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It is the glory of this great title that it does not last for ever, but that the Lord fulfils it. The eternity of the
invisible God is nowhere in view. We shall have taken a step towards clearer understanding when we realise that
the revelation of God is relative, and must always be considered as related to the purpose of the ages.
GOD - Relatively
A - As there seems nothing revealed concerning God, except as related to the purpose of the ages, are we to
expect a fuller revelation in the life to come?
B - In John 17:3 we read:
`And this is aionian life, with the object that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Him Whom Thou
didst send, Jesus Christ' (author's translation).
During the `age to come', when aionian life will be enjoyed, those thus privileged will get to know God, in order
to equip them for their share in bringing about the happy condition when:
`The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea' (Isa. 11:9).
We know God now only through Christ and in no other way. The relationship which Christ bears to the ages
may be seen by comparing the following Scriptures:
`Christ is all and in all' (Ta panta kai
During the ages.
en pasi Christos, Col. 3:11)
`That God may be all in all' (Hina e ho
When the ages finish.
Theos panta en pasin, 1 Cor. 15:28)
You will see that when we deal with the Scriptures that speak of God relatively, we are compelled to consider
those Scriptures which are ranged under our third heading:
GOD - Manifest
It is in connection with this aspect of the subject that most of our difficulties occur. Let us examine the teaching
of four passages of Scripture, viz., John 1:1; Colossians 1:15,16; Hebrews 1:1-3; and Philippians 2:6-11. Let us
commence with John 1:1:
`In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God'.
A - There are some important alterations necessary to this translation before we can arrive at the truth. First
there is no word for `the' in the phrase `in the beginning'.
B - That is true, and but confirms our suggestion that the Bible is not occupied with the beginning, which must of
necessity be beyond the grasp of human understanding. It refers to that period when creation was contemplated.
IN that beginning WAS the Word.
SINCE that beginning the Devil sinneth, and is a murderer.
A - There is a far more important alteration necessary. Instead of reading `the Word was God', we must read
`the Word was A God', for the article is omitted. If we give full value to the article we shall read `the Word was
with THE God, and the Word was A God', THE God referring to the one true God, and A God to God in a subordinate
and lower sense.
B - You therefore believe in two Gods, a greater and a lesser.
A - No, I do not accept the idea of a number of persons in the Godhead.
B - Then He who is A God is really no god at all?