Trinitarians: Do you think it is odd that the belief of Jesus being equal to God is a claim the Jews made?

Just like you quoted from John "

Most truly I say to YOU, The Son cannot do a single thing of his own initiative.."

For those that are totally suckered into Christendom's Dogma, they will not understand it.

That is why 1 John 5:19 and this scripture is so Apropos:

2 Corinthians 4:3

Authorized (King James) Version (AK JV)

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

They would not be able to understand those either. You see they do not recognize who that 'god' is, let alone what he truly is doing to Deceive!

Keep yr Q's up for a while. :)

It is odd that you actually make a great case for the Deity of Christ, yet I think you may have intended to do the opposite.

You rightly point out that Jesus is the Son of God. You also rightly point out that it was understood, even by Jesus' enemies, that this means Jesus is God; "calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God"

If proving Jesus is God was your intent, well put. Of course, it is easier simply to quote the passages which directly identify Jesus as God:

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

Finally, my personal favorite:

John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

(You may already know that "I AM" is the covenant name of God, which we translate "Jehovah")

Thanks for the question and have a great day

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EDIT -

First, you are ignoring the statements in the Bible where Jesus is identified as God. Either all of the Bible is true or none of it; it is a sin to pick and choose

Proverbs 30:6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

Deuteronomy 4:2 "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

So you need to accept that the Bible says:

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

Second, Jesus identifies the Father as greater not because Jesus is NOT God, but because He submits to the Father

John 13:16 "Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.

Submission is a cornerstone of Christianity; younger people submitting to older, wives to husbands, children to parents.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.

Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

1 Peter 2:18 Servants, be submissive to your masters

Do you believe that these commands mean that older people are people and younger ones are not? Does this mean that women are not people? Servants?

If you can understand that submitting does not make you less, why do you believe that Jesus submitting to the Father makes Him less than the Father when the Bible TELLS US DIRECTLY Jesus is God?

Thank you again for the question: it makes a compelling case as to why Jesus IS God, although that was not your intention.

There are over 550 places in just the New Testament that state that Jesus is NOT GOD! Like where Jesus says "Why do you call me "good"? I am Not good. Only God is good."

The religions that claim Jesus is God think IF the call Jesus "God" they do not have to obey the Second Commandment. So they are staying against God!

In Gen. it also says that Jesus got to be the Christ because he is the only angel that never sinned!

I'd suggest you look for other sources of information.

I'd start by watching Sesame Street and working up to reading actual books and stuff.