John,

To determine an antecedent, all possibilities must be analyzed. As I said, in Matt. 13:19, grammatically there would be three possible antecedents for hOUTOS. The closest one is discarded because it is in the neuter gender; the other one is discarded because of context. So “anyone� is clearly the antecedent. “This� refers to everything in the previous sentence because everything in the previous sentence is essential for the understanding of the word “anyone,� as the context makes clear. However, what similarity does the example of Matt. 13:19 have with 1 John 5:20? None whatsoever. If your point was that the context is necessary to determine the antecedent, well of course this is true in every single case. But in 1 John 5:20 the words we are discussing as possible antecedents are perfectly understandable in themselves. “This� clearly does not refer to the entire previous sentence, but to a person who is both God and Eternal Life.

Quote:

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Please note that the only person John calls God in his letter is the “Father�.

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Please note that the only person John calls Eternal Life in his letter is the “Son�. If we look to the other writings of John, however, we will see that the Son is indeed called God (John 1:1-3; 20:28), but that the Father is never called Eternal Life. Eternal Life in this verse is clearly a person, and it is the same person who is the true God.

What about this:

1 Timothy 6:12-16.
Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witness. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time – God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever, Amen.

What did Paul has in mind?

Add with this:

1 Corinthians 8:6.
Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live, and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

Who was Paul referring to as God, the only true God, King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal , the great Source of all things, whom no one has ever seen or can see?

If what Paul has in mind is God the Father, what does he has in mind about Jesus Christ?
If the Father is the only true God who alone is immortal , what does he thinks about Jesus Christ?
Think about it.

In His love

James S

Hi Everyone: This is John’s wife and I would like to put in my “two bits� if I may. Sometimes I marvel at how complicated we can all get when it seems so very simple to me. So, here I am and I’ll tell it as I read it in my Bible:

1) There is One God. Deut.6:4, John 17:3
2) That One God is the Father. 1Cor 8:6
3) The Father alone has immortality and dwells in light unapproachable, whom no eye has seen or can see. 1Tim 6:4
4) There is a being who God calls His Son. John 3:16
5) He proceeded forth from the Father. John 8:42
6) He is the express image of the Father. Col. 1:15, Heb.1:3
7) He was with the Father before all creation and God created everything through Him. Col.1:16, Heb.1:2
8) He shares the Father’s throne. Rev.3:21
9) The Father has exalted Him that every knee should bow to Him and that we should honour Him even as we honour the Father. Ephes.1:20, Math.5:23
10) The Father calls Jesus God. Heb.1:8
11) He also called others God-Solomon and Judges. Ps.45:6,7;Ps.82:6
12) The Father is Jesus’ Father and God Heb.1:9; John 20:17
13) The Father is the head of Christ.1 Cor.11:3 who is and will always be subject to the Father. 1Cor.15:27-28
14) The Son does nothing of himself nor does he speak his own words; He was sent by the Father in the Old Testament times as a representative of the Father, and the Father’s name was in Him.Ex.23:20-21 In the New Testament, the Father sent the Son to reveal the love of the Father and that relationship of faith, the faith of the Son. In this way showing the way back to God. Gal.4:6
15) It is by receiving the spirit of the Son in our hearts that we become sons and daughters of God for His spirit in us cries: “Abba, Father.� Romans 8:15
16) For those of you who are not aware of Adventist history, the pioneers did not believe in the Trinity, including E.G.White. James White called it “..the old Trinitarian absurdity.� Joseph Bates could not join his parents’ Congregational church because of it. J.H. Waggoner stated that the scriptures …�are entirely silent in regard to a trinity.� W.W.Prescott stated that “.Christ was twice born, once in eternity, the only begotten of the Father, and again here in the flesh…� Merritt Cornell stated that along with other false doctrine “… the mass of Protestants believe with Catholics in the Trinity…contrary to the spirit and letter of the new testament.�A.J.Dennis, John Matteson, J.M.Stephenson, R.F.Cottrell, D.W.Hull, S.N.Haskell, E.J.Waggoner, Uriah Smith, M.C.Wilcox and G.W.Amadon all wrote articles in the Review and Herald refuting the Trinity and giving a clear Biblical position. J.N.Andrews stated that the …�doctrine destroys the personality of God and his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The infamous measures by which it was forced upon the church might well cause every believer in that doctrine to blush.�J.N.Loughborough in the R & H questions and answers stated in answer to the question:�What serious objection is there to the doctrine of the Trinity?� answered: “There are many objections… 1. It is contrary to common sense.2.It is contrary to scripture.3. Its origin is Pagan and fabulous.� Articles in the Review in the last half of the 19th century show clearly what the S.D.A. positon was. E.G.White never corrected or rebuked them but always endorsed them. Any statements she made are to be understood in the context of her already established belief, not in contradiction of it!
I am so glad to be a child of God. Jesus is so precious to me for he teaches me day by day how to do, not my own will, but my Father’s will. He didn’t have to come to this world, but because of the Father’s love and His love he did come, and was willing to be obedient, even unto death. He died the same way I will die, in the hope of the resurrection. He was resurrected the same way I hope to be, by His Father’s power. He really, truly suffered and died. It wasn’t a game or an act where He really didn’t die (only His humanity as some say). God took a risk by sending His Son into this world. It was Satan’s territory. Jesus could have failed. But He was prepared because He knew what it meant to be a Son in heaven and He brought his Sonship with Him. That is what He gives to you and me. Isn’t He wonderful? Isn’t God’s love wonderful? That’s what keeps me going. That’s what makes me love Him.

Paul was very clear in his teaching. The cornerstone of his message:

1 Corinthians 2:2 - "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."

1 Corinthians 1:23 - "But we preach Christ crucified"

Galations 2:20 - "I am crucified with Christ"

Paul testified that Jesus Christ had died.

Gordon