In the last 400 years, the world has changed beyond imagination. In the midst of the wonders of the scientific age, humanity has lost something fundamental. It has rejected mystery, it has constrained wonder and worst of all, it seems to have lost its heart. John 17:3 is all about heart connection. Jesus teaches through John’s writing, “This is the key to life eternal, that we grow in...
Introduction For fifty years, I lived as a Christadelphian, thoroughly convinced that our understanding of God represented a restoration of authentic apostolic Christianity. When I began my theological transition at age 48, one question haunted me more than any other: How did sincere, Bible-focused people like John Thomas get it so fundamentally wrong? But lurking beneath that question was an...
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (ESV) Introduction: A Term That Sounded Wrong When I first encountered orthodox Christians referring to Jesus as the “God-man,” it sounded deeply offensive. After 50 years as a Christadelphian, the term felt like blasphemy...
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (ESV) Introduction: A Doctrine I Loved But Had to Leave Behind In my article on God Manifestation, I outlined the Christadelphian theology that shaped how I understood Jesus for 50 years. It’s a beautiful doctrine in many ways...
In this article, I summarise my conclusions on the Trinity review. For around 50 years I was a Christadelphian, being born into that faith, getting baptised at the age of 17. At the age of 48, I started a journey out of that faith, leaving as a 50 year old and now at 54 I am Baptist. Trust me when I say that 50 years espousing a form of Unitarianism is not something that is easy to release. Every...
The argument that the Temptation of Christ was an indication that he was imperfect is common in Unitarian circles. Flaws The bible clearly teaches in Heb 4:15 that Jesus was tempted in every way that we are, but he did not sin. This is not evidence that Jesus was imperfect. In juxtaposing Heb 4:15 with Jas 1:13, Unitarians are arguing as follows. Jesus was tempted. God cannot be tempted. Ergo...
God Manifestation in a Unitarian Framework is a huge topic and I can’t do it justice in just 750 words. I will do my best to sum it up. That’s going to be difficult because, in my former life, I would have considered myself a well versed scholar of this doctrine. Underpinning Structure of God Manifestation The doctrine of God manifestation for non-trinitarians can be a truly beautiful...
At their most basic, the difference between Unitarian and Trinitarian doctrine can be summed up as follows. A Trinitarian believes in one God in three persons, whilst a Unitarian believes in one person in the Godhead. Unitarian and Trinitarian Doctrine The Trinitarian Doctrine is the Christian Doctrine that states that there is one God in three persons, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. It...
This series of blogs explores my thinking around my transition from a form of unitarian doctrine to believing in the Trinity. The series will pursue some fairly hard core theology. We will explore my changing understanding of God as I have transitioned from Unitarian to Trinitarian theology. Obviously a core question is “Who is God?” Is God exclusively God the Father? How do God the...
This is a review of To Speak Well of God: an Exposition of the Book of Job by John Pople. I know John personally, though not well. My personal impressions are of a man who is quite forceful and direct. Nevertheless, I also find him thoughtful and considered and a well read bible scholar. To Speak Well of God: an Exposition of the Book of Job Author: John Pople Genre: Religious First...