Does Hebrews 1:1-8 Teach that Christ is Almighty God?

Among the many "proof texts" that Trinitarians use to buttress their belief in Jesus' Deity, Hebrews 1:8 is considered to be one of the most striking and explicit examples. In Greek, the verse reads as follows: pros de ton huion ho thronos sou ho Theos eis ton aiona tou aionos kai he rhabdos tes euthutetos rhabdos tes basileias autou (Westcott-Hort). TEV translates the passage in a way that would seem to uphold the notion that Christ is God on some level. It says: "About the Son, however, God said: "Your kingdom, O God, will last forever and ever! You will rule over your people with justice," whereas Byington's Bible in Living English renders Heb. 1:8 thusly: "but as to the Son 'God is your throne forever and ever, and the scepter of integrity is the scepter of his reign.'

From a comparison of the two Bible versions cited above, translational and theological questions immediately come to the fore. Heb. 1:8 makes us wonder how we are to understand what the book of Hebrews says about the ontological status of our Lord and Savior. Does the book of Hebrews teach that Jesus is Almighty God?

This essay will try to establish a more moderate claim than the Christological teaching of Hebrews as a whole. In this chapter, I will focus on what Heb. 1:8 and its cotext has to say about the Deity (deity) of Jesus Christ. In order to show the first century writer's seeming intent and meaning, I will approach Heb. 1:8 from three primary perspectives: (1) From an Old Testament perspective, looking to see what we can learn from Heb. 45:6ff. (2) From a cotextual perspective. That is, I will examine the word proskuneo in Heb. 1:6 and try to discern how its meaning bears on one's understanding of Theos and thronos in Heb. 1:8. (3) Lastly, I will consider the syntax of Heb. 1:8 and attempt to determine how one either should or might construe the word order in the said passage. This paper will argue that Heb. 1:8 should be interpreted as a royal account that religiously delineates the kingly status of the risen and exalted Christ without attributing to him, full Deity. We will therefore begin by outlining the structure of Heb. 1:1-8 and discussing verse by verse how each unit of the text contributes to understanding Heb. 1:8.

Hebrews 1:1-4 constitutes the exordium of the treatise written to the first century Christians living in Jerusalem and Judea. It is a monumental accomplishment, not only religiously and theologically, but rhetorically as well. Professor Harold W. Attridge interestingly points out that "the rhetorical artistry of this exordium surpasses that of any other portion of the New Testament" (Attridge 36). George H. Guthrie adds that "with its majestic style and high concentration of programmatic topics, which the author will elaborate throughout the book, Heb. 1:1-4 may be identified as the 'introduction' of the discourse" (Guthrie 119). Indeed, Heb. 1:1-4 will serve as the ab initio of this discussion.

Heb. 1:1, 2 initiates the Christological discussion found in the book of Hebrews in a peerless rhetorical fashion. The writer liberally employs the literary device of alliteration as he writes: polumeros kai polutropos palai ho Theos lalesas tois patrasin en tois prophetais ep' eschatou ton hemeron touton elalesen hemin en huios (UBS4).

Admittedly, this biblical passage is packed with dynamic and skillful alliteration that instantly grabs the reader's attention. It is imperative, however, not to overlook the vital Christological message contained in the passage because of its literary features. The writer of Hebrews makes it clear that in the pre-messianic age, God (ho theos) communicated to humankind via numerous and diverse means and ways through such prophets as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Obadiah as well as Daniel. A.T. Robertson also explains "The Old Testament revelation came at different times and in various stages, and ways, as a progressive revelation of God to men. God spoke by dream, by direct voice, by signs, in different ways to different men (Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, etc.). The two 'manys' are a literary device meaning 'variously' " (Robertson 557).

While we surely cannot label what Robertson calls, "the Old Testament revelation," inferior--Heb. 1:1, 2 definitely tells us that the divine revelation recorded in the Old Testament was only a faint adumbration of the things that were to come. For in the last days (eschatou ton hemeron) of the Jewish system of things, God decided to speak through "a Son" (NRSV). Two points concerning Greek articles and anarthrous constructions now deserve our attention.

First, we note that the writer of Hebrews utilizes the articular construction ho Theos in Heb. 1:1. The article, writes A.T. Robertson, "is never meaningless in Greek" (Qt. in Young 55). This observation does not mean that we always understand why a particular writer decided to use or not employ the article. In Philo, for example, we read that only the God of the Old Testament (YHWH) is properly called ho Theos (De. Som. 1.229ff). Philo explicitly writes that the Logos, however, is only called Theos (without the article). Origen supports this understanding in his Commentary on John as he too indicates that there is significance in including or omitting the article.

The use or non-use of the article is a complex issue and we do not want to suggest that it is a problem that one can easily resolve by arbitrarily differentiating between nouns that have the article and nouns that do not: "It is very difficult to set forth exact rules [for the article] that will cover every case" (Young 55). The truthfulness of this contention can be seen when we note that Ignatius of Antioch clearly has no trouble calling Jesus of Nazareth ho theos in his writings (Eph. 18:2) and John 20:28 evidently depicts Thomas addressing Jesus as: ho theos mou kai ho kurios mou. Furthermore, Satan the Devil is seemingly described as ho Theos tou aionos in 2 Cor. 4:4, though certain scholars have suggested (based on the LXX reading of Dan. 5:4) that Jehovah is actually the God alluded to in 2 Cor. 4:4 who blinds the minds of the unbelievers (Scott 85). That is, God allows the minds of the unbelievers to be unreceptive to divine enlightenment (Rom. 11:8; 2 Thess. 2:11, 12). The position taken in this work, however, is that ha Satan is the referent pointed to by the signifiers ho Theos tou aionos in 2 Cor. 4:4.

Regardless of how the article is employed elsewhere in the New Testament, it appears that Murray J. Harris is correct when he writes: "When (ho) theos is used, we are to assume that the NT writers have ho pater in mind unless the context makes this sense of (ho) theos impossible" (Harris 47). Indeed, Harris' observation is both astute and pertinent to our discussion when we return to Heb. 1:1, 2 and note that it is ho theos, whom the writer of Hebrews identifies as speaking through the prophets of old. Fittingly, the author of Hebrews utilizes the article when speaking of God the Father, for Heb. 1:1, 2 definitively shows that ho theos spoke to us through a Son (elalesen hemin en huios). So ho Theos mentioned in Heb. 1:1 must be synonymous with ho pater. This point additionally means that YHWH spoken of in the Old Testament (the One also called Alpha and Omega and the Most High God) must be ho pater (not ho huios tou theou). While this fact does not seem to bother him, Murray Harris does acknowledge that "for the author of Hebrews (as for all NT writers, one may suggest) 'the God of our fathers,' Yahweh, was no other than 'the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ' "(Harris 47). This comment in no way implies that Harris disavows the Deity of Jesus Christ or that of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, Harris' observations serve to make the pivotal point that the God (ho theos) of Heb. 1:1 is none other than the God and Father of Jesus Christ. In my view, the writer of Hebrews seems to maintain a crucial ontological distinction between the Most High God and His anointed Messiah. With that point established, we must move on to the second issue involving articular and anarthrous constructions in Heb. 1:1-2.

As mentioned earlier, when describing the Son of God, the writer of Hebrews tells us that God ultimately and definitively spoke through (instrumental en + the dative) "a Son" (NRSV). This expression (en huios) has been construed in at least two primary ways that we will now review.

Richard A. Young thinks that the anarthrous construction in Heb. 1:2 focuses on "the nature rather than the personality of the Son." Young thus concludes, "the character of the Son is contrasted with that of the prophets" (68). He subsequently points to the anarthrous construction in Heb. 5:8 as proof of this contention, where the writer of Hebrews reports that although the man Jesus Christ was a Son, "he learned obedience from the things he suffered." Young again notes that the focus in Heb. 5:8 is on "the character of the Son rather than his specific identity" (68).

Daniel B. Wallace basically echoes the sentiments of Richard Young when he avers that "a Son" is probably the way Heb. 1:2 should be rendered. Yet overall Wallace feels that there is no fully satisfactory way to compactly and succinctly communicate the writer's intent in Heb. 1:2. Nevertheless, Wallace does decide that the anarthrous construction in Heb. 1:2 "is clearly qualitative," but closer to the indefinite category on the continuum than the definite one (Wallace 245). Ultimately, Wallace writes that Heb. 1:2 speaks of the Son in a way that greatly sets him apart from both angels and men. Should one read this much into the anarthrous construction in Heb. 5:8, however?

As we analyze Heb. 1:2, it must be pointed out that the expression concerning Christ could be definite, indefinite, or qualitative or overlap on the continuum. While the expression in Heb. 5:8 could be either definite or indefinite, an indefinite sense alone (while possible) does not seem likely in Heb. 1:2. En huios could well be definite here (as suggested by Ryrie). However, in view of the context and the manner in which the writer utilizes the anarthrous construction vis-à-vis the Son in the rest of the letter, a qualitative or indefinite reading is the most likely one in Heb. 1:2. Although I tend to concur with Wallace and Young in viewing Heb. 1:2 and 5:8 as qualitative, I think that they read too much into the anarthrous construction in Heb. 1:2. The character or quality of sonship may be emphasized in Heb. 1:2, and the writer may emphasize the Son's superiority to the angels and the prophets. These facts, however, do not in and of themselves indicate that the Son God spoke through was ontologically or is ontologically superior to the angels or the prophets. That is, the inarticular usage of the writer of Hebrews does not mean the Son is Deity in the writer's eyes (Heb. 7:28). He became better than the angels when he received a new name from God (Heb. 1:4). Nevertheless, when God spoke through this human Son, he was actually lower than the angels and on par with his human brothers and sisters, being like unto them in all respects (excepting sin). Heb. 1:2 deals with Jesus of Nazareth and his activity in the sphere of humanity. It could well teach, therefore, that Christ was a continuation of the prophets that God through whom God spoke. But he was greater than Moses was since he existed before the prophet and since God created all things through him (cf. Heb. 1:3; 2:6-16; 4:15).

In Heb. 1:3, we come to yet another thorny problem in the exordium of Hebrews. Writing in delightfully pictorial terms, the author of Hebrews notes that the Son of God, through whom God made all things (panton), is the apaugasma tes doxes [tou theou] and the character tes hupostaseos autou [i.e., theos].

BAGD indicates that we cannot always clearly discern the meaning of apaugasma. Its active sense is "radiance" or "effulgence"; the passive sense is "reflection" (BAGD 82). This reference work goes on to point out that Origen, Gregory of Nyssa, Theodoret and Chrysostom accepted the active meaning, and F.F. Bruce also suggests construing apaugasma in its active sense in Heb. 1:3 as does A.T. Robertson (Bruce 5; Robertson 557). Harold Attridge offers a perspicuous observation on this matter, when he informs us that "the context of Hebrews itself, where apaugasma is paralleled with 'imprint' (character), may support a passive understanding of apaugasma, although that second term [character] is not entirely free from ambiguity" (Attridge 43). In the final analysis, after discussing Philo and the deuterocanonical book of Wisdom, Attridge has to admit that the meaning of apaugasma is not easy to pin down. He seems to think, however, that the passive sense is more preferable in Heb. 1:3. While the precise meaning of apaugasma and even character may be somewhat ambiguous, the overall thrust of the words in the text are clear enough.

In Heb. 1:3, the Son is manifestly identified as the apaugasma (reflection or radiance) of God. The expression is similar to Paul's use of eikon tou theou in Col. 1:15 and, furthermore, the phrase informs us that as the image of God, Christ starkly resembles God and reflects his Father's characteristics. He is not, however, equal to His Father (Buchanan 7). The apostle John wrote that the One who sends is greater than He who is sent (John 13:16). Hebrews 7:7 also communicates the principle that the One who blesses is greater than he who is blessed (Luke 1:42). As the apostle, priest, prophet, coworker and reflection of God the Father, the Son mirrors God. Yet, he is not in the same category of being as his Father.

The same point could be made about the Greek word character. The word indicates that the character is a faithful reproduction of the original (Lev. 13:28). The character bears the form of the original without being identical to the original (2 Macc. 4:10). The Son thus externally resembles God without being God himself. Time and space do not permit us to dwell any longer on Heb. 1:1-4, however. We must move on to the next section of Hebrews chapter 1. For more information on character, consult A-S 479.

let's see what I can find in the OT.............

NIV Exodus 15:2
2. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.

NIV 2 Samuel 22:2-3
2. He said: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
3. my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior-- from violent men you save me.

NIV 2 Samuel 23:5
5. "Is not my house right with God? Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part? Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire?

NIV 1 Chronicles 16:23
23. Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.

NIV 2 Chronicles 6:41
41. "Now arise, O LORD God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, may your saints rejoice in your goodness.

NIV Psalms 9:13-14
13. O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,
14. that I may declare your praises in the gates of the Daughter of Zion and there rejoice in your salvation.

NIV Psalms 13:3-5
3. Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
4. my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

NIV Psalms 14:7
7. Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

NIV Psalms 18:2
2. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

NIV Psalms 27:1
1. The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?

NIV Psalms 28:8
8. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

NIV Psalms 35:1-3

1. Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.
2. Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.
3. Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your salvation."

NIV Psalms 35:9
9. Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.

NIV Psalms 37:39
39. The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

NIV Psalms 40:9-10
9. I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD.
10. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.

NIV Psalms 40:16
16. But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!"

NIV Psalms 50:22-23
22. "Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue:
23. He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."

NIV Psalms 51:10-12
10. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

NIV Psalms 53:6
6. Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

NIV Psalms 62:1

1. My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.

NIV Psalms 62:5-7
5. Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
6. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7. My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

NIV Psalms 67:1-2

1. May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah
2. that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations

NIV Psalms 69:13
13. But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.

NIV Psalms 69:29
29. I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.

NIV Psalms 70:4
4. But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!"

NIV Psalms 71:15
15. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.

NIV Psalms 74:12
12. But you, O God, are my king from of old; you bring salvation upon the earth.

NIV Psalms 85:7
7. Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.

NIV Psalms 85:9
9. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.

NIV Psalms 91:14-16
14. "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

NIV Psalms 95:1

1. Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

NIV Psalms 96:2
2. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.

NIV Psalms 98:1-3
1. Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
2. The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

NIV Psalms 118:14
14. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

NIV Psalms 118:21-23
21. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
22. The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;
23. the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

NIV Psalms 119:41-42
41. May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise;
42. then I will answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word.

NIV Psalms 119:81
81. My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.

NIV Psalms 119:123
123. My eyes fail, looking for your salvation, looking for your righteous promise.

NIV Psalms 119:155
155. salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out your decrees.

NIV Psalms 119:166
166. I wait for your salvation, O LORD, and I follow your commands.

NIV Psalms 119:174
174. I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight.

NIV Psalms 132:11-18
11. The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: "One of your own descendants I will place on your throne--
12. if your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever."
13. For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling:
14. "This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it--
15. I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with food.
16. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will ever sing for joy.
17. "Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for my anointed one.
18. I will clothe his enemies with shame, but the crown on his head will be resplendent."

NIV Psalms 149:4
4. For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.

NIV Isaiah 12:2
2. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."

NIV Isaiah 25:9
9. In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."

NIV Isaiah 26:18
18. We were with child, we writhed in pain, but we gave birth to wind. We have not brought salvation to the earth; we have not given birth to people of the world.

NIV Isaiah 30:15
15. This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.

NIV Isaiah 33:2
2. O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.

NIV Isaiah 45:8
8. "You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the LORD, have created it.

NIV Isaiah 45:17
17. But Israel will be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation; you will never be put to shame or disgraced, to ages everlasting.

NIV Isaiah 46:12-13
12. Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness.
13. I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel.

NIV Isaiah 49:5-6
5. And now the LORD says-- he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength--
6. he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

NIV Isaiah 51:4-6
4. "Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations.
5. My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.
6. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.

NIV Isaiah 52:5-7
5. "And now what do I have here?" declares the LORD. "For my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock, " declares the LORD. "And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed.
6. Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I."
7. How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

NIV Isaiah 52:1-15
1. Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again.
2. Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.
3. For this is what the LORD says: "You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed."
4. For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "At first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria has oppressed them.
5. "And now what do I have here?" declares the LORD. "For my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock, " declares the LORD. "And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed.
6. Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I."
7. How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
8. Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.
9. Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10. The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
11. Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.
12. But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
13. See, my servant will act wisely ; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14. Just as there were many who were appalled at him -- his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness--
15. so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.

NIV Isaiah 56:1

1. This is what the LORD says: "Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.

NIV Isaiah 59:20
20. "The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins," declares the LORD.

NIV Isaiah 63:1-8
1. Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? "It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save."
2. Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress?
3. "I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing.
4. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come.
5. I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm worked salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me.
6. I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground."
7. I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us-- yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.
8. He said, "Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me"; and so he became their Savior.

NIV Jeremiah 3:23
23. Surely the [idolatrous] commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception; surely in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.

NIV Lamentations 3:25-26
25. The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
26. it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

NIV Jonah 2:9
9. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. salvation comes from the LORD."

NIV Luke 1:64-80
64. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God.
65. The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.
66. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, "What then is this child going to be?" For the Lord's hand was with him.
67. His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68. "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.
69. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
70. (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71. salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us--
72. to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73. the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74. to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear
75. in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77. to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78. because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79. to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."
80. And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.

And that CHILD was John, the Baptist. He 'prepared' the way for the Christ: Jesus of Nazareth.

Wow! You sure called THIS one right!!!

It is an unfortunate pattern taught me by the Christian Chronicles thread over the past months. It has defined my activities here to expose modern "Christianity" for what it really is a spin machine for the truth. Regardless of motivation or sincerity, Christianity is presenting such a contradictory and erroneous message to the lost that one must wonder if this is God's work at all. Any honest observation will prove that the fruits of this tree are division, strife, greed and ignorance. Here is the proof, they don't even know the God that they worship! Not to worry, Paul has a message for you all.

Acts 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Ephesians 3 1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

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