Originally posted by: conjur
Miracles? What miracles? There wasn't a single miracle performed by Jesus. You mean like raising the dead (Lazarus)? Sorry. That was Simon Zelotes and he wasn't dead. He was quite alive. He'd been ex-communicated, though, and Jesus restored him from that (and that is what was meant by raising the dead.)Originally posted by: kinev
Read the thread. There are numerous EXPLICIT CLAIMS (to used barracuda's term) that Jesus makes as to His divinity. Couple that with the many indirect claims(miracles, forgiving sins, praise, etc) and it is indisputable that the Bible states that Jesus claimed to be God.
Why do people continue to take the Bible literally after all of research done that shows the truth?
Mind-boggling.
You don't need a divine Christ to follow his teachings.
It's true the trinity wasn't wasn't a new concept but it was never part of the Bible yet it became doctrine after the Council.There seems to be some confusion over the council of Nicea, though. It was about 352 AD and headed by Emperor Constantine (no, not keanu). It was through the Nicean Creed that the divinity of Jesus was reaffirmed. It was not a new concept, though. They came up with the creed in response to sects of Christianity (Gnostics) that were claiming that Jesus was not divine. The Gnostics were heavily influenced by Plato and basically believed that all flesh is temporary and evil. If this is true, then God, being perfect, could not take a flesh form. Were the Gnostics influenced by the Bible? No, of course not. Jesus clearly claimed to be divine. The Gnostics were relying on the teachings of Plato instead of scripture. The divinity of Christ was not something new "invented" at the council of Nicea, it was an understood concept that had to be reinforced due to secular pressure.
Again, I am paraphrasing this and I will correct anything, if necessary when I get home.
Again, Jesus NEVER claimed to be divine. Sheesh.
Water into wine, Lazarus, loaves and fishes, walking on water, etc. All in the Bible, performed by Jesus. I understand you don't believe in His divinity but the Bible says what it says, and quite clearly. YOu have read and studied works which refute the claims of the Bible and I respect your right to follow those teachings but to claim that it isn't the literal truth in the patronizing tone you take is disrespectful of the people who DO believe it.
It's true Jesus doesn't need to be divine for us to follow His teachings, but HIs purpose for being on Earth at all was not to give us moral guidance but to bring us salvation through faith in Him as the Son of God.