(September 19, 2009 at 1:22 am)Retorth Wrote: "I and the father are one"—he claims they are both one entity. "The father is greater then I"—he claims they are two entities. It is impossible for one single entity to have half of it greater than itself. That is a clear contradiction ...
It was Jesus who said, "I and the Father are one," but it was you who inserted the term "entity," Retorth. You are inserting into the text something not found in the text in order to create a contradiction that is not there otherwise. Jesus never claims to be the same entity as the Father. Modalism is an ancient heresy long ago refuted.
(September 19, 2009 at 1:31 am)Dotard Wrote: Please define this 'respect' you speak of. The father is "greater" in what respect? They are "one" in what respect?
The Father is "greater" in respect to divine function (economic distinction), while they are "one" in respect to divine essence (ontological identity). As I have been pointing out in threads elsewhere, what God does immanently is distinct from who God is transcendentally.
(September 19, 2009 at 1:31 am)Dotard Wrote: How would you describe the statement, "My son's father is me, and that father is greater than I."
Modalism (a.k.a. Sabellianism), a third century heresy followed soon after by Arianism, both of which were obviated by the ecumenical creeds (q.v. Nicaea and Athanasius).
Man is a rational animal who always loses his temper when
called upon to act in accordance with the dictates of reason.
(Oscar Wilde)
called upon to act in accordance with the dictates of reason.
(Oscar Wilde)
