Philippians 2:5-7
New International Version (NIV)
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
This verse clearly shows that Jesus God was manifest in the flesh. Now let us deal with John 17:3.
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
the parallel to this verse 1 John 5:20-21
1 Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
John 1:1 is commonly used to prove Jesus is God but then if Jesus is God then according to John 17:3 He is a false God. There is no escaping this fact. A true scholar would then try to reconcile the two apparent contradictions. Therefore we conclude for Christ's sake and the the sake of the Gospel that true God being talked about here is the triune God. Jesus is not excluded here for He is part of the Triune Godhead. if the true God is the Father only the we have a problem. You are to share your opinion as always.
Lets also deal with Mat 14:10 which says:
‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’`
Again as a scholar you have to compare other scripture with other scriptures spiritual against spiritual.
Rom_1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Jud_1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
Now where the apostles wrong in their serving of Jesus Christ who is God (John 1:1)? of course not. Once the triune Godhead is established many contradictions can be solved. Just think of a world without this solution...