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finite, and our minds simply are not capable of understanding an infinite subject. We can
only hope to see `pointers' which will enable us to realize that while we may not
understand, the subject is not irrational. It is a matter of interest that in all the discussions
concerning the deity and nature of Christ, in all the writings we have seen, no one has
dared to say `you make too much of Christ', for if Christ is less than fully God in the last
analysis the claim that He is God is to make too much of Him. But is it possible to make
too much of Him Whom the Holy Spirit's main task is to glorify?
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"
(John 1: 1). No one seriously disputes that the Word is the Lord Jesus Christ, this is
quite clear from what follows. Yet many dispute the statement "the Word was God".
Dr. Moffatt mistranslates it "the Logos was divine" (as he similarly mistranslates
ITim.iii.16 rendering `great is the mystery of godliness' as `profound is the divine truth
of our religion'): but then he did not believe in the deity of Christ. Others `with an axe
to grind' put it `the Word was a god'. Yet little knowledge of Greek is required to realize
this is not correct. This `translation' turns on the fact that in the phrase under
consideration the definite article (the) does not appear before `God'. But the subject of
the whole verse is the Word, not primarily God, and the word `God' in the latter phrase
occurs in a position which places emphasis upon it: the Word was God. But there are
similar constructions in the same chapter which no one would consider translating in the
same way. The result would be nonsense. John 1: 6, there was a man sent from a god;
verse 12, power to become sons of a god; verse 14, as of the only begotten of a father.
The statement is plainly and clearly "the Word was God".
"And the Word was with God": `with' is the preposition pros, of which The
Companion Bible says it implies `personal presence and relation'. That is to say, if we
are to accept that the Word was a god, then a god was personally present with God. Yet
in Deut. 32: 39 Jehovah clearly states `and there is no god with Me'. If the Word is a
god, then He obviously was never with God, or Jehovah is lying.
There are many scriptures which identify Jehovah with the Lord Jesus Christ,
Isa. 48: 11, 12 (see also 41: 4; 42: 8; 44: 6) states:
". . . . . I will not give My glory unto another . . . . . I am the first, I also am the last."
Compare this with Rev. 1: 8, 17:
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and
which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."
". . . . . I am the first and the last."
The speaker is `one like unto the Son of man', a Being, from John's description,
glorious almost beyond words. He claims to be `the Almighty' and `the first and the
last'.
Similarly in Rev. 22: 13 (where the speaker identifies Himself, verse 16 "I Jesus"):
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."