The book of 3 Maccabees ascribes specific titles and functions that belong uniquely to God:

“Lord, Lord (Kyrie, Kyrie), king of the heavens and sovereign of all creation (despota pases ktiseos), holy among the holy ones, the only ruler (monarche), almighty, give attention to us who are suffering grievously from an impious and profane man, puffed up in his audacity and power. For you, the creator of all things (ta panta) and the governor of all, are a just ruler (dynastes dikaios), and you judge those who have done anything in insolence and arrogance.” 3 Maccabees 2:2-3 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)

The aforementioned traits are some of the very essential and definitional aspects of God’s Being, which distinguish him from all of created reality.

Remarkably, these very unique qualities and roles of God are attributed to the Lord Jesus Christ!

For example, Jesus identifies himself that very “Lord, Lord”:  

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord (Kyrie, Kyrie),’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you who behave lawlessly.’” Matthew 7:21-23 NRSVUE  

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord (Kyrie, Kyrie),’ and do not do what I tell you? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it quickly collapsed, and great was the ruin of that house.” Luke 6:46-49 NRSVUE   

Christ is also described as the sovereign King and Creator of all creation, employing terminology that is virtually identical to the Greek of 3 Maccabees:

“He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation (pases ktiseos), for IN HIM all things (ta panta) in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things (ta panta) have been created THROUGH HIM and FOR HIM. He himself IS before all things (ta panta), and IN HIM all things (ta panta) hold together.” Colossians 1:13-17 NRSVUE

“to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which HE will bring about at the right time—HE WHO is the blessed and ONLY Sovereign (monos dynastes), the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is HE ALONE (monos) who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:14-16 NRSVUE

In fact, the risen Lord is even said to be the only Despot and Lord of the believers who, in his prehuman existence, was that very glorious divine Being who led Israel out from Egypt, and subsequently punished the rebellious among them in the wilderness:

“For certain intruders have stolen in among you, people who long ago were designated for this condemnation as ungodly, who pervert the grace of our God into debauchery and deny our ONLY Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (ton monon Despoten kai Kyrion hemon ‘Iesoun Christon). Now I desire to remind you, though you are fully informed, once and for all, that JESUS, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.” Jude 1:4-5 NRSVUE

This means that, according to the inspired NT documents, Jesus is the human manifestation of the one true sovereign God of all creation, being the very human incarnation of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And yet these inspired Scriptures are clear that Christ is not the Father or the Holy Spirit, but is one with them in essence, power, glory and worship.

FURTHER READING

THE CHRISTIAN SHEMA

JESUS: THE ONE AND ONLY ADONAY YHWH

The Christian Shema: Confessing Jesus as Yahweh God the Son

The Inter-Testamental Jewish Literature and the Deity of the Lord Jesus, [Part 2], [Part 3]

• Uncategorized