The deity of Jesus is taught in the Bible. However, on more than one occasion Muslims have written to me indicating that the deity of Jesus is not found in the Bible but was made dogma at the Council of Nicea (AD 325):
- and what can you tell me of the naician [Nicene] council…why is that church leaders decided to vote on the Jesus’ status as human or God….
- It is worth noting, and well known throughout the religious world, that the choice of the present four “gospels” of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) were imposed in the Council of Nicea 325 CE for political purposes under the auspices of the pagan Emperor Constantine, and not by Jesus. Constantine’s mind had not been enlightened either by study or by inspiration. He was a pagan, a tyrant and criminal who murdered his son, his wife and thousands of innocent individuals because of his lust for political power. Constantine ratified other decisions in the Nicene Creed such as the decision to call Christ “the Son of God, only begotten of the father.”
- Even if you proved crucifixion is true, you still have to prove that Jesus is the son of God and God himself and the concept of salvation – the Nicene creed.
Here’s an archaeological discovery demonstrating that – following the teaching of the Bible – Christians worshipped Jesus as God well before the Council of Nicea:
I am an atheist, but I think it reasonable to suppose that the earliest Christians regarded Jesus as God (or sort of God),-based upon the Gospels and Pauline Epistles. This of course only supports what they thought,-not what was actual fact. In those days, and long before,- impregnation of mortal women by gods and subsequent births of demi-gods and heroes was commonplace,-and no big deal. The real question is whether God (or gods) exist?–if not. then there are no divine sons of God,–and Jesus was just another charismatic Jewish preacher, with delusions of grandeur, re-iterating some commonplace humanist aphorisms which wee adopted by the Roman ruling classes for political purposes to help re-unify the Empire, and became Catholic Dogma at the Council of Nicaea in 325. ` .
Thank you for taking the time to comment. If Jesus is God, then the question of God’s existence is settled. Of course, we need to answer the question, “Who is Jesus.” We can learn about this from the Bible, His teaching, miracles, and resurrection from the dead. I believe the Council of Nicea got the teaching of Jesus and the Apostolic church right about the divinity of Jesus. I’d encourage you to study the historical basis for Jesus’ miracles and bodily resurrection from the dead.
Hello Agomer,
Yes God’s existence would be settled if Jesus was God.
By “historical basis” I presume you mean the Gospels,–which I have already mentioned (and read). These are pious devotional tales which are also historical” in that miracles and healings go back into the dim distant past,–as mythology. Elijah also allegedly performed miracles and healings, so did Apollonius of Tyana, assorted Egyptian Pharoahs, Greek heroes (Herakles).
jenne d’Arc reported caused dead babies to yawn and come back to life as she walked by them,–assorted Roman Emperors, eg Vespasian, and loads of modern cranks and religious con men. There is not even an contemporary outside mention of Jesus outside the gospels and Pauline Epistles, (who all copied each other). Your belief is just a belief,- faith, not fact.
Yes, the gospels are “historical basis” for believing in Jesus’ miracles and resurrection.
It’s not logical, if I understand you correctly, to conclude that Jesus’ miracles are mythological, since other ancient references to miracles are mythological. The “miracles” of “Apollonius of Tyana, assorted Egyptian Pharoahs, Greek heroes (Herakles),” don’t have an historical basis. Jesus’ miracles do.
What are you arguing by saying there “is not even an contemporary outside mention of Jesus outside the gospels and Pauline Epistles…”? Your belief that they “all copied each other” is simply not true.
I know how these arguments can go on indefinitely, so this is to say I am going away for a week from tomorrow, and will therefore not be dragging this eternal dispute out by further contributions. If for instance I was to say that miracles do not happen now, and so why 2000 years ago or more/–you would then assert that “everything” is a miracle,eg Life, babies being born, Love etc. This is stretching the definition of the words “miracle” so as to include anything you like. I believe, with justified scientific reasons, in natural causation; one thing follows another logically in accordance with the 2nd law of Thermodynamics,–a Law which Christians wilfully misunderstand. If as I suspect, you do not accept natural causation, but believe everything that occurs is an Act of God,–then we have nothing more to say to each other. I’m off, Bye.
Thanks again for taking the time to comment. Let me assure you that I don’t believe “‘everything’ is a miracle,eg Life, babies being born, Love etc.,” In the future, I hope you will consider my previous comment about the faulty logic of your argument against Jesus’ miracles as well as your false beliefs about the New Testament.