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Izaija 43:11 – Nema Spasitelja osim Jahve

“Ja — ja sam Jahve, i osim mene nema spasitelja [yasha`, Strongov #3467].” — Izaija 43:11, World English Bible verzija. Ali ja sam Jahve, Bog tvoj, iz zemlje egipatske; I nećeš poznavati boga osim mene, I osim [hebrejski, Biltiy, osim, da ne, ali, spasi, bez tebe] mene nema spasitelja [yasha`]. — Hošea 13:4, Svjetska engleska verzija Biblije Trinitarci i oni koji vjeruju u doktrine "jednosti", kao i neki drugi, često ukazuju na gore navedeni tekst kao dokaz da budući da Jahve kaže da nema spasitelja osim njega i budući da se Isus naziva "spasiteljem", onda se pretpostavlja da Isus mora biti Jahve. Jahve se u svetim spisima identificira kao Isusov Otac. — Psalam 110:1; Matej 22:43-45; -26:64; Marko 12:35-37; Luka 20,41-44; Djela apostolska 2:34; -7:55: Rim. 8:34; Kološanima 3,1; Hebrejima 1:13; -10:12,13; -1. Petrova 3:22. Osim toga, JEDINI pravi Bog Biblije je Otac, Jahve. — Ivan 17:3; 1. Korinćanima 8:6. Isusa je poslao Jahve, govori za Jahvu, predstavlja Jahvu, Boga Abrahama, Izaka i Jakova; Jahve je predstavljen kao jedna osoba od Postanka do Otkrivenja. Nikada nije predstavljen kao više od jedne osobe. Isus nije unipersonalni Jahve kojega predstavlja i za koje govori. — Ponovljeni zakon 18:15-19; Matej 23:39; Marko 11:9,10; Luka 13:35; Ivan 3:2,17; -5:19,43; -6:57; -7:16,28; -8:26,28,38; -10:25; -12:49,50; -14:10; -15:15; -17:8,26; Djela 3:13-26; Hebrejima 1:1,2; Otkrivenje 1:1. Unatoč svim argumentima koje iznose trinitarci i drugi, nemamo razloga misliti da je Isus Bog Abrahama, Izaka i Jakova, a svakako nema razloga misliti da je Isus osoba Boga Abrahama, Izaka i Jakova. Sve takve ideje moraju se zamisliti, pretpostaviti, dodati i pročitati u svakom pojedinom stihu koji je predstavljen da podupre tvrdnje. Vidi: Isus nije Jahve Kako onda nema spasitelja osim Jahve ako je i Isus spasitelj? Postoje li dva spasitelja? Riječ prevedena kao spasitelj u Hošei 13:4 i Izaiji 43:11 (i na mnogim drugim mjestima u Starom zavjetu) je Strongova hebrejska #3467 [yasha`]. U oba spisa Jahve osuđuje Izrael zbog okretanja idolima. Upravo u ovom kontekstu, kada Izrael traži od lažnih bogova izbavljenje, Jahve kaže da nema spasitelja za Izrael osim njega. Jahve ih podsjeća kada ih je izbavio iz Egipta, kada su živjeli u pustinji. (Hosea 13:5) Sada su, kaže on, zaboravili svoga Boga koji ih je izbavio. (Hošea 13,6). Poanta je da je Jahve govorio da niti jedan od tih idola-bogova ne može spasiti Izrael; da im je on jedini Bog i Spasitelj. Ovo je slično Ponovljenom zakonu 32:12, gdje čitamo: “Samo ga je Jahve vodio [Izraela/Jakova - stih 9], nije bilo stranog boga s njim.” Ako ovo izvučemo iz konteksta i citiramo samo prvi dio, moglo bi se povjerovati da nije postojao nitko drugi osim Jahve koji je vodio Izrael. A zatim u Izlasku 12:15 čitamo: “Dogodilo se istoga dana da je Jahve izveo sinove Izraelove iz zemlje egipatske po njihovim vojskama.” Ipak, također čitamo: “Mojsije je poveo Izraelce dalje od Crvenog mora, i izišli su u pustinju Šur; i išli su tri dana pustinjom i nisu našli vode.” (Izlazak 15:22) Znači li to da Mojsije i Jahve moraju biti isto biće? Apsolutno ne! Mojsija je poslao Jahve. Stoga čitamo: "Ti si vodio svoj narod kao stado, Mojsijevom i Aronovom rukom." (Psalam 77:20) "Po proroku Jahve izvede Izraela iz Egipta, i po proroku ga sačuva." (Hoseal 12:13) Tako Jahve priznaje da je koristio druge da izbavi Egipat, ali time polaže pravo na njihovog izbavitelja, budući da je on bio taj koji je poslao Mojsija i Arona, i on je taj koji je Mojsiju dao moć da izbavi. Sveta pisma obiluju slučajevima u kojima Jahve koristi razne sluge, ali mu se pripisuje zasluga za njihova djela, budući da je on bio usmjeravajuća sila. — Izlazak 3:10,12,17; -18:10; -Brojevi 16:28; -Suci 2:6,18; -3:9,10; -6:34; -11:29;-13:24,25; -14:6,19; -15:14,18; -16:20,28-30, -2 Kraljevima 4:27; -Izaija 43:11, -45:1-6; itd.

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Zapravo, temeljito ispitivanje svetih spisa otkriva da ima mnogo spasitelja. Jahve je spasio Izrael u prošlim vremenima opasnosti, posebno kada su Izraelci išli za idolskim bogovima pogana. Kako je Jahve to učinio? Suci 2:16 nam govore: “Jahve je podigao suce koji su ih [yasha`] spasili iz ruku onih koji su ih pljačkali.” I Nehemija 9:27: “Zato si ih predao u ruke njihovim neprijateljima, koji su ih stiskali; i prema svom mnogostrukom milosrđu dao si im spasitelje [hebrejski, Yasha`] koji su ih spasili [hebrejski, Yasha`] iz ruku njihovih protivnika.” Neki od spasitelja koje je poslao Jahve su: Otniel – Suci 3:9; Gideon – Suci 6:13,14; 8:22; Gideonovih 700: Suci 7:7; Samson – Suci 13:5; David – 2. Samuelova 3:18. Jahve je poslao ove spasitelje koji su djelovali u njegovo ime i njegovom snagom i autoritetom. Takvi spasitelji nisu bili "odvojeni" od Jahve, budući da ih je Jahve poslao. Naveli smo samo nekoliko primjera; mnogo više se može pronaći korištenjem hebrejske konkordancije. Koji je zaključak do kojeg bismo trebali doći? Riječ prevedena "osim" u Izaiji 43:11 je hebrejska riječ Bil`adey (Strongov #1107, osim, osim, bez, osim toga). U Hošei 13:4 koristi se slična riječ, Biltiy. Nijedna riječ ne nosi sa sobom apsolutnu ekskluzivnost koju mnogi vole pročitati u engleskom prijevodu. Spasitelji koje je poslao Jahve nisu "izvan" Jahve ili "bez" Jahve. Ipak, time što ih je poslao Jahve i dolaze u njegovo ime, to znači da je Jahve još uvijek jedini konačni spasitelj, stoga se još uvijek može reći da nema spasitelja osim (bez, osim) njega. Nema spasitelja osim Jahve, ali budući da je spasitelj, on postavlja druge za spasitelje s kojima je i sam, te je na taj način poslao svog sina kao spasitelja svijeta. Međutim, to ne poriče da je on jedini spasitelj, budući da je on taj koji je krajnji autor spasenja koje pruža preko svoga Sina. To je kao što je Samson rekao Jahvi: "Ti si dao ovo veliko izbavljenje rukom svoga sluge." (Suci 15:18) A Jahve je rekao o Davidu: "Rukom sluge svojega Davida spasit ću svoj narod Izrael iz ruku Filistejaca." (2. Samuelova 3:18) I psalmist je rekao: "Vodio si svoj narod kao stado, Mojsijevom i Aronovom rukom." (Psalam 77:20) Isto tako, Bog je poslao Isusa da se "svijet spasi po njemu" (Ivan 3:16,17) tako da je "besplatni dar Božji život vječni u Kristu Isusu Gospodinu našemu." (Rimljanima 6:23) Spasenje od Boga posredstvom Isusa nije odvojeno od Jahve, jer Jahve je taj koji je osigurao spasenje. Osim toga, Isus je poslan i došao je u Jahvino ime: (Ponovljeni zakon 18:15-19; Ivan 17:3; -4:34; -5:30; Matej 21:9; 23:39) Ovo dodatno naglašava da Isus nije bio spasitelj "mimo" Jahve, jer ga je Jahve poslao. Kao i spasitelji prije Isusa, Isus je primio svoju moć i snagu od Jahve. —Psalam 2:2,7,8; -110:1,2; Izaija 9:6,7; -61:1; Luka 1:32; Jeremija 23:5; Daniel 7:13,14; Ivan 17:1,3; Djela apostolska 2:36; Hebrejima 1:2,6. Osim toga, svi sveci se nazivaju spasiteljima, budući da su dio Abrahamova potomstva s Isusom koje će blagosloviti sve obitelji na zemlji tijekom Tisućljetne vladavine.. — Obadija 21; Postanak 22:18; Galaćanima 3:29; Otkrivenje 20,6; Vidi također Daniel 7:22,27; 1. Korinćanima 6:2; Otkrivenje 1,6; -5:10; -20:4,6; Psalam 82,6; Izaija 2:2-4. Stoga samo zato što je Isus nazvan "spasiteljem" to ne znači da je on Jahve. Jahve ostaje jedini konačni spasitelj, Izraelu, crkvi i svijetu, budući da je on taj koji je pripremio i poslao spasitelja svijeta.

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Prigovori Netko se usprotivio gore navedenom na temelju toga što samo spasitelj Isus nosi Božje ime, tvrdeći da, budući da ime Isus znači "Isus, preuzeto iz hebrejskog za Jošuu, može se prevesti u značenju kao "Jahve spašava", "Jahve je Spasitelj" ili "Spasitelj Jahve" [ovo drugo znači Spasitelj kojeg je Jahve poslao, a ne da Jahve treba biti spašen]. Iako mnogi žele nekako prikazati da ovo znači da je Isus Jahve, ne postoji ništa u imenu Isus što Isusa ne čini spasiteljem kojeg je poslao Jahve, već upravo suprotno, budući da je Isus spasitelj kojeg je poslao Jahve, a njegovo ime, koje mu je dao Jahve, takvom proglašava. Jahve je stoga krajnji spasitelj koji koristi svog Sina Isusa kao sredstvo spasenja. Nadalje napominjemo da nije potpuno točno da je samo Isus (iz Nazareta) "spasitelj" koji nosi ovo ime, jer Jošua, sin Nunov također je nosio ovo ime i također ga je poslao Jahve da izbavi naciju Izrael u obećanu zemlju. Ako bi netko pomislio da je Isus *Jahve jer njegovo ime sadrži skraćeni oblik Jahve, to jest “Jah”, onda je jedini zaključak koji se može donijeti da je Jošua, sin Nunov, također Jahve, budući da nosi isto ime. Osim toga, najmanje tri druge osobe u Bibliji nosile su isto ime: (1) 1. Samuelova 6:14,16; (2) 2. Kraljevima 23:6; (3) (ponekad se prevodi kao "Ješua") Ezra 3:8; Nehemija 12:26; Hagaj 1:1,12,14; 2:2-4; Zaharija 3,1-9; 6:11. Nadalje, postoje i drugi u Bibliji koji se nazivaju istim imenom kao Jeshua. Trebamo li vjerovati da su svi oni Jahve, jer navodno nose ime Jahve? Pogledajte sljedeće poveznice koje se tiču Joshue (Ne slažemo se nužno sa svakom izjavom koja se nalazi na poveznicama): Nova adventska katolička enciklopedija pod Jošuom Smithov biblijski rječnik pod Jošuom i Jeshua Kristova prezbiterijanska crkva, temeljni razred, lekcija 4 Dodatak 1: “Naš Spasitelj” u Titu 1:3,4 Titu 1:3,4: ali u pravo vrijeme očitovana, {čak i} Njegova riječ, u naviještanju koje mi je povjereno prema zapovijedi Boga Spasitelja našega, Titu, mom pravom djetetu u zajedničkoj vjeri: Milost i mir od Boga Oca i Krista Isusa, našega Spasitelja. — Novi američki standard Iznosi se argument da gornji stih definitivno pokazuje da je Isus Svemogući Bog, budući da se obojica nazivaju "našim spasiteljem". Zaključak koji se pretpostavlja nadalje pretpostavlja da Bog ne može poslati spasitelja koji nije on sam. U stvarnosti sve što ovdje vidimo je da se i Bog (koji je predstavljen unipersonalno kao Otac) i Isus nazivaju "našim spasiteljem". Bog je naš spasitelj jer je poslao Isusa da umre za nas. Isus je naš spasitelj jer ga je Bog poslao da umre za nas. “Bog” u ovim stihovima nije identificiran kao tri osobe, već kao jedna osoba, Bog i Otac Isusa.

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To je Otac (Titu 1:3), koji nas je "spasio" (Titu 3:5) "po Isusu Kristu, našem Spasitelju" (Titu 3:6). Dakle, Titu 3:4,5 pokazuje da je "Bog, naš Spasitelj" uniosobno Očevo biće, koji djeluje "kroz" Isusa Krista. Budući da se "Bog" ovdje odnosi na Oca, čitati u ovom tekstu da je Isus Bog o kojemu se govori, moglo bi se zaključiti iz ovoga da je Isus Bog Otac. Ovdje sigurno nema ništa o njima kao dvjema Božjim osobama. Naravno, trinitarci ne vjeruju da je Isus Otac, ali naši susjedi jedinstva vjeruju; usprkos tome, dogma o jedinstvu također se mora pretpostaviti, dodati i pročitati u svemu što je navedeno u Titu (kao i cijeloj Bibliji). U stvarnosti, međutim, ništa u ovome ne dokazuje da je Isus Jahve, Bog Abrahama, Izaka i Jakova, ili da je Isus osoba Boga Abrahama, Izaka ili Jakova. Dodatak 2: “Gospodin” u Titu 1:3,4 ali je u svoje vrijeme očitovao svoju riječ kroz propovijedanje, koje mi je bilo povjereno prema zapovijedi Boga našega Spasitelja; Titu, pravome sinu zajedničke vjere: Milost, milosrđe i mir od Boga Oca i Gospodina Isusa Krista, Spasitelja našega. — Nova verzija kralja Jamesa Jedan tvrdi da je upotreba "Gospodina" predstavljena s "Bog Otac" u Titu 1:4. Tvrdi se da bi se činilo kao bogohuljenje ono što nije Jahve nazivati "Gospodinom" u kontekstu koji ga povezuje s Jahvom. Primljeni tekst ima Kurios “Gospodin” u sebi (bez određenog člana); tekst Westcotta i Horta nema. Stoga imamo dva različita čitanja: jedno kao što je prikazano iz Novog američkog standarda u Dodatku 1, a drugo kako je prikazano gore iz Nove verzije kralja Jakova. Bez obzira na to, nema ništa bogohulno u nazivanju Isusa “Gospodinom”, budući da je Bog Abrahama, Izaka i Jakova taj koji je Isusa učinio i Gospodinom i Kristom. — Izaija 61:1; Djela apostolska 2:36. Isus je sjedinjen s Bogom Ocem jer je njegov sin, a naše spasenje dolazi preko Očeva sina.

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Isaiah 43:11 – Besides Yahweh There is No Savior

 

“I — I am Yahweh, and besides me there is no savior [yasha`, Strong's #3467].” — Isaiah 43:11, World English Bible version.

Yet I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt; And you will know no god but me, And besides [Hebrew, Biltiy, except, lest, but, save, withou] me there is no savior [yasha`]. — Hosea 13:4, World English Bible version

Trinitarians and believers in the “oneness” doctrines as well as some others often point to the above scripture as proof that since Yahweh says there is no savior besides him and since Jesus is called “savior”, then it is assumed that Jesus has to be Yahweh.

Yahweh is identified in the scriptures as the Father of Jesus. — Psalm 110:1;  Matthew 22:43-45; -26:64;  Mark 12:35-37;  Luke 20:41-44; Acts 2:34; -7:55: Rom. 8:34; Colossians 3:1;   Hebrews 1:13; -10:12,13;   -1.Peter 3:22.

Additionally, the ONLY true God of the Bible is the Father, Yahweh. — John 17:3;1 Corinthians 8:6.

Jesus was sent by Yahweh, speaks for Yahweh, represents Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Yahweh is presented as one person from Genesis to Revelation. He is never presented as more than one person. Jesus is not the unipersonal Yahweh whom he represents and speaks for. — Deuteronomy 18:15-19;  Matthew 23:39;  Mark 11:9,10;  Luke 13:35; John 3:2,17;

-5:19,43; -6:57; -7:16,28; -8:26,28,38; -10:25; -12:49,50; -14:10; -15:15; -17:8,26;  Acts 3:13-26;  Hebrews 1:1,2;  Revelation 1:1.

Despite all the arguments presented by trinitarians and others, we have no reason to think that Jesus is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and certainly no reason to think that Jesus is a person of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. All such ideas have to be imagined, assumed, added to, and read into each and every scripture that is presented to support the claims.

See: Jesus Is Not Yahweh

 

Then, how is it that there is no savior besides Yahweh if Jesus is also a savior? Are there two saviors?

The word translated savior in Hosea 13:4 and Isaiah 43:11 (and many other places in the Old Testament) is Strong’s Hebrew #3467 [yasha`]. In both scriptures Yahweh is denouncing Israel for turning to idols. It is in this context, when Israel is looking to the false gods for deliverance, that Yahweh says there is no savior for Israel besides him. Yahweh reminds them of when he delivered them from Egypt, when they dwelt in the wilderness. (Hosea 13:5) Now, he says, they have forgotten their God who delivered them. (Hosea 13:6). The point is that Yahweh was saying that none of those idol-gods could save Israel; that he was their only God and Savior.

This is similar to Deuteronomy 32:12, where we read: “Yahweh alone did lead him [Israel/Jacob - verse 9], There was no foreign god with him.” If we take this out of context, and only quote the first part, this could lead one to believe that there was no one else but Yahweh that led Israel. And then in Exodus 12:15 we read: “It happened the same day, that Yahweh brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.” Yet we also read: “Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.” (Exodus 15:22) Does this mean that Moses and Yahweh must be the same being? Absolutely not! Moses was sent by Yahweh. Therefore we read: “You led your people like a flock, By the hand of Moses and Aaron.” (Psalm 77:20) “By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt, And by a prophet he was preserved.” (Hoseal 12:13) Thus Yahweh acknowledges that he used others to deliver Egypt, yet by this he claims to the their deliverer, since he was the one to sent Moses and Aaron, and he is the one who gave Moses the power to deliver.

The scriptures abound with cases where Yahweh uses various servants but is given the credit for their actions, since he was the directing force. — Exodus 3:10,12,17;  -18:10;  -Numbers 16:28;  -Judges 2:6,18; -3:9,10; -6:34; -11:29;-13:24,25; -14:6,19; -15:14,18; -16:20,28-30,  -2 Kings 4:27;   -Isaiah 43:11, -45:1-6; etc.

 

Actually a thorough examination of the scriptures reveal that there are many saviors.

Yahweh saved Israel in past times of dangers, especially when the Israelites did go after the idol gods of the heathen. How did Yahweh do this? Judges 2:16 tells us: “Yahweh raised up judges, who saved [yasha`] them out of the hand of those who despoiled them.” And Nehemiah 9:27: “Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviors [Hebrew, Yasha`] who saved [Hebrew, Yasha`] them out of the hand of their adversaries.” Some of the saviors sent by Yahweh included: Othniel – Judges 3:9; Gideon – Judges 6:13,14; 8:22; Gideon’s 700: Judges 7:7; Samson – Judges 13:5; David – 2 Samuel 3:18. Yahweh sent these saviors who acted in his name and with his power and authority. Such saviors were not “apart from” Yahweh, since they were sent by Yahweh. We have given only a few examples; many more can be found by using using a Hebrew concordance.

What is the conclusion that we should come to? The word translated “besides” inIsaiah 43:11 is the Hebrew word Bil`adey (Strong’s #1107, apart from, except, without, besides). In Hosea 13:4 a similar word is used, Biltiy. Neither word carries with it the absolute exclusiveness that many like to read into the English translation. Saviors sent by Yahweh are not “apart from” Yahweh, or “without” Yahweh. Nevertheless, by their being sent by Yahweh and coming in his name signifies that Yahweh is still the only ultimate savior, thus it could still be said that there is no savior besides (without, apart from) him.

There is no savior apart from Yahweh, but being the savior, he does appoint others as saviors with whom he is with, and in this manner he sent his son as savior of the world. However, this does not deny that he is the only savior, since he is the one who is the ultimate author of the salvation he provides by means of his Son. It is as Samson stated to Yahweh: “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant.” (Judges 15:18) And Yahweh spoke of David: “By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” (2 Samuel 3:18) And Psalmist said: “You led your people like a flock, By the hand of Moses and Aaron.” (Psalm 77:20) Likewise, God sent Jesus that “the world should be saved through him” (John 3:16,17) so that “the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) The salvation from God by means of Jesus is not apart from Yahweh, for Yahweh is the one who has provided the salvation.

Additionally, Jesus was sent by and came in Yahweh’s name: (Deuteronomy 18:15-19;  John 17:3; -4:34; -5:30;   Matthew 21:9; 23:39) This further emphasizes that Jesus was not a savior “apart from” Yahweh, for he was sent by Yahweh. Like the saviors before Jesus, Jesus received his power and strength from Yahweh. —Psalm 2:2,7,8; -110:1,2;  Isaiah 9:6,7; -61:1;  Luke 1:32;   Jeremiah 23:5;   Daniel 7:13,14;  John 17:1,3;  Acts 2:36;  Hebrews 1:2,6.

Additionally the saints are all called saviors, as they are part of the seed of Abraham with Jesus that will bless all the families of the earth during the Millennial rule.. — Obadiah 21; Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:29; Revelation 20:6; See also  Daniel 7:22,27; 1.Corinthians 6:2;  Revelation 1:6; -5:10; -20:4,6;  Psalm 82:6;  Isaiah 2:2-4.

Therefore just because Jesus is called “savior” that does not mean that he is Yahweh. Yahweh remains the only ultimate savior, to Israel, to the church, and to the world, since he is the one who has made arrangements for and sent a savior of the world.

 

Objections

Someone has objected to the above on the grounds that only the savior Jesus bears God’s name, claiming that since the name Jesus means “Jesus, taken from the Hebrew for Joshua, can be rendered in meaning as “Yahweh saves”, “Yahweh is Savior”, or “Savior of Yahweh” [the latter meaning a Savior sent by Yahweh, not that Yahweh needs to be saved]. Although many wish to somehow make this appear to mean that Jesus is Yahweh, there is nothing in the name Jesus that makes Jesus not a savior sent by Yahweh, but rather the opposite, since Jesus is the savior sent by Yahweh, and his name, given to him by Yahweh, proclaims such. Yahweh is thus the ultimate savior who uses his Son Jesus as the means of salvation.

We further note it is not totally true that only Jesus (of Nazareth) is the “savior” bearing this name, for Joshua, son of Nun also bore this name and was sent also by Yahweh to deliver the nation of Israel into the promised land. If one would think that Jesus *is* Yahweh because his name contains the shortened form of Yahweh, that is, “Yah”, then the only conclusion to be reached is that Joshua, son of Nun is also Yahweh, since he bears the same name.

Additionally, at least three other persons in the Bible bore the same name: (1) 1 Samuel 6:14,16;(2) 2 Kings 23:6; (3) (sometimes translated as “Jeshua”) Ezra 3:8; Nehemiah 12:26; Haggai 1:1,12,14; 2:2-4; Zechariah 3:1-9; 6:11. Furthermore, there are others in the Bible that are called by the same name as Jeshua. Are we to believe that these are all Yahweh, since they supposedly bear the name of Yahweh?

See the following links concerning Joshua (We do not necessarily agree with every statement found in the links):

New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia under Joshua

Smith’s Bible Dictionary under Joshua

and Jeshua

Christ Presbyterian Church, Foundation Class, Lesson 4

 

Addendum 1: “Our Savior” in Titus 1:3,4

Titus 1:3,4: but at the proper time manifested, {even} His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior, To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. — New American Standard

The argument is being made that the above scripture definitely shows that Jesus is God Almighty, since both are being referred to as the “our savior.” The conclusion being assumed further assumes that God cannot send a savior who is not Himself. In reality all we see here is that both God (who is being presented unipersonally as the Father) and Jesus are referred to as “our savior”. God is our savior in that he sent Jesus be die for us. Jesus is our savior in that he was sent by God to die for us.

“God” in these verse is not identified as three persons, but as one person, the God and Father of Jesus.

It is the Father (Titus 1:3), who “saved us” (Titus 3:5) “through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:6). Thus, Titus 3:4,5 shows that “God, our Savior” is being unipersonally of the Father, who works “through” Jesus Christ. Since “God” here refers to the Father, then to read into this text that Jesus is the God being referred to, one would conclude from this that Jesus is the Father God. There is certainly nothing here about these as two persons of God. Of course, trinitarians do not believe that Jesus is the Father, but our oneness neighbors do; nontheless, the oneness dogma must also still be assumed, added to, and read into, anything that is stated in Titus (as well as the entire Bible).

In actuality, however, there is nothing in this that proves that Jesus is Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, or the Jesus is a person of the God of Abraham, Isaac or Jacob.

 

Addendum 2: “The Lord” in Titus 1:3,4

but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. — New King James Version

One argues that the usuage of the “Lord” is presented with “God the Father” inTitus 1:4. It is claimed that it would seem like blasphemy to call that which is not Yahweh “Lord” in the context conjoining him with Yahweh.

The Received Text has Kurios “Lord” in it (without the definite article); the Westcott and Hort text does not have it. Thus we have two different readings: one as shown from the New American Standard in Addendum 1, and the other as shown above from the New King James Version. Regardless, there is nothing blasphemous in calling Jesus “Lord”, since it is God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who made Jesus both Lord and Christ. — Isaiah 61:1; Acts 2:36.

Jesus is the conjoined with God the Father because he is His son, and it is through the Father’s son that our salvation comes.