John 5:18
(Was Christ making himself equal with God?)
For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” (John 5:18 NIV, Emphasis mine)
TRINITARIANS CLAIM that the above passage of John 5:18 is evidence that Jesus is God because the passage speaks of Jesus making himself equal with God. The contention that by Christ calling God His father; thus, Christ was making Himself equal to God is just the misunderstanding or, should we say, misinterpretation of scripture by the proponent that Jesus is God.
The real question is, was this the declaration of Christ about Himself ( OR ) was this the viewpoint and accusation of the Jews who wanted to kill Him?
Anyone who truly understands the scriptures and this passage understands that this was the accusation of the Jews and not the position of Christ, which further validates how Trinitarians either misunderstood the passage or will go to great lengths to twist the scripture to give false meaning to support their claim. Let us first read what led up to the point why the Jews wanted to stone Christ:
“So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. In his defense Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working’.”
(Reference: Jn. 5:16-17 NIV, Emphasis Mine)
So as we can see, Christ was doing works of God on the day of the Sabbath, and by Jewish law of the Old Testament, no work shall be conducted on the Sabbath day for it is a day of rest (Exodus 20:10). Because of this, the Jews persecute Christ’s actions and when Christ responded that His Father is always at work daily, therefore He is also at work, this immediately infuriated the Jews, which is why they wanted to stone Christ. But was it because Christ claimed to be equal with God? Or was this the assumption and accusation of the Jews?
For clarification, this time, let us read this passage from the Amplified Translation for further evidence of whose accusation and viewpoint they belong to:
“This made the Jews more determined than ever to kill Him, for not only was He breaking the Sabbath [from their viewpoint], but He was also calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.”
(Reference: Jn. 5:18 AB, Emphasis Mine)
As you can see from the above rendition, this is the viewpoint and accusation of the Jews, and not of Christ! This conclusion is not our own made-up interpretation of the passage.
The “Jews” accused Christ of making Himself equal with God by Christ stating that God is His Father. This was merely the interpretation or thought process of the Jews. Christ never said He was God in this passage but simply claimed that God is His Father. But the question is, why did the Jews misunderstand or assume such a false notion, which led to their need to kill Christ? The key to understanding this passage that led to this event we first must understand the way the Jews viewed Jesus, which is found in John 6:42. Let us read:
“And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?“
(Reference: Jn 6:42 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
So, when the ‘Jews’ heard Jesus speaking of His Father, they immediately grasped the implication that Jesus broke away from human fatherhood by referring to God as His father and thus committed the crime of blasphemy. Likewise, in the eyes of the ‘Jews,’ when Jesus applied to Himself the divine prerogative related to God’s continuing work on the Sabbath, in the minds of the Jews, Christ overstepped the limits of human nature and made Himself equal to God. Therefore, from the position of the ‘Jews’ and on the grounds of the judicial authority of the Law of Moses, the charge of blasphemy against Jesus was legally appropriate and merited the death sentence. For this reason, the Jewish authorities at once sought to kill Christ by having Him stoned on the spot.
Did Christ let this notion of Him being equal to God go without correction? In reply to the charge of being equal with God, He says immediately in verse 19:
“Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”
(Reference: Jn. 5:19 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
Therefore, Christ clearly distinguishes the difference in equality between Him and God in which Christ states that He can do nothing of Himself. Furthermore, the works Christ performs are the miracles and wonders God does through Him, which proves the difference and separation between God and Christ. Let us read:
“‘Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know’.”
(Reference: Acts 2:22 NASB, Emphasis Mine)
Therefore, it is clear that God is the one who gave the power to Christ or who performs such works of wonders and miracles through Christ, further proving Christ is not the true God. If Christ were the true God, the power would be inherited as God is almighty. So if Christ were God and there was another God who performed such miracles through Christ, how many Gods would you now have? So, as you can see, the absurdity is very evident here.
We can witness a similar incident where Christ was once again attempted to be stoned by the Jews because of their false understanding that Christ was claiming to make Himself God (once again, the “accusations of the Jews” and not the declaration or statement of Christ). Let us read:
John 10:31
“Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, ‘Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me’?”
(Reference: Jn. 10:31 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
Take note from the above passage that Christ did not say He was God but questioned which “good works” He is going to be stoned for, which are the works from His father. Let us continue to verse 33:
“The Jews answered Him, saying, ‘For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God’.”
(Reference: Jn. 10:33 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
So once again, who made the accusation that Christ was making Himself God? Was it Christ or was it the ‘Jews’ in verse 33?
It was clearly the “Jews” and their misunderstanding of Christ’s declaration about the caring of the sheep and how the Father and Christ are one and united in caring for the flock from verse 30. But did Christ let this false notion go uncorrected? Let us read verse 36:
“do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?“
(Reference: Jn. 10:36 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
Therefore, it is evident Christ corrected the ‘Jews’ by clearly declaring He is the Son of God which is none other than His father thus denying He is God.
Furthermore, let us read a rendering explanation of this denial of Christ in a more direct interpretation of the passage from “The Christian Repository, Devoted Principally, to Doctrine, Morality, and Religious Intelligence” By Robert Bartlett. Vol. VII., which he interprets to mean:
“In answer to the charge of making himself God, he appeals to the Jews in substance thus: Your own Scriptures call Moses a god, and your magistrates gods; I am surely not inferior to them, yet I did not call myself God, but only the ‘son’ of God, John x.34,35, 36.”
(Reference: Published by Woodstock; Printed by David Watson 1827 p.267, Emphasis Mine)
This is the very reason we can read many passages such as:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, …”
(Reference: Eph 1:3 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
In addition, Christ’s declaration that His Father is also His God:
“Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God‘.”
(Reference: John 20:17 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
IN CONCLUSION
1
It was the “Jews” who accused Christ of making Himself equal with God by Christ stating that God is His father.
2
Christ did not let this false notion go uncorrected by stating: “do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?” (Jn. 10:36, NKJV)
3
The accusation of the ‘Jews’ that Christ was making himself equal to God was based on the implication that Jesus broke away from human fatherhood by referring to God as His father and thus committed the crime of blasphemy. In their minds, Christ is the son of Joseph, whose father and mother they knew. (Jn. 6:42)
4
Christ clearly distinguishes the difference in equality between Him and God in which Christ states that He can do nothing of Himself. Furthermore, the works Christ performs are the miracles and wonders God does through Him.
5
Christ declared that the Father is His Father and God. (Jn. 20:17). This declaration should shut all doors to any possibility of Christ being God. More so that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ had declared that there is no other god besides Himself and that He alone is God (Is. 46:9, Good News Translation) (Is. 45:5 KJV), further disqualifying Christ as God since Christ recognizes God as His Father and God.
WE KINDLY EXTEND our visitors an invitation to explore the pristine, unadulterated teachings of Christ and His apostles as they were taught in the first-century Church Of Christ:
The Truth about God and Jesus Christ
SUPPORTERS OF THE BELIEF in the divinity of Christ, also known as the Christ-is-God or the God-man doctrine, assert that God exists as a trinity consisting of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Although they are three in nature and considered distinct beings, proponents maintain that they form a single God. The concept of the Trinity lacks explicit biblical endorsement; thus, proponents often argue that it represents a profound mystery beyond human comprehension and should be accepted by faith alone.
Reach Out
If you wish to acquire a deeper understanding of our Church Doctrines and have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We would be delighted to direct you to one of our local resident ministers in your vicinity. Kindly include any queries you may have so that we may forward your inquiry in advance. Thank you.
Please note, we only read and respond to messages that do not contain hate speech or insults...
“Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].”
(Eph. 4:29, Amplified Bible)
“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.”
(1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Amplified Bible)