GREEK EXPOSITION

OF THE

DEITY OF CHRIST

Pastor Larry Dela Cruz

Preface

Is the Lord Jesus Christ God? If we turn to the New Testament Greek where our NT English bibles were taken how do the words in Greek God (/Theos), Lord (/Kurios) and Savior (/ Soteros) used? Do these titles refer also to God the Father as they were used for Christ? If they were addressed to the Father being God and to Christ therefore our Lord Jesus Christ is of the same rank and nature as the Father. He is Divine. He is Lord and God.

The Greek language is very rich in meaning. A word that is translated to English may have different meanings in Greek where it was taken. So it is very important that in proper interpretation of Scripture as we take the verses in context and we must also go to its original meaning in Greek or Hebrew as in the case of the Old Testament where they were taken. Grammar construction and how the words relate to each other in a sentence are very important. Textual, lexical, syntactical analysis of Scripture should be employed. This is a simple study I hope a student of Scripture may appreciate and learn.

For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it,

and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Ezra 7:10

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not

need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

2 Tim 2:125

JESUS IS GOD

He existed before all things

The Christ is before () all things. He existed () before () all things so that all things are through Him and in Him. In Christ all things in the heavens and in the earth, all dominions seen and unseen hold, stand and cohere () together. He sustains all things. He is the life and the light. He is of higher rank () than all of us. He is above all us. He is the I AM ().

Col 1: 17

17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

MIC 5:2 But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,Too little to be among the clans of Judah,From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.His goings forth are from long ago,From the days of eternity.

Colossians 1:17

kai autos estin pro pantwn kai ta panta en

AND HE IS BEFORE ALL (THINGS) AND THE ALL (THINGS) IN

autw sunesteeken

HIM IT HAS STOOD TOGETHER,

Greek Interlinear Quotations.Westcotthort.com.4February2014..

The Son of God is before () all things and existed at the earlier time before the world was made and before all ages.

pro: before

Original Word:Part of Speech:PrepositionTransliteration:proPhonetic Spelling:(pro)Short Definition:beforeDefinition:(a) of place: before, in front of, (b) of time: before, earlier than.

(pro) 47 Occurrences

Matthew 5:12PrepBIB: NAS:the prophetswho were beforeyou.

Matthew 8:29PrepBIB: NAS:here to tormentus beforethe time?

John 12:1PrepBIB: NAS:six daysbeforethe Passover, came

John 17:5PrepBIB: NAS:I hadwith You beforethe world

John 17:24PrepBIB: NAS:Me, for You lovedMe beforethe foundation

1 Corinthians 2:7PrepBIB: NAS:predestinedbeforethe ages

In the Son of God all things cohere, hold and stand () together.

sunistmi and sunistan: to commend, establish, stand near, consist

Original Word:, Part of Speech:VerbTransliteration:sunistmi and sunistanPhonetic Spelling:(soon-is-tah'-o)Short Definition:I commend, prove, am composed of, cohereDefinition:I place together, commend, prove, exhibit; instrans: I stand with; I am composed of, cohere.

4921synist(from4862/sn, "union, togetherwith" and2476/hstmi, "to stand") properly, "stand together," referring to facts "lining up" with each other tosupport(commend) something.

Word OriginfromsunandhistmiDefinitionto commend, establish, stand near, consistNASB Translationcommend (3), commended (1), commending (3), commends (2), demonstrated (1), demonstrates (2), formed (1), hold together (1), prove (1), standing (1).

John 1:15

15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.

John 1:15

iwanees marturei peri autou kai kekragen

JOHN IS WITNESSING ABOUT HIM AND HE HAS CRIED OUT

legwn houtos een ho eipwn ho opisw

SAYING--THIS (ONE) WAS THE (ONE) HAVING SAID--THE (ONE) BEHIND

mou erchomenos emprosthen mou gegonen hoti

ME COMING IN FRONT OF ME HAS COME TO BE, BECAUSE

prwtos mou een

FIRST OF ME HE WAS;

Greek Interlinear Quotations.Westcotthort.com.4February2014..

The Christ is of Higher Rank () than all of us for He is before us.

emprosthen: before, in front of (in place or time)

Original Word:Part of Speech:Adverb; PrepositionTransliteration:emprosthenPhonetic Spelling:(em'-pros-then)Short Definition:in front, before the faceDefinition:in front, before the face; sometimes made a subst. by the addition of the article: in front of, before the face of.

Word OriginfromenandprosDefinitionbefore, in front of (in place or time)NASB Translationahead (5), before (28), front (4), higher rank (2), presence (4), sight (3).

Matthew 11:10PrepBIB: NAS:WILL PREPARE YOUR WAYBEFOREYOU.'

Matthew 17:2PrepBIB: NAS:And He was transfiguredbeforethem; and His face

John 1:30PrepBIB: NAS:hasa higher rankthan I, for He existed

The Christ is the great I AM for He existed () before us.

eimi: I exist, I am

Original Word:Part of Speech:VerbTransliteration:eimiPhonetic Spelling:(i-mee')Short Definition:I am, existDefinition:I am, exist.

1510eim(the basic Greek verb which expressesbeing, i.e. "to be") am,is.1510(eim), and its counterparts, (properly) convey "straight-forward"being(existence, i.e. without explicit limits).

1510/eim("is, am") in thepresenttense, indicative mood can be time-inclusive ("omnitemporal," like the Hebrew imperfect tense). Only thecontextindicates whether thepresenttense also has "timeless" implications. For example,1510(eim) is aptly used in Christ's great "I am" (ego eimi...) that also include Hiseternality(self-existent life) as ourlife,bread,light," etc. See Jn 7:34, 8:58, etc.

Example: Jn 14:6: "I am(1510/eim) the way, the truth and the life." Here1510(eim) naturally accords with the fact Christ iseternal maning "Iam(was,will be)." The "I amformula (Gkeg eimi)" harks back toGod's only name, "Yahweh" (OT/3068, "thelord") meaning "He who always was, is, and will be." Compare Jn 8:58 with Ex 3:14. See also Rev 4:8 and2962/krios("Lord").

(eimi) 141 Occurrences

Matthew 22:32V-PI-1SBIB: NAS:I AMTHE GOD OF ABRAHAM,

Matthew 24:5V-PI-1SBIB: NAS:saying,'I amthe Christ,'

Matthew 27:43V-PI-1SBIB: NAS:IN HIM; for He said,'I amthe Son

Mark 14:62V-PI-1SBIB: NAS:said,I am;and you shall see

Luke 21:8V-PI-1SBIB: NAS:saying,I am[He],' and, 'The time

John 7:28V-PI-1SBIB: 'NAS:whereI amfrom; and I have not come

John 8:12V-PI-1SBIB: NAS:to them, saying,I amthe Light

John 8:24V-PI-1SBIB: NAS:you believethat I am[He], you will die

John 8:58V-PI-1SBIB: NAS:Abraham was born,I am.

Greek Interlinear Bible. Bible Hub. 4February2014..

The Creator

John 1:1-21In the beginningwas the Word,and the Wordwas with God,and the Wordwas God. 2He was in the beginningwith God.

In the beginning and rule () was the Word () and the Word () was toward/with () God () and God () was the Word (). He () was with God ()in the beginning. All things() emerged () through () His instrumentality and because of Him. Apart () from Him and without Him nothing has emerged or came into being. The Word () of God is the Name of the Son of God and the Word became () flesh who was beside () the Father from the beginning (). The Greek meanings show the evidence of the existence of the Word- the Son of God, He who was beside the Father, was God and through whom all things were made.

Colossians 1:1616ForBY HIM ALL THINGS WERE CREATED, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN CREATED THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM.

Revelation 3:1414"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, theBEGINNINGof the creation of God, says this:

John 1:1

en archee een ho logos kai ho logos een pros

IN BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS TOWARD (WITH)

ton theon kai theos een ho logos

THE GOD, AND GOD WAS THE WORD.

John 1:2

houtos een en archee pros ton theon

THIS (ONE) WAS IN BEGINNING TOWARD (WITH) THE GOD.

Greek Interlinear Quotations.Westcotthort.com.4February2014..

In the beginning () and ruler was the Word and the Word was God.

arch: beginning, origin

Original Word:, , Part of Speech:Noun, FeminineTransliteration:archPhonetic Spelling:(ar-khay')Short Definition:ruler, beginningDefinition:(a) rule (kingly or magisterial), (b) plur: in a quasi-personal sense, almost: rulers, magistrates, (c) beginning.

746arx properly, from thebeginning(temporalsense), i.e. "the initial(starting) point"; (figuratively) what comesfirstand therefore ischief(foremost), i.e. has theprioritybecause ahead of the rest ("preeminent").

Word OriginfromarchDefinitionbeginning, originNASB Translationbeginning (38), corners (2), domain (1), elementary (1), elementary* (1), first (1), first preaching (1), principalities (1), rule (4), rulers (6).

(arch) 12 Occurrenc