John 17:1-3,
1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Jesus was talking to his Father and called Him the only true God. This is in complete agreement with Corinthians.
1 Cor 8:6,
But 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.
Again, the Father is called the one God.
John calls Jesus the son more than 50 times and never calls him the Father.
John 1:1,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
If we say Jesus is God then that means he is either the Father (which is totally counter to the Creeds) or he is
not the true God (John 17:3) nor the one God (1 Cor 8:6).
Many solve the problem by finding out exactly what the "word" (logos) is in John 1:1. Hint: it's not Jesus.
Please confine the discussion to these verses in John. All the other so-called proof verses don't change what John clearly said. All verses have to fit.
I will focus just on the two Persons/Beings, rather than the Three Persons/Beings (Eternal Heavenly Trio), since the OP is addressing just the Father and the Son.
1. The Father (only) is called "the only true God" in Jhn. 17:3. The words "the only true God" in koine Greek are, "τον
μονον αληθινον θεον" (ton monon alethinon theon). The Father is never called "
μονογενὴς" anywhere in scripture. If He had been, He could not be the Father of the Son.
2. The Son (only) is called "only-begotten", "God" (Jhn. 1:1c., "θεος ην ο λογος" (theos en o logos)) in (Jhn. 1:14,18, 3:16,18; Heb. 11:17; 1 Jhn. 4:9, is basically monogene (μονογενῆ; Jhn. 3:16; Heb. 11:17; 1 Jhn. 4:9) or monogenes (
μονογενὴς; Jhn. 1:18) or monogenous (μονογενοῦς; Jhn. 1:14, 3:18)). The Son is never called, "τον
μονον αληθινον θεον" anywhere in scripture. If He had been, He could not be the Son of the Father.
The word "true", from "αληθινον" (alethinon) means "original, underived."
The words "only-begotten", from "
μονογενὴς" means "only one of the same nature" (ie. as from the Father's nature; nothing to do with time). The Sons' nature is of (from) the Father. The Father's nature is His own (original, underived). The Father's nature is never that of (from) the Son. For instance, my DNA (nature) is of (from) my Father. My Father's DNA (nature) is never of (from) me as his son.
The Son is not "the Father". Ever.
The Father is not "the Son". Ever.
The Father is "the Father" (Jhn. 10:36. &c).
The Son of "the Father" is also a "Father" (Heb. 2:13; Isa 8:16,18, 9:6; Jhn. 13:33, &c), made so by "the Father".
The words "Father" and "Son" are relational terms.
Who/what is "the word" of John 1:1? John says:
In the beginning refers to Genesis 1.
The Father, in Genesis 1 is the Person/Being identified as "God said ..." (speaking to the Son)
The Son, in Genesis 1 is the Person/Being identified as "God made ..." (obeying the will of the Father)
Light refers to Genesis 1, wherein
the Son, is
the Light that reveals
His glory in Day 1, by request of
the Father.
Word refers to Genesis 1, wherein
the Son carries out all commands of
the Father, as
the Amen of
the Father. Wherever
the Son is,
He says and does what
the Father desires
Him to say and do.
Thus
God (ie Person/Being of the Son) was with the God (ie Person/Being of the Father)
Deity was with the Deity.
Eternal Son was with the Eternal Father.
2nd Person/Being was with the 1st Person/Being.
Joh 1:1
In the beginning was
the Word, and
the Word was
with God, and
the Word was God.
Joh 1:2
The same was
in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by
him; and
without
him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:4 In
him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Joh 1:5 And
the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Joh 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
Joh 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of
the Light, that all men through him might believe.
Joh 1:8 He was not
that Light, but was sent to bear witness of
that Light.
Joh 1:9 That was
the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Joh 1:10
He was in the world, and the world was made by
him, and the world knew
him not.
Joh 1:11
He came unto
his own, and his own received him not.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received
him, to them gave he power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on
his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of
God.
Joh 1:14 And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld
his glory, the glory as of
the only begotten of
the Father,)
full of grace and truth.
Joh 1:15 John bare witness of
him, and cried, saying, This was
he of whom I spake,
He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for
he was before me.
Joh 1:16 And of
his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but
grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Joh 1:18 No man hath seen
God at any time;
the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of
the Father,
he hath declared
him.
