John 14:28

[Salty]

John 14:28 states "...because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I."

Is Jesus saying he is not equal to God the Father?

Would you agree with this statement:
For my Father is greater than I.—These words have naturally formed the subject of controversy in every period of the Church’s history, between those who deny and those who accept the truth that the Son is “very God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before all worlds.” And, as in all controversies, statements have been made on either side which cannot be supported by the words themselves. On the part of those who assert the divine nature, it has been contended that the Father is greater than the Son only as regards the human nature of the Son; but this is not here thought of. In this passage, as in others of the New Testament, it is plainly asserted that in the divine nature there is a subordination of the Son to the Father. (See, e.g., John 14:16; John 17:5; 1Corinthians 3:23; 1Corinthians 11:3; 1Corinthians 15:27-28; Philippians 2:9; Philippians 2:11; and especially Note on John 5:19 et seq.) On the part of those who deny the divinity of our Lord, it has been contended that this text asserts the inferiority of His nature to that of the Father, whereas the words could only have been uttered by one who meant in them to assert His own divine essence. If we try to imagine a man saying, “God is greater than I,” we feel at once that He who really said them claimed for Himself that He was truly God.

Open for discussion

 

[37818]

John 14:28 states "...because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I."

Is Jesus saying he is not equal to God the Father?

They are not the same Persons. They're the same LORD God. The Son of God has God the Father as His God the Father.

And was sent per John 17:3.

Jesus explained:
John 13:16, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

They are not the same Persons. They're the same LORD God.

 

[Charlie24]

John 14:28 states "...because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I."

Is Jesus saying he is not equal to God the Father?

Would you agree with this statement:
For my Father is greater than I.—These words have naturally formed the subject of controversy in every period of the Church’s history, between those who deny and those who accept the truth that the Son is “very God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before all worlds.” And, as in all controversies, statements have been made on either side which cannot be supported by the words themselves. On the part of those who assert the divine nature, it has been contended that the Father is greater than the Son only as regards the human nature of the Son; but this is not here thought of. In this passage, as in others of the New Testament, it is plainly asserted that in the divine nature there is a subordination of the Son to the Father. (See, e.g., John 14:16; John 17:5; 1Corinthians 3:23; 1Corinthians 11:3; 1Corinthians 15:27-28; Philippians 2:9; Philippians 2:11; and especially Note on John 5:19 et seq.) On the part of those who deny the divinity of our Lord, it has been contended that this text asserts the inferiority of His nature to that of the Father, whereas the words could only have been uttered by one who meant in them to assert His own divine essence. If we try to imagine a man saying, “God is greater than I,” we feel at once that He who really said them claimed for Himself that He was truly God.

Open for discussion

Paul said that Christ thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant.

We have here a before and after the incarnation.

It's my opinion He was speaking of the Father being greater while in His humanity, being a servant.

Although He was equal with the Father the entire time, but considered Himself a servant during His humanity.

 

[Silverhair]

John 14:28 states "...because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I."

Is Jesus saying he is not equal to God the Father?

Would you agree with this statement:
For my Father is greater than I.—These words have naturally formed the subject of controversy in every period of the Church’s history, between those who deny and those who accept the truth that the Son is “very God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before all worlds.” And, as in all controversies, statements have been made on either side which cannot be supported by the words themselves. On the part of those who assert the divine nature, it has been contended that the Father is greater than the Son only as regards the human nature of the Son; but this is not here thought of. In this passage, as in others of the New Testament, it is plainly asserted that in the divine nature there is a subordination of the Son to the Father. (See, e.g., John 14:16; John 17:5; 1Corinthians 3:23; 1Corinthians 11:3; 1Corinthians 15:27-28; Philippians 2:9; Philippians 2:11; and especially Note on John 5:19 et seq.) On the part of those who deny the divinity of our Lord, it has been contended that this text asserts the inferiority of His nature to that of the Father, whereas the words could only have been uttered by one who meant in them to assert His own divine essence. If we try to imagine a man saying, “God is greater than I,” we feel at once that He who really said them claimed for Himself that He was truly God.

Open for discussion

In saying that the Father is greater than I, Jesus was asserting his role as the Father’s servant, for the Son was the one sent to do the Father’s will. (Joh_3:17) This does not deny his equality with God (Joh_10:30); rather, it affirms Jesus’ humble attitude about his relationship with the Father. He was obedient to the Father, who gave Christ His words and works (Joh_14:10, Joh_14:24).

 

[Ben1445]

They are not the same Persons. They're the same LORD God. The Son of God has God the Father as His God the Father.

And was sent per John 17:3.

Jesus explained:
John 13:16, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

They are not the same Persons. They're the same LORD God.

I have a question for you. I ask because I think that we often get too deep into areas we have no knowledge. This is one of those areas.

And the question is, if Jesus is the Son of God the Father, but…

Matthew 1:20
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Would that not make the Holy Spirit the Father of the Son.

Pardon the foolishness of the question. It is just an evidence to me that we understand so little of who God is. Even with all the explanation of Scripture, it appears to me that we are still like the blind from birth having the different colors explained to him. It will all be clear when the blind receives his sight and we are changed and see Him as He is.

 

[kyredneck]

his equality with God (Joh_10:30)

Yes.

John Chapter 10

30​	I and the Father are one.

John Chapter 1

1​	In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

14​	And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.

Oh 'great Calvinist-slayer in your own mind', this is one point we can agree on, if not anything else.

 

[Silverhair]

Yes.

John Chapter 10

30​	I and the Father are one.

John Chapter 1

1​	In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

14​	And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.

Oh 'great Calvinist-slayer in your own mind', this is one point we can agree on, if not anything else.

Ah KY I do not have to slay Calvinism. Those calvinists do a great job showing the errors in that view all by themselves.

 

[37818]

Would that not make the Holy Spirit the Father of the Son.

I do not think it to be a foolish question.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of all three distinct Persons.
Of God, Romans 8:9, . . . the Spirit of God . . . .
Per John 4:24, God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Of the Son of God, . . . the Spirit of Christ . . . .
1 John 5:12. (John 1:3. John 1:14.)

Of Himself, Romans 8:16, The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: . . . .

And more Holy Scripture can be cited.

 

[Ben1445]

I do not think it to be a foolish question.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of all three distinct Persons.
Of God, Romans 8:9, . . . the Spirit of God . . . .
Per John 4:24, God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Of the Son of God, . . . the Spirit of Christ . . . .
1 John 5:12. (John 1:3. John 1:14.)

Of Himself, Romans 8:16, The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: . . . .

And more Holy Scripture can be cited.

So just from what I read, They are more the same than They are different.

 

[37818]

So just from what I read, They are more the same than They are different.

The same being the LORD God. Different in being distinct Persons.