Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Blog
    • Su Gracia Gratuita (Spanish Blog)
    • Graça sem limites (Portuguese Blog)
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Home
→
Journal Articles
→
Book Reviews
→
Jesus as God: The New Testament Use of Theos in Reference to Jesus

Jesus as God: The New Testament Use of Theos in Reference to Jesus

Posted in Book Reviews

Jesus as God: The New Testament Use of Theos in Reference to Jesus. By Murray J. Harris. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1992. 379 pp. Cloth, $24.99.

Murray Harris has made a valuable contribution to the study of the deity of our Lord, focusing on passages that use the word Theos in relation to Christ. He does detailed exegesis of all the pertinent texts, including an outstanding chapter on the use of Theos in the Septuagint, extrabiblical literature, and the NT.

Harris is especially helpful on the anarthrous use (i.e., without a definite article) of Theos in John 1:1. He examines all the options and lists the pros and cons of each. He points out that the primary reason that Theos in John 1:1c is anarthrous is that Theos is qualitative, emphasizing nature rather than personal identity. Had John written Theos with a definite article it would have contradicted what he wrote in John 1:1b which makes a distinction between the persons of Christ and the Father. An article would have suggested that Christ and the Father were the same Person, which is the heresy called modalism. To avoid the modalitic heresy and in order to state that Christ is a partaker of the divine essence, as much God as is the Father, and yet a distinct Person, John did not use an article beforeTheos there.

The word Theos occurs 1,315 times in the Greek NT primarily as a title for God the Father. Harris believes that of the 15 possible uses of Theos as a title for Christ only 7 are actually so used. He concludes that Theos is definitely used of Christ in John 1:1, and 20:28, very probably in Rom 9:5, Titus 2:13, Heb 1:8, and 2 Pet 1:1, probably in John 1:18, and possibly, but not likely, in Acts 20:28, Heb 1:9, and 1 John 5:20.

Although this is an outstanding defense of the deity of Christ, Harris’s conclusions on Acts 20:28, 1 John 5:20, and Heb 1:9 are a little disappointing. In Acts 20:28 the relevant portion reads, “…to shepherd the church of the Lord and God which he purchased with His own blood.” He translates the last portion “through the blood of His own (Son),” assuming that Son is implied in the text. The eclectic text makes this translation possible, as it reads, “dia tou haimatos tou idiou.” The article withblood makes it a possible translation. It is more difficult to translate the Majority Text this way, as it reads, “dia tou idiou haimatos,” literally, “through His own blood.” The primary objection to the rendering that makes it a reference to Christ is that God is not spoken of that way in the NT. However, in John 19:37 John does quote a verse that refers to YHWH (Yahweh, or “Jehovah”) in Zech 12:10 as being pierced. YHWH was pierced in the person of Christ in John 19:37, just as God bled in the person of Christ in Acts 20:28. It would also seem strange to this reviewer that, if Luke intended the word Son to be understood, he didn’t use the word.

First John 5:20 is more difficult, but the fact that Jesus Christ is the nearest antecedent to “this” and that the titles are consistent with Christ both argue in favor of “true God” and “eternal life” referring to Christ.

This is one of the most thorough studies on the deity of Christ in print, an indispensable tool in the study of this doctrine. I fully recommend it to anyone studying this subject. Some knowledge of Greek, however, is crucial at certain points.

R. Michael Duffy
Missionary
The Hague
Netherlands

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon

Cart

Recently Added

January 21, 2021

Recompensado com uma boa reputação (Mateus 5:19)

“Portanto, todo aquele que quebrar um dos menores destes mandamentos e assim ensinar aos homens, será chamado o menor no reino dos céus; mas o...
January 21, 2021

Doesn’t True Faith Need to be Demonstrated? (Part 2)

In todays episode, Bob and Shawn are continuing their discussion on the relationship between faith and works, which was started in our last show. The...
January 21, 2021

Did John’s Readers Lack Assurance? Re-Examining 1 John 5:13

Someone recently challenged the idea that assurance is of the essence of saving faith by quoting 1 John 5:13. That question has been answered before...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Best of Zane Hodges - 2 DVD Set $40.00 $15.00
  • Beyond Doubt: How to Be Sure of Your Salvation $15.00 $7.00
  • Luke: The Life of Imitating Jesus - Volume 1 $8.95 $2.50
  • Tough Texts: Did Jesus Teach Salvation by Works? $18.00 $10.00
  • GES 2021 National Conference Registration $0.00 – $65.00
Grace Evangelical Society
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

Tweets by GESwebmaster