Anti-Trinitarians often cite the following words of our Lord to the rich young ruler:
“And a ruler asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.’” Luke 18:18-19
They interpret this as a denial of our Lord’s Deity, and explain this as Jesus’ affirming that the Father alone is essentially good and therefore essentially God.
Despite having repeatedly addressed this objection in my articles, rebuttals and sessions (the links to which will be posted at the conclusion), I’ve chosen to respond once again but from a different angle. I have also decided to go with the Lukan version of this exchange since I’ve already analyzed the Markan and Matthean accounts elsewhere.
THE HOLINESS AND PURITY OF CHRIST
In order to correctly understand what Jesus did not mean, we need to first analyze our Lord’s response to the ruler in the overall context of what the author of Luke-Acts taught as a whole in respect to Christ’s impeccable and infallible character.
All throughout Luke-Acts, Christ is said to be absolutely holy, righteous and innocent, since he is the unique Son of God who always pleases the Father.
This is a fact to which God, the holy angels, believers, unbelievers, and even demons all attest:
“And Mary said to the angel, ‘How shall this be, since I have no husband?’ And the angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.’” Luke 1:34-35
“and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, ‘Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.’” Luke 3:22
“And he went down to Caper′na-um, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the sabbath;and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority.And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon; and he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Ah! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.And they were all amazed and said to one another, ‘What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.’And reports of him went out into every place in the surrounding region… Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.And demons also came out of many, crying, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.” Luke 4:31-37, 40-41
“Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, ‘Certainly this man was innocent!’” Luke 23:46-47
“But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,” Acts 3:14
“Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered,” Acts 7:52
“And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Just One and to hear a voice from his mouth;’” Acts 22:14
The foregoing illustrates that it makes no sense to assume that Christ was denying his absolute goodness, and therefore his essential coequality with God.
Rather, Jesus’ questioning the young man was meant to help the latter to further reflect more deeply upon the implications of his flattering words. I.e., if Christ is good, and only God is good, then this means that Christ must be God. And if the man truly believed this, would he then be willing to give up his idolatrous lust of riches in order leave everything behind for the sake of following Jesus?
After all, the same ten commandments, which our Lord referred to, teach that a person cannot have any other god or idol which would hinder him/her from loving God unconditionally. And yet the man’s riches prevented him from loving Jesus fully and completely:
“‘You know the commandments: “Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.”’ And he said, ‘All these I have observed from my youth. And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, ‘One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich.” Luke 18:20-23
In other words, the Lord’s statements were intended to show the young ruler that he is the good God that all must love unconditionally!
CHRIST: THE GOD OF THE IMPOSSIBLE
This fact is brought out more explicitly in what Christ went on to say right after the man walked away due to his unwillingness to give up everything for the sake of Jesus:
“Jesus looking at him said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ Those who heard it said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ But he said, ‘What is impossible with men is possible with God.’” Luke 18:24-27
Pay carefully attention to the Lord stating that salvation is a work which is impossible for any man to accomplish. This is why God alone is able to save human souls.
Note the Matthean and Markan parallels, which drive this point home:
“When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” Matthew 19:25-26
“And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”” Mark 10:26-27
Now if Christ were a mere human being who is less than absolutely good then he would not be able to save any human life. As a finite, temporal creature, Jesus would himself need God to save him.
And yet Luke-Acts teach that Christ came into the world as the Savior who offers his soul for the salvation and redemption of mankind!
“And the angel said to them, ‘Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” Luke 2:10-11
“For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10
“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’” Luke 22:19-20
Jesus himself proclaimed that he has power to forgive sinners, something that God alone possesses:
“On one of those days, as he was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they sought to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith he said, ‘Man, your sins are forgiven you.’ And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, ‘Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?’ When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, ‘Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven you,” or to say, “Rise and walk”? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the man who was paralyzed—‘I say to you, rise, take up your bed and go home.’ And immediately he rose before them, and took up that on which he lay, and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen strange things today.’” Luke 5:17-26
The Lord does here what the Hebrew Scriptures attribute to YHWH alone, namely, the power to forgive sins, heal diseases and know the hearts and minds of individuals:
“then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and render to each whose heart thou knowest, according to all his ways (for thou, thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men);… If they sin against thee—for there is no man who does not sin—and thou art angry with them, and dost give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near; yet if they lay it to heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to thee in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned, and have acted perversely and wickedly’; 48 if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to thee toward their land, which thou gavest to their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name; then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause and forgive thy people who have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions which they have committed against thee; and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them.” 1 Kings 8:39, 46-50
“would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.” Psalm 44:21
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,” Psalm 103:2-4
Here are further examples of Christ granting forgiveness and salvation to anyone trusting in his name:
“And he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this, who even forgives sins?’ And he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’” Luke 7:48-50
“And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and could not be healed by any one,came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said, ‘Who was it that touched me?’ When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!’But Jesus said, ‘Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me.’And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’” Luke 8:43-48
Jesus even sent out his apostles to proclaim that everyone must turn to and believe in the Son of God to receive forgiveness of sins, since there is no other Person and name given to mankind, which can save anyone besides that of the risen Lord!
“Then he said to them, ‘These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.’” Luke 24:44-47
The disciples would even perform miracles in Jesus’ name to prove that he alone saves:
“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 2:37-38
“Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at that gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to ask alms of those who entered the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, with John, and said, ‘Look at us.’ And he fixed his attention upon them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, ‘I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and walked and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s, astounded. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, ‘Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him… and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name, by faith in his name, has made this man strong whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.… having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness.’” Acts 3:12-13, 15-16, 26
“On the morrow their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Ca′iaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well. This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.” Acts 4:5-14
“God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” Acts 5:31
“And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised… Let it be known to you therefore, brethren, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him every one that believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:22-23, 38-39
“and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” Acts 15:9-11
“and brought them out and said, ‘Men, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’” Acts 16:30-31
To say that this proclamation is remarkable, in fact astonishing, would be putting it mildly, since the Hebrew Bible is explicitly clear that YHWH is the only Savior who saves people from their lawlessness!
“Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.’ ONLY in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed, all who were incensed against him. In the LORD all the offspring of Israel shall triumph and glory.” Isaiah 45:21-25
ISAIAH’S SUFFERING SERVANT
Related to this issue of Christ saving human beings is the prophecy of Isaiah 53, which our Lord and Acts referenced:
“He said to them, ‘But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, “And he was reckoned with transgressors”; for what is written about me has its fulfilment.” Luke 22:36-37
“So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless some one guides me?’ And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this: ‘As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth.’ And the eunuch said to Philip, ‘About whom, pray, does the prophet say this, about himself or about some one else?’ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news of Jesus.” Acts 8:30-35
Here is the passage in question:
“Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand; he shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:1-12
YHWH’s Servant is said to be his very own Arm, e.g., his divine Power, sent forth to bear the sins of the nations by giving up his soul as a guilt offering and making intercession for the transgressors. YHWH’s Servant is further described as being righteous, having no deceit in his mouth.
By citing this Old Testament prophecy, Christ and his followers were identifying Jesus as that very sinless servant of YHWH whom the Lord sent to do what is impossible for any mere human being to accomplish, namely, save the world from its sin.
The prophet himself affirms that this is a work which no mere creature is qualified to carry out, which is why YHWH had to do it himself by sending forth his very own eternal Arm, i.e., the Servant:
“Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intervene; then his own arm brought him victory, and his righteousness upheld him.” Isaiah 59:15-16
“I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold; so my own arm brought me victory, and my wrath upheld me.” Isaiah 63:5
CONCLUSION
We have established that according to Luke-Acts Jesus is the absolutely holy and righteous Son of God who performs the humanly impossible task of saving the nations and forgiving their sins. And since God alone is essentially pure and good, and since he alone is able to save anyone from his/her transgression, this means that the Lord wasn’t denying his Deity to the rich man.
Rather, Jesus was leading the man to the inevitable realization that since Christ is absolutely good then he must be God in essence. And if so then the man had to be willing to give up everything for the Lord Jesus, including his own riches which had become his idol.
Sadly, this is something the young ruler was unwilling to do, proving that he didn’t really believe the things that came out of his mouth. The man was simply flattering Christ with the hopes that the Lord would appease him and justify his idolatrous lust of money.
I end this with the following syllogism since it will help the readers see that, according to Luke-Acts, Jesus is God in the flesh:
- God alone is intrinsically good, goodness being essential to his very nature.
- The work of saving sinners is an impossible task for any human being to perform.
- God alone is able to save mankind from their sins.
- Jesus is absolutely holy, righteous and pure.
- Jesus is able to save human beings from all their sins.
- Jesus must, therefore, be God in the flesh since he does what is impossible for human creatures to do, and is essentially good as God is.
- At the same time, Jesus is not the Father or the Holy Spirit, but one with them.
- Therefore, the one true God who alone is good eternally subsists as the Father, the Son that became human, and the eternal Spirit.
All biblical citations taken from the Revised Standard Version (RSV).
FURTHER READING
Jesus Christ – The Absolutely and Essentially Good God
How can Jesus be God when he says that only God is good?
Answering Islam Blog 