Up till now, I've shied away from trying to explain John 1, for the simple reason I do not feel qualified, and doubted if you'd agree with my explanation anyway -- so what is the point?
However, that explanation is essential to this one, so... here goes:
Summarizing: "God's Word" (Logos) is God's Plan.
"Word made flesh" means God's Plan actualized.
"In the Beginning was the Word" means: God planned for Jesus, from the beginning.
So, a reference to Jesus as "First and last", refers to his existence as God's Plan from beginning to end -- alpha to omega.
We know that the speaker in Revelation 1:18 is not God Himself because he says: "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore."
God cannot die, so that is Jesus talking.
How we get there, I grant you, is a fine line to draw, and many can't or won't see it.
Quoting from my Reference (see post #2,482), p174: "There is no doubt that for the early Christians Jesus had the value and reality of God.
This, however, does not mean they thought Jesus "was God".
They go on to say:
"We suggest that we should first see if John can be readily understood in terms of his otherwise very Jewish approach.
Why should we attempt to read John as though he were a student of the Jew Philo or of Gentile mystery religion?
Why should John be claimed as a supporter of the dogmatic conclusions of the much later church councils?
Should we not make sense of him from the Old Testament world of ideas?
'What we do know,' says a leading Bible scholar, 'is that John was steeped in the Old Testament Scriptures.
If we wish to understand the historical ancestry of John's Logos [word] concept as he himself understood it, we have to go back to those Scriptures.' "
Their conclusion is that earliest Christians saw Jesus as divinity, "the value and reality of God" , but not as Israel's God Himself.
In Jewish terms Jesus was God's Messiah/Christ, God's Logos-Word-Plan, God's intention from the Beginning.
That's why there is no explicitly Trinitarian language in the New Testament -- i.e., no words like "trinity", "God the Son", "God the Holy Spirit" or language that speaks of a "God-Head" of "three persons" & "one substance".
The modern term for Christians who try to see Jesus as his first followers did is "restorationists".
They have much in common with our Founders' Unitarianism, deism/theism and Freemason ideas.
They can be summarized by the term, "non-Trinitarian Christianity".
I believe they should be treated with forbearance and respect, especially on Free Republic's News/Activism threads.
redleghunter: "Upon further review from the 'booth', you lose a timeout."
Despite your infinitely inflated sense in self-importance, FRiend, you are not the "booth".
That would be God.
In this analogy: you redleghunter, are nothing but a sports team, playing to win the Big Game.
When two teams compete on a level playing-field, one plays to win, the other, if victory seems impossible, plays for respect as a worthy competitor.
I am here to ask for forbearance and respect for those, such as our Founders & today's "restorationists", who have historically expressed no interest or belief in the Trinitarian version of Christianity.
I am here to ask for forbearance and respect...
***Such a thing is too much to ask from God Himself, clad in human flesh. Jesus called false teachers like you ‘sons of satan’ but you would ask FReepers for their forbearance and respect. You ask more of FReepers than God expected of Himself. You are properly labelled a God damned heretic.
Sir you ignored the comparative texts. By your reasoning there would be more than one “First and Last.” That would mean two separate Deities. You keep saying “divine” but you were presented Colossians 2:9.
AS God Jesus Christ could not die, and that is the reason for the Incarnation. Spend time in prayer for the answer.
Delightful read, sir. I’m not certain if I like you better as a historian or a scriptorian!
You are very thoughtful and tolerant. The religion threads generate a lot of heat, but very little light. I’m surprised at the number of dedicated and sincere Christians who deny the plain words of the Bible because it contradicts their chosen dogma. You are a bright light. Keep calm and carry on. ;-]