How do I answer someone who argues that the phrase: "I am the way, the truth, & the life...." (John 14:6) is true for all prophets not just Jesus?

Question

John 14:6: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me..”

A Jewish professor that I know argues that this statement is true for all prophets concerning the people they were sent to. That a critical misunderstanding has led Christians to imagine the statement is only true for Jesus. He asserts that Noah was the way, the truth, and the life for his people. Those who didn't believe in him perished in the flood.

In the same way, he says Moses was the way, the truth, and the life for the Israelites when he was their leader/prophet (he cites the passover and says any family that refused to obey Moses would have lost a firstborn).

According to him, Jesus cannot be the way, the truth, and the life for the people of Noah and Moses when those people were not obligated to believe in him.

He cites Hebrews 1:1: "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways"

He also cites Jeremiah 21:8; Malachi 2:6-7; Malachi 2:8-9; Proverbs 12:28; Proverbs 19:23; and Proverbs 11:19 as evidence that those who followed the prophets were righteous, and the right way of life.

How do I rebut this, with references and wisdom?

Answer 1

A Jewish professor that I know argues that this statement is true for all prophets

This is where you lost the argument; everything that followed was simply a slow confirmation of that defeat.

The problem was that you accepted his loaded statement and allowed the argument to proceed using his terminology. As soon as Jesus was called a prophet and you didn't reject this view, you no longer had a leg to stand on. As soon as you used the word yourself, you surrendered to his position.

• He says: "This statement is true for all prophets concerning the people they were sent to."
• Respond with: "I don't disagree with you, but Jesus wasn't a prophet; he wasn't even a messenger or angel. Jesus was God himself."

You still won't win the argument, but at least you'll have one.

Answer 2

By faith, Noah. By faith, Moses. By faith ... so says Hebrews chapter 11 with marvelous repetition. This is the way, truth, and life: My righteous one shall live by faith. Christianity declares that the Biblical way, truth, and life is the faith of the Son of God:

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

Noah found grace with God and he and his family were saved. God made His covenant with Noah and, through Noah, spared the earth from a total desolation of life. In constructing the ark Noah condemned the world and there is no biblical data suggesting that he tried to convince any other people to get in the ark and be saved. 2 Peter 2:5 calls Noah a "proclaimer" of righteousness with no other details about the content or method of his proclamation. The idea that Noah preached to others a way, truth, and life by which they might be saved is based in Jewish tradition and not the Biblical text. More likely it was the proclamation of obedient faith in God's righteousness according to which he built the ark and condemned the world, which is a type of salvation of which Christ is the anti-type.

Moses was the beginning of a covenant between God and man and was designed to be a stumbling block to the sinful heart of man, which desires to establish it's own righteousness. It was, in every facet, a ministry of condemnation rather than of life because only perfect obedience maintained life. In disobedience a death was required; either that of the sinner or a propitiatory sacrifice. Access to God through this covenant was only ever through faith in the operation of God and not the doing itself.

The six verses listed at the end of OP (I am sure that many others are in the arsenal) are all under the context of the Levitical priesthood (see especially Malachi) in the Mosaic covenant:

And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. - Malachi 2:4-9

Under the Mosaic covenant the pathway to God (the way, truth, and life) was through faithful obedience to the Law and, failing that, faithful sacrifice at the temple. Much more was included such as observing various feasts and regular offerings but priestly service in the temple was central and critical. It required faith to attempt obedience, faith to admit failure, faith to appeal through sacrifice, and faith that God would keep His word and forgive through that mechanism.

Christianity claims nothing different except that all the mechanism has been fulfilled for us by the Son of God; humbling Himself to be born under the Law and to redeem those under the Law. It is His faith that is the way, the truth, and the life. When a person, convinced of their sin, repents of it and calls on the name of the Lord a new covenant is entered. It is not like the Old Covenant:

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. - Jeremiah 31:31-34

Under the New Covenant the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, takes up residence within a believer. One of the ways that the fruit (the produce) of this new Spirit manifests is faith. "The life they now life is lived by faith of the Son of God because Christ lives in them" says the apostle Paul. This is the manner in which Jesus is the way, truth, and life. Faith in God, just as it has always been. The difference being that every other prophet and holy man that God ever spoke through were types and shadows of the fulfillment, which is Christ Jesus our Lord.

Those who cling to the Old Covenant must wrestle with the fact that the way, truth, and life represented therein has been gone for some 2000 years. Faith in the operation of God through the Temple and the Levitical priesthood has been removed, rendered impossible. There is absolutely no way for atonement to be made for sin on an altar in a temple that does not exist. This is the heart of Jesus' claim in John 14:

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. - John 14:1-7

He is the Way: He is the Temple, made without hands, wherein God dwells among His people. The access to God for both offering and sacrifice. He is the great and faithful High Priest, performing, in Himself for us, all that the Law requires. He is the mercy seat. He is the ark. He is both Shepherd and gate of the sheep.

He is the Truth: He is the Logos (the rational mind of God), the Word of God who is God, residing in humanity. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips. He is God's law written in our inward parts and the Spirit of Truth facilitating obedience to the Law's righteous requirements.

He is the Life: All that the Law was unable to accomplish because of the weakness of the flesh, Jesus did and is. In Him was life and that life was the light of men. He is the brazen serpent held up on a pole that everyone who sees Him and believes may live.

Judaism no longer has access to God through the Mosaic covenant because it has been taken away and nailed to the cross. There is no temple in Jerusalem and no altar. Atonement can no longer be made for the sins of the people. Their house is left unto them desolate and will remain so until they say "Blessed is He (Jesus) that comes in the Name of the LORD". Here I recommend the entirety of Psalm 118.

The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death. Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. - Psalm 118:18-29

Answer 3

Instead of the way, the truth and the life, let us use the similar metaphor of light. Part of the answer is given in John 1.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Then in Matthew 11:11, Jesus says something about John:

Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

From these two passages we can reason from greatest to least:

1. John the Baptist was a witness to the light, not the light itself.
2. John the Baptist was the greatest of the prophets that preceded Jesus.
3. Therefore the other prophets were witnesses to the light, not the very light itself.
4. Jesus is that light.

We can also note that Jesus is the Word. That means the the prophetic, powerful words from God that guide people, such as the words of Noah, Moses, Jonah or others, are part of Jesus. He is the embodiment of their words. They spoke them but he is them and his is the power that gives them force to accomplish the things spoken.

Answer 4

There is some truth to his words, especially when he cites that all who follow the law are righteous and living as the right way or path, and a light to others. However, the Messiah was believed to be divine, greater than all prophets by Jews before the NT was written. The divine titles and characteristics of Jesus represent the Jewish belief of the Messiah during that time. He is also considered to be the true Israelite through typology, and the various prophets or biblical figures serve as types or prefigures of the promised divine Messiah. He is the true light.

Bereshit Rabbah 1:6

“And the light rests with Him” – these are the actions of the righteous, as it is written: “But the path of the righteous is like a dawning light” , and it says: “Light is sown for the righteous…” ....Rabbi Abba Sarongaya said: “And the light rests with Him” – this is the messianic king, as it is stated: “Arise, shine, [for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has shone upon you]” , etc. in...Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon said: From the beginning of the creation of the world, “He reveals the deep and the hidden” ....It was elsewhere: “For He says to the snow: Become the earth” ; “when the dust consolidated into a mass…” . [It states:] “God said: Let there be light” – but it did not elaborate....“Enveloping with light as if with a cloak” . 26 The Midrash refers us to Pesikta Rabati parashat Kumi ori, where the idea of light representing the Messiah is expounded further.

Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars 11:6
All the Prophets spoke of the Messiah, Redeemer of Israel and Savior and Gatherer of the Exiles and Strengthener of the Commandments. Laws of Kings and Wars. trans. Reuven Brauner, 2012

Rabbinic statements: “R. Yose the Galilean said: “The name of the Messiah is Peace, for it is said, Everlasting Father, Prince Peace” (Midrash Pereq Shalom, p. 101); “The Messiah is called by eight names: Yinnon [see Ps. 72:17], Tzemach [e.g., Jer. 23:5]; Pele [Wonderful, Isa. 9:6 (5)], Yo’etz [Counselor, Isa. 9:6 (5)], Mashaich [Messiah], El [god, Isa. 9:6 (5)], Gibbor (Hero, Isa. 9:6 (5)], and Avi’ Ad Shalom [Eternal Father of Peace, Isa. 9:6 (5)]; see Deuteronomy Rabbah 1:20.

What is the name of the King Messiah? R. Abba b. Kahana said: His name is "the Lord" (Midrash Rabbah, Lamentations 1:16)

"All the prophets prophesied only of the days of the Messiah." [Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 99a]

"The world was created but only for the Messiah." [Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 98b]

The prophets are incomparable to the divine Messiah according to the scriptures. He is greater than Moses and Abraham.

The Midrash Tanhuma, also affirms the Messianic nature of Isaiah 52:13:

"Who art thou, O great mountain?" (Zechariah 4:7) This refers to the King Messiah. And why does he call him the "great mountain?" Because he is greater than the patriarchs, as it is said, "My servant shall be high, and lifted up, and lofty exceedingly." He will be higher than Abraham who said, "I raise high my hand unto the Lord" (Gen. 14:22), lifted up above Moses, to whom it is said, "Lift it up into thy bosom" (Numbers 11:12), loftier than the ministering angels, of whom it is written, "Their wheels were lofty and terrible" (Ezekiel 1:18). And out of whom does he come forth? Out of David." - The Midrash Tanhuma

If Jesus was claiming regular attributes common to the prophets, he wouldn't have been accused of claiming to be God, worthy to be killed.

Answer 5

"No one comes to the Father except through me" doesn't apply to Noah. Abraham, Moses, David, and you and I didn't come to the Father through him. His immediate family came to not drowning through him, but his immediate family isn't everyone and not drowning isn't God.

It doesn't apply to Jonah. The Ninevites may have come to God through him, but most of us weren't the recipients of his message. For the same reason, it doesn't apply to any other prophet.

A prophet could reasonably say that "no one comes to the Father except through me except if they hear the word from some other prophet or God speaks to him directly," but that's another way of saying "people come to the Father without me."

To me, this isn't something you need Biblical references for (beyond John 14:6!); it's just basic reasoning. I suppose we could add John 6:53 ("Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you").