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Did the Early Church invent the Trinity?

The doctrine and concept of the Trinity is encapsulated in Matthew 28:19, where Jesus instructs the apostles: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. John, who was very close to Jesus and obviously knew him well, alludes to this teaching frequently in his Gospel, too. For example: John 1:1; John 8:58; John 10:30; and John 10:38. Yet, despite this, and numerous other examples throughout the New Testament which point towards the threefold nature of God, plenty of myths and legends abound online and in books which state that the divinity of Jesus (and therefore the Trinit...

Was Jesus worshipped in the New Testament?

...word, the disciples, awestruck, worshiped Jesus, acknowledging, "Truly you are the Son of God". This moment captures the essence of recognising and bowing before the divine presence. 2. Matthew 28:9 and 28:17 - Post-Resurrection Adoration Matthew 28:9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Matthew 28:17 When they saw him, they worshiped him, but they doubted. In the dawn of the resurrection, women, and disciples alike encountered the risen Christ, seizing his feet in worship. Even amidst doubt, worship persisted, displaying that even in disbelief, Jesus accepted worship. 3. Luk...

Raised in the Heavenlies!

...ed to his disciples, he was no longer the same human Jesus they once knew (2 Cor 5:16). Despite eating and drinking (Luke 24:39-43) and seeming the same as before, he now appeared in their midst behind locked doors (John 20:19); travelled with people in an unrecognisable form – or could control other’s perceptions of him until required (Luke 24:15-16), and the could also disappear in the blink of an eye (Luke 24:31)! Christ was raised physically, initially, but then his body was different. Glorified, not human. Origen captures this concept well in his book Contra Celsus; “After his resurrection, Christ existed in an intermediate state, as it were....

Lent Day 19: Cyprian: On the Unity of the Church: 10-18

...upon His disciples” in the things which they pray for; that they are all of one mind and purpose when they come together and come before God. This is similar then to what Jesus says in John 17:11 where he prays for his disciples to “be one, as we are one”. So that when two or three are gathered in His name, Jesus is “showing that most is given, not to the multitude, but to the unanimity of those that pray”. When Jesus says “I am with them”, it is meaning that he is “with the simple and peaceable–with those who fear God and keep God's commandments” and goes on to give some examples from Scripture based on this, such as; Shadrach, Meshach, an...

The Gospel of Jeffrey Dahmer

...ainst the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1) when hunting down Christians and approving of Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 8:1). Paul acknowledges his sin but recognises that God saved him as a testimony to the abundant goodness and mercy of God, so that if even Paul can be saved, then so can anyone. 1 Timothy 1:16But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate His extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Jeffrey Dahmer was definitely “the worst of them”, yet not beyond the reach of our ever-loving saviour, Christ Jesus. I understand the human desire to...

The Resurrection as a historical event

...ed to his disciples, he was no longer the same human Jesus they once knew (2 Cor 5:16). Despite eating and drinking (Luke 24:39-43) and seeming the same as before, he now appeared in their midst behind locked doors (John 20:19); travelled with people in an unrecognisable form – or could control other’s perceptions of him until required (Luke 24:15-16), and the could also disappear in the blink of an eye (Luke 24:31)! Christ was raised physically, initially, but then his body was different. Glorified, not human. Origen captures this concept well in his book Contra Celsus; “After his resurrection, Christ existed in an intermediate state, as it were. Fo...