JWs and other non-Trinitarians, was Jesus good, and if not, why?
Jesus himself was clear that no one is good except God (Mt 19:17). But the Bible is also clear that Jesus was sinless (Heb 4:15), which seems to us Trinitarians to imply that he must have been good, and therefore God. But you non-Trinitarians say he was not good, as only God is good. What’s your logic, because we Trinitarians are not understanding it? Do you believe Jesus sinned or something? What did he do that makes you believe he was not good? Thank you in advance for helping us Trinitarians better understand God’s true nature.
2016-04-30T13:36:31Z
CFLS, if Jesus was an angel, why is he described as "so much better than the angels" (Heb 1:4)? How can one be better than the angels if they are an angel themselves?
2016-04-30T14:37:04Z
The first part of the question is a yes or no question. How can I award a best answer when no one will answer yes or no?
2016-04-30T17:11:47Z
I think I'm clearly on to something as not one non-Trinitarian so far will give a simple yes or no to a simple yes or no question. And apparently there's nothing for JWs to copy and paste from jw.org that states whether Jesus was good or bad, so they're not sure what to say or think.
If that were all not enough, QWBSWF has really stirred up the pot, noting what Jesus said about himself in Jn 10:14, "I am the good shepherd."
2016-05-01T19:38:36Z
I have Deborah "Best Answer" because at least she answered my yes-no question with a "yes".
I didn't give her all five stars because I think she is in error equating a sinless person (Jesus) to a "good" person in Mt 5:45. None of us is sinless and therefore in any way equal to Jesus. In the sense of "good" as Jesus used it when responding to the rich young ruler's question, Jesus is the only good person because he never did anything wrong--just like God, therefore, obviously, he is God.
Deborah2016-05-01T07:17:52Z
Favorite Answer
I am not a JW, but I am a non-trinitarian and I have never heard of a non-trinitarian say the Messiah was not good.
"Was Jesus good?"
YES!!
He was good because He who dwelt in Him is good.
The Messiah says no one is good but God alone, and yet, He says, in Matthew 5:45, that the Father causes the sun to rise on the evil and on the good.
If no one is good but God alone, who are "the good" in Matthew 5:45?
God alone is good. He is the source of all that is good. If there be any good in anyone, it is because of Him and the Messiah who dwells in us.
The Father is in the Messiah and the Messiah is in us.
Jesus claimed to be God. Which leaves three possibilities. He was not God but claimed to be: he was a liar. He was not God but thought he was: he was a lunatic. He was God. Do not spout nonsense like he was just a good man or a prophet. He does not leave thst option open. If He is not God, He is not good. Naturally, a total understanding of God is beyond a finite mind. Someone once said that the Trinity is the least untrue idea about God.
I am a non-Trinitarian and have no doubt about the character of Jesus.
The first thing to remember is the Bible we have today is a translation of a translation of a translation. We do not have the original Greek manuscripts they have been lost to us ages ago. The second thing to remember is, the meaning of certain English words have slightly changed over the years. Good could have meant something entirely different in Jesus' time than it is today or may not even have been the right equivalent to what was written in Greek. It could have been Holy or something like that. We know that God is Holy because the Bible tells us Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty Rev. 4:8 Being good does not equate to being God. Paul says there's none good, no not one, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory (goodness) of God.
Here are some scriptural verses that does not add up. John 10:30 I and my Father are one. Did Jesus really say these words, if not, what did he really say. When the Jews accused Jesus of blasphemy he answered them saying: Say you of him, whom the Father has sanctified and send into the world, you are blaspheming, BECAUSE I SAID I AM THE SON OF GOD? John 10:36. Even at his trial the Jews never accused Jesus of making himself God, they accused him of making himself the son of God.
Philippians 2: 5, 6,8, 9. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in form of God thought it not (robbery) to be equal with God. Paul is trying to tell us Jesus is our example, for though he was in the form of God, thought it not to be equal with God, but humbled himself and became obedient even to death on the cross. Robbery suggests that it is unlawful to be equal with God but Jesus didn't think it was. What kind of an example would that make Jesus. v9 Wherefore, God highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name. If Jesus is already God to what will God exalt him.
Matthew 28:19 Jesus supposedly told his disciples Go, ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Yet not one of them baptize this way, they baptized in Jesus' name only. Baptizing is symbolic of washing away our sins. Jesus is our redeemer from sin.
Jehovah is unique in his goodness. Not long before Jesus died, a man approached him to ask a question, addressing him with the words “Good Teacher.” Jesus replied: “Why do you call me good? Nobody is good, except one, God.” (Mark 10:17, 18) Now, that response may strike you as puzzling. Why would Jesus correct the man? Was not Jesus, in fact, a “Good Teacher”?
Evidently, the man was using the words “Good Teacher” as a flattering title. Jesus modestly directed such glory to his heavenly Father, who is good in the supreme sense. (Proverbs 11:2) But Jesus was also affirming a profound truth. Jehovah alone is the standard for what is good. Only he has the sovereign right to determine what is good and what is bad. Adam and Eve, by rebelliously partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, sought to assume that right themselves. Unlike them, Jesus humbly leaves the setting of standards to his Father.
Moreover, Jesus knew that Jehovah is the source of all that is truly good. He is the Giver of “every good gift and every perfect present.” - James 1:17.
Colossians 1:15 shows Jesus was God's first creation so now we have two spirit persons or angels. Who was third? Perhaps it was Satan who wants to be worshipped with the other two. He did have a high position in heaven he was chosen as the covering cherub in the garden of Eden. Ezekiel 28:13 explains his possission and why he may want to be with the first two.