The Nineteenth-Century Shift in Translating Monogenēs In the 19th century, a Protestant named B. F. Westcott wrote a work on why the word “monogenes” doesn’t mean “Only Begotten” but “unique” or “one of a kind” or something similar which omits the concept of begetting. He came to this conclusion by asserting that “monogenes” is composedContinue reading “What does “Only-Begotten” mean?”
Author Archives: ezekielmamaia
Jesus’ 3rd Day Resurrection in The Old Testament? – 1 Cor 15:3-4 (cf. Luke 24:44-46)
Both Jesus and Paul say that Jesus raising from the dead on the 3rd day was actually prophesied in the Old Testament: 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according toContinue reading “Jesus’ 3rd Day Resurrection in The Old Testament? – 1 Cor 15:3-4 (cf. Luke 24:44-46)”
Athanasius – Why the Cross and Not Another Form of Death?
The Four Reasons Why Christ Suffered on the Cross According to Athanasius: 24. But what others also might have said, we must anticipate in reply. For perhaps a man might say even as follows: If it was necessary for His death to take place before all, and with witnesses, that the story of His Resurrection alsoContinue reading “Athanasius – Why the Cross and Not Another Form of Death?”
Hebrews 1:8-9 – Jesus, The Davidic King who is God
Hebrews 1:8-9 says: 8 But to the Son He says:“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;Therefore God, Your God, has anointed YouWith the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” This is a direct quotation of Psalm 45:6-7 6Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;A scepter of righteousness is the scepterContinue reading “Hebrews 1:8-9 – Jesus, The Davidic King who is God”
How many Gods died on the cross? And how many Gods didn’t?
A False Dilemma: The Anti-Trinitarian Sleight of Hand One of the most common rhetorical traps used by anti-Trinitarians takes the form of a seemingly clever dilemma. It is often framed like this: How many Gods died on the cross, and how many did not? At first glance, the question appears to force Trinitarians into aContinue reading “How many Gods died on the cross? And how many Gods didn’t?”
Council of Antioch in 268AD – Jesus is YHWH
The Council of Antioch held in AD 268 was a regional synod convened to address serious doctrinal and ecclesiastical controversies arising from the teaching and conduct of Paul of Samosata, who at the time served as bishop of Antioch, one of the most important sees of the Eastern Church. The synod represents one of theContinue reading “Council of Antioch in 268AD – Jesus is YHWH”
Was Jesus Raised as Flesh or as Spirit?
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul stakes everything on the resurrection: “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.”— 1 Corinthians 15:14 (KJV) “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”— 1 Corinthians 15:17 (KJV) Paul’s logic is brutallyContinue reading “Was Jesus Raised as Flesh or as Spirit?”
God made Jesus Lord? – Acts 2:36
Acts 2:36 stands as one of the most theologically dense declarations in Peter’s Pentecost sermon: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Anti-Trinitarians latch on this verse stating that Jesus cannot be God because He is made Lord,Continue reading “God made Jesus Lord? – Acts 2:36”
1 Corinthians 10:1-4 – Jesus, the Rock who is God
Table of Contents Objections In 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, Paul says Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank ofContinue reading “1 Corinthians 10:1-4 – Jesus, the Rock who is God”
Is Luke wrong about the Census? – Luke 2:2
Matthew 2:1 Jesus was born during the days of King Herod: Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, Luke:1-7, on the other hand, says that Jesus was born while a census was taking place under Quirinius: And it came toContinue reading “Is Luke wrong about the Census? – Luke 2:2”
Church Fathers and Protestant Reformers – Mary’s Perpetual Virginity
FOR Mary’s Perpetual Virginity c. 100 AD – St. Ignatius of Antioch c. 150 AD – St. Polycarp of Smyrna c. 160 AD – St. Justin Martyr c. 200 AD – St. Irenaeus of Lyons Jerome writes: “Might I not array against you the whole series of ancient writers? Ignatius, Polycarp, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, andContinue reading “Church Fathers and Protestant Reformers – Mary’s Perpetual Virginity”
Aieparthenos – Mary as the Ever-Virgin: 3 Views
Aeiparthenos (Greek: ἀειπάρθενος) means “ever-virgin.” This title was officially given to Mary at the Second Council of Constantinople in 533. It is the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary—that Mary was a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus Christ. The tradition of Mary’s perpetual virginity first appears in the mid-second centuryContinue reading “Aieparthenos – Mary as the Ever-Virgin: 3 Views”
Explicit Proof Jesus is God – Isaiah 63:1-6: Treading the Winepress
Isaiah 63:1-6 presents a striking depiction of God as a warrior who tramples on His enemies: Isaiah 63:1-6“Who is this who comes from Edom,With dyed garments from Bozrah,This One who is glorious in His apparel,Traveling in the greatness of His strength?”—“I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”2 Why is Your apparel red,And Your garmentsContinue reading “Explicit Proof Jesus is God – Isaiah 63:1-6: Treading the Winepress”
Why was Jesus Baptised? – Matthew 3:15-17
John’s baptism was for the forgiveness of sins. In Mark 1:4, it says: “John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” (NKJV) In Matthew 3:13-15, we read that Jesus Himself was baptised by John: “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to beContinue reading “Why was Jesus Baptised? – Matthew 3:15-17”
Did Adam and Eve Die the Same Day They Sinned? – Genesis 2:16-17
In Genesis 2:16-17, God said: And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” As the narrative unfolds, they eventually eat the fruit andContinue reading “Did Adam and Eve Die the Same Day They Sinned? – Genesis 2:16-17”
Woman are saved by childbearing? – 1 Timothy 2:11-15
In 1 Timothy 2:11–15, the Apostle Paul writes: “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.For Adam was formed first, then Eve.And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.NeverthelessContinue reading “Woman are saved by childbearing? – 1 Timothy 2:11-15”
Jesus, Eternally Begotten – Psalm 110:3 (109:3 LXX)
In Psalm 110:3 (109:3 LXX) it mentions the begetting of David’s Lord: Greek LXX: “The Lord said to my lord (Eipen ho Kyrios to Kyrio mou), ‘Sit on my right until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ A rod of your power the Lord will send out from Sion. And exercise dominionContinue reading “Jesus, Eternally Begotten – Psalm 110:3 (109:3 LXX)”
How Was Jesus “Made Perfect”? – Hebrews 2:10; 5:9
Two passages in Hebrews describe Jesus as being “made perfect”: Hebrews 2:10: “…to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Hebrews 5:9: “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” The Greek verb behind these phrases—τελειόω (teleo)—can sound confusing when applied to Jesus. Since ChristianContinue reading “How Was Jesus “Made Perfect”? – Hebrews 2:10; 5:9”
Mary as a picture of the Church
If Israel serves as the figure of the Church—the true Israel reborn in Christ—then Mary naturally reflects and embodies what the Church ultimately becomes. She stands at the hinge of covenants: virgin, mother, model of faith, and participant in the offering of Christ. In all of these, she mirrors what the Church is called toContinue reading “Mary as a picture of the Church”
Israel as a picture of the Church
1. The Church as the True Israel Paul repeatedly teaches that the people who belong to Christ are the true heirs of the promises made to Abraham. This clarifies that the Jewish rejection of their God and Messiah, Jesus, was not done by the people of God, the unbelieving Jews, because Abraham’s real descendants areContinue reading “Israel as a picture of the Church”
Israel as a Picture of Mary
In the unfolding drama of Scripture, Israel is not only a nation but a theological symbol. The prophets speak of Israel as a daughter, a virgin, a bride, a mother, and the dwelling place of God. When the New Testament introduces Mary, the mother of Jesus, the language applied to her is the language alreadyContinue reading “Israel as a Picture of Mary”
Revelation 22:1-5 – Latreuo Worship given to Jesus
Revelation 22:1-5 and the Worship (Latreuo) Given to God and the Lamb And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding itsContinue reading “Revelation 22:1-5 – Latreuo Worship given to Jesus”
Eve as a Picture of Israel
The biblical story often works like a set of mirrored patterns. Just as Eve becomes a theological picture of the Church in Paul’s writings, she also becomes a symbolic picture of Israel when the prophets reach back to the early chapters of Genesis. The echoes are not accidental. The language of birth, pain, seed, andContinue reading “Eve as a Picture of Israel”
Eve as a picture of the Church
The biblical story often works like a set of nested echoes—events and figures in the Old Testament become patterns that reappear with deeper meaning in the New Testament. Eve, the first woman, is one of these patterns. Across several letters, Paul uses Eve to illuminate the identity, calling, and vulnerability of the Church. The connectionsContinue reading “Eve as a picture of the Church”
Why Did Jesus Ask, “Who Touched Me?” – Mark 5:25-34
Mark 5:25–34 (WEB) 25 A certain woman, who had an issue of blood for twelve years,26 and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse,27 having heard the things concerning Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd and touched hisContinue reading “Why Did Jesus Ask, “Who Touched Me?” – Mark 5:25-34”
Malachi 4:1-6 – Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness
Within the closing lines of the Old Testament, Malachi presents two striking promises: the coming of “the Sun of righteousness” and the arrival of an Elijah-figure who would prepare the people for the Lord’s appearing. These themes echo through the opening chapters of the New Testament, where John the Baptist’s ministry is framed as theContinue reading “Malachi 4:1-6 – Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness”
Mary as the New Eve
Genesis 3:15 and the Promise of the Messiah Genesis 3:15 presents one of the most enigmatic scenes in Scripture. Anyone who has ever killed a snake knows that the safest way to do so is to crush its head; yet attempting such a strike risks being bitten on the heel. The biblical oracle mirrors thisContinue reading “Mary as the New Eve”
Polycarp of Smyrna – Jesus receives Latreuo Worship
Polycarp (69AD-155AD) Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostle John, could write that every living creature renders latreuo, that is divine worship due to God alone (Mat 4:10), to Jesus! “Therefore prepare for action and serve (douleusate) God in fear” and truth, leaving behind the empty and meaningless talk and the error of the crowd, and “believingContinue reading “Polycarp of Smyrna – Jesus receives Latreuo Worship”
Jesus is the Holy Spirit? – 2 Corinthians 3:17
2 Corinthians 3:17 – Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. The Oneness Pentacostal Modalists assert that this passage unambiguously proves that Jesus is the Holy Spirit. However, this passage is far from unambiguous. As a matter of fact. this passage is actually a Trinitarian passage. There is no contextualContinue reading “Jesus is the Holy Spirit? – 2 Corinthians 3:17”
Does Jesus’ Temptation prove He is not God? – James 1:13?
The Bible says that God cannot be tempted: James 1:13 – “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: Yet Jesus was tempted for 40 days: Matthew 4:1 – “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit intoContinue reading “Does Jesus’ Temptation prove He is not God? – James 1:13?”