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God is 1. I think we can all agree with Jesus' most important commandment... the Shema.

I've been told here by the most prudent of Trinitarians, that YHWH is not a being or a person, but instead 3 persons sharing the 1 divine essence/nature.

If this is the Truth, then that which is of the quantity 1 must be the non personified divine essence/nature. (Not my belief but taken from top voted answers to my previous questions)

We are told in scripture that after our resurrection, we too will share in the same nature as our master, Jesus Christ, for we will be like him. He is the first of many.

2 Peter 1:4.

...by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Eph 3

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from 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 through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

1 John 3:2

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Romans 8

29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

John 1

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

This progression of reason easily leads one to the the next questions.

According to Trinitarians:

  1. What is the difference (if any) between the final ontologies of the Preeminent son of God and the rest of the children of God?
    (Please support your answer with scripture.)

  2. If no difference exists.... Will all the glorified children of God be the 1 YHWH; the 1 non-personified deity comprised of all persons who share in this unique divine nature?

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    Another relevant verse: John 17:21
    – Samuel Bradshaw
    Jul 16 at 18:56
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    Well if your going to use this line of reasoning by equating yourself with the ontological nature of Jesus Christ are you going to be worshipped as He is? Please read Revelation 5:1-14 and Revelation 19:1-8. Are you also identified as "Almighty God" at Revelation 1:8? Do you have any part in being the "Alpha and the Omega" or the "first and last" at Revelation 17-18 or at Revelation 22:13? And here's an oldie but goody at Revelation 4:8-11 and at Revelation 5:1-14. Who's being worshipped?
    – Mr. Bond
    Jul 16 at 19:50
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    None of those verses refer to humans taking on any of the titles of God, nor the nature of God. This question is a non sequitur.
    – curiousdannii ♦
    Jul 16 at 21:28
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    "And its also a held belief that we will share in that same nature." I'm not aware of any Trinitarians who would teach this. The Orthodox teaching of deification comes closest, but I'm sure they would deny that we actually personally will possess the divine nature ourselves.
    – curiousdannii ♦
    Jul 16 at 22:50
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    This inquiry requires to be reduced and focused. It is attempting far too much all at once, covering multiple aspects of the doctrine of Christ.
    – Nigel J
    Jul 17 at 19:20

2 Answers 2

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YHWH is not a title, it is a name.

Exodus 3:14.

So no matter what happens to the children of God, they will not actually become the entity we call God. As such they will not be called YHWH.

Names denote specific beings. Beings do not take on the names of other beings, even if they become like them. When Prince Charles became king he did not start being called 'Elizabeth'.

In Trinitarian theology there is a difference between the begotten Son of God (Jesus) and any status we have as children of God. Being children of God does not make us begotten children of God, nor make us part of the deity.

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  • I agree. YHWH is the name of the 1 God. But I also believe He is a person and people have names. I used the word title because many trinitarians believe the 1 God to be instead the 1 Deity which is not a person or being but a Nature shared by 3 persons. 2 of these persons have their own names. 1 of which is the name of Jesus. I'm told Jesus is called YHWH because he shares in this divine Nature; the same nature of the rest of the children. Why do you place a distinction here? Can you support this answer with any scripture?
    – Read Less Pray More
    Jul 17 at 16:28
  • Trinitarians, like me, are going to tell you that YHWH is a name. If you are calling YHWH a "title" because that's what you think Trinitarians believe then please don't.
    – DJClayworth
    Jul 17 at 16:31
  • Can you define the difference between the 2? Titles vs names?
    – Read Less Pray More
    Jul 17 at 16:33
  • Names apply to specific people/entities. Titles are given someone due to a position they hold, and are changeable from person to person.
    – DJClayworth
    Jul 17 at 16:54
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    @NigelJ says "'Jehovah' is a title.". Yet CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Jehovah (Yahweh) says that it is "the proper name of God", and makes no mention of its being used as a title. What support is there for its being a title?
    – Ray Butterworth
    Jul 17 at 22:41
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Absolutely not! How could they? Common sense dictates there is only one YHWH. Besides that the name Yahweh comes from the Hebrew word for "I am."

This is verified at Exodus 3:13-15, when Moses said to God, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you. Now they may say to me, "What is His name?" What shall I say to them?"

Vs14, "And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, "I AM has sent me to you." Vs15, "And God, furthermore, said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you." This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.

Now, you made the following statement, "We are told in scripture that after our resurrection, we too will share in the same nature as our master, Jesus Christ, for we will be like him. He is the first of many."

This statemen is also not true. The various verses you quoted to support your statement happens "BEFORE" the resurrection. When one is born again he receives the Holy Spirit of God which like the Apostle Peter stated at 2 Peter 1:4, "by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

You also made this statement: "What is the difference (if any) between the final ontologies of the Preeminent son of God and the rest of the children of God?"

The main difference is the fact that Jesus Christ has two natures, one of deity on His Father's side and one of human on His mother's side." Mankind has only one nature which is human. You ask for verification and it can be found at Philippians 2:5-10. Also, some of the Apostles like John, Peter, and Paul identified Jesus Christ as God, including Thomas at John 20:28.

John at John 1:1-3, Paul at Titus 2:13, Peter as 2 Peter 2:1. Oh yea, and by Jesus' own Father at Hebrews 1:8. And for the record YHWH is ONE being who chose to manifest Himself in Scripture as three distinct persons. If you want, start a thread on this and I will prove it. I can also prove that Jesus Christ, the Son of God preexisted His incarnation before He became a permanent man.

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  • "I will prove it."... Nothing is EVER proven. We interpret observations to strengthen and weaken our concepts.... Hubris is not becoming of the children of God who understand they know nothing in respect to what God knows... Do you think you know something?
    – Read Less Pray More
    Jul 19 at 20:12
  • I find your answer to be very dishonest. " The various verses you quoted to support your statement happens "BEFORE" the resurrection." >>> This statement ignores my reference to 1 John 3:2 and Romans 8:29.... and btw YHWH means "I AM" not "WE ARE".
    – Read Less Pray More
    Jul 19 at 20:50
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    Be careful there Read Less Pray More. There's a big difference between "confidence" and pride. And who told you "Nothing is EVER proven?" The proper way to determine proof is to understand what IS said. I cannot show you the verse that says, "Peter and Paul were Christians." Shall we then use your damaged logic and say that these apostles were not saved? If I were to ask you to prove that Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead how would you do it? Or, how would you prove that Abraham Lincoln was a real person that existed? Lastly, I don't understand your "sub" question. Can you clear it up?
    – Mr. Bond
    Jul 19 at 20:56
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    God requires faith. NOT proof. If there were proof, there would be no need for the faith. The sub question is on a different question. The one about the Trinity ontology.
    – Read Less Pray More
    Jul 19 at 21:21

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