"the great God"

Reprint of a 25Nov91 [FidoNet Debate] reply to a Curious Questioner--
>CQ> Subject: Re: God?

>CQ> The whole context of John 1:1-14 is speaking about Jesus.

That is interpretation, not what it says. The name of Jesus is not mentioned until the 17th verse. "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (Jn.1:17)

>CQ> Colossians 1:15-19 has *Paul* call Jesus the creator of all things.

Those are your words, not Paul's. Paul said, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1Cor.2:12,14)

Changing the WORDS of what someone said, can change the meaning.

>CQ> It also says that all things were created for Jesus--for his own pleasure, I suppose.

You're just partly paraphrasing Rev.4:11-- "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

That is where the so-called "Creationists" stumble in discussion with evolutionists. Most Creationists let themselves be backed into a corner thinking that there was only 6 days of creation in the beginning, and none since, so that there would be no evidence at the present time of any creation. If they believed the Bible, then they would open their eyes and behold the creation and see that the Lord is indeed creating many new things, including many new creatures in Christ Jesus the Lord.

>CQ> Paul never explicitly says "Jesus is God"...

Paul expressly says "that Jesus is the Lord". (1Cor.12:3p A.V.)

>CQ> He probably refrained from calling Jesus God because of his monotheistic background. But, he did everything else but that.

Paul referred to him as "the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Remember that Jesus is the Lord and receive the love of the truth. Grace be unto your heart in mercy for Jesus' sake. Amen. --Richard