Examine the Verse
John 20:28
This verse is cited to imply support
of the Trinitarian belief
that the true God is the Triune God, existing as
three persons, God
the Father,
God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, but one being.
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And Thomas answered
and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
(John 20:28, New King James Version) |
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Trinitarian Belief in
God and Jesus Christ:
Trinitarians believe in the Trinity, that God is the "Triune God"
existing as
three persons―
God the Father,
God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, but one being.
All three are
eternal
with no beginning.
Members of the Trinity are
co-equal and co-eternal,
one in
essence, nature, power, action, and will.
Trinitarians believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal second person
"God the Son",
who took on a human body and nature and became
both man and God.
Thus is Jesus is fully man
and fully God simultaneously. |
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Apostle's admonition, warning and
unique way of teaching:
1.
No prophecy of scripture is a matter of personal
interpretation. (II Pt. 1:20, NAB)
2. Do not go beyond what
is written. (I
Cor. 4:6, NIV)
3.
We do not use words of human wisdom. We speak words given to
us by the Spirit,
using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. (1
Cor. 2:13, NLT) |
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Points to Consider: |
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1. Please
consider the underlying events that happened just before
this statement by Thomas.
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24 Now
Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not
with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples
therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
So he said to them, “Unless I see in His
hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into
the print of the nails, and put my hand into His
side, I will not believe.”
26 And after eight days His disciples were
again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the
doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said,
“Peace to you!”
27 Then He said to
Thomas, “Reach your finger here,
and look at My hands; and reach your hand here,
and put it into My side. Do not be
unbelieving, but believing.”
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him,
“My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him,
“Thomas,
because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed
are those who have not seen and yet
have believed. (John 24-29, NKJV)
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2. When Thomas was said
“My
Lord and my God!”, was he in the act of teaching or
expressing his belief about Jesus, that Jesus is God?
Or, was he simply expressing his amazement and unbelief?
3. Please consider this biblical explanation why
Thomas' statement is simply an expression of amazement and
unbelief? |
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The
following are declarations of Jesus Christ about the
only true God:
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God is a Spirit:
and they that worship him must
worship him in spirit and in truth.' (John 4:24, KJV)
"See My hands and My
feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for
a spirit does not have flesh and bones
as you see that I have." (Luke 24:39, NAS)
1 After Jesus finished saying
this, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father,
the hour has come. Give glory to your Son, so that
the Son may give glory to you. 3 And eternal
life means to know you, the only true God, and
to know Jesus Christ, whom you sent. (John 17:1,3,
TEV) |
As an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, Thomas
really know who Jesus really is, as testified by Jesus Himself:
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"I am the good
shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known
by My own.
(John
10:27, NKJV) |
Based on
the above verses, Thomas who really know Jesus, also
really know who the only true God is, as taught to
them by the Lord Jesus Himself.
Thus, for Thomas to completely disregard the above teachings of
Jesus and instead categorically declare that Jesus is his God
is not possible.
THEREFORE, Thomas statement is simply and expression
of amazement and unbelief.
For
further explanation of the above verse John 20:28:
Please click link to
interesting question #33 |
4. How can the above verse imply support to
the Trinity doctrine when the verse do not even mention
other members of the Trinity, like God the Holy Spirit; or
any of the Trinitarian elements such as co-equal,
co-eternal; one in essence, action, power and will? |
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John 20:28 in other versions of
the Bible: |
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And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
(King James
Version)
You may use other version or translation of the Holy Bible.
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___________________
Bible Study
Suggestion: |
- Search the internet for the
Trinitarian explanation of the above verse.
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Examine
- consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover
essential features or meaning;
Source:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/examine
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