Dogmatic Theology Vol 1 - Shedd - XXI - Chapter 4 Trinity in unity continued

Required reading

Dogmatic Theology Vol 1 by William G.T. Shedd (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 4 Trinity in unity by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'Before proceeding to prove the Deity of God the Holy Spirit...' (page 328 in my edition).

My summary

Last week, we began to look at proofs of the deity of the persons of the trinity, starting with God the Father.

This week Shedd demonstrates the deity of the Son by:

(i) the application of the name God to him;

(ii) divine attributes being ascribed to him;

(iii) divine works attributed to him;

(iv) religious worship rendered to him;

(v) his trinitarian position and relations;

(vi) the office of mediator which he discharges;

(vii) the fact that he is revealed and manifested;

(viii) the fact that he is eternally generated

What grabbed me

I always like the clarity of the Greek in John 1 (sorry if the Greek font doesn't display rightly): 'John 1: 1 contains absolute proof of the deity of the Son of God: θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος. The omission of the article with θεὸς converts the word into the abstract, denoting the species, " deity." Compare πνεῦμα, anarthrous, in John 4: 24: πνεῦμα ὁ θεός. The use of ἦν implies uncreated being, in distinction from created; which, in verse 3, is denoted by  ἐγένετο. The distinct personal existence of the Logos is also denoted by πρὸς τὸν θεόν, which is quite different from σὺν τῷ θεῷ. The former preposition with the accusative implies coexistence, along with another. The latter preposition with the dative blends in one substance, so as to exclude distinct individuality.

So, contrary to the teaching of the Jehovah's Witnesses, the omission of the article actually teaches the deity of Jesus more clearly, not less clearly. 

'Next week's reading

Conclude Chapter 4 Trinity in unity.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.