In support of Trinitarianism. been, the passage clearly refers to the new creation. In Heb. i. 2, By whom also he made the worlds, should be rendered, Through whom also he constituted the age, i. e. the age of the Messiah, called in the original, by way of eminence, the ages. (11) John v. 18. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. (12) John v. 22, 23. The Father-hath committed all judgment unto the Son; that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father: he that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father who sent him. From this passage it has been often inferred that Jesus Christ, who derived all his powers and authority from God, even the Father, is the proper object of religious worship equally with the Father. This inference is supposed to be supported by several passages in the Gospels, which (us commonly translated) represent the disciples of Christ and others as worshipping him; and by some passages in the Acts and Epistles, which represent the Christians as calling upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Luke xxiv. 52, 53. And Disproving the common Interpretation. rectly attributing the creation of the natural world, and all things therein, to the immediate power of Jehovah, (11) John v. 30. I can of MINE OWN SELF do nothing. Ch. iv. 34. My meat is to do the will of HIM THAT SENT ME, and to finish HIS WORK. Ch. xiv. 28. MY FATHEr is GREATER THAN I. (12) Matt. iv. 10. It is written, (says our Lord himself,) Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve; or, giving the original its real force, to him only shalt thou pay religious service. Exod. xxxiv. 14. Thou shalt worship NO OTHER GOD, saith Jehovah himself. Mark xii. 29. Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, &c. John iv. 23. The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. Matt. vi. 6, 9. When thou prayest-pray to thy FATHER who is in secret.-After this. Interpretations in consistency with the Divine Unity. supposed that Christ was the Instrument of Divine Power in creating the universe: but the supposition is directly opposed by numerous plain express declarations of the Scriptures. (11) If the Jews really meant what is expressed in the common translation, we must not found our faith on their malicious charges, which the words of Christ in the second column shew to be utterly groundless. Probably by the expression, making himself equal with God, they meant, making himself like God, or, putting himself on a footing with him. (12) The word translated even as, in John v. 23, is the same as in Luke vi. 36. The Father hath committed such powers and prerogatives to the Son, that all may honour the Son with reverence and obedience, as they honour the Father with reverence and obedience. The whole connexion shews that the word honour has here no relation to religious worship. The honour which Christ requires, is that of reverential obedience, which is due to him as acting under the express authority of God. This honour is shewn him, when, according to his precepts and example, and in his name, we worship the Father in spirit and truth, and confine our religious worship to him alone. The disciples and others, in the days of our Lord's ministry, did him homage or reverence, as the Messiah, commissioned by the Most High. This the common translation represents as worshipping him. The original word applies to any kind of reverence or homage: Thus we find that the congregation worshipped Jehovah and the king, 1 Chron. xxix. 20. See also Matt. xviii. 26; Luke xiv. 10; Rev. iii. 9. Archbishop Newcome translates the expressions in question, did him obeisance. In the apostolic age, the Christians called on, or appealed to, the name of Christ, by appealing to his authority, by teaching in his name, by working miracles in his name, by baptizing in his name, by praying in his name, by doing every thing in his name, or under his authority. Or the original may mean, are called by the name of Christ, or, call upon themselves the In support of Trinitarianism. they (the Apostles) worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Acts vii. 59. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 1 Cor. i. 2. With all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. 2 Cor. xii. 8, 9. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto ine, My grace is sufficient for thee, &c. Rev. v. 9, 10. Thou art worthy to take the book,for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, &c. sup (13) John viii. 58. Jesus said unto them,Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am.-Some pose that Christ here asserts that he is the I AM, the selfexistent Jehovah, as the Supreme Being does in Exod. iii. 14. (14) John x. 30. I and my Father are one.-Verse 38. Though you believe not me, believe the works; that ye may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in him. (15) John x. 33. Because Disproving the common Interpretation. manner therefore pray ye, Our FATHER who art in heaven, hallowed be THY name, &c. John xvi. 23. In that day ye shall ask ME nothing; whatsoever ye shall ask the FATHER in my name, he will give it you. Phil. iii. 3. Paul describes those as the true believers, who WORSHIP GOD in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus. Phil. iv. 6. In EVERY THING, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. Eph. v. 20. Giving thanks always, FOR ALL THINGS unto GoD and (i. e. even) the FA THER, IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. (13) 1 Tim. vi. 15, 16. The Blessed and ONLY Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who ONLY hath immortality, dwelling in that light which none can approach unto; whom no man hath seen nor can see; to whom be honour and power everlasting. (14) John xvii. 11. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.--Chap. xiv. 20. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. (15) Eph. iv. 6. There is |