Theosis vs Christlikeness

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ProDeo

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Have you ever considered that what satan said to Eve was actually true???
The most poisoned lies are those with some undeniable truth encapsulated within a lie, the specialty of the devil.

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” --- tricky question but true ---
Gen 3:2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,
Gen 3:3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” --- there you go Eve, God never said you would die if you touch the tree of knowledge. Apparently Adam did not communicate well with Eve what God had said to him, paving the way for disaster ---
Gen 3:4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. --- blatant lie ---
Gen 3:5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” --- true but blaming God withholding A&E to become like God, knowing good and evil. The perfect lie ©Satan ---
 
J

Johann

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Gen 3:5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” --- true but blaming God withholding A&E to become like God, knowing good and evil. The perfect lie ©Satan ---
Let's keep this REAL simple-

Adam and Eve were not gods. They were created beings, formed in the image of God (imago Dei) with unique qualities that reflect God's character, such as rationality, morality, creativity, and relationality (Genesis 1:26-27). However, they were finite and dependent on God for life, wisdom, and sustenance.

Genesis 3:5 and the Deception of the Serpent
The serpent’s statement, "you will be like God, knowing good and evil," contains a mixture of truth and deception, which is characteristic of a perfect lie:

Truth: Eating the fruit did lead to Adam and Eve "knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:22). However, this knowledge came at the cost of their innocence, and it was not the God-like elevation that the serpent implied.

Deception: The serpent suggested that God was withholding something beneficial from them, implying that they could achieve a divine status or independence from Him. This was false because their disobedience led to spiritual death, separation from God, and the entrance of sin into the world (Romans 5:12).

What "Like God" Means
The phrase "like God, knowing good and evil" does not mean that Adam and Eve would become gods in essence. Instead:

It refers to acquiring a kind of knowledge or moral discernment previously reserved for God. However, this knowledge was attained through disobedience, leading to a distorted relationship with good and evil.

Their newfound "knowledge" of good and evil was not divine but experiential-they now knew evil through their sinful act, and this knowledge came with guilt, shame, and separation from God.

Why They Were Not Gods
Finite Nature: Adam and Eve were created beings with limitations. Only God is infinite, eternal, and self-existent (Psalm 90:2).
Dependence: They were dependent on God for their existence and sustenance (Genesis 2:7, 16-17). Their rebellion did not change their creaturely status but rather disrupted their fellowship with the Creator.

and Mortality: After their sin, God pronounced judgment, and they faced physical death and spiritual separation (Genesis 3:19). True divinity is immortal and incorruptible (1 Timothy 6:16), qualities they never possessed.

The Lie of Becoming "Like God"
The serpent’s lie echoes the temptation of pride and self-exaltation:

This same aspiration is seen in Satan's own rebellion, as described in Isaiah 14:13-14 and Ezekiel 28:2, where pride and the desire to be like God led to his fall.

The lie also reflects humanity's ongoing temptation to seek autonomy from God, pursuing self-deification through knowledge, power, or moral relativism.

Adam and Eve were never gods, nor could they become gods. The serpent's deception preyed on their trust in God, distorting the truth and leading them into sin. Their attempt to grasp at divine knowledge resulted in separation from God and the corruption of their created nature. This event shows humanity's need for reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ, who restores the relationship broken by sin (Romans 5:18-19).

You agree @ProDeo?

J.
 

Wick Stick

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Can humans be deified? Can we become gods?
We don't become gods individually. But we can participate in being THE God.

God is a Spirit; not a body. But a spirit needs a body in order to do stuff. We have the opportunity to function as His body. Or, at least as parts of it. (1Cor 12)
 

David in NJ

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You and i are on the SAME Page of Truth from Genesis

Let your mind be permeated with the Fragrance of the Holy Scriptures concerning what i am asking.

Satan knew what God was UP too in creating man and he circumvented it by taking the truth and twisting it ever so slightly.

In doing so, satan gained dominion over the flesh, and man became separated from God and they now abide in death and darkness.

What is the Truth that was circumvented by satan, and how did God solve the "impossible" Dilemma? - which you already know.

Go deeper into that which God declared in Genesis and then revealed in the Gospel of John and Acts and the Apostles and
the FINAL ENACTING of TRUTH in Revelation.
 

ProDeo

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i await your clarification to Post 136
LOL

I am not JW, not sure how you got there :smile:

I (not so familiar with JW teachings) was asking a serious question if official JW doctrine states that Jesus was a sinner.
 

David in NJ

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LOL

I am not JW, not sure how you got there :smile:

I (not so familiar with JW teachings) was asking a serious question if official JW doctrine states that Jesus was a sinner.
#1 - Official jw doctrine begins with this "the Word was a god"

#2 - Official jw doctrine is "DO NOT pray to Jesus"

#3 - Official jw doctrine is "NEVER worship Jesus = worship of Jesus is SIN"

These are the official false witness of the jw/watchtower cult.

i am sure there are more.
 

ProDeo

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Let's keep this REAL simple-

You agree @ProDeo?

J.

Gen 3:5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” --- true but blaming God withholding A&E to become like God, knowing good and evil. The perfect lie ©Satan ---

You read that different than I -

3:5 - and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

You - A&E will become like God, the lie of course.
Me - A&E will (only) know good and evil, like God knows good and evil, not become gods, or God.
 
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ProDeo

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#1 - Official jw doctrine begins with this "the Word was a god"
Indeed, I checked, easy one, you don't have to be an expert in Greek to see that is false and deeply worrying.
#2 - Official jw doctrine is "DO NOT pray to Jesus"
Are there examples in the NT people praying to Jesus?
#3 - Official jw doctrine is "NEVER worship Jesus = worship of Jesus is SIN"
Ouch... Revelation is full of it.
 

Verily

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You and i are on the SAME Page of Truth from Genesis

Let your mind be permeated with the Fragrance of the Holy Scriptures concerning what i am asking.

Satan knew what God was UP too in creating man and he circumvented it by taking the truth and twisting it ever so slightly.

In doing so, satan gained dominion over the flesh, and man became separated from God and they now abide in death and darkness.

What is the Truth that was circumvented by satan, and how did God solve the "impossible" Dilemma? - which you already know.

Go deeper into that which God declared in Genesis and then revealed in the Gospel of John and Acts and the Apostles and
the FINAL ENACTING of TRUTH in Revelation.
You got me, I have no idea what you are asking as far as how you are reasoning it out.
 

David in NJ

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Indeed, I checked, easy one, you don't have to be an expert in Greek to see that is false and deeply worrying.

Are there examples in the NT people praying to Jesus?

Ouch... Revelation is full of it.
JESUS says: "whatever you ask(prayer) in My Name"

No one comes to the FATHER but thru JESUS = mankind MUST pray to JESUS to be SAVED from their sins

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
 
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Johann

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and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.
Correct, we read differently--are we presently in a state of being like/as God?


The phrase "and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" in Genesis 3:5 is written in Hebrew as:

וִהְיִיתֶם כֵּֽאלֹהִים יֹדְעֵי טוֹב וָרָע
(vihyitem ke'Elohim yod'ei tov v'ra).



1. וִהְיִיתֶם (vihyitem)
Root: היה (hayah), meaning "to be" or "to become."

Form: Conjunctive vav (וְ) + Qal imperfect, 2nd person masculine plural of hayah.

Translation: "You will become" or "You will be."

The verb here is imperfect, indicating an incomplete or future action. Combined with the vav, it conveys a result or promise of a future state.


2. כֵּֽאלֹהִים (ke'Elohim)

Root: אלֹהים (Elohim), meaning "God" or "gods."

Form: The prefix כְּ (ke) functions as a preposition meaning "like" or "as."

Translation: "Like God" or "like gods."

The word Elohim can refer to the one true God (singular in essence) or to divine beings (plural). In this context, it likely refers to God in a singular sense, as the serpent is speaking about attaining God-like qualities. Preposterous, don't you think @ProDeo?

3. יֹדְעֵי (yod'ei)
Root: ידע (yada), meaning "to know."
Form: Qal participle, masculine plural of yada.

Translation: "Knowing" or "knowers."
The participle functions as a descriptor, emphasizing an ongoing or inherent state of knowledge.

4. טוֹב וָרָע (tov v'ra)
Roots:
טוֹב (tov): Meaning "good," in its absolute or moral sense.
רָע (ra): Meaning "evil" or "bad," often referring to moral corruption or calamity.
Form: Singular adjectives connected by the conjunction וָ (vav), meaning "and."
Translation: "Good and evil."
This phrase reflects a duality, contrasting moral opposites. It signifies a comprehensive knowledge that encompasses all moral possibilities.

Syntax Analysis
The structure of the clause ties together the serpent’s deceptive promise:

Verb (vihyitem): Indicates a future transformation.

Prepositional phrase (ke'Elohim): Identifies the result-being "like God."


Participial phrase (yod'ei tov v'ra): Qualifies how they will be like God-by possessing the ability to discern good and evil.
The participial phrase (yod'ei tov v'ra) serves as an explanation or elaboration of the promised transformation. It highlights the specific divine-like characteristic that Adam and Eve would supposedly gain-an experiential knowledge of good and evil.

Theological Implication in the Hebrew
The serpent's words, when analyzed in Hebrew, reveal subtle nuances that show the deceptive nature of the promise:

The verb vihyitem conveys a state of becoming, implying that they would attain a quality of God-like status—an exaggeration of what actually occurs. Not even the ECF's go THAT far!

The use of Elohim aligns with the divine name but does not suggest equivalence to God’s essence or being. Instead, it implies resemblance, particularly in knowledge.

The participle yod'ei suggests an ongoing ability to discern, but the actual result of their disobedience is a distorted knowledge-a curse, not a blessing.

The serpent twisted the truth, promising something desirable (tov) but delivering its opposite (ra). The Hebrew highlights this dynamic by using words with deep moral and theological resonance.

Man!
ye shall be as gods = be as God, Hebrew. Elohim. This is the foundation of Satan's second lie: "The immanence of God in man. "

3:4, 5 not … die. -- Satan, emboldened by her openness to him, spoke this direct lie. This lie actually led her and Adam to spiritual death (separation from God). So, Satan is called a liar and murderer from the beginning (Joh_8:44). His lies always promise great benefits (as in v. 5). Eve experienced this result—she and Adam did know good and evil; but by personal corruption, they did not know as God knows in perfect holiness.

Shalom.

J.
 

David in NJ

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You got me, I have no idea what you are asking as far as how you are reasoning it out.
Genesis Genesis Genesis

"Let Us make man in Our image according to Our likeness"

God has a PLAN for all who belong to Him

JESUS verified the PLAN

the Apostles wrote about this PLAN

Revelation details the fulfillment of Genesis
 
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Verily

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Genesis Genesis Genesis

"Let Us make man in Our image according to Our likeness"

God has a PLAN for all who belong to Him

JESUS verified the PLAN

the Apostles wrote about this PLAN

Revelation details the fulfillment of Genesis
Thanks, I am not a really deep thinker, I just link verses as I catch them but I rarely do a wrap up on these things.

Sounds good to me
 
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David in NJ

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Thanks, I am not a really deep thinker, I just link verses as I catch them but I rarely do a wrap up on these things.

Sounds good to me
i like to stir UP our minds in the Scriptures

For me to spell it out would be considered "my opinion" but when a 'son of God' reads it from the Scriptures and believes by faith, then the Holy Spirit Opens our minds whereby we SEE.

10And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

11He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the [a]mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
15For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’
16But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
 
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ProDeo

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Correct, we read differently--are we presently in a state of being like/as God?


The phrase "and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" in Genesis 3:5 is written in Hebrew as:

וִהְיִיתֶם כֵּֽאלֹהִים יֹדְעֵי טוֹב וָרָע
(vihyitem ke'Elohim yod'ei tov v'ra).



1. וִהְיִיתֶם (vihyitem)
Root: היה (hayah), meaning "to be" or "to become."

Form: Conjunctive vav (וְ) + Qal imperfect, 2nd person masculine plural of hayah.

Translation: "You will become" or "You will be."

The verb here is imperfect, indicating an incomplete or future action. Combined with the vav, it conveys a result or promise of a future state.


2. כֵּֽאלֹהִים (ke'Elohim)

Root: אלֹהים (Elohim), meaning "God" or "gods."

Form: The prefix כְּ (ke) functions as a preposition meaning "like" or "as."

Translation: "Like God" or "like gods."

The word Elohim can refer to the one true God (singular in essence) or to divine beings (plural). In this context, it likely refers to God in a singular sense, as the serpent is speaking about attaining God-like qualities. Preposterous, don't you think @ProDeo?

3. יֹדְעֵי (yod'ei)
Root: ידע (yada), meaning "to know."
Form: Qal participle, masculine plural of yada.

Translation: "Knowing" or "knowers."
The participle functions as a descriptor, emphasizing an ongoing or inherent state of knowledge.

4. טוֹב וָרָע (tov v'ra)
Roots:
טוֹב (tov): Meaning "good," in its absolute or moral sense.
רָע (ra): Meaning "evil" or "bad," often referring to moral corruption or calamity.
Form: Singular adjectives connected by the conjunction וָ (vav), meaning "and."
Translation: "Good and evil."
This phrase reflects a duality, contrasting moral opposites. It signifies a comprehensive knowledge that encompasses all moral possibilities.

Syntax Analysis
The structure of the clause ties together the serpent’s deceptive promise:

Verb (vihyitem): Indicates a future transformation.

Prepositional phrase (ke'Elohim): Identifies the result-being "like God."


Participial phrase (yod'ei tov v'ra): Qualifies how they will be like God-by possessing the ability to discern good and evil.
The participial phrase (yod'ei tov v'ra) serves as an explanation or elaboration of the promised transformation. It highlights the specific divine-like characteristic that Adam and Eve would supposedly gain-an experiential knowledge of good and evil.

Theological Implication in the Hebrew
The serpent's words, when analyzed in Hebrew, reveal subtle nuances that show the deceptive nature of the promise:

The verb vihyitem conveys a state of becoming, implying that they would attain a quality of God-like status—an exaggeration of what actually occurs. Not even the ECF's go THAT far!

The use of Elohim aligns with the divine name but does not suggest equivalence to God’s essence or being. Instead, it implies resemblance, particularly in knowledge.

The participle yod'ei suggests an ongoing ability to discern, but the actual result of their disobedience is a distorted knowledge-a curse, not a blessing.

The serpent twisted the truth, promising something desirable (tov) but delivering its opposite (ra). The Hebrew highlights this dynamic by using words with deep moral and theological resonance.

Man!
ye shall be as gods = be as God, Hebrew. Elohim. This is the foundation of Satan's second lie: "The immanence of God in man. "

3:4, 5 not … die. -- Satan, emboldened by her openness to him, spoke this direct lie. This lie actually led her and Adam to spiritual death (separation from God). So, Satan is called a liar and murderer from the beginning (Joh_8:44). His lies always promise great benefits (as in v. 5). Eve experienced this result—she and Adam did know good and evil; but by personal corruption, they did not know as God knows in perfect holiness.

Shalom.

J.
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. [KJV]

You have the KJV on your side.

Draw ?

:smile:
 
J

Johann

Guest
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. [KJV]

You have the KJV on your side.

Draw ?

:smile:
Draw.

Here is my paraphrase: "You will become like me-the Nachash. Forget God; you will become like me." This echoes the serpent's deceptive ambition, aligning with the prideful declaration of the seven "I wills" in Isaiah 14:13-14:

"I will ascend to heaven;
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High."

The serpent's words in Genesis 3:5, “you will be like God,” mirror this same self-exalting pride, enticing humanity to pursue autonomy and godlike status apart from their Creator. This is the same prideful rebellion that led to Satan's downfall (Ezekiel 28:2, 28:6, 28:17).

J.
 
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Lizbeth

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In fact Why Have You Forsaken Me is Jesus last sermon to those who were watching Him to die. The words come from Psalm 22 and those well learned in the Scriptures must have recognized it. In that psalm David is saying things he did not experience himself and thus was prophesying -

Ps 22:12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
Ps 22:13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.
Ps 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast;
Ps 22:15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.
Ps 22:16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet
Ps 22:17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me;
Ps 22:18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

Meaning, hey you Pharisees, this is foretold by David, do you believe now?
I believe that if the Father hadn't looked away briefly, Jesus couldn't have died. Isn't that like us too at various times.......times when we "feel" forsaken by the Lord and the heavens are as brass are the times/seasons when something in us is dying that needs to die, or we are dying out to it.
 
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