John 14:28
The Father is Greater than I
“You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I”
Probably the most used verse in the Bible, by those who reject/oppose that Jesus Christ is God, in the same way that the Father is God.
To understand what Jesus is saying here, can only be done correctly, when we see from the Bible, Who Jesus Christ is.
In Isaiah 9:6, we have one of the Titles for Jesus Christ, “אֵל גִּבּוֹר” (’êl Gibbôr), which is translated in the majority of English Versions, “Mighty God”. Some have tried to remove the fact that Deity is meant, by using “God-like Hero” instead. In 10:21, we have the same Hebrew as in 9:6, where it is used for Yahweh, no one suggests that it should be translated as “God-like Hero”, here. Why not? It has to be for theological reasons. Even the Jehovah’s Witnesses, have “Mighty God” in 9:6, as does the translation by the Jewish scholar, Isaac Leeser, as does the Complete Jewish Bible (https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/15940). Targum Jonathan, This Aramaic (Jewish) translation dates from the 1st century AD. “The prophet said to the house of David, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and he has taken the law upon himself to keep it. His name is called from eternity wonderful, the mighty God who liveth to eternity, the Messiah whose peace shall be great upon us in his days” (Targum Jonathan on Isaiah 9:6). It is clear that even the Jews regarded the Messiah as Mighty God, and Eternal, Who is Jesus Christ. Also, from these two passages, 9:6 and 10:21, we have Two Persons Who are equally “Mighty God”.
John starts his Gospel with the opening words, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (...καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος)”. This is the accepted reading by almost all of the English translations, with a few exceptions, who have changed the last part, for theological purposes. Like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, “and the Logos was a god”, because they cannot accept the Bible’s Teaching that Jesus Christ is Almighty God, The Great I AM. Interesting, that the New Testament by the Unitarian, Dr George Noyes, reads: “and the Word was God”. This verse teaches that Jesus Christ is GOD. And He is GOD as The GOD He is with.
In verse 18, according to the reading of the oldest and best evidence, reads: “Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς Θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ Πατρὸς, ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο”, “God no one has seen at any time, the Unique God Who is eternally close to the Father, He has revealed Him”. The oldest Greek manuscript for this Gospel, The Codex P66, about AD 200, has “Θεὸς”. Before this time, Bishop Ignatius (died 110), also reads “Θεὸς”, as does Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons (130-200), Clement of Alexandria (150-215). Even the testimony of the early “heretics”, like Valentinus of Egypt (2nd cent), Origen (185-254), Arius of Alexandria (250-336)! This verse, like verse 1, is clear that there are TWO distinct Persons, Who are equally called “Θεὸς” (both without the definite Greek article). Also clear evidence against the heresy of Unitarianism!
In Chapter 8, Jesus says to the Jews, “I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am (εγω ειμι), you will die in your sins.” (verse 24). And, in verse 58, when the Jews asked Jesus, if He was “greater” than Abraham (v.53), Jesus replies, “πριν αβρααμ γενεσθαι εγω ειμι”. Here the literal reading is, “before Abraham came into existence, I AM”. For which the Jews wanted to stone Jesus because they thought that He had blasphemed (v.59). Again note, that Jesus does not say to the Jews, that they have misunderstood Him, and that He was not here saying that He IS The Great I AM. The Jews clearly understood Jesus was here referring to the Name given to Moses in Exodus 3:14, “’Ehyeh ’ăsher ’ehyeh”, which is best translated, “I am Who I am”. The Greek Version made by Jewish scholars before the Birth of Jesus Christ, the Septuagint, translates the Hebrew, “Εγω ειμι ὁ Ων”, literally, “I am the Existing One”. As Jesus says in verse 24, those who do not believe that He is YAHWEH, will die in their sins, and not have eternal life. The absolute Deity of Jesus Christ, as The Creator God, is clearly taught here.
In John chapter 10, verses 28-30, we read, “I give eternal life to them. They will never perish at all, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”.
This passage is a very good example of the two “natures” in the One Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is The God-Man. On the one hand Jesus says, “My Father who has given them to me is greater than all”, as He does in 14:28. This no doubt in reference to the Incarnation, when Jesus became “subject” to the Father (see, John 17:5; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 2:9). On the other hand, Jesus also says, “no one will snatch them out of my hand...No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand”. We read in the Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 32:39 it says, “‘See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand”. And, Isaiah 43:13, “Even from eternity I am He; And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?”.
Jesus is here saying that His Authority, Power and Protection, is equal to that of the Father’s, even though the Father is “greater”. No one who is “inferior” to God the Father, can say what Jesus does here! Verse 30 shows the distinction between the Father and Jesus Christ, as “ἐσμεν”, is masculine, plural, which is impossible to mean they are “one and the same” Person, since it literally means, “we are”. Then we have the neuter, singular, “ἕν”, which is, “one thing”, or “one nature”. Both the Father and Jesus Christ are here EQUALLY GOD.
Another clear testimony that Jesus Christ is Almighty God, is in John 20:28
“και απεκριθη ο θωμας και ειπεν αυτω ο κυριος μου και ο θεος μου” “and answered Thomas and said to Him, my Lord and my God”
All these words are addressed directly to Jesus Christ, as we have the singular, αυτω, HIM, not as some, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who try to explain this as John looks to Jesus and says, “my Lord”, and then to heaven, and says “my God”. This is based on their theology and not what the text actually says. On a point of Greek grammar, here we have the nominative case, that is used for the vocative in direct address, as can be seen in Matthew 11:26, “ναι ο πατηρ (even so Father)”, which is also nominative, in address to God the Father. Jesus does not rebuke Thomas for calling Him “ο θεος μου”, which He would have, if Thomas was wrong in what he said.
In Revelation 1:17-18, we read about Jesus Christ Appearing to the Apostle John:
“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead. But He put His right hand on me, saying, "Do not fear; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and became dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Death and of Hades”
Jesus’ words here are very important as self Testimony on Who He is. The Words, “εγω ειμι ο πρωτος και ο εσχατος και ο ζων και εγενομην νεκρος και ιδου ζων ειμι εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων αμην”. Literally, “I am The First and The Last and The Living One I became dead and behold Alive I am forever and forever Amen”.
“I am The First and The Last”, are no doubt a reference to Isaiah 44:6, “This is what Yahweh, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, Yahweh of Hosts, says: I am the first and I am the last. There is no god but Me” (also 48:12). On Revelation 1:17, Dr Thayer says in his Greek lexicon, “ὁ πρῶτος καί ὁ ἔσχατος, i. e. the eternal One”. The Greek Old Testament, the LXX, reads in Exodus 3:14, “Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν”, which is, “I am the Eternal One”.
These, and many more verses, Teach that Jesus Christ is Almighty God, The Great I AM, Yahweh.
The Father is Greater than I
“You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I”
Probably the most used verse in the Bible, by those who reject/oppose that Jesus Christ is God, in the same way that the Father is God.
To understand what Jesus is saying here, can only be done correctly, when we see from the Bible, Who Jesus Christ is.
In Isaiah 9:6, we have one of the Titles for Jesus Christ, “אֵל גִּבּוֹר” (’êl Gibbôr), which is translated in the majority of English Versions, “Mighty God”. Some have tried to remove the fact that Deity is meant, by using “God-like Hero” instead. In 10:21, we have the same Hebrew as in 9:6, where it is used for Yahweh, no one suggests that it should be translated as “God-like Hero”, here. Why not? It has to be for theological reasons. Even the Jehovah’s Witnesses, have “Mighty God” in 9:6, as does the translation by the Jewish scholar, Isaac Leeser, as does the Complete Jewish Bible (https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/15940). Targum Jonathan, This Aramaic (Jewish) translation dates from the 1st century AD. “The prophet said to the house of David, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and he has taken the law upon himself to keep it. His name is called from eternity wonderful, the mighty God who liveth to eternity, the Messiah whose peace shall be great upon us in his days” (Targum Jonathan on Isaiah 9:6). It is clear that even the Jews regarded the Messiah as Mighty God, and Eternal, Who is Jesus Christ. Also, from these two passages, 9:6 and 10:21, we have Two Persons Who are equally “Mighty God”.
John starts his Gospel with the opening words, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (...καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος)”. This is the accepted reading by almost all of the English translations, with a few exceptions, who have changed the last part, for theological purposes. Like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, “and the Logos was a god”, because they cannot accept the Bible’s Teaching that Jesus Christ is Almighty God, The Great I AM. Interesting, that the New Testament by the Unitarian, Dr George Noyes, reads: “and the Word was God”. This verse teaches that Jesus Christ is GOD. And He is GOD as The GOD He is with.
In verse 18, according to the reading of the oldest and best evidence, reads: “Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς Θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ Πατρὸς, ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο”, “God no one has seen at any time, the Unique God Who is eternally close to the Father, He has revealed Him”. The oldest Greek manuscript for this Gospel, The Codex P66, about AD 200, has “Θεὸς”. Before this time, Bishop Ignatius (died 110), also reads “Θεὸς”, as does Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons (130-200), Clement of Alexandria (150-215). Even the testimony of the early “heretics”, like Valentinus of Egypt (2nd cent), Origen (185-254), Arius of Alexandria (250-336)! This verse, like verse 1, is clear that there are TWO distinct Persons, Who are equally called “Θεὸς” (both without the definite Greek article). Also clear evidence against the heresy of Unitarianism!
In Chapter 8, Jesus says to the Jews, “I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am (εγω ειμι), you will die in your sins.” (verse 24). And, in verse 58, when the Jews asked Jesus, if He was “greater” than Abraham (v.53), Jesus replies, “πριν αβρααμ γενεσθαι εγω ειμι”. Here the literal reading is, “before Abraham came into existence, I AM”. For which the Jews wanted to stone Jesus because they thought that He had blasphemed (v.59). Again note, that Jesus does not say to the Jews, that they have misunderstood Him, and that He was not here saying that He IS The Great I AM. The Jews clearly understood Jesus was here referring to the Name given to Moses in Exodus 3:14, “’Ehyeh ’ăsher ’ehyeh”, which is best translated, “I am Who I am”. The Greek Version made by Jewish scholars before the Birth of Jesus Christ, the Septuagint, translates the Hebrew, “Εγω ειμι ὁ Ων”, literally, “I am the Existing One”. As Jesus says in verse 24, those who do not believe that He is YAHWEH, will die in their sins, and not have eternal life. The absolute Deity of Jesus Christ, as The Creator God, is clearly taught here.
In John chapter 10, verses 28-30, we read, “I give eternal life to them. They will never perish at all, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”.
This passage is a very good example of the two “natures” in the One Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is The God-Man. On the one hand Jesus says, “My Father who has given them to me is greater than all”, as He does in 14:28. This no doubt in reference to the Incarnation, when Jesus became “subject” to the Father (see, John 17:5; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 2:9). On the other hand, Jesus also says, “no one will snatch them out of my hand...No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand”. We read in the Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 32:39 it says, “‘See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand”. And, Isaiah 43:13, “Even from eternity I am He; And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?”.
Jesus is here saying that His Authority, Power and Protection, is equal to that of the Father’s, even though the Father is “greater”. No one who is “inferior” to God the Father, can say what Jesus does here! Verse 30 shows the distinction between the Father and Jesus Christ, as “ἐσμεν”, is masculine, plural, which is impossible to mean they are “one and the same” Person, since it literally means, “we are”. Then we have the neuter, singular, “ἕν”, which is, “one thing”, or “one nature”. Both the Father and Jesus Christ are here EQUALLY GOD.
Another clear testimony that Jesus Christ is Almighty God, is in John 20:28
“και απεκριθη ο θωμας και ειπεν αυτω ο κυριος μου και ο θεος μου” “and answered Thomas and said to Him, my Lord and my God”
All these words are addressed directly to Jesus Christ, as we have the singular, αυτω, HIM, not as some, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who try to explain this as John looks to Jesus and says, “my Lord”, and then to heaven, and says “my God”. This is based on their theology and not what the text actually says. On a point of Greek grammar, here we have the nominative case, that is used for the vocative in direct address, as can be seen in Matthew 11:26, “ναι ο πατηρ (even so Father)”, which is also nominative, in address to God the Father. Jesus does not rebuke Thomas for calling Him “ο θεος μου”, which He would have, if Thomas was wrong in what he said.
In Revelation 1:17-18, we read about Jesus Christ Appearing to the Apostle John:
“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead. But He put His right hand on me, saying, "Do not fear; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and became dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Death and of Hades”
Jesus’ words here are very important as self Testimony on Who He is. The Words, “εγω ειμι ο πρωτος και ο εσχατος και ο ζων και εγενομην νεκρος και ιδου ζων ειμι εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων αμην”. Literally, “I am The First and The Last and The Living One I became dead and behold Alive I am forever and forever Amen”.
“I am The First and The Last”, are no doubt a reference to Isaiah 44:6, “This is what Yahweh, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, Yahweh of Hosts, says: I am the first and I am the last. There is no god but Me” (also 48:12). On Revelation 1:17, Dr Thayer says in his Greek lexicon, “ὁ πρῶτος καί ὁ ἔσχατος, i. e. the eternal One”. The Greek Old Testament, the LXX, reads in Exodus 3:14, “Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν”, which is, “I am the Eternal One”.
These, and many more verses, Teach that Jesus Christ is Almighty God, The Great I AM, Yahweh.
