for the purpose (in my humble opinion) to point to the fact

that the Son and Holy Spirit are equally as much God as is the Father

The Son

The Son is equally God in the New Testament He is of the same

ldquoontological relationrdquo as the Father (the homoousion that is of the same

substance)118 The use of the term Son in reference to Jesus seems to

suggest a close relationship with the Father and has nothing to do with

being inferior or less divine Perhaps one of the strongest references in the

New Testament to the deity of the second person within the Godhead is John

11-4 Here in the fourth gospel John discusses the pre-existence of the

Messiah by referring to him as the Word John writes ldquoIn the beginning was

the word [Logos] and the Word was with God and the Word was God This

One was in the beginning with Godrdquo (John 11-2 JRN)119 John takes his

readers all the way back to the opening verse of the Bible Genesis 11 This

phrase ldquoin the beginningrdquo is a literal quotation from the LXX translation of

Genesis 11 which is the Hebrew ldquoequivalentrdquo to the phrase from the

Hebrew text bereshith The apostle John places Jesus here at the dawn of

the creation of the world This is not the only place where John speaks of

118 Gunton 9119John R Neal ldquoEssay On Logosrdquo Paper Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of NT6315 (Gospel of John) Dr Don Shackelford Amridge University November 1 2010 pg 1 This article has also been uploaded to the internet site Scribd as an e-publication

44Jesusrsquo ldquopre-incarnate staterdquo In our Lordrsquos dialogue with the Jewish crowd (in

John 856-58) that is gathered for the festival of Booths in the temple (the

context takes us back to John 7) there Jesus asserts he pre-exists Abraham

The audience wants to stone Jesus because they understand his logic

(claiming to be God)120

In John 11-5 the inspired author explains the Wordrsquos [Logosrsquo]

relationship with the Father (see vs 1-2) the part the Word took in the

creation of the world (vs 3-4) and the opposition of the Word to darkness121

Jesus is not only part of the Divine Godhead but he possesses a special

closeness to the Father John uses the Greek preposition pros meaning

ldquowithrdquo not in reference to his ldquocompanyrdquo with God the Father but in a way

that describes the ldquomost intimate communionrdquo between both the Father and

the Logos122 John uses the word Logos here in John 11 14 and also in 1

John 11 in reference to his ldquodivine naturerdquo Jesus who is the Word and

second person of the Godhead comprises both the ldquoeternal expression of

the divine intelligence and the disclosure of divine essencerdquo The Father

decided to make himself known to mankind through the Logos (see John

114) John the apostle also refers to the Lord Jesus as the ldquoWord of Godrdquo in

120Ibid 121Neal 1-2 William E Hull The Broadman Bible Commentary vol 9

Luke-John Clifton J Allen Gen Ed (Nashville Broadman Press 1970) 212-14

122Neal 2 WE Vine An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (Nashville Thomas Nelson 1985) 683

45the Apocalypse (Revelation 1913 if this same John is the author of the

Revelation)123

The term Logos is rich from the standpoint of historical etymology and

in the usage of this word from Greek philosophy and the Jewish Bible Logos

derives from the Greek verb lego which carries the idea of ldquoto collect to

pick up to recount to speak hellip word discourse hellip accountrdquo The thought

here is of onersquos mind choosing our speech or talking ldquointelligentlyrdquo124 The

123Neal 2 Spiros Zodhiates The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament (Chattanooga TN AMG Publishers 1992) 925

124Neal 2 Colin Brown Ed The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology vol 3 Regency Reference Library (Grand Rapids Zondervan 1986) sv ldquoLogosrdquo by GF Fries 1081 Around 500 BC this term acquires an even wider contextual meaning of ldquoreason thought even teaching and reputationrdquo by writers such as Heraclitus the great Greek philosopher This school of thought comes to classify Logos as the central element of ldquoorder and continuityrdquo in a world of continual instability Around the middle of the fifth century BC the Sophistsrsquo school of philosophy regards the Logos as a line of reasoning between mankind They use this Logos or ldquoprocessrdquo to build a technique of argumentation Every form of argumentation leads to what they call the counter argument or ldquoLogosrdquo Socrates is remembered for his dialectic technique (a type of questioning and answering) to find the truth of the matter Another popular philosophical school the Stoics see the Logos as the underlying reason (ie the divine mind) that holds the universe together This concept of Logos impacts the Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria in his understanding of the Word as being the ldquopersonificationrdquo of wisdom literature in the Old Testament Neal 3 Brown 1081-82 Hull 211 Philo understands this Old Testament wisdom as ldquothe agents of Godrsquos creative powerrdquo that was present at creation and helps bring order out of disorder Christian E Hayer and William A Young An Introduction To The Bible A Journey Into Three Worlds (Englewood Cliffs NJ Prentice-Hall 1986) 247 Carson points out that Philorsquos Logos does not possess a ldquodistinct personalityrdquo nor become ldquoflesh and bloodrdquo The term can refer to onersquos ldquoinnerrdquo thoughts ldquosciencerdquo ldquoreasonrdquo or can refer to the ldquooutward expressionrdquo (ie ldquomessagerdquo ldquospeechrdquo) of a person This may be why the English term ldquoWordrdquo is still the ldquomost appropriate termrdquo so long as we understand (as theologians) that the true idea is that of ldquomessagerdquo DA Carson The Gospel According to John The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester England Apollos Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1991)

46best way to understand Logos (from the perspective of the Trinity) is by

examining the background of this word from the Jewish Scriptures

(HebrewSeptuagint) The concept of Logos for Hellenistic Jews is to be

found in the phrase ldquothe word of the Lordrdquo This Greek term is the

equivalent of the Hebrew dabar meaning lsquowordrsquo lsquomatterrsquo or lsquothingrsquo The

dabar is Godrsquos ldquosovereign energyrdquo that spoke the universe into existence

(see Genesis 1 Psalm 336 9) or that can ldquoburn like fire or shatter like a

hammerrdquo (Jeremiah 2329) or even accomplish the Lordrsquos will (see Isaiah

5511) The LORDrsquoS revealed message is also his law or instructions (Psalm

119 Exodus 201-17 Deuteronomy 61-9) and the one who rejects or fails to

obey his commands is depicted as foolishness (wise vs foolish in the book of

Proverbs) In the New Testament one finds that the concepts of law word

and wisdom are interrelated with one another and how God works through

menrsquos lives today125 The Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament plays a

part in helping us better understand Jesus as the Logos The wisdom of God

in the Old Testament is ldquohighly personifiedrdquo in certain passages (such as

Proverbs 822ff) where wisdom is portrayed as taking part in creation and

being a ldquowonderful giftrdquo126

The early church and inspired New Testament authors depict the

preaching and teaching of the gospel message as a ldquoministry of the wordrdquo

115 125Hull 211 Brown 1087126Carson 115 One can also find this ldquopersonificationrdquo of wisdom in

the later uninspired Jewish writings (see Wisdom 722 and Ecclesiasticus 24)

47(see Acts 64) The substance of their preaching is concerning the death

burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 151ff Luke 12 Acts

222ff) who also declare this good news during Jesusrsquo earthly ministry (Mark

22) His entire life speaks of his Divinity In Revelation 913 the

Apocalypse refers to the Messiah as ldquothe Word of Godrdquo John the apostle

claims that many could testify with their ears eyes and hands to the ldquoWord

of Liferdquo (see 1 John 11-2)127

Another significant passage that sheds light on the second person of

the Godhead is John 2028 30-31 In this passage (2026-29) Jesus appears

unto the disciples for a second time (eight days after he first appears to

them 2019-25) with Thomas in their midst Jesus shows Thomas his nail-

pierced hands and the scar in his side (vs 27) Jesus tells him at the end of

verse 27 ldquoand become not unbelieving but believingrdquo (JRN) ldquoThomas

replied and said to him my Lord and my Godrdquo (vs 28 JRN)128 Thomas

refers to Jesus as lsquoLordrsquo (kyrios) and lsquoGodrsquo (theos) The word kyrios occurs

some 9000 times in the Greek Old Testament (LXX) and the most frequent

usage is for the Hebrew name for God (YHWH occurring some 6156

times)129 The word Lord occurs nearly 720 times in the New Testament ldquoas

a designation of Godrdquo (see Matthew 533 Mark 519 Luke 16 9 28 46

215 22 Acts 425-26 where Peter quotes from Psalm 2 about the rulers of

127Neal 4-5 Hull 211-12128T G N T 403129Brown T N I D N T T vol 2 sv ldquoLordrdquo by H Bietenhard 511-

12

48the world standing against the Lord and his anointed) and as a reference to

Jesus (Matthew 33-4 quoting from Isaiah 403 connects Isaiahrsquos prophecy

of the one crying in the wilderness who prepares the lsquoway of the Lordrsquo with

Jesus parallel accounts see Mark 13 Luke 34 John 123) Jesus claims he

is the fulfillment of Psalm 1101 (lsquothe Lord said unto my Lord helliprsquo) in Matthew

2243-46130 According to Paul he is the ldquoonly Sovereign the King of kings

and Lord of lordsrdquo (1 Timothy 615 JRN)131 This same phrase John applies

to Jesus in Revelation 1714 and 1916 (15 says he is over the kings of the

earth) and perhaps connects with Nebuchadnezzarrsquos statement about the

power of Danielrsquos God (Daniel 247)132

In Hebrews 13 8 10 the writer of the Hebrew epistle defends the

deity of Jesus by showing his superiority over the angels in heaven In verse

three the writer says ldquoWho being the radiance of glory and the

representation of his real being and bearing all things by the word of his

power making purification of sins he sat down at the right had of the

majesty on highrdquo (JRN)133 There are two phrases here that speak of Jesusrsquo

divinity The first word is rendered lsquoradiancersquo (ἀπαύγασμα) is found only

130Willaim F Gingrich F Ardnt and F Wilbur A Greek English Lexicon Of The Greek New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature 2nd Ed Revised And Augmented By f Wilbur Gingrich and Frederick W Danker From Walter Bauerrsquos Fifth Edition 1958 (Chicago The University of Chicago Press 1979) 458-59 The Psalm 1101 passage from the Hebrew reads lsquoThe LORD (YHWH) says to my Lord (Adoni) helliprsquo From passages like this one from Matthew 22 one would be hard pressed to argue that Jesus never claims to be God

131G N T 723 132Brown ldquoLordrdquo 514133The Greek New Testament 741

49once in the New Testament (the verb form occurs in 2 Corinthians 44 in

reference to the gospel displaying Christrsquos glory who is in Godrsquos image or

reflection) and carries the meaning of ldquoradiancerdquo or ldquoeffulgencerdquo in the

active or ldquoreflectionrdquo in the passive134 According to Robinson the word can

either mean light that is ldquoreflectedrdquo (as in ldquobrightnessrdquo or ldquorefulgencerdquo) or

light that originates from the original body of light (ldquoeffulgencerdquo) Both

meanings are ldquotruerdquo of Jesus concerning his relationship to God (as

expressed in John 1245 149)135 yet the early church fathers seem to favor

Christ as being the ldquoeffulgencerdquo of the ldquodivinerdquo glory as the sun gives off

ldquosunshinerdquo or ldquolightrdquo136 The second phrase used here in Hebrews 13 (in

reference to Christ) is ldquorepresentation of his real beingrdquo The term rendered

here ldquorepresentationrdquo (χαρακτὴρ) is defined as an ldquoimpressrdquo a

ldquoreproductionrdquo or ldquorepresentationrdquo as in the case of the impression of

coinage or in the figurative meaning of Jesus being the ldquorepresentationrdquo of

134Ardnt-Gingrich-Danker 82 The meaning of ldquoreflectionrdquo is given in A Lexicon Abridged from Liddell and Scottrsquos Greek-English Lexicon (Oxford Clarendon Press 1974) 78 The LXX uses this word to refer to the ldquorelation of wisdom to the eternal lightrdquo (from Wisdom 726) Philo uses the term to describe manrsquos relationship to God and that of the relation of the ldquohuman spirit to the divine logosrdquo Gerhard Kittle Ed The Dictionary Of The New Testament Vol 1 Trans by Geoffrey W Bromiley (Grand Rapids Eerdmans Repr 1993) sv ldquoαὐγάζωrdquo by G Kittle 597-98

135AT Robinson Word Pictures In The New Testament Vol V The Fourth Gospel The Epistle To The Hebrews (Grand Rapids Baker 1932) 335-36 These two passages in John declare that seeing Jesus means you see the Father

136Kittle 508 According to John 812 Jesus declares that he is the ldquolight of the worldrdquo In Revelation 2123 John tells us in heaven that there is no need for the sun for the Lamb is the light (Revelation 2123)

50God the Father137 Jesus Lightfoot says ldquobearsrdquo the ldquostamprdquo of the divine

nature138 The word ldquoreal beingrdquo (ὑπόστασις) is given the following

possibilities by Ardnt-Gingrich-Danker ldquosubstantial nature essence actual

being realityrdquo139 Jesus is ldquoexactly like the Fatherrdquo in every respect (see John

149 and Colossians 115) He possesses the divine nature of the Father and

thus deserves our worship140 Perhaps Barclayrsquos more literal translation can

help bring the meaning of this passage to light ldquoThis Son is the radiance of

his glory just as the ray is the light of the sun He is the exact impression of

the seal rdquo141

In verse eight of Hebrews chapter one the writer says of Jesus the

Son ldquoYour throne O God is forever and ever and the scepter of uprightness

is the scepter of your kingdom (JRN)rdquo142 This quote (coming from the LXX)

137Ardnt-Gingrich-Danker 876 The noun originates from the verb used to describe making a ldquocutrdquo or a notch to ldquoscratchrdquo or ldquomarkrdquo as in a tool that makes a mark then to the ldquoimpression maderdquo finally the meaning of ldquoexact reproductionrdquo similar to the word χάραγμα found in Acts 1729 (where Paul describes us as being the ldquoimpressionrdquo of God) or the ldquomarkrdquo put on the foreheads of those who worship the beast (Revelation 1316) Robertson 336 Liddell-Scott sv ldquoχάρασσωrdquo 778

138Neil R Lightfoot Jesus Christ Today A Commentary On The Book of Hebrews (Grand Rapids Baker 1976 1980) 55

139Ardnt-Gingrich-Danker 847 This word is a ldquoverbalrdquo substantive of ὑφίστημι and has multiple meanings (1) ldquoto stand underrdquo (meaning support) (2) to ldquoplace oneself underrdquo or conceal (3) ldquostand off fromrdquo ldquoto deposit oneself as sediment on the groundrdquo and thus the meaning of ldquoto berdquo or ldquoexistrdquo While the idea of being is a philosophical one the common usage is found in the realm of ldquomedicinerdquo and ldquosciencerdquo Gerhard Kittle Ed T D N T Vol VIII Trans by Geoffrey W Bromiley (Grand Rapids Eerdmans Repr 1993) sv ldquoὑπόστασιςrdquo Koster 572-73

140Lightfoot 55141 William Barclay The New Testament A New Translation Volume II

The Letters and the Revelation (LondonNew York Collins 1969) 173142The Greek New Testament 742

51is from Psalm 456 and the original setting for this psalm is categorized as a

ldquonuptialrdquo (or a love song) or a Royal psalm143 The psalms seem to be

indicating that the throne occupied by Israelrsquos king belongs to Yahweh while

the Hebrew writer quotes Psalm 456-7 (Hebrews 18-9) to show Jesus is

superior to angels Back in Hebrews 16 the writer (quoting from

Deuteronomy 3243 and Psalm 977) proclaims that Jesus is deserving of

worship by the angels of heaven Only one who is there in the beginning and

takes part in the creation (Hebrews 110) be called Lord144

In Titus 213 the apostle Paul refers to Jesus as ldquoour great God and

Savior Jesus Christrdquo (JRN)145 Jesus here is equated with God the Father

(back in verse 11 the use of God is more than likely a reference to the first

person of the Godhead) Paul also refers to Christ (Romans 95) as one who

descended from fleshly Israel but is the ldquoblessed God forever

Amenrdquo(JRN)146

143Anthony L Ash and Clyde Miller Psalms Gen Ed John T Willis (Austin TX Sweet Publishing Company 1980) 161 Ash and Miller refer to this as a wedding psalm Westerman refers to this as a Royal psalm while Anderson regards this ldquoas a marriage song belonging to the Royal Psalmsrdquo Claus Westerman Praise and Lament in the Psalms Trans by Keith R Krimm and Richard N Soulen (Atlanta John Knox Press 1981) 245 AA Anderson The Book of Psalms Vol 1 New Century Bible Commentary Gen Ed Ronald E Clements (Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1981) 345-46

144Ash and Miller 163 The Hebrew text of Psalm 97 reads ldquogodsrdquo while the LXX translates Elohim as ldquoangelsrdquo Lightfoot 59 The Deuteronomy passage calls for all of Israel to worship God while the quote in Hebrews from the LXX is to show that all of the angels ldquoare to pay homage to the Sonrdquo Lightfoot 59 ldquoLordrdquo (kyrios) in Heb 110 come from the LXX

145G N T 735 146Ibid 543 Grudem 233-36 cites the above passages (John 2028

Hebrews 13 8 10 Titus 213 Romans 95) as evidence of the second person in the Godhead Grudem also gives a good overview of these New Testament passages that deal with the deity of Jesus

52The Holy Spirit The third personality in the Godhead is known as

the ldquoSpiritrdquo (pneuma) and occurs 379 times in the New Testament while the

name ldquoHoly Spiritrdquo (pneuma hagios) occurs some 90 times147 He is also

referred to as the ldquoSpirit of Godrdquo In Matthew 316 we read of Jesus coming

up out of the water the Father speaking from heaven and the third

personality (the Spirit of God) descends from heaven like a dove In the

parallel accounts of Jesusrsquo baptism He is simply called lsquothe Spiritrsquo (Mark

112 John 132-33) or the lsquoHoly Spiritrsquo (Luke 322) John records the

statement of John the Baptizer that the one upon whom the Spirit descends

would also baptize with the Holy Spirit (the one and the same person)148

The Holy Spirit also plays a key role in Lukersquos account of the gospel

(and in the book of Acts) During the birth narratives of John and Jesus the

Holy Spirit is often mentioned (prophecy that the Holy Spirit would come

upon John the Baptizer 115 17 angel tells Mary the Holy Spirit would come

147 John R Kohlenberger III Edward W Goodrick and James A Swanson The Exhaustive Concordance to the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids Zondervan 1995) 814-15 The word Holy Spirit occurs in Matthew 118 20 311 1232 2819 Mark 18 329 1236 1311 Luke 115 35 41 67 225-26 316 22 41 1021 1113 1210 12 John 133 1426 2022 Acts 12 5 8 16 24 33 38 48 25 31 53 32 65 751 55 815 17 19 917 31 1038 44 45 47 1115-16 24 132 4 9 52 158 28 166 192 (2x) 6 2111 2825 Romans 55 91 1417 1513 16 1 Corinthians 619 123 2 Corinthians 66 1313 Ephesians 113 430 1 Thessalonians 15-6 48 2 Timothy 114 Titus 35 Hebrews 24 37 64 98 1015 1 Peter 112 2 Peter 121 Jude vs 20

148Ibid 815 G N T 8 119 207 316 Harvey Floyd Is The Holy Spirit For Me A Search for the Meaning of the Spirit in Todayrsquos Church (Nashville 20th Century Christian 1987 4th Printing) I have utilized Dr Floydrsquos book over the years and find his work both scholarly and practical

53upon her 135 the man Simeon is full of the Holy Spirit 225-27)149 At

Jesusrsquo baptism Luke gives a more graphic visual description (than does

Matthew in 316-17) of the Holy Spirit descending upon him (Luke 322)

Jesusrsquo ministry begins with a description by Luke that Jesus is full of the lsquoHoly

Spiritrsquo (41 14) Then when he appears in Nazareth on the Sabbath (416-

20) he reads from Isaiah 611-2 After reading these words from the prophet

Isaiah Jesus proclaims that today the reading is fulfilled (421) There is no

other reference to the Spirit coming upon anyone (during Jesusrsquo ministry) in

the gospel of Luke until the end of the book Obviously the intention is that

once Jesus was ldquoempoweredrdquo with the Holy Spirit then he was led by the

Holy Spirit The next reference to the Spirit (also the final mention) comes in

Luke 2449 where Jesus commands his disciples to remain in Jerusalem until

they receive the power (ie power of the Spirit) ldquoon highrdquo150 The book of

Acts picks back up where Lukersquos gospel leaves off In Acts 1 the apostles

are told to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit comes upon them (Acts 18)

Then in Acts 2 the Holy Spirit comes upon the apostles and gives them the

ability to speak in other languages (tongues) which is one of the

manifestations of the Spirit (according to 1 Corinthians 127-12)

Another important passage in the New Testament dealing with the

Holy Spirit is John 14-16 In fact Johnrsquos gospel pays considerable attention to

the work and the role of the Spirit The fourth gospel perhaps even more

149Hayer and Young 244150G N T 311 Hayer and Young 244

54than Luke stresses the importance of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of our

Lord and ultimately in the teaching and preaching of the apostles in the early

church One first comes upon John mentioning the Holy Spirit in John chapter

3 where Jesus discusses entrance into the kingdom with Nicodemus Jesus

says that unless a man is born of lsquowaterrsquo and lsquoSpiritrsquo (ie Holy Spirit) then

he cannot enter into Godrsquos kingdom (John 33 5) Jesus also describes God

the Father as ldquoSpiritrdquo (ie he is not human without flesh and blood John

424) Then in John chapters 14 15 and 16 the author of the fourth gospel

records Jesusrsquo teaching on the coming of the Spirit to the apostles

Starting off with John 141-7 Jesus is preparing the twelve for his

departure He answers questions asked by Thomas (vv 5-7) and Philip (vv 8-

14) The Lord promises in John 1416 that he will send ldquoanother Comforterrdquo

or ldquoHelperrdquo that will remain with them forever The word comforter comes

from the Greek word παρακλητός originally means ldquoone who is called to

someonersquos aidrdquo The Latin Vulgate renders this word advocates (thus

sometimes translated in the KJV as advocate see 1 John 21-2) The

technical sense of the word meaning lawyer or attorney is rare In the few

occurrences where this word is found in use in both pre-Christian and extra-

Christian literature (outside the New Testament) the meaning many times

carries the idea of ldquoone who appears in anotherrsquos behalfrdquo a ldquomediator

intercessor helperrdquo In the New Testament the ldquoactive senserdquo of an

intercessor or helper is a ldquosuitablerdquo rendering of every occurrence of this

55word151 Incidentally this same term is also used of Jesus in 1 John 21 and

of both the Holy Spirit and Jesus in John 1416152

The Holy Spirit possesses the same divine characteristics as the Father

and Son The Spirit has a personal relationship with the Father in that he

helps communicate our prayers before the throne of God (Romans 826-27)

The Spirit can be lied to and is equated with God in the same context (Acts

53-4) The Holy Spirit has spiritual communion with the other two

personalities (2 Corinthians 1314) As the one who gives divine revelation in

both testaments (2 Timothy 316-17 2 Peter 121) he warns of Godrsquos

judgment (Revelation 229 36 13 22) He is the giver of spiritual gifts (1

Corinthians 121-2) and dwells within the believer (Acts 238 532) just as

the Father and Son (Romans 89-11 14-17) As a promise or guarantee of

our inheritance Christiansrsquo are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 113-

14) None of these passages support any notion that the Holy Spirit is some

impersonal force or an angelic being

Conclusion

This Biblical Positions Paper is not meant to be a dissertation but a

refinement of my beliefs on theological doctrines For the purpose of this

paper I chose the topic of the doctrine of the Father Son and Holy Spirit in

the Old Testament (with the subtopic of the Godhead in the New Testament)

I raised the question of whether there is a defined role of the Trinity in the 151Ardnt-Gingrich-Danker 618 152Ibid

56Old Testament at all I believe from the evidence presented in this Positions

Paper that there is a defined role of each person in the Godhead in the Old

Testament Yet the New Testament gives a much clearer picture of whom or

what the Godhead is and does (their specific roles) Thus I believe with any

study of the Trinity one really needs to consider both Old and New

Testaments before trying to write either a Biblical or Systematic Theology on

the subject

There are some areas I would like to flesh out more on the doctrine of

the Trinity (especially in the New Testament) I am interested in comparing

the idea of the Angel of the LORD in the Old Testament (whom I identify as

the person of the Son) and whether this is different from the angel of the

Lord in the New Testament (who seems to be an angelic being rather than

part of the Godhead) Some in the religious world have a problem with using

the word Trinity in reference to the Deity of the Bible since the word is not

found in the Bible I believe we can use terms like this as long as we realize

we are utilizing these terms to help define and describe biblical doctrines

Although the word trinity is not found in scripture yet the idea of a trinity is

found in the Bible I also believe a case can be made for arguing that the

Trinity is the center in Biblical Theology In closing I believe the following

comment by McGrath is a fitting way to finish this positions paper

In one sense there is no doctrine of the Trinity in the New Testament hellip Even within the New Testament itself however there are to be found clear hints of a trinitarian way of thinking A number of key passages develop a triadic approach to God The doctrine of the

57Trinity aims to integrate these passages bringing out their common features and establishing their central insights concerning God153

My prayer is that in some way I have shown in this paper that the scriptures

do indeed teach the idea of a triune but one God who exists in three

persons (or economies) as the Father SonWord and Holy Spirit The task

for those of us who are theologians is to let God live in us and work through

us to teach these truths to the world

153 Alister McGrath Understanding doctrine its relevance and purpose for today (Grand Rapids Zondervan 1992) 170 Another excellent treatment of this subject especially looking at the theology of the Trinity from a historical perspective is ldquoThe Doctrine of the Trinityrdquo in Christian Theology An Introduction 5th Ed (West Sussex UK Wiley-Blackwell 2011)

Bibliography

A Lexicon Abridged from Liddell and Scotts Greek-English Lexicon Ofxord Clarendon Press 1974

Anderson AA The Book of Psalms Vol 1 New Century Bible Commentary Edited by Gen Ed Ronald E Clements Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1981

Aland Barbara Kurt Aland Johannes Karavidopoulos Carlo M Martini Bruce M Metzger ed The Greek New Testament 4th Ed Stutgart German Bible Society 1994

Ash Anthony L and Clyde Miller Psalms Edited by Gen Ed John T Willis Austin TX Sweet Publishing Company 1980

Barclay William The New Testament A New Translation Volume II The Letters and the Revelation LondonNew York Collins 1969

Beecher Willis J The Prophets And The Promise New York Thomas Y Crowel amp Company Publishers 1905

Berry Donald K An Introduction To Wisdom And Poetry Of The Old Testament Nashville Broadman amp Holman Publishers 1999

Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia Stutgart German Bible Society 1987

Blackham Paul The Trinity in the Hebrew Scriptures in Paul Louis Metzger Trinitarian Soundings in Systematic Theology London T amp T Clark 2005 35-48

Block Daniel I Empowered by the Spirit of God The Holy Spirit in the Histographic Writings of the Old Testament The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 1 no 1 (Spring 1997) 42

54

55Brown Colin Ed The New Internation Dictionary of New Testament Theology Vol 3 Sv Lord by H Bietenhard Grand Rapids Zondervan 1986

----- The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology Vol 3 Grand Rapids Zondervan 1986 Sv Logos by GF Fries 1081

Brown F S Driver and C Briggs The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon Peabody MA Hendrickson 2008

Broyles Stephen What do we mean by godhead Evangelical Quarterly 50 (Oct-Dec 1978) 223-229

Brunner Emil The Doctrine of God Dogmatics Vol 1 Translated by Olive Wyon Philadelphia The Westminster Press 1946

Buttrick George Arthur Ed Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible K-Q New York Abingdon 1962 Sv Hebrew Poetry by Norman Gottwald 833

Carey Patrick D and Joseph T Lienhard Ed Biographical Dictionary of Christian Theologians Westport CT Greenwood Press 2000 Sv Arius by Kelley McCarthy Spoerl 29-30

Carson DA The Gospel According To John The Pillar New Testament Commentary Leicester England Apollos Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1991 1991

Dennnison James T Jr Prophetic Narrative Biography and Biblical Theology The Prophet Hosea KERUX THE JOURNAL OF NORTHWEST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 22 no 2 (September 2007) 3-8

Dyrness William Themes in Old Testament Theology Downers Grove IL InterVarsity Press 1979

Edersheim Alfred The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 2 Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1962

Feinberg Charles Lee The Image of God Bibliotheca Sacra 129 (1972) 236-37

Floyd Harvey Is The Holy Spirit For Me A Search for the Meaning of the Spirit in Todays Church Nashville 20th Century Christian 1987 4th Printing

Fortin Denis God the Trinity and Adventism An Introduction to the Issues Journal of the Adventist Theological Society (17) 1 (Spring 2006) 6

56Gingrich William F F Ardnt and F Wilbur A Greek English Lexicon Of The Greek New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature 2nd Ed Chicago The University of Chicago Press 1979

Gesenius HWF Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon To The Old Testament Scriptures Translated by Samuel Prideaux Tregelles Grand Rapids Baker Repr 1988

Grenz Stanley The Triune God Theology for the Community of God Grand Rapids Eerdmans 2000 53-76

Grudem Wayne Systematic Theology an introduction to biblical doctrine Grand Rapids Zondervan 2000

Gunton Colin E The Promise of Trinitarian Theology New York T amp T Clark Ltd 1991 Repr 2006

Guthrie Donald New Testament Theology Downers Grove IL InterVarsity Press 1981

Harrison RK Introduction To The Old Testament Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1969 Repr 1991

Hasel Gerhard The Meanin of Let Us In GN 126 Andrews University Seminary Journal 1 no 06 (1975) 59-65

Hayer Christian E and William A Young An Introduction To The Bible A Journey Into Three Worlds Englewood Cliffs NJ Prentice-Hall 1986

Hess Richard S and M Daniel Carroll R Ed Israels Messiah In The Bible and The Dead Sea Scrolls Grand Rapids Baker 2003

Huehnergard John A Grammar of Akkadian Harvard Semitic Museum Publications Edited by Gen Ed Lawrence E Stager Winona Lake IN Eisenbrauns 2000

Hull William E The Broadman Bible Commentary vol 9 Luke-John Edited by Gen Ed Clifton J Allen Nashville Broadman Press 1970

Kaiser Walter C Jr The Christian and the Old Testament Pasadena CA William Carey Library 1998

mdash The Messiah in the Old Testament Studies In Old Testametn Biblical Theology Grand Rapids Zondervan 1995

57mdash Towards an Old Testament Theology Grand Rapids Zondervan 1991

Kidner Derek Genesis Tyndale Old Testament Commentary Edited by D J Wiseman Leicester England Intervarsity Press 1967

Kittle Gerhadr Ed Theological Dictionary Of The New Testament Vol I translated by Geoggrey W Bromiley Grand Rapids Eerdmans Repr 1993 Sv augazo by G Kittle 597-98

Kittle Gerhard Ed Theological Dictionary Of The New Testament Vol VIII translated by Geoffrey W Bromiley Grand Rapids Eerdmans Repr 1993 Sv hypostasis by Koster 572-73

Kohlenberger John R III and James A Swanson The Hebrew-English Concordance To The Old Testament With The New International Version Grand Rapids Zondervan 1998

Kohlenberger John R III Edward W Goodrick and James A Swanson The Exhaustive Concordance to the Greek New Testament Grand Rapids Zondervan 1995

Kurrin George T ed Nelsons New Christian Dictionary Nashville Thomas Nelson 2001

Lightfoot Neil R Jesus Christ Today A Commentary On The Book of Hebrews Grand Rapids Baker 1976 1980

McGrath Alister Understanding doctrine its relevance and purpose for today (Grand Rapids Zondervan 1992)

Christian Theology An Introduction 5th Ed (West Sussex UK Wiley-Blackwell Publishing 2011)

McGuckin John Anthony The Westminster Handbook on Patristic Theology Louisville Westminster John Knox Press 2004

Moskala Jili The Message of Gods People in the Old Testament Journal of the Adventist Theological Society 19 no 1-2 (2008) 4

Moskala Jiri Toward Trinitarian Thinking in the Hebrew Scriptures Journal of the Adventist Theological Society 21 no 1-2 (2010) 249

Neal John R Essay On Logos In Partial Fulfillment of NT6315 (Gospel of John Dr Don Shackelford) Amridge University November 1 2010 1-3

58Norman L Geisler and Frand Turek I Dont Have Enough Faith to Be an Athiest Edited by Foreward by David Limbaugh Crossway Books Wheaton IL 2004

Olson RE Ed Trinity in Westminster Handbook to Evangelical Theology Louisville Westminster John Knox Press 2004 279-81

Preuss Horst Dietrich Old Testameny Theology Vol 1 Translated by Leo G Perdue Louisville Westminster John Knox Press 1995

Richards Larry Every Name of God In The Bible Nashville Thomas Nelson 2001

Robertson AT Word Pictures In The New Testament Vol V The Fourth Gospel The Epistle To The Hebrews Grand Rapids Baker 1932

Smith James E The Minor Prophets The Old Testament Survey Series Joplin MO College Press 1972

Vine WE An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words Nashville Thomas Nelson 1985

Waltke Bruce K Ed Theological Wordbook of Old Testament Vol 1 Chicago Mood Press 1980 Sv adon by Robert L 12

Waltke Bruce K Ed Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament Vol 1 Chicago Moody Press 1980 Sv Yahweh By J Barton Payne 210-11

Westerman Claus Praise and Lament in the Psalms Translated by Keith R Krimm and Richard N Soulen Atlanta John Knox Press 1981

Woods Clyde M Genesis-Exodus The Living Way Commentary on the Old Testament Shreveport Lambert Book House 1972

Young Edward J The Book of Isaiah The English Text With Introduction Exposition And Notes Vol 1 Chapters 1 to 18 Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1965 Repr 1993

Zodhiates Spiors The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament Chattanooga TN AMG Publishers 1992

59

60

2TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 1PURPOSE OF POSITIONS PAPER helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 3KEY WORDSUSED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 5THE THREE PERSONALITIES WITHIN THE TRINITY OLD TESTAMENT helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 14THE THREE PERSONALITIES WITHIN THE TRINITY NEW TESTAMENT helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 36CONCLUSION helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 51BIBLIOGRAPHY helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 53

2








2

2

Introduction











54






































scripture

Definitions












the Fatherrdquo7























Testament or not

אלהים







54




















אל








אלה



Testament23

יהוה





























יה














אדני











רוח





















משhיח


































Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60

2








2

2

Introduction











54






































scripture

Definitions












the Fatherrdquo7























Testament or not

אלהים







54




















אל








אלה



Testament23

יהוה





























יה














אדני











רוח





















משhיח


































Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60

2

2

Introduction











54






































scripture

Definitions












the Fatherrdquo7























Testament or not

אלהים







54




















אל








אלה



Testament23

יהוה





























יה














אדני











רוח





















משhיח


































Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60

2

Introduction











54






































scripture

Definitions












the Fatherrdquo7























Testament or not

אלהים







54




















אל








אלה



Testament23

יהוה





























יה














אדני











רוח





















משhיח


































Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60






































scripture

Definitions












the Fatherrdquo7























Testament or not

אלהים







54




















אל








אלה



Testament23

יהוה





























יה














אדני











רוח





















משhיח


































Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60
























scripture

Definitions












the Fatherrdquo7























Testament or not

אלהים







54




















אל








אלה



Testament23

יהוה





























יה














אדני











רוח





















משhיח


































Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60



scripture

Definitions












the Fatherrdquo7























Testament or not

אלהים







54




















אל








אלה



Testament23

יהוה





























יה














אדני











רוח





















משhיח


































Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60



















Testament or not

אלהים







54




















אל








אלה



Testament23

יהוה





























יה














אדני











רוח





















משhיח


































Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60








Testament or not

אלהים







54




















אל








אלה



Testament23

יהוה





























יה














אדני











רוח





















משhיח


































Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60




















אל








אלה



Testament23

יהוה





























יה














אדני











רוח





















משhיח


































Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60



אל








אלה



Testament23

יהוה





























יה














אדני











רוח





















משhיח


































Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60




























יה














אדני











רוח





















משhיח


































Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60








יה














אדני











רוח





















משhיח


































Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60



אדני











רוח





















משhיח


































Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60
















משhיח


































Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60




























Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60






Servant of the Lord









נצר





























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60

























54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60



















54






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60






























Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60












Old Testament50



17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60

17
















The Patriarchal Age





























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60

























The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60



The Mosaic Age































(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60












(Judges 211-23)54







55BHS 443





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60





















rebellious Bride57


22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60

22
























The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60








The Patriarchal Age




























Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60



















Testament




63BHS 32














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60














(Genesis 498-12)

The Mosaic Age






64Ibid 49























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60























65BHS 88















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60















































Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60





























Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60












Branch is planted75




























(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60




















(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60


(Isaiah 96)78



























































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60










































86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60




















86Ibid 203








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60








The Patriarchal Age









The Mosaic Age













25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60








25-29)90


















10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60




10430)93







































94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60





















94Ibid 95Ibid 44





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60





















situation98


39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60

39














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60














54































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60































The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60








The Father





























108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60





















108Ibid Matthew 548 614 26 32 1513 1835 239











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60











Luke 56)110











111Ibid 249-50














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60














Romans 828)113
































The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60
























The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60



The Son








































Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60























Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60


Revelation)123



















































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60












































12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60






















12













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60













































the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60


























the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60









the seal rdquo141






















Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60














Amenrdquo(JRN)146
















































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60












































































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60




























































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60






































Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60
















Conclusion












the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60







the subject






















Bibliography











54
























































59

60








Bibliography











54
























































59

60

Bibliography











54
























































59

60
























































59

60










































59

60




























59

60














59

60

59

60

60

Trinity in Old Testament

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