December 25, 2011

First Century Christians Worship Jesus as God

I have provided biblical references that Jesus of Nazareth is not just a man born from a man’s seed, but from the seed of the Holy Spirit therefore God in human form. I have now decided to research evidence outside of the Bible. Evidence that comes from worldly or secular historical references as to what was being said about the first century (primitive) Christians, that they not only practiced the teaching of Jesus, but worship him as God.

I found a number of historical references, but the follow one is what stood out to be the most clear and straight forward reference. What makes this reference stand out the most is from who it comes from and to whom it is being sent to. The following is an excerpt from Pliny the Younger who was governor of Pontus/Bithynia from 111-113 AD an area that is now northwestern Turkey. He wrote many letters to his good friend the Trajan, Emperor of Roman.

One of the issues Pliny had to deal with concerned what to do with the Christians; there was a large amount of Christians in the province where Pliny had been sent to govern. Pliny reported to Trajan that Christianity had not only affected the cities in his jurisdiction but also the surrounding country side and villages. One of the results of the spread of Christianity in this region was that the area had received some economic loss because so many had become Christians and were not buying sacrifices to offer to the gods.

The teachings of the first century (primitive) Christianity were that there was no other God except Christos and that Christians were not to worship any other gods. Their refusal to accept the ancient Roman religion and worship the gods of the state was seen as treason in the Roman world. This was the basis for most of the persecutions against the Christians. Christians denied the existence of the states gods and refused to worship the gods of the Roman pantheon, which lead them to be seen as atheists on the eyes of Roman law.

“Meanwhile, in the case of those who were denounced to me as Christians, I have observed the following procedure: I interrogated these as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed. For I had no doubt that, whatever the nature of their creed, stubbornness and inflexible obstinacy surely deserve to be punished.”

Complaints were laid against some Christians that resulted in arrest and being sent before Pliny to be examined; those that refused to “repent” and accept the states gods and religion were executed, because Pliny thought that just their mere stubbornness concerning Christianity and the state religion deserved some sort of punishment. Pliny goes on to state that:

“They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so. When this was over, it was their custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food--but ordinary and innocent food.”

The highlighted statement above is the amazing point found within Pliny’s letter to the emperor of Roman. The first century, primitive Christians were not being punished by death because of their Christian practices of meeting for worship and partaking of the Lord’s Supper on a fixed day of the week.

They were persecuted because they worshiped Jesus as God and refused to worship the official gods of the Roman Empire a crime punishable by death.

39 comments:

  1. Well Christopher, I'm glad you are finally here.
    I sent you a couple of e-mails and had no answer.

    Please check some of the comments here:
    http://thetruthaboutlldm.blogspot.com/2009/10/what-is-christian-doctrine-of-salvation.html

    Also, I would like to see your answer to this verse, because Jesus must have a God:

    Ephesians 1:17
    That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

    ReplyDelete
  2. Furthermore, notice the fact that it is written:
    "to Christ as to a god," and not to Christ our God.

    We indeed worship Christ as God because we have to do it as if we worshiped God. It is the same as in the old testament pharaoh gave authority to Joseph and told people to bow before him as they would before himself.

    ReplyDelete
  3. From the stand point at the time that this letter was written Romans did not use the the "G" for god because they worship many gods and not just one God. So Phliny nor any other Roman would never think of using the capital "G". What is important is that he reported that the Christian's worshiped the name of Jesus as a god and not a man.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Regardless of God or god, it still clearly says that they did worshiped him as God. In no way it implies that Jesus is god himself, but only that we worship him as God. I can honor you as Father, but it doesn't mean that you are my father. There are countless verses that confirm that Jesus is not God himself, but is given all the authority of God.

    Please do not forget to answer Ephesians 1:17

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dear Nik -

    Would you mind informing me as to what you have been taught and what you personally think about the verses from the Gospel of John chapter 1: 1-2 & 14.

    v. 1-2 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning."

    v.14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

    As for Ephesians 1:17 we would have to talk about the three aspects of God the Trinity of the Holy Father, the Holy Son and the Holy Spirit. Which in brief is support by the verses in Hebrews 1:1-4:

    "1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs."

    The "Majesty in heaven" is the Holy Father.

    And no I am not and never have been Catholic.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The teaching of trinity says God the father, God the son, God the holy spirit and that all of them are the same God. So, if son is God, how can he have a God in Ephesians 1:17?

    Concerning John 1, I was never taught anything, but have come to my own understanding. It all revolves around the idea that Jesus is the word, but he is not and here he clearly states it:

    John 14:24
    He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

    Continuing to the part that say the word became flesh, it means materialized. What is the word of God? It is all that we heard from God including his commandments which we never fully followed until Jesus. He was the first and the only one to follow the commandments completely. So, for the first and only time the word of God became flesh in the works of Jesus and we saw glory of it. For God could never become flesh in the form of man or any other living thing just like Paul said in Romans 1:23

    23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

    Please notice that the glory of God is uncorruptible and not like corruptible flesh of man. It is an abomination for God to appear in a corruptible form of a man or anything material. That is why it is very important not to make a mistake and call God what he hates to be associated with.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nik,

    You are right in that God can not dwell within a man who is corrupted by sin and make the perfect sacrifice for the sin of Adam.

    This is why God-The Word- made himself flesh as Jesus born from the virgin Mary, because the sin of man is past down from the seed, and the seed does not come from women. The flesh of Jesus was fathered by God's Holy Spirit and therefore He is the only human to be born sinless!

    This is why Satan thought that he had beaten the Father. Satan thought once man was corrupted by sin that all of mankind forever would be corrupted as Adam's seed was pasted down to all generation of mankind and therefore man would never able to be close to God again.

    Satan never in his wildest dreams could have known that God by way of His Holy Spirit could father a human man (Jesus) in whom the perfect sacrifice on the cross would be made to atone for the sin of Adam. Amen

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm sorry, but to make your words credible, you have to show that Jesus is the WORD.
    To show it even more, I will use a verse that is often used to suppord the teaching of trinity.
    Please read well and not only 7 but 8 as well; then, tell me please who it talks about in verse 8?

    1John:
    7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
    8And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.


    Furthermore, corruptible doesn't only imply sinful but also perisheble, mortal, not permanent. Otherwise why whould Paul mention: beasts, birds, creeping things? All of them cannot sin, but still corruptible.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. nik you say that in order two make the case that jesus is the word you need to see biblical proof; so, here it is: Revelation 19:12-16..11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.

      it's pretty clear that the one who is being describe hear if jesus the son who's flesh was bloodied by his sacrifised on the cross for the redemption of our sins. this is enough to make the case with John 1 in the begining was the word and the word was with god and the word was god. Jesus was the materialized visible, oral manifestaion of gods word here on earth walking amongst man.

      Delete
  9. gabriel

    Jesus is not God, Christ is a creation of God! God cannot be tempted yet Jesus Christ was Tempted! Christ was the Son of God! he was THE WORD made flesh! the word was spoken by the prophets before christ was on earth! the word was with God and then the time came that THE WORD was made flesh!

    colossians 1:15-19
    15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

    16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

    17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

    18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

    BY HIM were all things created! God created everything by his Word! BY THE WORD of God were all things created! also Christ is the first of Many brethren! he is the first to resurrect from the dead but so will we when the day comes! he is not ashamed to call us brothers

    hebrew 2:9-18
    9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

    10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

    11For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

    12Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

    13And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

    14Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

    15And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

    16For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

    17Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

    18For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

    God is God and Jesus is Jesus! Jesus is the first of many Sons of God! as it stated in hebrews 2:18 he suffered being tempted! God cannot be tempted!!

    james 1:13
    13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

    gabriel

    ReplyDelete
  10. Gabriel

    also 1 Corinthians 8:5 and 6

    5For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

    6But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

    notice how in verse 6 it stated "ONE GOD, THE FATHER" it does not say one God, the father the son and the holy spirit! and in verse 5 it states that there are beings in heaven and in the earth that God calls gods!! this includes Jesus Christ and the believers here on earth! we are called gods and lords however to these Gods and Lords there is ONE GOD, THE FATHER! AND ONE LORD, CHRIST! the trinity is a false doctrine and cannot answer these verses using its false beliefs!!

    Gabriel

    ReplyDelete
  11. Exodus 7

    1And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Gabriel

    to Nik

    hi so you are a member of lldm? i am, born and raised thanks to our Lord!

    Gabriel

    ReplyDelete
  13. I was Russian Orthodox before, until the Lord brought me to his house. So now, I'm a member of LLDM.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Gabriel

    peace be with you my brother/sister!

    Gabriel

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i thing the biggest issue at hand is understanding the concept of the trinity in its entirety. in other words you have difficulty accepting Jesus as recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred who came from the father and acts independantly in personality but yet is the same with the father god, one unit not two, as in the case of us mortal humans father and son, two units not one something that's imposible for us mortal humans to carry out.

      Delete
  15. There is no issue of understanding of trinity.
    I understands the doctrine of it, but it is a doctrine of men as there are a few unclear verses that points to trinity that are easily eliminated once you understand them. On the other hand there are countless verses that contradict trinity and CANNOT be explained away. If you just open your eyes and see them and stop being locked in what you were trained to accept as infallible.

    ReplyDelete
  16. LLDM members do not know their own teachings. ask them about their beliefs about their leader and you will get all sorts of different answers. one example is they claim Samuel had a Dream/Vision where he was called to be Apostle. Simply ask them who called him, was it God or Jesus Christ? you will get all sorts of answers. another good question would be if they believe Samuel can sin. some dodge it and others say he can never sin.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous, we believe in the The Apostle of Jesus Christ because it is the work of God. Can you tell us who said, "The work of God is this, to believe in the one he has sent." Now due to to your in credibility you might be thinking he was talking about Jesus only, but analyze this. Had more people believed Noah, would more have been saved in the flood? Had more people believed Moses, Joshua, David, Jeremiah etc. All throughout the bible God has sent his loyal Servants to save his people in his seasons. However, now he has established this pact through Jesus and his Apostles. About your question you see none of us were there at the time, just like many Christians weren't there for the calling of the Apostle Paul. Every and any Church member should know that Jesus is the one who calls upon them but unfortunately not everyone does sadly. Nevertheless, one thing is for certain, we believe by faith. A faith which is not of this earth, a faith that is a gift we must cherish, and most of all we believe due to revelations.

    ReplyDelete
  18. to Job Portillo

    well i see what you are saying but you did not answer who specifically called Samuel or Aaron. was it God or was it Jesus Christ? also can Samuel ever sin? if he does sin then why are the ministers from the pulpit cramming the idea that Samuel cannot sin down our throats? those are questions that are dodged by LLDM members.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You need to read the bible again and study the men of God Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Moses... etc.

      Delete
    2. Typical answer of lldm members when there is a question they can't fully answer. "Read the bible" yeah but what verse says that apostles didnt sin.. or how do you know Samuel is an apostle. By his fruits? Well his fruits are no good if he can't respond to simple questions. I'm sure you members hadtthe same questions.. and that's what the higher members would tell you all... Read the Bible .. that translates to I don't know. And members take that as a valid answer. But the people with common sense won't take that as an answer.

      Delete
  19. the reason i asked the question on who specifically called Samuel was because LLDM believes Christ and God are separate entities, therefore the voice Samuel Joaquin heard was from either Christ or God. it is a perfectly simple question to answer.

    i have also read LLDM's book on the history of the way Aaron Joaquin is called and while he states that the voice he heard told him "TU NOMBRE SERA AARON" "YOUR NAME SHALL BE AARON" the voice never identifies itself!! in the bible God always states who he is! the calling of Moses is a good example

    Exodus 3:3-6 "3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
    4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
    5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
    6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God."

    God clearly identifies himself, in fact it is the first thing he does before explaining what Moses's mission is! in LLDM's case you do not know who is talking to Aaron.

    later i watched the you tube video on Samuel Joaquin's testimony on how he was called and he mentioned hearing a voice the same as his father but again the voice never identified itself! it only states "TU ERES ESE ANGEL" "YOU ARE THAT ANGEL" this was because at the time Samuel Joaquin saw himself reading Revelation 10:1 during a Dream/vision.

    that brings to mind another question? LLDM likes to say that Samuel Joaquin and God talk face to face! why would Samuel be Half asleep in this calling??

    ReplyDelete
  20. Matthew 4:18-22 The Lord works in mysterious ways. Remember the calling of Paul? He wasn't alone, however, no one else who was with him saw could see the vision, they probably thought he was crazy. Moses' calling was unique, Jeremias' was profound, John the Baptist all called by God however he so wished. If you read the passage I gave you, you will see how the Lord called his first 12 Apostles. I was once like you, didn't believe, criticized, doubted, questioned everything! You see, it is by shear virtue of the Mercy of the Lord and Grace of God that I have been blessed to believe in The Apostle of Jesus Christ, as I posted before, by revelations. I invite you to go to any one of our churches, go to the very front, pray and ask the Lord to manifest to you if he is truly the Man of God. GBY.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All these men did great miraculous things that can't be denied. But... Tell me what has Samuel done to leave no doubt that he is someone important. Btw I head your church is writing a book to continue the Bible. Kinda like the book of Mormons. I'm thinking that's gonna be your number 1 reference book?

      Delete
  21. Well let us look at this verse shall we? Acts 9:6-7

    6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
    7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

    There were obviously witnesses of what happened!! They heard the voice and saw what happened to Paul!! Was there anyone with Samuel when he was called?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nobody knew Jesus would call another Apostle to carry out the Lord's will, after the first twelve. It is hard for man to believe that God need men to carry out his work, but what then of Moses, Joshua, Elijah, David, Jeremiah, Isaiah etc. John was the last prophet (turned Apostle) but only because he prophecied the arrival of the King. Chris Tarrant claims that you don't need an Apostle to reach Jesus. Well he undermines the work of God, because the Son does as the Father. If you're implying that because there was men there to witness, a voice, that somehow that made everyone believe in Paul you are mistaken. Read more of how God did his work through Paul and you will better understand. Those men are never heard from again after The Lord calls Paul. They were lost, they didn't recognize Paul as the Apostle of Jesus Christ.

      Delete
    2. Of course! every calling is done in private! it always seems that God picks out a prophet and tells them in private "ok you are my prophet here are my instructions now you go tell the entire world and curse them that demand evidence!" you would think that God, being all powerful, would communicate with the entire world! just my take on religion.

      Delete
  22. Look at the example of Israel, he didnt communicate with the whole world. He told Moses what to tell the town of Israel and Israel only. Look at King David and Jeremiah, same thing, he didnt tell them to pronounce to the whole world about God, just Israel(Amos 3:7). He didnt speak to Israel directly, he spoke to them indirectly through men. Who chose these men? A conclave? No! God chose these men (Jeremias 1:5). But the best example I can give you is Noah's ark. when God wanted to build an ark, did he build it himself? No, he made Noah do it. Did everyone in the world believe Noah? No they didn't. Likewise, when God wanted to redeem the world he sent Jesus but the whole world did not believe him, only the poor gentiles, and Jesus sent forth his Apostles. HIS Apostles, that's why in John 17 he prays to God saying, "those which you have given me, they were yours and you gave them to me." Now if you read Acts and forward you will see that Jesus spoke to the Apostles and continued with them. He never left them.
    So if you believe that there were men of God back then, why can't there be one now????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But that does not say Samuel is an Apostle of God.

      Delete
  23. first of all there is no proof any of the biblical stories are true!

    and second, you cannot really tell me you take the Noah's ark story seriously do you????

    this is what worries me that there are still people in this day and age that believe this nonsense!


    ReplyDelete
  24. according to you God is all powerful, all knowing, and omniscient! he exists beyond the realm of time and space!

    God has all these qualities but he could not think of a better way to forgive us our sins but by a blood sacrifice in the most primitive part of the middle east?

    A blood sacrifice....

    sorry this is not beautiful!

    it is wicked, evil and cruel!
    having an innocent person take responsibility for another persons actions is not merciful!

    all it means is God made someone else suffer your punishment!
    nobody was really forgiven!

    ReplyDelete
  25. It makes perfect sense for a person who believes that God was Jesus in the flesh. For all we know that's what it took for our sins to be forgiven.. but that's only if we accept and confess with our lips that we Jesus Christ is our ONLY savior

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will not say that there is no God! i will be honest and say i do not know. i believe in God i just have a problem with people that get in between! the bureaucracy that has formed!

      in LLDM you have to confess to the minister then you are put on "prueba" depending on what you did then you wait till Samuel connects you to Jesus then Jesus connects you to God...

      the people that run religion like a business is what i want to see done away with!

      Delete
  26. I agree with you on that. I'm not a member of lldm.. I actually think it's a cult, and out upsets me that lldm leaders are just abusing good people of their faith and money. But I'm glad to hear that you aser least have doubt of he may or may not exist, rather than not believe at all. I know it may be hard in the beginning to believe in the unbelievable, but we all start somewhere in our faith journey. My best advise should be to start reading the bible in John, that will give you a better understanding of who Jesus Chist is. Before you begin each reading, say a little prayer talk to God.. tell him to help you understand his Word... Write down the versus you find confusing, but keep on reading. Believe me the confusing versus will start to make sense once you keep on reading. Another thing is to find a good church! Go online to their website, read what they believe in and go one Sunday to feel it out. There is no "the only right church " as is the church name, but there is the church of Jesus/God and its a church that you can see and agree that they follow the Bible and not add to it. If your able to tell that something is wrong with lldm.. then you got some good sensors! I wish you the best of luck! God be with you!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thank you for the advice.

    i do not know about other religions but i do know about LLDM because most of my family members go to that church!

    it is 100% a cult!

    i am not ignorant on the people that lead them either. i know the ministers and the games they play.

    they criticize the Catholics more than anything else and yet they do not see what they do is the same as Catholics!

    LLDM is a mini catholic church!

    in their first days you did not confess your sins to the ministers nor did you believe the Apostle was a savior, that came after Samuel took over.

    here is a hymn from LLDM's hymn book

    name: predicamos la verdad

    Coro: "Solo Jesucristo salva, cristo salva al pecador, no hay otro salvador ni hay otro mediador solo cristo salva y guarda al pecador
    2: no podemos encontrar que debemos confesar los pecados a un hombre pecador, el que acude con su Dios con sincera contrición hallara que Dios perdona con amor."


    it is in Spanish and it basically sais that there is no savior other than Jesus and no mediator either. you did not have to confess to any minister!

    today LLDM believes Samuel is a mediator and a savior and if you have done something bad you have to tell the minister of your church.

    looks like they have lost sense of what they teach.



    ReplyDelete
  28. Why doesn't God just kill Satan?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agnostic

      or why doesn't God follow his advice "Love your enemies" good question!

      Delete