red moon, hail and butterflies

last aug 28 saw the full lunar eclipse - full red moon for
several minutes...! and yes for the first time experience
hail last oct 9!!! and saw several butterflies last nov 1
as if they are migrating.. ! what an emotion for new events! : D

sherlz and don

long awaited dream come true! :D
God bless! :D!

joann

you miss me na noh? you miss me hehehehe....
wish i could be there on your special day : )

MAILBOX: Mystified by the Holy Spirit

Published in God's Message (Pasugo) July 2007

I HAD BEEN a regular viewer of your TV broadcast. I am a former Catholic who left the church because I could no longer understand my stand as a "Christian." I practically studied and fellowshipped with almost all religions starting with the Jehova's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Unification Church, Baptists, Pentacostals, and Mormons ... The Iglesia ni Cristo was never in my mind because of the question on the deity of Christ. After a thorough study, I could no longer defend my faith in the Trinity which is copied from an ancient pagan doctrine of anthromorphism. I now deeply believe that Jesus is truly human. However, I am still confused with the concept of the Holy Spirit. Can you explain to me further what is this Holy Spirit, its role and significance in our Christian lives? Everything is very clear to me now except this aspect.

Oscar Erasquin
oscarerasquin@yahoo.com


Editor's reply:
That you went out of your way to seek the truth shows the intensity of your desire to be saved - and this is actually what God has set as His condition for all men to be saved, that is, to know the truth (I Tim. 2:3-4).

As to your query on what is the Holy Spirit, we give you as an answer this promise made by our Lord Jesus Christ to His true believers:

"But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever i have said to you." (John 14:26, New King James Version)

Christ promised that God would send the Holy Spirit as the Comforter of His people. Christ also said that He Himself would send the Holy Spirit which is also called the Helper and the Spirit of truth (John 15:26). Being sent by God and Christ, the Holy Spirit cannot be God, as what the Trinity stipulates, for the one who is sent is not greater than the one who sent him (John 13:16).

The Holy Spirit is also described in the Bible as the power of God (Acts 1:8) that He sends to help us in our weaknesses and infirmities (Rom. 8:26) and to strengthen us so that we can withstand our many trials in life and still remain rooted to our faith:

"I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, so that you, together with all God's people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ's love." (Eph. 3:16-18, Today's English Version)

This prayer of Apostle Paul, especially its last few lines, is also our prayer for you and for all others who seek the truth that leads to salvation. May God continue to enlighten you and bless you in your quest to become His true servant.

____________
For questions, comments, and suggestions, send your letters to any of our editorial offices (see staff box, p. 1). Or, e-mail us at pasugo@inc.org.ph

We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of space and clarity. Sender's name may be withheld upon request.

Praise God for sending His messenger

Published in God's Message (Pasugo) July 2007

AMONG THE SIGNS that our Lord Jesus Christ gave His disciples to indicate the time when His Second Advent or the end of the world is near (Matt. 24:3-8), it is not wars, tribulations, earthquakes, or famines that pose the greatest danger to man but the rise of many false preachers, for this shall gravely imperil humanity by ruining not only the lives of people, but more significantly man's hope for salvation.

What our Lord Jesus Christ foretold is indeed happening. But while revulsion for sufferings caused by wars, famines and earthquakes is almost universal, this does not seem to hold true for false preachers. In fact, today preachers who profess and affirm beliefs that are alien to the teachings of the Bible are proliferating. All kinds of strange teachings are bandied about by them and, surprisingly, are gaining adherents.

Where can people turn to for guidance on dealing with false preachers? In order not to fall victim to these false teachers and their deceptive utterances, the Bible exhorts us in Proverbs 2:3-5, 10-13: "[Y]es, if your plea is for clear perception, if you cry out for understanding, if you look for it as though for silver, search for it as though for buried treasure, then you will understand what the fear of Yahweh is, and discover the knowledge of God. When wisdom comes into your heart and knowledge fills your soul with delight, ... then prudence will be there to watch over you, and understanding will be your guardian to keep you from the way that is evil, from those whose speech is deceitful, from those who leave the paths of honesty to walk the roads of darkness" (New Jerusalem Bible).

The instruction to anyone who wants to be saved from deception is clear: cry out or search for understanding, and for the knowledge of God for these will keep one from the way that is evil, "from those whose speech is deceitful" and those who "walk the roads of darkness." Hence the true knowledge or understanding is what man should make every effort to acquire because it is the one that shall keep us from the roads of darkness.

What does the Bible refer to as the roads of darkness and what is the evil result of walking in them? In Isaiah 59:8-9 and 11: "The way of peace they have not known. And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace. Therefore justice is far from us, Nor does righteousness overtake us; We look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness!... We all growl like bears, And moan sadly like doves; We look for justice, but there is none; For salvation, but it is far from us" (New King James Version).

Roads of darkness or crooked paths emerge when people who do not know the way of peace and righteousness make their own paths which they think would lead them to God. These are the false religions established by men. People who are in crooked paths say that they look for righteousness and light but for them it is all darkness; they look for salvation but it is very far from them. Therefore, those who have been deceived by false religions or have been led astray into crooked paths are in a very dreadful and perilous condition - they will not attain salvation.

On the other hand, which is the knowledge that everyone who wants to keep away from crooked paths should strive to understand and learn? This knowledge refers to the things that God wants man to do or His will, which everyone who wishes to serve Him with complete devotion should learn. The Holy Scriptures states: "Teach me, LORD, what you want me to do, and I will obey you faithfully; teach me to serve you with complete devotion" (Ps. 86:11, Today's English Version).

Therefore, all people should seek eagerly to learn the will of God and obey it faithfully and use it as basis in serving Him. Hence, everyone who wants to be saved from the false religions or crooked paths should examine the beliefs they uphold to see whether or not these are in accordance with the will of God or His teachings. How can one know if his way of serving God is compliant to His will? Does man need to go up to heaven in order to find the true teachings of God? No, he does not, because the Bible reveals, "For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'" (Deut. 30:11-12, NKJV) Therefore, God has given His commandments to man and they are not difficult to understand and follow.

Where can man find the true teachings of God? This is stated in II Timothy 3:15-17: "And you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed" (TEV).

The words of God, which is the true knowledge that gives wisdom that leads to salvation and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, giving instruction for right living and every kind of good deed, are written in the Holy Scriptures. This does not mean though that it is enough for anyone to merely read the Bible in order for him to understand the teachings of God. Indeed, not everyone who uses the Bible is teaching the true knowledge.

To whom God commit His commandments and from whom should man seek the true knowledge of God and His teachings? It is the messengers of God whom He entrusted to teach the true knowledge of Him and His will, as stated in Malachi 2:6-7: "They taught what was right, not what was wrong. They lived in harmony with me; they not only did what was right themselves, but they also helped many others to stop doing evil. It is the duty of priests to teach the true knowledge of God. People should go to them to learn my will, because they are the messengers of the LORD Almighty" (Ibid.).

Thus, one should be wary of preachers who are not sent by God or who are not His messengers so that he will not be deceived. Why will one be safe from deception if he listens to the words fo God through His messenger? What is the quality of God's messenger that's why it is from him the true knowledge should be sought? In the New International Version, this is how the preceding verses are rendered: "True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction - because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty."

It is clear that the true instructions or teachings of God are in the mouth of His messenger and that nothing false is found on his lips. Thus, God's act of commissioning His messengers is very important to the welfare of man's soul. If we welcome the efforts of those who work tirelessly to alleviate mankind's suffering caused by wars, famines, and earthquakes, the more we should welcome the efforts of God's true messengers in leading us away from false preachers who endanger man's hope for salvation. It is from God's messenger alone that the true teachings of God should be sought. Those self-proclaimed preachers who are not sent and even criticize those who believe in God's commisioning of messengers, should be totally avoided and ignored.

Praise be unto God, for in these last days, He sent a messenger to preach the pristine gospel of salvation. Brother Felix Manalo was instrumental in preaching and expounding the knowledge of God and His will which keeps man away from the roads of darkness and which should be used as basis for serving the Creator in the right way. Through this also, many people have been able to return to the way of peace and righteousness and the Church of Christ (Iglesia ni Cristo) was reestablished in order that genuine obedience to the teachings of God written in the Bible and true worship of Him may be restored.

As the Iglesia ni Cristo celebrates its 93rd anniversary, we wholeheartedly thank God for the many blessings and successes that He has bestowed on this work of salvation. Together with this, we promise that we will stand firm for the divine calling and election which God has given us until the last moments of our lives or until the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Mags and Keira Lorraine

a good team.. kind and humble, unselfish... ni
ayaw magpatubo, hard working and brave :D!

Ang Likas na Kalagayan ni Cristo (Ikaapat na Bahagi)

Published in God's Message (Pasugo), July 2007

“Hindi tinawag na Diyos si Jesus sa mga Ebanghelyong Sinoptiko. Kahit sa Ebanghelyo ni Juan, hindi tiyakang sinabi ni Jesus mismo na siya ay Diyos.” –Ang Kabanalbanalang Isangtatlo, p. 32

"Tinawag ni Cristo ang Diyos na Kaniyang Ama - katumbas ng Siya ang Anak ng Diyos at hindi Siya ang Diyos."


KUNG ATING SUSURIIN ang Bagong Tipan, mauunawaan natin sa mga sinulat ng mga apostol at mga ebanghelista na hindi si Cristo ang Diyos na kanilang kinilala at ipinakilala. Ipinakilala nila si Cristo bilang “Anak ng Diyos.” Noon pa mang ibalita ng anghel kay Maria na siya ay maglilihi ay ipinagpauna na, na ang kaniyang magiging anak ay tatawaging Anak ng Diyos:

“At sumagot ang anghel, at sinabi sa kaniya, Bababa sa iyo ang Espiritu Santo, at lililiman ka ng kapangyarihan ng Kataastaasan: kaya naman ang banal na bagay na ipanganganak ay tatawaging Anak ng Dios.” (Lucas 1:35)

Si Cristo ang Anak ng Diyos
Maging sa Ebanghelyong sinulat ni Mateo ay mababasang maliwanag na nang bautismuhan si Cristo ay narining ang tinig ng Ama na nagsasabing, “Ito ang sinisinta kong Anak”:

“At narito, ang isang tinig na mula sa mga langit, na nagsasabi, Ito ang sinisinta kong Anak, na siya kong lubos na kinalulugdan.” (Mat. 3:17)

Ipinakilala rin si Jesus ng ebanghelistang si Marcos bilang Anak ng Diyos. Sa pagpapasimula ng kaniyang Ebanghelyo ay ganito ang sinasabi.

“Ang pasimula ng evangelio ni Jesucristo, ang Anak ng Dios.” (Mar. 1:1)

Sa Ebanghelyo ayon kay Apostol Juan, si Cristo ay ipinakilala rin bilang Anak ng Diyos:

“At aking nakita, at pinatotohanan kong ito ang Anak ng Dios.” (Juan 1:34)

Maliwanag, kung gayon, na sa mga Ebanghelyo Sinoptiko at maging sa Ebanghelyo ayon kay Apostol Juan, si Cristo ay ipinakikilalang Anak ng Diyos – hindi si Cristo ang Diyos. Ang isang paring Jesuita na si Pedro Sevilla ay sumulat ukol sa bagay na ito:

“Hindi tinawag na Diyos si Jesus sa mga Ebanghelyong Sinoptiko. Kahit sa Ebanghelyo ni Juan, hindi tiyakang sinabi ni Jesus mismo na siya ay Diyos.” (Ang Kabanalbanalang Isangtatlo, p. 32)¹

Ang patotoo ng mga apostol
Nang tanungin ni Jesus ang Kaniyang mga alagad kung ano ang sinasabi ng mga tao tungkol sa Kaniya, sinabi ni Apostol Pedro na, “Ikaw ang Anak ng Diyos na buhay.” Hindi sinabi ni Apostol Pedro na si Cristo ang Diyos na buhay:

“Nang dumating nga si Jesus sa mga sakop ng Cesarea ni Filipo, ay itinanong niya sa kaniyang mga alagad, na sinasabi, Ano baga ang sabi ng mga tao kung sino ang Anak ng tao? At kanilang sinabi, Anang ilan, Si Juan Bautista; ang ilan, si Elias, at ang mga iba, Si Jeremias, o isa sa mga propeta. Kaniyang sinabi sa kanila, Datapuwa’t, ano ang sabi ninyo kung sino ako? At sumagot si Simon Pedro at sinabi, Ikaw ang Cristo, ang Anak ng Dios na buhay. At sumagot si Jesus at sa kaniya’y sinabi, Mapalad ka, Simon Bar-Jonas: sapagka’t hindi ipinahayag sa iyo ito ng laman at ng dugo, kundi ng aking Ama na nasa langit.” (Mat. 16:13-17)

Sinang-ayunan ni Jesus ang pagpapahayag ni Apostol Pedro ng kaniyang pananampalataya, at Kaniyang sinabi rito: “Hindi ito ipinahayag sa iyo ng laman at dugo kundi ng aking Ama na nasa langit.”

Mapapansin na tinawag ni Cristo ang Diyos na Kaniyang Ama – katumbas ng Siya ang Anak ng Diyos at hindi Siya ang Diyos. Sa aklat na The History of God ni Karen Armstrong, isang dating madre sa simbahang Katoliko, ay mababasa ang pagsang-ayon niya sa katotohanang ito:

“Hindi sinabi ni Pedro na si Jesus na taga-Nazaret ay Diyos. Siya ay tao, na pinatunayan sa inyo ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng mga himala at mga kababalaghan at mga tanda na ginawa ng Diyos sa pamamagitan niya nang siya ay nasa gitna ninyo’.” (p. 107)²

Maging sa mga sulat ni Apostol Pablo ay malimit niyang banggitin na si Cristo ay Anak ng Diyos ngunit hindi niya ginamit ang titulong Diyos para kay Cristo. Katunayan, pagkatapos na matanggap ni Pablo ang bautismo, ang unang ipinahayag niya sa mga sinagoga ay si Jesus ang “Anak ng Diyos”:

“At pagdaka’y kaniyang itinanyag sa mga sinagoga si Jesus, na siya ang Anak ng Dios.” (Gawa 9:20)

Ang pananampalataya ni Apostol Pablo na si Cristo ay Anak ng Diyos ay makikita sa kaniyang mga sulat:

“Na ipinahayag na Anak ng Dios na may kapangyarihan ayon sa espiritu ng kabanalan, sa pamamagitan ng pagkabuhay na maguli ng mga patay, sa makatuwid baga’y si Jesucristo na Panginoon natin.” (Roma 1:4)

“Ang Dios ay tapat, na sa pamamagitan niya ay tinawag kayo sa pakikisama ng kaniyang anak na si Jesucristo na Panginoon natin.” (I Cor. 1:9)

“Sapagka’t ang Anak ng Dios, si Jesucristo na ipinangaral naming sa inyo,…” (II Cor. 1:19)

“Ako’y napako sa krus na kasama ni Cristo; at hindi na ako ang nabubuhay, kundi si Cristo ang nabubuhay sa akin: at ang buhay na ikinabubuhay ko ngayon sa laman ay ikinabubuhay ko sa pananampalataya, ang pananampalataya na ito’y sa Anak ng Dios, na sa akin ay umibig, at ibinigay ang kaniyang sarili dahil sa akin.” (Gal. 2:20)

“Hanggang sa abutin nating lahat ang pagkakaisa ng pananampalataya, at ang pagkakilala sa Anak ng Dios, hanggang sa lubos na paglaki ng tao, hanggang sa sukat ng pangangatawan ng kapuspusan ni Cristo.” (Efe. 4:13)

Natunghayan natin sa mga sulat ni Apostol Pablo mismo kung ano ang kaniyang pananampalataya tungkol kay Cristo. Kinilala ni Apostol Pablo sa kaniyang mga sulat na si Cristo ay Anak ng Diyos. Hindi niya kailanman isinulat na si Cristo ang Diyos. Si Raymond Brown, isang paring Katoliko, ay nagpahayag sa kaniyang aklat:

“Kailanman’y hindi tinatawag na Diyos si Jesus sa mga Ebanghelyong Sinoptiko, at ang isang talatang gaya ng Mar. 10:18 ay waring nag-aalis ng posibilidad na ginamit ni Jesus para sa kaniyang sarili ang gayong katawagan. Maging ang ikaapat na Ebanghelyo [Juan] ay hindi inilalarawan si Jesus na tiyakang nagsasabing siya ay Diyos. Ang mga sermon na ayon sa Mga Gawa ay sinalita sa pagsisimula ng misyong Cristiano ay hindi binabanggit si Jesus bilang Diyos. Kaya, walang dahilan upang isiping si Jesus ay tinawag na Diyos sa mga unang yugto ng tradisyon ng Bagong Tipan. Ang negatibong konklusyong ito ay pinatitibayan ng katotohanang hindi ginamit ni Pablo [para kay Cristo] ang katawagan [na Diyos] sa alinmang epistola na nasulat bago ang taong 58.” (Jesus: God and Man, p. 30)³

Ang teologong Katoliko na is Hans Kűng ay nagpahayag din ng ganito:

“Ngunit sa kabilang dako si Jesus ay bahagyang-bahagya na tuwirang tinawag na ‘Diyos’ at kailanman ay hindi siya tinawag ni Pablo na gayon.” (On Being a Christian, p. 440)⁴

Kung susuriin din maging ang mga sulat ni Apostol Juan, makikitang hindi niya ginamit ang titulong Diyos para kay Cristo. Ipinakilala rin ni Juan sa kaniyang mga sulat na si Cristo ay ang Anak ng Diyos:

“Nguni’t ang mga ito’y nangasulat, upang kayo’y magsisampalataya na si Jesus ay ang Cristo, ang Anak ng Dios, at sa inyong pagsampalataya ay magkaroon kayo ng buhay sa kaniyang pangalan.” (Juan 20:31)

“At nalalaman natin na naparito ang Anak ng Dios, at tayo’y binigyan ng pagkaunawa, upang ating makilala siya na totoo, at tayo’y nasa kaniya na totoo, sa makatuwid ay sa kaniyang Anak na si Jesucristo. …” (I Juan 5:20)

Maliwanag sag ma pahayag ni Juan sa kaniyang Ebanghelyo at sulat na si Cristo ay Anak ng Diyos. Hindi niya ikinapit ang titulong Diyos kay Cristo.

Patotoo ng iba pang tauhan sa Biblia
Pinatotohanan din ni Juan Bautista na si Cristo ay Anak ng Diyos:

“At aking nakita at pinatotohanan kong ito ang Anak ng Dios.” (Juan 1:34)

Ganito rin ang patotoo ng apostol na si Natanael – si Cristo ay Anak ng Diyos:

“Sumagot si Natanael sa kaniya. Rabi, ikaw ang Anak ng Dios; ikaw ang Hari ng Israel.” (Juan 1:49)

Maging si Marta na kapatid ni Lazaro ay nagpahayag na si Cristo ay Anak ng Diyos:

“Sinabi niya sa kaniya, Oo, Panginoon sumasampalataya ako na ikaw ang Cristo ang Anak ng Dios, sa makatuwid baga’y ang naparirito sa sanglibutan.” (Juan 11:27)

Sa mga talatang mababasa ang “Anak ng Diyos” na tumutukoy kay Cristo ay malinaw na pinatutunayan na hindi si Cristo ang Diyos. Ang salitang “Diyos” sa pariralang “Anak ng Diyos” ay tumutukoy sa Ama at hindi kay Cristo. Maging ang paring Jesuita na si Pedro Sevilla ay ganito rin ang pahayag:

“a) Tinatawag si Cristo na ‘Anak ng Diyos’. Sa parirala o titulong ito, ang tinutukoy ng salitang ‘Diyos’ ay ang Ama.” (Ang Kabanalbanalang Isangtatlo, pp. 55-56)

Ipinakilala rin ni Cristo na Siya ang Anak ng Diyos
“Katotohanan, katotohanang sinasabi ko sa inyo, Dumarating ang panahon, at ngayon nga, na maririnig ng mga patay ang tinig ng Anak ng Dios; at ang mangakarinig ay mangabubuhay.” (Juan 5:25)

“Nabalitaan ni Jesus na siya’y pinalayas nila; at pagkasumpong sa kaniya, ay sinabi niya, Sumasampalataya ka baga sa Anak ng Dios? Sumagot siya at sinabi. At sino baga siya, Panginoon, upang ako’y sumampalataya sa kaniya? Sinabi sa kaniya ni Jesus, Siya’y nakito mo na, at siya nga na nakikipagsalitaan sa iyo.” (Juan 9:35-37)

Maliwanag ang pagpapakilala ni Cristo sa Kaniyang sarili na Siya ang Anak ng Diyos. Hindi Niya ipinakilala na Siya ang Diyos. Ang paring Katoliko na si Pedro Sevilla ay nagsasabi sa kaniyang aklat:

“Kahit sa Ebanghelyo ni Juan, hindi tiyakang sinabi ni Jesus mismo na siya ang Diyos.” (Ang Kabanalbanalang Isangtatlo, p. 32)

Maging si John A. T. Robinson, isang obispong Anglicano, ay ganito ang sinabi:

“Kailanma’y hindi personal na inaangkin ni Jesus na siya ang Diyos: gayunman lagi niyang inaangkin na dinadala niya ang Diyos nang lubusan.” (Honest to God, p. 73)⁵

Ang pagiging Anak ng Diyos ang lalong nagpapatunay na hindi si Cristo ang Diyos. Iisa lamang ang tunay na Diyos, ang Ama. Si Cristo ay Anak (hindi Siya ang Ama) ng iisang tunay na Diyos. Ito ay pinatunayan maging ng paring Jesuita na is Juan Trinidad. Ganito ang mababasa sa footnote ng Marcos 1:1 sa isinalin sa Bagong Tipan ng Biblia:

“Anak ng Diyos: paminsan-minsan, ay ginagamit ng mga Judio ang pananalitang ito upang ilarawan ang isang may tanging kaugnayan sa Diyos. Dahil dito, noong si Jesus ay tawaging Anak ng Diyos sa mga Ebanghelyo Sinoptiko, iyo’y hindi dapat mangahulugan ng Kanyang pagka-Diyos.” (p. 103)

Ang paring Katoliko na is Richard P. Mcbrien ay nagbigay din ng ganitong patotoo:

“Sa kabilang dako, ang katawagang Anak ng Diyos ay naghahayag ng pagiging malapit sa isa’t isa ni Jesus at ng Diyos, at hindi ng kaniyang pagiging Diyos, tulad ng maaaring iniisip ng marami.” (Catholicism, p. 408)⁶
(May Karugtong)

Mga Reperensiya:
¹ Sevilla, Pedro, S.J. Ang Kabanalbanalang Isangtatlo: Ang Diyos ng mga Kristiano. Quezon City, Philippines: Loyola School of Theology-Ateneo de Manila University, 1988.

²”Peter did not claim that Jesus of Nazareth was God. He ‘was a man, commended to you by God by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was among you’.” (Armstrong, Karen. A History of God. Great Britain: Mandarin Paperbacks, 1993.)

³”Jesus is never called God in the Synoptic Gospels, and a passage like Mk. 10:18 would seem to preclude the possibility that Jesus used the title himself. Even the fourth Gospel never portrays Jesus as saying specifically that he is God. The sermons which Acts attributes to the beginning of the Christian mission do not speak of Jesus as God. Thus, there is no reason to think that Jesus was called God in the earliest layers of New Testament tradition. This negative conclusion is substantiated by the fact that Paul does not use the title in any epistle written before 58.” (Brown, Raymond E., S. J. Jesus: God and Man. Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Company, n.d.)

⁴”But on the other hand Jesus is scarcely ever directly called ‘God’ and never by Paul himself.” (Kűng Hans. On Being a Christian. New York: Doubleday Image Book, 1976.)

⁵”Jesus never claims to be God, personally: yet he always claims to bring God, completely.” (Robinson, John A.T. Honest to God. London: SCM Press Ltd., 1963.)

⁶”The Son of God title, on the other hand, expressed the closeness between Jesus and God, but not necessarily his divinity, as many might think.” (McBrien, Richard. Catholicism. Third Edition. Great Britain: Geoffrey Chapman, 1994.)